Box Rocket
Well-known member
Nice
Schattenjager's 1997 LX450
- Thread starter Schattenjager
- Start date
Wheelingnoob
Adventurer
Looking forward to doing the same with mine. Looks great!!
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
Suspension In
Update to keep the build fresh in my mind:
Fruitful day - got the springs, shocks, front spacers and steering stabilizer installed and removed the front sway bar. Worked from home so I alternated between the truck and the computer. Fun way to spend the day! I really appreciate how easy these 80's are to work on, PHH and fuel filters withstanding.
Went with heavy front, medium rear springs. Previous experience told me that spacers were required for this setup to keep the 'stock' stance. Ask for 'level' from some vendors and you will get a 30 minute dissertation on how there are no straight lines on the truck and I have to define 'level' for myself etc. I guess the right question is what keeps the attitude close to OEM?
The sway bar was leaving witness marks so I just removed it. Handling is great and I do not expect to re-install it. Simple matter if required.
This AM before the work began:
And after a day of hand tool flexing:
Looks like a toy:
Also installed the excellent Slee headlight upgrade harness. Makes the lights brighter and adding aux lighting a snap. Took about 5 minutes to install.
Update to keep the build fresh in my mind:
Fruitful day - got the springs, shocks, front spacers and steering stabilizer installed and removed the front sway bar. Worked from home so I alternated between the truck and the computer. Fun way to spend the day! I really appreciate how easy these 80's are to work on, PHH and fuel filters withstanding.
Went with heavy front, medium rear springs. Previous experience told me that spacers were required for this setup to keep the 'stock' stance. Ask for 'level' from some vendors and you will get a 30 minute dissertation on how there are no straight lines on the truck and I have to define 'level' for myself etc. I guess the right question is what keeps the attitude close to OEM?
The sway bar was leaving witness marks so I just removed it. Handling is great and I do not expect to re-install it. Simple matter if required.
This AM before the work began:
And after a day of hand tool flexing:
Looks like a toy:
Also installed the excellent Slee headlight upgrade harness. Makes the lights brighter and adding aux lighting a snap. Took about 5 minutes to install.
redthies
Renaissance Redneck
Looks great! Did you leave the rear spacers in? I would assume no, but it still looks a bit higher in the back. Mine is the same. Castor bushings or plates? If not, does it feel any different? I don't have castor bushings in mine and it is a bit "nervous" on the road. Seems to steer quicker than it wants to. Winch is next?
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
No castor bushes yet and seems to drive ok, but not great. Mine too is a little twitchy. I'm going to give it a week or so to settle in then re-examine it.
No spacers in the rear. New Slee units up front and there is still a little rake. Betting this settles in with a few miles on it.
Winch will wait until I'm back in America. I have the high lift and kit if something comes up prior.
No spacers in the rear. New Slee units up front and there is still a little rake. Betting this settles in with a few miles on it.
Winch will wait until I'm back in America. I have the high lift and kit if something comes up prior.
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
Happy to oblige
Took Atlas out to the Knick River to test his new life vest. Cruiser sure did its job - got us in the 'way out' and far from folks which made training a lot easier for him and relaxing for me. Couple of water crossings, rough terrain, GREAT pup - the makings of a wonderful day in my world. Sorry for the crap photos - so much to learn...
Took Atlas out to the Knick River to test his new life vest. Cruiser sure did its job - got us in the 'way out' and far from folks which made training a lot easier for him and relaxing for me. Couple of water crossings, rough terrain, GREAT pup - the makings of a wonderful day in my world. Sorry for the crap photos - so much to learn...
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Mauka2Makai
Explorer
Nice pics... I miss Alaska. Looks like your LX is coming along nicely. 
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
Storage:
Will likely build a low drawer system for this box to rest upon. This Action Packer actually works quite well. Things never stop changing: I had sworn off Action Packers and single large boxes, but look at me now! I have all the recovery kit at the bottom, and the rest serves at Atlas' toy chest. There is plenty of room beside it and I have it 'anchored' with a tie-down linked to the third row seating bracket on the wheel well.
