Finally getting undercoated. This shop is using the new Woolwax product.
What have you done to your 200 Series this week? (11 Viewers)
- Thread starter MScruiser
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Looks like you painted the remaining bumper to match the steel one. You have more pics of that? Considering buying a cheap replacement bumper and doing something similar
Last edited:
PhuckItImDone
SILVER Star
Ended up having this done today as well, didn't take any pics though, was busy BSing as I usually am.
Washed it, then 30K maintenance. Front/rear diffs and transfer case oil, oil change, air filter, driveshafts greased, tires rotated.
The diffs and transfer case were probably a little overkill at 30K but I have done a lot of Moab trips towing a trailer in that time.
Also fluid filmed it to prep for winter. We don't have any shops that do it out here so I try to remember to get it done in October so I'm not crawling around a freezing garage floor in November. Took 6 cans.
Then I got bit by the car shopping bug, you know how it is
My wife has been talking about how fun it would be to have a defender or something similar with a soft top just to cruise around with the boys. I saw this '76 FJ40 pop up locally for $7500 and had to go check it out. It ran great and I've always wanted a patina yellow 40 but it was just a little too much of a project for me so I had to pass.
Then we've also wanted to drive a new 300 series (LX600) but the wait times have been up to a year if you ordered one. A local Lexus dealer just happened to have 2 on their lot for the first time this week so we drove them both.
Not trying to start any arguments cause I know the 300 and 250 are heated topics (not as bad as EV tho haha) but here are my observations as a 200 owner:
I liked the LX600 a lot. Felt really nice inside - the seats, steering wheel, trim etc. all felt really lux. I'd say it's a little more comfortable, little more quiet and a little faster than the 200. As a mall crawler it would be great. The fold-flat rear seats are a nice touch too.
But on the flip side it's not enough of an upgrade that I would trade in my 200 for it. I plan on keeping that forever. And the way interest rates are going you're looking at a $2-3K/mo payment.. not doing that.
I also haven't really seriously researched the wastegate issue or any of the other first-year quirks. I don't like buying first model years
Anyway all that to say it's cool and if I had the money I would buy one for my wife and I would inherit her 200 and supercharge/long travel it.
- or - if I could somehow swap the front end with a 300 and get rid of that massive grill I could see myself scheming something - but you still have the Lexus d pillar...
The diffs and transfer case were probably a little overkill at 30K but I have done a lot of Moab trips towing a trailer in that time.
Also fluid filmed it to prep for winter. We don't have any shops that do it out here so I try to remember to get it done in October so I'm not crawling around a freezing garage floor in November. Took 6 cans.
Then I got bit by the car shopping bug, you know how it is
My wife has been talking about how fun it would be to have a defender or something similar with a soft top just to cruise around with the boys. I saw this '76 FJ40 pop up locally for $7500 and had to go check it out. It ran great and I've always wanted a patina yellow 40 but it was just a little too much of a project for me so I had to pass.
Then we've also wanted to drive a new 300 series (LX600) but the wait times have been up to a year if you ordered one. A local Lexus dealer just happened to have 2 on their lot for the first time this week so we drove them both.
Not trying to start any arguments cause I know the 300 and 250 are heated topics (not as bad as EV tho haha) but here are my observations as a 200 owner:
I liked the LX600 a lot. Felt really nice inside - the seats, steering wheel, trim etc. all felt really lux. I'd say it's a little more comfortable, little more quiet and a little faster than the 200. As a mall crawler it would be great. The fold-flat rear seats are a nice touch too.
But on the flip side it's not enough of an upgrade that I would trade in my 200 for it. I plan on keeping that forever. And the way interest rates are going you're looking at a $2-3K/mo payment.. not doing that.
I also haven't really seriously researched the wastegate issue or any of the other first-year quirks. I don't like buying first model years
Anyway all that to say it's cool and if I had the money I would buy one for my wife and I would inherit her 200 and supercharge/long travel it.
- or - if I could somehow swap the front end with a 300 and get rid of that massive grill I could see myself scheming something - but you still have the Lexus d pillar...
