Zasta’s LX470 build (2 Viewers)

[Zasta]

Proud recently new owner of a 2000 LX470 with 247,000ish miles, figured I’d make a “build” thread of all the repairs/mods.

After looking for a 100 series cruiser locally in the Midwest for a couple months and looking at a few that were rust buckets, in October 2020 I found this 2000 LX470 out in Virginia at a used car dealer

Owner was extremely helpful and put it up on a lift to show me the underside and tested the oil pressure manually (gauge was inop)

So like a madman told him I’d take it and flew out there on a Friday.


Little rust on the weld seams but amazing compared to anything local.

Seller was nice enough to pick me up at the airport and take a 45min test drive back to the dealership, I was instantly sold on the ride quality.

After paperwork and getting temp plates it was around 5pm. quick stop at Walmart for supplies and started on the 1,064 mile drive home.

 

[Zasta]

I’d never been to Virginia before it’s a pretty place.

Headlight bulbs have been replaced with some LEDs

Drove till about 3am then slept in the back at a rest stop.

This happens so fast

That day made it to my sisters house in MO and home on Sunday afternoon.

Trip was mostly uneventful discovering all the little things that didn’t work, lumbar switch blows the 40a fuse and kills power windows, locks, seat adjust, steering wheel adjust. that caused a brief period of wondering what garbage pile I just bought.

But thanks to this forum I was able to zero in on the problem fast.

 

[TheForger]

That undercarriage is CLEAN!

 

[yngmrostrvile]

Great color and no need to remove steps!

 

[Zasta]

list of repairs and mods I’ve done or need to do.

First up discovered a exhaust manifold crack on the drivers side, couldn’t hear it with the windows up (that Lexus sound proofing) good 6 hour first project.

Steering wheel was the typical cracked disgusting mess so replaced that with a ebay Taiwan special, talked with a local upholstery place about getting it wrapped with leather that matches better but haven’t had a chance to get it dropped off with him yet.

Interior light LEDs since a few where burned out.

 

[Zasta]

Had the AC control circuit board apart to solder in new switches since a few were almost non responsive.

Something with the serpentine belt was making a bunch of noise so I figured the idlers needed replaced and I was right.


Installed new belt tensioner, idler, and belt.

About this time I ran over part of someone’s CV axle and punctured a tire.

No worries I’ll throw the spare on, look and there’s no tool kit in the car, it also has the stupid security thing in the lowering mechanism.

Ripped that out and refinished it.

 

[Zasta]

Bought a factory 200 series tool kit and jack off eBay, came in a hard plastic case but it fit perfectly in the storage cubby, also got a matching spare out of the ordeal at least it happened at home not someplace I actually needed the spare.

Swapped out the offending lumbar switch.

Removed some of the gross stick on fake wood.

And installed backup camera that’s integrated into one of the license plate lights, running the wire through the hatch was fun.

 

[menancyandsam]

What LED bulbs did you go with. And was there any fitment issues.

 

[Zasta]

Center console was missing the blanking plate, cupholders and some of its screws so picked up a back section and new trim screws from Toyota.

Nasty und

Someone had oversprayed tan I’m assuming trying to make worn seats look better (both bottoms have been replaced at some point) so cleaned that off the plastic

Media blaster is a blessing.

 

[Zasta]

What LED bulbs did you go with. And was there any fitment issues.

Headlights or interior?

Plastics all scrubbed in sink to remove spilled soda and god knows what else.

Painted supports with stainless steel spray paint and made a pigtail for rear USB port off the original rear AV wires.

New shifter surrounds and LED backlights for everything.

also properly screwed in center console.

 

[Zasta]

Cause of the none working oil pressure gauge.

Cut, soldered, covered with heat shrink tubing and covered with a new protective sleeve.

Routed it better so it’s held away from the serpentine belt, and dash all works!!

 

[menancyandsam]

Headlight LED's Any blinding or fitment issues.

 

[Zasta]

All new front sway bar end links, bushings and bolts.
Bolts for the large bushing on passenger side were very rusted and a pain to remove all the rest took 10 mins.
Fixed a clunk.

And after doing the front just bought every related bolt for the back.

Pulled the under drivers side dash all apart last weekend, removed all these random wires

Installed a AHC speed sensor override switch.

Cleaned and reattached the AC sensor, it was just shoved back under the dash.

Also changed and bled the AHC fluid really didn’t look too bad.

 

[Zasta]

Headlight LED's Any blinding or fitment issues.

Those were there when I bought it, I’ll try to see what they are when I get a chance, they’re really bright.

Tire shop said I needed a upper ball joint so have the related parts for doing all four coming.

Is this Stance?

 

[suprarx7nut]

Nice work. Looks like that car is in good hands.

 

[MJK]

^^^ agreed, and love the color. Welcome!

 

[Zasta]

Nice work. Looks like that car is in good hands.

^^^ agreed, and love the color. Welcome!

Thanks, you guys make it easy with all the how to’s and videos.

>got one of your key cases, one of the cruisers we checked out before finding this one my wife snapped the key off in the ignition.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Thanks, you guys make it easy with all the how to’s and videos.

>got one of your key cases, one of the cruiser we checked out before finding this one my wife snapped the key off in the ignition.

Happy to contribute to the community knowledge base!

Yeah, I should probably play up the possibility of unexpected failure. I felt that was a bit over the top, but more than a handful of people have told me theirs just snapped clean off with no warning.

 

[molonlabemike]

Congrats on the new ride! Looks like your well on the way to making that rig awesome and functional again.

 

[Zasta]

Had a chance to play around in the snow this weekend, this truck is awesome. Even helped pull a jeep out.