Builds The Guzzler - 2009 LX570

[grinchy]

Total chaos skid due in tomorrow or Friday. Transfer skid should be stateside tomorrow as well. I hope to have both this weekend to get installed. Trying to decide now if I’m going to paint the aluminum or not.

trip to pdx booked end of next week for stuff. A lot of irons put in the fire weeks and months ago nicely coming together this spring.

 

[grinchy]

Well, it's not one piece.
Aside from that, and the annoying fact TC used packing tape to secure the nutsnbolts pack directly to the skid so I have to deglue the AL, it's looking pretty good. Shipping weight for the skids front to crossmember (two pieces) was 57lbs. I figure it's 53lbs dry.
Main skid roughly 40" long and 25" wide (excluding wings). Belly 32" long and 25" wide (excluding wings).
Very simple as pictured and expected.
Nutsnbolts has 7 assorted 10.9 bolts, and four spacers, two 3/8"ish and two 1"ish.

 

[grinchy]

The Transfer Case skid from Asfir just came in. Packaging was immaculate. Custom box with staples, completely shrink wrapped in thicker plastic and the heat shrunk. Well padded inside.

The skid is definitely no joke, particularly the crossmember is a work of art, and surprisingly heavy. I can't imagine what it would weigh in steel.

 

[grinchy]

Shipping weight on transfer skid and crossmember only 11.5kg. That I'm going to check on my scale . . .

 

[supercarrera]

Looking forward to seeing how your skids look installed. I'm considering the Total Chaos as well.

 

[grinchy]

Looking forward to seeing how your skids look installed. I'm considering the Total Chaos as well.

Yeah, I'm pretty stoked to try them out. Was waiting until I had the transfer skid to try dry fits, there will maybe be some cutting at the crossmember necessary.
I'm in the process of painting. Have primer on the transmission/gear/belly skid. Still need to sand and topcoat. Front skid not yet primered. It's like two days per side just to prep and primer . . .

 

[grinchy]

So I painted the belly skid with an Aluminum primer (Rustoleum Latex Aluminum Primer). Same sanding and cleaning on both sides. Outside I used a 10 min 1:3 vinegar 'etch'. Inside no etch. The primer is definitely sticking better on the etch side. Two coats of same thickness (thin) of primer. This is post primer sand as I prep for the topcoat.

Very interesting. I'll definitely be etching the remaining pieces.

 

[grinchy]

I am loving the International Harvester Red.

 

[grinchy]

Wet sand and 2nd coat on the belly inside. I made a few errors that even the wet sand wasn't able to get out. Totally practicing on the inside portion.
Saturday I hope to do the outside and start working on the front.

 

[grinchy]

Asfir Transmission Skid Install and BOM. Nicely thoughout. Even includes a bracket for if you have an aftermarket fuel skid. Very impressed.

 

[grinchy]

Finally got some seat time okay. The roof light mount is good, No noise. The sub upgrade and dsp change are great. Sound is amazing.

 

[radman]

So still fiddling around with the final bits on the rear bumper. The custom bracket is back off so I can make version 2. Finally got the reverse lights hooked up, to see that one side got cut somehow during install. Oh joy.

Noticed last weekend that the new bumper is a tiny bit higher than the bumper cover, and the tailgate was resting on the reverse lights. Some 3/32 wire and that was resolved. Took just over 1/2” off length.

Also did the gas struts on the rear hatch to get back a couple inches of height. Now I don’t hit my head in low mode on the hatch.

All this and still haven’t got around to fluids. Good thing I only drive it 60 miles a week.

Do you have any pictures of your ahc pump bracket? And did you have to cut any frame bits to install the bumper?

 

[CharlieS]

Finally got some seat time okay. The roof light mount is good, No noise. The sub upgrade and dsp change are great. Sound is amazing.

Excellent. I wonder what is different with mine, I have the same setup with the 40" lightbar and it adds a lot of wind noise. It is minimized with the sunroof shade drawn closed, but very noticeable with the shade open.

 

[grinchy]

Excellent. I wonder what is different with mine, I have the same setup with the 40" lightbar and it adds a lot of wind noise. It is minimized with the sunroof shade drawn closed, but very noticeable with the shade open.

Maybe the snorkel is changing the airflow pattern a bit? I also purposely bought a ‘small’ light bar. It is both not tall but also not deep.
I think the light bar actually reduced the noise overall by changing the flow over the snorkel.
I also have my light bar actually touching the roof via a piece of weather strip for about 6 inch in the middle.

 

[grinchy]

@bemerritt here's a couple links back to exhaust pics

Builds - The Guzzler - 2009 LX570

Passenger side a quick fix. Just twisted the bracket off with some locking pliers. Two spot welds snap easily. Cut a contour with scissors and drill a couple holes. 10 min tops.

forum.ih8mud.com

Builds - The Guzzler - 2009 LX570

How has your AHC held up with the mods and that many miles? Also, what’s your oil of choice and interval? Thanks! Beautiful LX!

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[grinchy]

Finally close to the end of the painting. 5 min of painting followed by 1 to 3 hours of dry. Wet sand. Repeat.

 

[grinchy]

Do you have any pictures of your ahc pump bracket? And did you have to cut any frame bits to install the bumper?

You went with a dissent rear right? I assume my “custom “ solution won’t be if use . . . If you still want some details let me know

 

[radman]

You went with a dissent rear right? I assume my “custom “ solution won’t be if use . . . If you still want some details let me know

Yea, apparently it will come with everything I need. I asked that question before I had ordered, in case I needed to rig something up on my own.

 

[grinchy]

Got the factory skids uninstalled today, and the first bracket for the transfer case crossmember up. Then got called in to fix a light switch.

got a couple pic of the truck in H

 

[grinchy]

Got the transfer skid and belly pan on today.

transfer skid
A minor fitment issue at the Driver frame rail as the slider is 1/4 thicker than stock Frame, pushing the brace down. Thought about notching the slider but It is so much work to remove. Instead filed the hole on the support about 1/8 taller. Plan to go back later and drill out the ear, there is a rivnut underneath and using that will offset any small issue with the larger hole.
the diesel tank slightly different shape I guess, two mid brace holes have no backing, this is no big deal.
bracket and small lollipop no problem.
fts and looks perfect. Very pleased.
maintenance hole allows gear oil change without removal