Took a quick trip out to Moab. I think I'm finally sold on the minivan after 2 years. We cut the trip a day short because we were overdoing it with my wife's recently broken foot--no good way to elevate it in the car or at camp. Ripping back home at 85mph and getting there by bedtime was a real game-changing experience.
I did the basic requisite trails since we were camped at sand flats--Hells and Fins. The minivan did pretty good. I took many of the tougher lines I used to do in the 80--some were just not doable, but most made it through OK. With the new Mickey Thompsons and lockers, it was definitely not wanting for traction, but ground clearance was a bit of an issue. Lots of new scuffs on the bumpers, some frame hits and I bent my driver's side slider a little bit, both sliders missing lots of powder coat. AHC was surprisingly not as annoying as I was expecting (likely due to the new lighter load tires).
I never get any good wheeling pics.
![20231022_082013[1].jpg](https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachments/20231022_082013-1-jpg.3462108/ "20231022_082013[1].jpg")
Lots of this:
![20231019_123945[1].jpg](https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachments/20231019_123945-1-jpg.3462112/ "20231019_123945[1].jpg")
Parked with some of its brethren:
![20231019_203416[1].jpg](https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachments/20231019_203416-1-jpg.3462113/ "20231019_203416[1].jpg")
I did the basic requisite trails since we were camped at sand flats--Hells and Fins. The minivan did pretty good. I took many of the tougher lines I used to do in the 80--some were just not doable, but most made it through OK. With the new Mickey Thompsons and lockers, it was definitely not wanting for traction, but ground clearance was a bit of an issue. Lots of new scuffs on the bumpers, some frame hits and I bent my driver's side slider a little bit, both sliders missing lots of powder coat. AHC was surprisingly not as annoying as I was expecting (likely due to the new lighter load tires).
I never get any good wheeling pics.
Lots of this:
Parked with some of its brethren:
looks great
i offroaded all day fri and half day yesterday. i love the feel of the stock suspemsion
was out with a Bronco Raptor and 100 series with lift.
my 200 couldnt go few places due to lack of ground clearance
now i gotta see what i can do to gain some clearance while leaving factory butter smooth ride
What size tires are you on? Do you think 37s or so would give you enough clearance or you thinking body lift?looks great
i offroaded all day fri and half day yesterday. i love the feel of the stock suspemsion
was out with a Bronco Raptor and 100 series with lift.
my 200 couldnt go few places due to lack of ground clearance
now i gotta see what i can do to gain some clearance while leaving factory butter smooth ride
I’d still like to drive one just to see for myself. Maybe even find one on Turo for a day. Sitting in a couple it initially felt awkward. That being said I wonder if when the 300 Series refresh comes out maybe they take more cues from the new GX front end and apply them to the LX? Maybe an Overtrail LX will become a thing?- or - if I could somehow swap the front end with a 300 and get rid of that massive grill I could see myself scheming something - but you still have the Lexus d pillar...
i dont know enough about this to be honest.
I am running 275/65/18s
If I can go taller tires and get 2 inches - that is fine.
If I need suspension (bilsteins) for 2 inches thats fine.
Currently tires + suspension is fantastic. But need more ground clearance on so cal serious center rut offroad trails
Thus memebrs here with offroad experience- appreciate their input
Similar experience this summer. As much as I'd love something more off-road oriented I just can't get away from this thing.
Family of 4, towed my 4500lb trailer across Texas in 105 degree heat, then into the San Juans with ease.
One day we're driving Lime Creek road or Corkscrew Pass around Silverton. Next day we're cruising from Durango to Mesa Verde at 85+ mph in quiet comfort. Temps in the mid 90s with an ice cold cabin and cold air on our butts. Cold bottles of water right next to us.
It's just so good at so many things I can't let it go.
turbo8
Supporting Vendor
Tested the durability of my skids.
This was done on an old version of one of the skids.
22lr bounce off, 9mm make a nice dent. 5.56 go right through..:
This was done on an old version of one of the skids.
22lr bounce off, 9mm make a nice dent. 5.56 go right through..:
Greased my driveshafts. Used the lock n lube 90 degree coupler. Found a new 90 degree coupler that I plan to try next time as it’s a little more low profile. It’s the LNL 121. Removed victory transmission skid and used my two ramps. It sure would be nice to have a lift. Getting to old to be bending in crazy ways in that small space.
