Wheeling Fork In The Road. What to Build?

[TroutRunner]

Hello Fellow Mudders,

I’m at a bit of a change in my wheeling life. I have a 96LX450 with armor, 3” lift on 33’s, sub tank, freezer/fridge that I have had for 20 years. Still love it and it does most everything I have wanted it to do.

I also wheeled a tube buggy on 40’s for over 10 years but sold it when the kids outgrew the back seat and then they moved away to college.

The LX450 is pretty old now but not giving me any big problems but it is definitely worn but I still have taken it on 3-5 hour 1 way road trips and wheeled it, even a few weeks ago in Moab in over 100 degree weather. I live in Four Corners NM and Ouray/Silverton is my backyard. I’ve contemplated what to do with the 450 knowing that all of the components are now 30 years old. I can’t really imagine replacing everything but have contemplated a rebuild of the motor now that I’m over 225K miles.

I have a 2008 LC200 with 300K miles. It is pretty clean and has zero mechanical issues. I was thinking about building it to match or mildly surpass the LX450. I want to go 35’s and have seen the issues with doing that on a suspension lift alone. I’ve been looking heavy at getting some portals, running the 35’s and doing belly armor. I think this would be a smooth way to maintain the factory suspension and full IFS flex, although expensive. I’d probably do lockers as well.

I see always moving quickly through the Ouray/Silverton stuff and then a once a year Moab trip. Ialso go hunting/camping as time allows. I do some of the trails in Farmington, NM but mostly just to hike in the canyons these days. I don’t rock crawl and grind like I used to.

For those who may of been in my same situation what to do? I know it’s really up to me, but I want to hear some opinions or regrets from people that may have been where I am.

1. Rebuild the LX450 engine and components, if rebuilt may throw on a 4 inch lift and go 35’s.
2. Build the LC200, portals 35’s, then I have 2 good trail vehicles for family and friends to participate as well.

Complicating things, I also have a LX570 100K miles that could be built as well, but it just seems to nice right now to do that and I would then need to find a long haul replacement vehicle.


Thanks,

TR

 

[Heckraiser]

Portals are crazy $$$ and overkill for what you're trying to do. They also add a layer of complexity and maintenance to the rig. I'd just throw that idea out the window unless you've got a lot of money laying around. Portals on a 300k mile rig just seems like a weird decision to me. Don't get me wrong, it would be cool, just in no way practical.

Honestly, I could go either way in your shoes. I bought my 200 when I still had my aging 80 series. When the 80 finally kicked the bucket at 340k miles, I was torn between engine swap, rebuild, get another 80 or build up my LX570 to be a comparable wheeler. I chose the LX570 option because it seemed like the path of least resistance, but I still do miss the 80. The 80 will always be the better off-roader, but the 200 is better at everything else. You can fit 35's with stock suspension or a mild lift (no need for portals, lol). They would help with the 200's generally crappy ground clearance, but skid plates are a lot cheaper

 

[TroutRunner]

Most of the lifts to fit 35's I've seen have trouble with the kdss bars and then you have cv issues. I looked at the tundra front swap and the total chose long arms and when you start adding everything up and then still have clearence issues, the pricing starts to get closer.

I also don't like the idea of lifting IFS and loosing tire travel, probably a throwback from a great solid axle 80 series. Really have been spoiled with the 80 and a full on rock buggy.

Great points, they are the ones I'm trying to work through.

 

[pismojim]

If I may, let me make it more difficult...

Finally put my '24 GX550 OT+ onto some proper trails since modifications last week. It worked great and met every hope and expectation. Sure, the 200 series could/has done it, so has the 80, but getting out in a "new" and different vehicle was a fun change. Nimble and confident on the rocks with great visibility. Very good traction control (didn't use the factory locker). Fast on the bumpy easy trails. A blast to push the twin turbos on high mountains (10,000 ft.) Not trading the 200, 80 or the 40, (apples and oranges) but it we're going wheeling I'm taking the GX.

Goose Lake, Beartooth Mountains, MT

Multiple choice:

 

[Heckraiser]

Most of the lifts to fit 35's I've seen have trouble with the kdss bars and then you have cv issues. I looked at the tundra front swap and the total chose long arms and when you start adding everything up and then still have clearence issues, the pricing starts to get closer.

