Builds The Guzzler - 2009 LX570

[grinchy]

Using the paper circle to orient the offset, I punched and drilled the four stud holes and went for the first of many test fits.

It was a bit low, maybe a quarter inch. Just reamed out the stud hole up with the step bit and ground on the main hole with a Dremel stone.

That seemed to look right , got it secured temporarily, and marked the a pillar support.

 

[grinchy]

It came with two rivets. I don’t have a rivet gun but I do have 4mm rivnuts. And this was a bad idea.

Rivnut one was fine, but I twisted the head off the home made tool bolt finishing up the tightening. Somehow even though I had the pillar taped I got some scaring which will require paint.

Rivnut two was a fiasco. I twisted off two more bolts, and the 2nd one wouldn’t come out, the rig until had compressed enough to flatten but not tighten. After trying many things including trying to pry it out ( which dented the a pillar) I decided to chuck the bolt in my drill. Now I could pull the rivnut tight to the pillar and spin the bolt, came out pretty easy. Much more scaring on a pillar.

Found a better grade 4mm bolt and secured rivnut 2.

 

[grinchy]

Drilled a couple 1 inch holes in the inner fender piece for the aip pipes. These take 1” od barbs. I used a 90 and a straight so the hose clamps wouldn’t interfere. Space was tight but the clamps are reachable. Black rtv for waterproofing.

 

[grinchy]

Now on to final assembly. I used 3/8 neoprene foam weatherstripping around each opening then a bead of black rtv.
I’d recommend 1/4 or 5/16 foam, probably 1/4. The 3/8 was kinda thick.
Installed the inner fender piece, thought I wouldn’t wear gloves to put it in. Big mistake! My hands are still black.

I also had cut the hole bigger that goes to the air box to match the us Intake shape.

Same 3/8 and rtf plan on the air box adapter side. There was one small gap that got direct rtv. Looked good and waterproof,

 

[grinchy]

I chose to attach the a pillar bracket to the snorkel, and then fit up the rivnut bolts. There is room to do it the other way if you rivet. It would take a long time, about 2” of wrench swing.

Rtv on the outside of the main pipe, insert, bolt and clamp. For my install I had some tension at the a pillar so I did that first, then tightened the four studs.

 

[grinchy]

One thing I found surprising is the gap at the a pillar. The snorkel is 1/2 inch off the pillar. I am hoping this doesn’t whistle at speed. The bracket is correct and the gap consistent so I guess it’s designed this way.

 

[tbisaacs]

One thing I found surprising s the gap at the a pillar. The snorkel is 1/2 inch off the pillar. I am hoping this doesn’t whistle at speed. The bracket is correct and the gap consistent so I guess it’s designed this way.

View attachment 1998256

Can you heat and bend? Or add an extra rivnut to pull it in.

 

[grinchy]

It’s definitely a design. The bracket and shape of the snorkel are consistent in this. For all I know the tjm also does this, pictures are inconclusive.

I have only run errands around town so far, but no noise from the gap that I can tell.

I can see some advantages for cleaning, it’s a large enough gap to get a rag into.

 

[grinchy]

There is some wind buffet noise from the snorkel at 65 mph. I’d call it minor but it certainly isn’t silent.

 

[grinchy]

Further examination of the noise profile is silent to 55mph. Intermittent whispers of sound thru 62 mph. More frequent whispers at 65. Then no increase in volume or frequency up to 75.

 

[mcgaskins]

It’s weird you have any noise because my TJM is totally silent and I’m incredibly sensitive to wind or other noise and will pull the truck over the second I hear anything rattling in the back. Mine didn’t use rivets but instead had little anchors you inserted after drilling small pilots which I siliconed before and after. It was just one bracket with 2 screws and has been rock solid with no noise at all and fits very snug against the A pillar. I don’t have great pics but you can kinda see here:

 

[grinchy]

While it looks like it should snug to the a pillar by contour, the included bracket is bent to space it off about 1/2 inch. I was surprised too. Double checked all the fit, and I don’t see how this version could install differently. For example I have the inside fender pipe as far back as it will go and as far up too, so I can’t move it any more back and up if I wanted too.