Compression adjuster on Dobinson MRA is totally stuck, so I removed the coilover and will send it back to Dobinson’s to get fixed. Bummed to have the 200 out of commission for a bit
The TJM T13 bumper comes with a filler panel so none of the factory bumper is utilized. I'd guess if you bought an unpainted bumper you could just install it as is and it'd look similar.
New shoes and a engine clean!
Finally got around to changing the oil on our 14. Did the air and cabin filters, Cleaned the battery cables had some bad corrosion. Took off connections and soaked in baking soda water mix, worked great and wire brushed w terminal wire brush tool. Put is back together and sprayed w the purple battery sealer. Sucks doing maintenance in a dirt driveway! Drove up on some 2x and 3x6 to make it easier. Took all skids off to inspect and cleaned them good before reinstalling.
Our truck has around 90k & an stock mall cruiser w 285/65-18’s Bfg Ko2’s on stock wheels love this setup! It’s my Wife’s dd but I’ve had it off-road in Moab, Mt., Wy. ect. but super mild stuff. I really like to go National parks and find the less traveled Unpaved areas especially off season.
Next up as I’ve been reading here is the front and rear diffs and transfer case fluid changes. Also learning about lubing driveshafts. I’m really sick of paying $$ to shops and stealerships that don’t care as much as we do about our own rigs!
Our truck has around 90k & an stock mall cruiser w 285/65-18’s Bfg Ko2’s on stock wheels love this setup! It’s my Wife’s dd but I’ve had it off-road in Moab, Mt., Wy. ect. but super mild stuff. I really like to go National parks and find the less traveled Unpaved areas especially off season.
Next up as I’ve been reading here is the front and rear diffs and transfer case fluid changes. Also learning about lubing driveshafts. I’m really sick of paying $$ to shops and stealerships that don’t care as much as we do about our own rigs!
bloc
SILVER Star
New battery terminals aren't very expensive if you want to get back to stock corrosion prevention coating and avoid the goop.
It is so funny, how grass is always greener.
Living in the suburb with 4 car garage and concrete driveway, I rather have more property and mountains and nature as is depicted in your photos
Had some 3/16” steel bar laying around that was predrilled. This is what I ended up with after bit of cutting, shaping, and painting. Easy to fab up something like these with any metal laying around.
Did the first oil change on ours today. It did not go well. At all. Probably the worst simple oil change ive ever performed. Started with every single bolt in the skid plate being seized up. I couldn't budge any of them except one with the normal 8" ratchet that I use and the one that did budge went ahead and snapped off just to let me know how it felt about things.
Soaked them in some PB blaster hoping that would help. It helped a little but I still had to go through and clean up all the threads of the bolts and holes just so I could put things back together.
I pulled the drain bolt and wasn't expecting the amount of oil came out at a pretty good speed. It hit the drain pan I had set out and jumped right out, soaking the passenger wheel, LCA, and brakes.
. Not to mention the nice oil stain free driveway ive managed to keep all these years. Luckily the oil filter housing was torqued to about 1,000ft.lb so that didn't add to the problem.
I seem to be getting better at turning 30 min jobs into 4 hour jobs. But it really makes me question whether the shop thats been doin my changes have actually been changing the oil filter. Those bolts in that skid plate were in the exact same shape at the other side. I don't see how they were able to remove it and get them back on every time.
Soaked them in some PB blaster hoping that would help. It helped a little but I still had to go through and clean up all the threads of the bolts and holes just so I could put things back together.
I pulled the drain bolt and wasn't expecting the amount of oil came out at a pretty good speed. It hit the drain pan I had set out and jumped right out, soaking the passenger wheel, LCA, and brakes.
. Not to mention the nice oil stain free driveway ive managed to keep all these years. Luckily the oil filter housing was torqued to about 1,000ft.lb so that didn't add to the problem.I seem to be getting better at turning 30 min jobs into 4 hour jobs. But it really makes me question whether the shop thats been doin my changes have actually been changing the oil filter. Those bolts in that skid plate were in the exact same shape at the other side. I don't see how they were able to remove it and get them back on every time.