I also don't like the idea of lifting IFS and loosing tire travel, probably a throwback from a great solid axle 80 series. Really have been spoiled with the 80 and a full on rock buggy.

Great points, they are the ones I'm trying to work through.

Narrow 35's work on the LC200 with a KDSS relocate. Or your LX570 does not have KDSS interference to worry about. If properly clearanced and set up, no lift required to fit a 35 on either platform, you'll just have a narrower range of acceptable tire width and wheel offsets in the LC compared to the LX.

 

[TroutRunner]

Love that GX. I've driven that and the 600/700h.

Your spirit of having more power is what intrigues me about the 200 builld. The 80 is a dog, my buggy was 400hp and ripped everything. A build in the middle with some road manners would be awesome. That said, I need some height and tire to make the lc200 a middle between the 80 and the buggy.

I said no rock crawling but I do like trails like Behind the Rocks and always find myself taking the harder routes. When I say not rock crawling, my reference is buggy crawling.

 

[bloc]

That mileage on a 1FZ doesn't scream rebuild to me. Mine had around 300k when I pulled it for the v8 and yeah, it was slow.. but it didn't need a rebuild.

Has anyone stepped into the void left by Joey and his scamming? Meaning is anyone doing 1FZ turbo kits?

I love my 200 but if I lived where you did and already had a built 80 I'd be focusing on that. Portals are cool as hell but IMO too new on the scene. For the cost I'd want to see other people's long-term experience with them before taking the plunge.

 

[TroutRunner]

I saw it mentioned before about maintenance and complexity for portals. The 5K mile oil changes are very small amounts. It's just a gearbox. I think unimogs have had them and pinzgauers have had portals, i guess I should look to see what the failures in this specific part has been.

Where I live, I've got a buddy who is ultra 4, runs portals on both race rigs and on multiple Broncos and a really cool single seat crawler. Not quite apples to apples since he's a racer and gets parts through sponsorship, but I don't think the portals have ever been a limiting factor for any of his rides.

Do others know of any other issues? It's kind of old tech to be honest.

 

[HSTexan]

As someone who has gone down the portal route, take whatever you think you'll spend on it and multiply it by 1.5 or 2x to get some actual costs. I would agree with everyone else it sounds overkill for your scenario. I also personally think going through the time, money, and effort for that and sticking to 35s is not close to worth it. Maintenance so far has been no big deal IMO, but I'm also only about 6K miles into the journey and have only had to change the fluid once outside of the break in. I also still daily drive mine and it's fine on the road.

If I were in your position I'd build the 80 out because it sounds like a ton of fun. If you want to do a build on the 200 I think you'd be surprised what a mild lift, some 33-34s, and some armor will do. Pre-portals I never once felt limited out in Colorado on any of the trails

 

[pismojim]

@TroutRunner re-read your post to better understand what you want. Still not sure but you have a nice collection all of which will have your back no matter what.

So I'd say it's time for some fun LS horsepower in the LX450. Skip rebuilds and 35s go for 37s or 40s and Hp. Beef up the stuff that's going to break and trim all the weight you can and still enjoy a 3-5 hour drive. Basically, smash the old buggy and 450 together keeping your favorite parts of each. If it doesn't work out, you have some nice backups. Poor judgement is your friend. OK, maybe I'm projecting.

Have fun!

 

[Fisher23]

Myself I would build the LC200 keep it classy (not too radical) and run 34's or 35's.
Sell the LX and get a new Buggy like the new Honda Talon.

 

[bloc]

So I'd say it's time for some fun LS horsepower in the LX450. Skip rebuilds and 35s go for 37s or 40s and Hp. Beef up the stuff that's going to break and trim all the weight you can and still enjoy a 3-5 hour drive. Basically, smash the old buggy and 450 together keeping your favorite parts of each. If it doesn't work out, you have some nice backups. Poor judgement is your friend. OK, maybe I'm projecting.

Have fun!

Great point. I have said about a thousand times.. if I lived closer to the trails I’d use it on there’s no way I would have sold my L92 80 series. It was awesome.

This was using the original airbox on stock gears with 315s