First Lexus Wheeler in the club

[Desert Dog]

Curtis is transferring to the University of Montana, and moving to Montana in late August and will live there for the next two years (or more). His Detroit-locked 4-banger Jeep with a soft top is a horrible vehicle for a place that has snow on the ground for 6 months out of the year. So I was looking for an all wheel drive vehicle that had a good low range and is reliable. Everyone told me that the FZJ80 Landcruisers are the "gold standard" for this type of vehicle (solid front axle, big full-float rear axle, full-time with a good low range, coil springs at all 4 corners, bulletproof engine and trans, big 4-wheel disc brakes, and fits big tires with minimal lift). So I was looking for a cheap FZJ80 or LX450 (an FJ80 with leather, all power, and a Lexus grill).

I found a guy selling an LX450 for cheap that looked to be in awesome shape. He said he couldn't smog it because of a check engine light and that it was leaking fluid. So, I talked him down way low because he had to sell fast and nobody wants to buy a car that will not smog.

So after a $140 power steering pump and a $180 EGR valve, it smogged with flying colors and no leaks! Engine runs strong and compression is great for a 97. I know, it won't go the places that his Jeep can, but it is a better suited vehicle to his current needs.


Stock LX450 in the driveway;
[url=http://s867.photobucket.com/user/mstranglr/media/lexus.jpg.html][img]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab237/mstranglr/lexus.jpg[/img][/url]


After a few hundred dollars in repairs, Smogs like a brand new vehicle:
[url=http://s867.photobucket.com/user/mstranglr/media/lexus3.jpg.html][img]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab237/mstranglr/lexus3.jpg[/img][/url]


Installed a 2" Old Man Emu lift and 33" Toyo MTs:
[url=http://s867.photobucket.com/user/mstranglr/media/lexus2.jpg.html][img]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab237/mstranglr/lexus2.jpg[/img][/url]


Test run:
[url=http://s867.photobucket.com/user/mstranglr/media/DSC01200.jpg.html][img]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab237/mstranglr/DSC01200.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=http://s867.photobucket.com/user/mstranglr/media/DSC01206.jpg.html][img]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab237/mstranglr/DSC01206.jpg[/img][/url]

We have an ARB bumper, Sliders, and a Slee belly pan on order. I am also going to fab some additional skid protection. This is turning out to be an awesome budget build. Way cheaper than a Jeep.

[Uncle Cracker]

WOW!!! can't believe "toyota" is coming out of [color=#80FF00]your[/color] mouth.

GOOD LUCK to bigfoot in Montana!! hopefully he sends pics back of his adventures
(and maybe a slightly wrinkled up Lexus )







P.S. SLEE is about the only folks putting out parts for these rigs. (that i've found)
old man emu makes a mediocre suspension kit (IMO) but that's about it.

[munepit]

That's awesome!!!!

[NinjasYota]

Nice, finally comin' round to the Yota way of thinkin' !! Haha

[Desert Dog]

[quote="NinjasYota"]Nice, finally comin' round to the Yota way of thinkin' !! Haha [/quote]
We needed to sacrifice Off-Road capability for better street manners and comfort without spending a lot of money. Toyota fit the bill nicely

He will miss his stretched Jeep on coil-overs; he still accidently waves at other Jeeps while driving the Lexus. Says he is getting a new one after college.

[quote="Uncle Cracker"]:WOW!!! can't believe "toyota" is coming out of [color=#80FF00]your[/color] mouth.[/quote]
You know I have always owned Toyotas? Drove a Tundra every day before getting my Ford a couple years ago. I buy Tundras at my business for our work trucks cause they run forever, Just bough a new one last month. My first 4x4 was an 81 toy, then I bought a 85 before selling it and getting a YJ.

But as far as a factory vehicle that can compete with a Jeep off-road; Toyota hasn't made one of those since 1985. So, everything they have made for the last 30 years is inferior to a Jeep on the trail (without extensive modification)

[Uncle Cracker]

i hate it when you do that

[cjjohn]

Nice rig! Looking forward to finished pics.

[Zak.Taylor]

That is a slick ride. Just a time bit of lift and some better rubber perked it up nicely.


Sent from my iPhone using [url=http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1]Tapatalk[/url]

[Burrt]

Bullet prof engines and trans. Well said I know it was hard for you to say lol. Being a jeep guy now. I knew you had deep toyota ROOTS in ya good buy Rogers.

[Uncle Cracker]

any updated pics yet?

[Desert Dog]

[quote="Uncle Cracker"]:redX:

any updated pics yet?[/quote]

Lifted it 1 more inch in the front and added an ARB bumper.

[attachment=0]20140611_072950-1.jpg[/attachment]

[munepit]

Sits perfect! I predict lots of humping in the back in Montana. In the mountains!

Hope it has good shocks!