Builds Whisker 06 Build / Owner Thread (13 Viewers)

[mwhisker]

I guess now is a good time as ever to "start" my own build / ownership thread!

I bought my GX from Infinity of Denver back in December 2018 with 110k miles. Pretty clean 2 owner, CO vehicle its whole life. Lexus service history to 95k, and carfax service points from 95-110k mark. TB/WP done close to 76k and a few other things, so all was well with this one!

I was sold on a GX well before I bought one. Held out for about 2 months looking for a White, non-nav 06+, but couldn't find one for the life of me. So I "settled" for the nav version, but since records were clean I was happy.

Current parts / specs:
Dobinsons 2" Lift
SCS F5 Wheels
Falken Wildpeak's 285/70
GX460 F/R Calipers
20% Ceramic tint
BMC
DIY Drifta Style Drawers / Sleeping Platform
STEDI 7" Type-X LED Driving Lights
Non-Nav Conversion w/ Prado unit from Australia
Sony AX5000 head unit w/ Natika reverse cam
Diode Dynamics SS3 fog lights
RSG Sliders

Wants & 'Needs':
Swing Out Bumper
Skid Plates



The night I took it home:

On Black Friday, previously to owning the GX, I had bought the Dobinson's 2" lift from Brennan @ Apache with the SSO coil conversion. Along with it, I ordered Falken Wildpeak AT3W's 285/70/17 with SCS F5's -10. I installed the front lift along with wheels and tires by the end of the following week that I had purchased it.

At this point, I did not install the rear springs as the garage at work is only 6'3" ish. With the airbag trick in the rear, I was less than an inch from the crossbars scraping the pillars in the garage! So I left it as-is.

Being from CO, I ski/snowboard quite a bit so I had my Inno racks box on and off quite a bit. Two weeks after purchase, here's how she sat:

Exploring Idaho Springs sometime in February:

It was also around this time, I changed all the fluids as well. Motor to synthetic & Amsoil severe gear in the diffs and tcase.

 

[mwhisker]

A week after the Idaho Springs exploring, I finally removed the ugly side steps.

It stayed this way until May of this year. That is when I had Baker Garage install the rear Dobinson's Springs & SSO kit. I also started building the Drifta Style drawers from Expedition Portal.

(Yes, my mini level is pink, it works wonderful!! lol)

Cameo of the doggo hanging on the platform while I was buttoning things up.

Front bumper chop happened June 2019. Left the tabs as I was pressed for time, so they are still there even though I know I dont need them!

 

[mwhisker]

Have been camping & very light (moderate trails) offroading since. Here is my buddy and I on the Yankee Hill trail connecting St. Mary's Glacier and Black Hawk.

 

[mwhisker]

Which brings us to today. I am approaching my 120k service (at 117k miles currently), so I have ordered most parts I need including:

Denso Spark Plugs from Rock Auto
Engine Air Filter
Cabin Air Filter
GX460 Calipers
Premium Centric 460/470 Rotors
Stoptech SS Brake Lines

When I had my front alignment done after first installing the Dobs lift, I was informed that one of my cam sleeves was seized. I left it as is until today, so I ordered:
OEM cam parts from Partsouq ($103 to my door)
OEM LCA's; I ordered them separately because one eBay seller had a genuine brand new RH LCA listed for $100 buy it now (I checked, it was the only one, sorry guys!!), and I did not hesitate to snag that. The other was from a seller in Dubai and got that one for $289 shipped to my door. So for my LCAs & new cam kit, I am only $492 in, which is far cheaper than anywhere else I have found.

I'll be installing all that stuff in the next few weeks along with oil change/etc.

 

[isthatalexus]

Awesome stuff, Whisker. Are you looking into rear bumper/swing-out device? If so, where are you looking?

 

[mwhisker]

Awesome stuff, Whisker. Are you looking into rear bumper/swing-out device? If so, where are you looking?

Yeah, I would definitely love a swing-out. Currently doing the deflated full size in the stock location. I am more of a minimalist in terms of style, so it is hard for me to love most of what out there. I don't like the MT Pegasus bumper (no diss to those that do!). I really love Ben's work from Dissent, and his rear bumper would be my number 1, even though he is not producing them due to lack of demand from the GXer's. So I think the others would be the Mountain Pass mini-max or Coastal offroad. But I haven't learned how to weld so that deters me from the Coastal.

 

[isthatalexus]

Yeah, I would definitely love a swing-out. Currently doing the deflated full size in the stock location. I am more of a minimalist in terms of style, so it is hard for me to love most of what out there. I don't like the MT Pegasus bumper (no diss to those that do!). I really love Ben's work from Dissent, and his rear bumper would be my number 1, even though he is not producing them due to lack of demand from the GXer's. So I think the others would be the Mountain Pass mini-max or Coastal offroad. But I haven't learned how to weld so that deters me from the Coastal.

My minimalism instincts don't extend to the GX, so my field is a bit more open. Pegasus feels like the only game in town. I have been trying to work an angle with whoever holds the assets in the RPMFab bankruptcy. I'd be willing to buy their design and find a shop willing to start building them. NB: that one is also very bulky. I have the RPMFab sliders (weld-on), and I'm pretty sure we could hang the truck from either of them.