Rating the noise it isn’t any big deal, but not silent. I actually think it isn’t the riser but the little j shape at top. Maybe I should have installed it a bit lower to bring that closer to the roof.

 

[tbisaacs]

It’s weird you have any noise because my TJM is totally silent and I’m incredibly sensitive to wind or other noise and will pull the truck over the second I hear anything rattling in the back. Mine didn’t use rivets but instead had little anchors you inserted after drilling small pilots which I siliconed before and after. It was just one bracket with 2 screws and has been rock solid with no noise at all and fits very snug against the A pillar. I don’t have great pics but you can kinda see here:

View attachment 2000194View attachment 2000195

Matt's boxer just stared into my soul man.

 

[tbisaacs]

One thing I found surprising is the gap at the a pillar. The snorkel is 1/2 inch off the pillar. I am hoping this doesn’t whistle at speed. The bracket is correct and the gap consistent so I guess it’s designed this way.

View attachment 1998256

Would filling is with some bubble trim get rid of the noise without looking gross?

 

[grinchy]

Would filling is with some bubble trim get rid of the noise without looking gross?

Maybe. It will probably not look right. It looks really good now, in my opinion.

I’ll need to put a few more miles on it at speed to see if I want to do anything at all. I doubt it. It just a bit of intermittent whisper sounding white noise.

 

[raincityrider]

It came with two rivets. I don’t have a rivet gun but I do have 4mm rivnuts. And this was a bad idea.

Rivnut one was fine, but I twisted the head off the home made tool bolt finishing up the tightening. Somehow even though I had the pillar taped I got some scaring which will require paint.

Rivnut two was a fiasco. I twisted off two more bolts, and the 2nd one wouldn’t come out, the rig until had compressed enough to flatten but not tighten. After trying many things including trying to pry it out ( which dented the a pillar) I decided to chuck the bolt in my drill. Now I could pull the rivnut tight to the pillar and spin the bolt, came out pretty easy. Much more scaring on a pillar.

Found a better grade 4mm bolt and secured rivnut 2.

View attachment 1998244

In the future hit me up I bought one of these and have lots of rivnuts. I made one that ended up almost screwing me on my roof rack. I figure it will pay for itself just in the lack of swearing I will do on future projects.

 

[grinchy]

Yep an actual tool would be nice. I haven’t bought one because I end up needing them where there isn’t room for the arms. This time it would have been perfect.

Still looking for the oz of touch up paint I bought last year.

 

[speyrod]

While it looks like it should snug to the a pillar by contour, the included bracket is bent to space it off about 1/2 inch. I was surprised too. Double checked all the fit, and I don’t see how this version could install differently. For example I have the inside fender pipe as far back as it will go and as far up too, so I can’t move it any more back and up if I wanted too.

Rating the noise it isn’t any big deal, but not silent. I actually think it isn’t the riser but the little j shape at top. Maybe I should have installed it a bit lower to bring that closer to the roof.

Is there any change if you flipped the bracket? Noises drive me crazy, I spent 2 days finding and fixing a fan noise on my 80 when you ran it on hi speed. On the LX I just bought some Yakima rack and am shocked I can hear the wind noise around town. We will used the wifes RX for local Kayak trips./

 

[grinchy]

I was looking at it, the bracket could be bent a little bit down toward the a pillar, which due to the length of the snorkel above it could get me an inch or so out of the airstream.

It isn’t loud though as it is, just whispers a little.

 

[linuxgod]

FWIW my Dobinson's (Safari knockoff) snorkel has a similar A-pillar gap. The snorkel head makes some wind noise, but no whistling from that small gap up to ~90mph. I'm not an expert in fluid dynamics but I think most of the air goes around it or over the windshield