1st Gen Lunchtable Thread - General Discussion

Heh.. I didn't start carrying tools and spare parts until I started driving a Lexus.

We definitely have a list of "don't go too far from home without them" parts and tools so we can perform service in the field. But is this a rice, soybean, or cotton field?

And then there are the specialty tools like a 54mm socket, Proto snap knurly end ring pliers, locally developed CV Axle puller,,,

 

I need to air up to get more ground clearance. That's my problem.

 

Split rim wheels are scary as hell

 

Tannerite the obstacles for better clearance.

 

A few years ago I had a cat ordeal with some 4th gen Maximas. So everybody except CA and NY residents installed a special y-pipe to delete the pre-cats. The cars would still pass an exhaust inspection without the pre-cats so this was legal in 48 states.

Then we installed some type of Magnaflow high-flow cat that was a generic design that some reported was actually designed for a Buick Roadmaster. The idea was to keep only enough cat to keep the rear O2 sensor happy.

Some people reported HP gains of from 10 to 15 using a butt dyno. The engines do run cooler without the pre-cats and I can feel the difference with the y-pipe. Note the y-pipe looks like the current Tacoma V6 catless pipe. My pre-cats had been roasted and became clogged from leaking fuel injectors, so the cat delete was necessary to keep it running.

All was good for about 18 months. Then comes code P420. Reset it and that lasts for a month and comes right back. Soon it would stay on all the time.

A few of the club members held on to their original cats and quickly reverted back once the word was out about the P420 problem. I think 4 or 5 guys all had this problem around the same time.
Like an idiot, I let my kid take the cat to the metal salvage place and get some money for it. I did manage to keep one stock car around by some miracle. I have two cars with the same exhaust setup.

About that time the club discovered Walker cats would remedy the code problem. So everybody ran to Rock Auto and bought Walker cats for that model car. Many made complete Walker stainless exhaust system replacements. The walker cat has been running for roughly 5+ years without issue. OEM cats are now unobtanium.

When I'm faced with replacing the Lexus 470 cats that I suspect has a cat rattle, I will most likely go back to a premium Walker from Rock Auto. The Walker cat could fail tomorrow. Until then, no complaints.

 

Yeah I am really hoping I don't have to replace the cats again. Not only are they crazy expensive right now, but to have my cats fail again would have to mean that some fuckery is going on with my truck. As far as I can tell, there isn't though... I monitor my AFR readings with a Wideband gauge and they have been normal. Nothing unusual in open or closed loop. Would surprise me if that were the case

 

How old were your OEM cats when they failed? Do you have one cat or 3 or 4? I don't think you have high mileage?

 

Frame

 

I have 2 cats, front & rear. First ones failed at about 50k miles on the odo (the OEM ones). Which was very early of course.

But, the PO supercharged the truck and didn't add any fuel mods so I am fairly certain running it lean is was killed the cats quick. I replaced them with the Magnaflows and added the URD 7th injector, plus a Wideband AFR to monitor AFR numbers, which have been much better (normal) since. I'm at almost 100k miles now.

I'm also very in tune with how to drive the truck to keep it from pinging in certain conditions, avoiding high gear/low RPM is crucial for this. I have no idea how the PO drove it, but for all I know he was lugging it up highway grades in 5th gear and ignoring the signs.

 

Those 120 brackets I drilled?



I need to weld them together, so I made a jig.



Used the first one as my "base"





The cuts aren't always perfect, but the welded product has to be.

 

I haven't seen much about running lean destroying cats. Burning valves yes. I can state with all certainty that running too rich (uncontrolled fuel) will heat up the cat to the point where it melts the catalyst. Are your O2 sensors the originals fairly recent?

 

I can’t see that. Where is it at by chance? (No Facebook)

 

@eon_blue sadly aftermarket cats usually start to throw codes after 4-5 years. My magnas were getting weak by the time the truck was torn apart.

 

Nothing like forklifting while it's snowing. That shit gets cold!

 

@Kwikvette

I haven't caught up over the last few pages, but saw you talking about the Coastal bumpers. Mine came pretty quick (ordered and to my door in 3 weeks) and was pretty easy. Hardest part for me was all the prep work (Lexus makes it difficult with the built in air compressor and idiotic mounting points). Prepping, priming and Raptorlining was harder than welding/fitting it. Would recommend...

 

Hell yeah, that looks badass.

Seeing that they're just a bunch of plates, that looks way easy to weld.

Doing a dual swing out it looks like?

Looks bitching

 

Fuck pitman arms