 

[mwhisker]

My minimalism instincts don't extend to the GX, so my field is a bit more open. Pegasus feels like the only game in town. I have been trying to work an angle with whoever holds the assets in the RPMFab bankruptcy. I'd be willing to buy their design and find a shop willing to start building them. NB: that one is also very bulky. I have the RPMFab sliders (weld-on), and I'm pretty sure we could hang the truck from either of them.

Yeah, it's tough! This is my first lifted & offroad vehicle I've done, so I haven't quite gone all-in on forgiving the minimalist/clean look. Here is the car I sold for the GX (and all cars before this were of similar style).

As the GX continues to grow in popularity, I can only imagine that those that first offered rear bumpers will be more inclined to offer again, or open up for new players/manufacturing like what you want to do.

 

[isthatalexus]

Yeah, it's tough! This is my first lifted & offroad vehicle I've done, so I haven't quite gone all-in on forgiving the minimalist/clean look. Here is the car I sold for the GX (and all cars before this were of similar style).

View attachment 2065415

As the GX continues to grow in popularity, I can only imagine that those that first offered rear bumpers will be more inclined to offer again, or open up for new players/manufacturing like what you want to do.

That is some sick Ingolstadt goodness right there!

 

[mwhisker]

Installed some 7” STEDI driving lights into the grille. $398 for the pair shipped to my door, 10,956 lumen each. Headed to Moab Nov 7-11 so get to see them actually in use then!

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

That's awesome!

I'm pretty sure your hood struts are going to disagree, but that's unique, tasteful and cleanly executed! Well done!

 

[mwhisker]

That's awesome!

I'm pretty sure your hood struts are going to disagree, but that's unique, tasteful and cleanly executed! Well done!

They absolutely can't hold the new weight. Nothing a 2x4 cant fix while looking at my options, as mine are still the originals from 13 years ago.

 

[GXO]

4x4Labs rear bumper. Wild be my choice if I had to build today

 

[Augustiron]

I was scrolling down to respond with the same thing.
Luke's stuff @ 4x4 labs is killer and you can get the raw kit to weld yourself, get a bare ready to paint one, a finished powdercoated one or even get it installed if you can get to NorCal.

 

[mwhisker]

Yeah I like the 4x

4x4Labs rear bumper. Wild be my choice if I had to build today

I was scrolling down to respond with the same thing.
Luke's stuff @ 4x4 labs is killer and you can get the raw kit to weld yourself, get a bare ready to paint one, a finished powdercoated one or even get it installed if you can get to NorCal.

I definitely like the 4x4labs look. I think my “dream” is to have stellar build one of their slim swing outs like this one they did:

But since I’m nowhere near Sacramento, I’d have to recreate and could just do the one from Steve/mountain pass, and either have his swing out or do just the bumper portion + the JW/Becky carrier.

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

They absolutely can't hold the new weight. Nothing a 2x4 cant fix while looking at my options, as mine are still the originals from 13 years ago.

For years I used one of those aluminum tube handles that broke into sections from a Swiffer broom for my M3 track car.

Not sure you can still buy aluminum handle Swiffers, but if you can find one, it's perfect.

Edit: home depot has them

 

[Gazziza]

Yeah I like the 4x



I definitely like the 4x4labs look. I think my “dream” is to have stellar build one of their slim swing outs like this one they did:
View attachment 2120406
But since I’m nowhere near Sacramento, I’d have to recreate and could just do the one from Steve/mountain pass, and either have his swing out or do just the bumper portion + the JW/Becky carrier.

Check out Envision Fabrication. They built a very similar setup for a 4th gen. Best of all, they're located in Denver!!!

Envision Fabrication, Denver. (@envision_fabrication) • Instagram photos and videos

1,185 Followers, 67 Following, 115 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Envision Fabrication, Denver. (@envision_fabrication)

www.instagram.com

 

[mwhisker]

I’ve been silent on my own thread for far too long. So here’s an update!

Added a new camp partner. 8 month old, 85lb Black Lab with rare double recessive gene for the long coat (not a flat coated retriever).

Removed the stock fogs and replaced with Diode Dynamics SS3’s with the fog light switch mod. This things are crazy bright!

Recently during this whole work from home quarantine here in Denver, I had found some time to do the Non-nav conversion with a 2006 unit from Australia. Everything works flawlessly and don’t mind about the temp being in Celsius or the temp up/down being flipped. Chew marks courtesy of the new pup.
Wanted to paint match the trim pieces, but didn't want to go stand in HD / Ace trying to find a color match during our Stay in pace orders.

And finally, yesterday (3/26) I ordered a set of RSG sliders! Should be ready in the next few weeks as my configuration wasn’t in stock. Took advantage of their March sale and they’re local so save on shipping!

 

[ncrockinfj]

Recently during this whole work from home quarantine here in Denver, I had found some time to do the Non-nav conversion with a 2006 unit from Australia. Everything works flawlessly and don’t mind about the temp being in Celsius or the temp up/down being flipped. Chew marks courtesy of the new pup.
Wanted to paint match the trim pieces, but didn't want to go stand in HD / Ace trying to find a color match during our Stay in pace orders.

View attachment 2250635

How'd you source the non-nav? I'm coming from a 100 series and they were so hard to come by for a conversion.

 

[mwhisker]

How'd you source the non-nav? I'm coming from a 100 series and they were so hard to come by for a conversion.

Just through eBay Australia. Didnt search part #, just year + any combo of prado 120, heater, aircon, ac controls