Also - notice the OME suspension nearly invisibly doing it's thing! I was unaware I had parked on such uneven ground. The kit did it's part to keep the rig level and I used the tailgate as a photo stand! Oh what a feeling!
Will likely build a low drawer system for this box to rest upon. This Action Packer actually works quite well. Things never stop changing: I had sworn off Action Packers and single large boxes, but look at me now! I have all the recovery kit at the bottom, and the rest serves at Atlas' toy chest. There is plenty of room beside it and I have it 'anchored' with a tie-down linked to the third row seating bracket on the wheel well.
Also - notice the OME suspension nearly invisibly doing it's thing! I was unaware I had parked on such uneven ground. The kit did it's part to keep the rig level and I used the tailgate as a photo stand! Oh what a feeling!
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Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
LightForce 170's
Just keeping the mods up to date - installed the LightForce 170's using Slee's Aux wiring harness that is plug & play with their Upgrade light harness. I could have wired it myself, but the Slee setup is nicely thought out, quality connections, wires and relays, and completely ready to go, so justifies the money in my opinion. Total install took about 30 minutes. Now I just need it to start getting dark up here so I can aim them...
Crappy phone pic:
Using these from Slee Offroad:
Upgrade to the factory wiring. Huge improvement on even stock bulbs!
This plugs into the above for wiring the Aux lights. I wired mine to come on with the high beams. You can wire in a switch, but I chose to trim those wires back and permanently fused them.
Just keeping the mods up to date - installed the LightForce 170's using Slee's Aux wiring harness that is plug & play with their Upgrade light harness. I could have wired it myself, but the Slee setup is nicely thought out, quality connections, wires and relays, and completely ready to go, so justifies the money in my opinion. Total install took about 30 minutes. Now I just need it to start getting dark up here so I can aim them...
Crappy phone pic:
Using these from Slee Offroad:
Upgrade to the factory wiring. Huge improvement on even stock bulbs!
This plugs into the above for wiring the Aux lights. I wired mine to come on with the high beams. You can wire in a switch, but I chose to trim those wires back and permanently fused them.
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Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
And some more:
Replaced the belts today - easy job that took a first timer about an hour to do. AMAZING how quiet it is now. The olds one did not squeak yet showed their age, hence the replacement. Very happy and cheap thing to do.
Thanks to Ajik Overland Exchange for the Shift lock out cover!!! I'm not sure where the crumbs will go now that this hole is properly filled. Van (VanGo here on ExPo) astutely noticed I was missing the cover and set me up! Thank you Van for noticing and following through! Rare I put a sticker on my rig, but Ajik occupies the lower right of my rear glass now!
To the right of the crooked wiper:
Replaced the belts today - easy job that took a first timer about an hour to do. AMAZING how quiet it is now. The olds one did not squeak yet showed their age, hence the replacement. Very happy and cheap thing to do.
Thanks to Ajik Overland Exchange for the Shift lock out cover!!! I'm not sure where the crumbs will go now that this hole is properly filled. Van (VanGo here on ExPo) astutely noticed I was missing the cover and set me up! Thank you Van for noticing and following through! Rare I put a sticker on my rig, but Ajik occupies the lower right of my rear glass now!
To the right of the crooked wiper:
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Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
Rhymes with "Lock"
Amazing how this has helped (really) curb the number of tailgaters. Once they see the sticker, I see them back off. Violent crime is a problem here so I guess no one wants to chance it. I know I don't!
:elkgrin:
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
Tire Swap
After a long love affair with the BFG AT KO's I ran into a bad batch. SAMS club took good care of me on a refund and I SCORED a set of Discoverer ST's in 255/85/16 for a huge discount. They look a bit small, but run down the road nicely and their off road ability is well documented.
After a long love affair with the BFG AT KO's I ran into a bad batch. SAMS club took good care of me on a refund and I SCORED a set of Discoverer ST's in 255/85/16 for a huge discount. They look a bit small, but run down the road nicely and their off road ability is well documented.