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Ultimate Rust / Undercarriage Thread (3 Viewers)
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My 05 LC with 158k looked like this when I bought it last April. It's not bad but I've snapped some bolts and I'm going to have to replace the fuel tank skid and front skid sooner than later. If I were to do it all over I'd consider flying out to get one with the least rust and drive it back.
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Where do you get this kit? Do you have a link or a good place to buy it?
The only major rust I had on my 2003 LC (which lived in Vermont and Illinois before I bought it) was the Fuel Tank Skid Plate and the front skid. I found a wrecked LC on eBay and bought the Fuel Tank Skid Plate for $100 (see photos in my media library, was in great condition!). I cleaned it up and repainted it.
I haven’t started looking for the front skid yet, although that was in much better shape than my fuel tank skid.
Also, although my fuel tank skid looked terrible on the bottom (and the back 1/8 was completely gone), the top side was actually rust free. I might have been able to salvage it. I didn’t like the fact part of it was missing, though.
I’ve also scraped any surface rust and coated most of the bottom with some 3M rubberized undercoating.
3M 03584 Professional Grade Rubberized Undercoating - 16 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002H9CMCQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FHE7AbKEY6SB1
In this pic you can see the coating, plus the original rusty fuel tank skid cover.
Hopefully this will help me extend the life of my truck, living in the Northeast.
I haven’t started looking for the front skid yet, although that was in much better shape than my fuel tank skid.
Also, although my fuel tank skid looked terrible on the bottom (and the back 1/8 was completely gone), the top side was actually rust free. I might have been able to salvage it. I didn’t like the fact part of it was missing, though.
I’ve also scraped any surface rust and coated most of the bottom with some 3M rubberized undercoating.
3M 03584 Professional Grade Rubberized Undercoating - 16 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002H9CMCQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FHE7AbKEY6SB1
In this pic you can see the coating, plus the original rusty fuel tank skid cover.
Hopefully this will help me extend the life of my truck, living in the Northeast.
If everything else checks out, I do not think mileage is a concern. I think other members would agree.
I have a 2006 LX with 319k. Full Lexus records one owner when I bought it at ~300k. I didn’t hesitate one second.
Thank you @rroverbkk ! This is super helpful... On the first LX470 (2005, 95k miles) I got more detailed photos today - I had it lifted. I'm convinced at this point to go with higher miles and no rust. Take a look at the photos just for curiosity purposes. 
Dave, that almost looks like some kind of rubberized undercoating was used on that vehicle and is flaking off. I've never seen an LX undercarriage flake that bad, even with much more rust than that vehicle seems to have.
Dave no prob. The choice seems clear with one caveat:
While rust is a bad thing, in this forum it’s like rust slept with your wife. And your sister.
It’s easy to say “go to Texas find a rust free car” but for some of us who live up north it’s just not that easy. I have 2 100 series trucks, some rust here or there - but I trust these things to last longer even with the rust than I will probably ever own them. That’s for well-taken care of trucks aka washed regularly (because we’ve all seen total garbage trucks out there).
I want to keep my trucks running for a long time, but I’m not looking to get another 10-20 years out of the thing. So to me, paying something like 16-20k for a “rust free” LX when I can get a “decent” one for 6-12k is not a choice. I’ll probably drive for 2-4 years and lose a couple thousand when the time comes and move on. Same as if I had chosen the rust free version, except without the initial capital outlay.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that barring a total piece of crap, these things will last.
Oh, and buy that higher mileage one that looks great. (I think i just contradicted myself but you know what I mean)
While rust is a bad thing, in this forum it’s like rust slept with your wife. And your sister.
It’s easy to say “go to Texas find a rust free car” but for some of us who live up north it’s just not that easy. I have 2 100 series trucks, some rust here or there - but I trust these things to last longer even with the rust than I will probably ever own them. That’s for well-taken care of trucks aka washed regularly (because we’ve all seen total garbage trucks out there).
I want to keep my trucks running for a long time, but I’m not looking to get another 10-20 years out of the thing. So to me, paying something like 16-20k for a “rust free” LX when I can get a “decent” one for 6-12k is not a choice. I’ll probably drive for 2-4 years and lose a couple thousand when the time comes and move on. Same as if I had chosen the rust free version, except without the initial capital outlay.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that barring a total piece of crap, these things will last.
Oh, and buy that higher mileage one that looks great. (I think i just contradicted myself but you know what I mean)
Another newbie here. In the process of buying a 2005 LX470 from the first owner. I knew the owner for a long time, he passed away and his family is selling the car. It has 76.000 miles on it and it was kept in a garage when not used. The paint and interior is in very good shape. It was mostly used in Brooklyn, NY and has some rust underneath due to the salt on the roads. Not sure if it's a lot of rust or not. Hope it's not too much. Any feedback is appreciated.
Will take better photos soon.
Will take better photos soon.
Dude thats nothing man. That looks like a summer car in terms of NY and salt. How much $? Low mileage and no rust. Looks good.
$14.000 What do you think?
Thats a $25k truck on dealer lots. Easy $25k. Would buy. Its a bargain provided good history.
I agree, that is very clean.
I guess I will need to do some wire-brush rust cleaning and to avoid further rust do undercoating maybe?
Don't even waste your time. Just Fluid Film everything and call it a day.
Hey all, sorry I dropped of the map for a bit here. But, during my search I found a 2005 LX470 that may be the winner. 129k miles, 2005, 16,000k. See images of the undercarriage. Thoughts guys?
I didn't get a nice shot of the outside - so here's a similar year/colour photo. The body is in good shape like this one, just so you can get an idea.
