w.adventures GX470 build + Life’s adventures

Hey everybody. Been looking for a GX470 for awhile now and finally found a one owner with all records 2005 Lexus GX470 sport in Florida with no rust.

Used to own a 2006 Tacoma double cab sport. Sold that for a v8 4Runner but couldn’t stand my head hitting the roof with the sunroof option. Quickly sold that and finally found what I really wanted which was this GX470.

Looking forward to modding it.

Stay tuned.






Suspension
Front suspension
Kings 2.5 extended travel remote resi 700lbs springs
Icon Delta Joint UCA’s
Superbump bump stops

Rear suspension
Kings 2.5 remote resi
Icon 2” coils
Metaltech air to coil conversion
Superbump bump stops
Firestone airbags using factory compressor

Tires and wheels
285/75r17 Cooper AT3 XLT E rated
Method MR701 17x8.5” 0 offset

Armor
Demello front bumper on order
4xinnovations sliders

Miscellaneous
Superwinch Tiger shark 11,500 winch
Baja designs Onx6+ 30” lightbar
Prinsu Roof rack
Hikari LED headlight bulbs
Toughpro floormats
Rad Rubber Design engine splash guards

 

The tires needed to be replaced so I replaced them with Cooper ATW 265/70r17. I am impressed with there performance in the snow and ice.

 

Parents drove the Lexus from Florida to Montana for me and it didn’t have any issues. Once it got out to the cold weather the valve cover gaskets started leaking really bad. Replaced the valve covers with a fel-pro kit off of Amazon and replaced the spark plugs with oem plugs at the same time. Valve covers don’t leak anymore.

Also replaced the headlight bulbs with hikari LED bulbs and they are 1000 times better than the terrible halogen bulbs.

 

Ordered some King’s remote resi front and rear.

Fronts are going to be extended travel 700lbs spring rate for a 2010-newer 4Runner with KDSS. The resi brackets and longer resi hose should be the best solution for mounting on the GX470 with KDSS. I will reply back with how they work out.

Rears Kings are for a 03-09 4Runner.

For UCA’s I went with icon delta joints.

Rear coils are going to be icon 2” lift for a 03-newer 4Runner.

I went with Metaltech air to coil conversion kit with upper isolators.

I wasn’t going to order new bump stops but since I was already ordering the Kings from wheelers I went ahead and ordered the superbumps front and rear. I have heard great things about their bumpstops.

The only thing I need to order is a set of firestone airbags for the rear so I can connect them to the stock compressor.

No pictures now but I can’t wait to get this thing lifted. The stock suspension with 145k miles on it is toast.

 

First

 

Today is the day! We shall see how far I Get.

 

Well, got the kings and icon delta joints on. The mounts for a 2010-newer 4runner Fit perfect with a self tapping screw. Before and after. Also working in a garage with no overhead lights truly sucks!

 

The jack that I borrowed was just a little short and I didn’t have any blocks of wood laying around so I had to improvise. I wasn’t supporting the vehicle just compressing the piston of the KDSS sway bar.

 

Figured out how the resi mount mounts to the frame. Will need to drill the frame on one spot each side. Any tips? Do I just drill a hole and use a self tapping bolt? @Gramps @TMFF @Squeaky Penguin @Night Eagle

 

If you have self tappers it would work fine. I used a netcert in mine were the swaybar would bolt up to the bottom of the frame.

It looks like it also bolts to the front crossmember so it's not a large load on the self tapper screw.

 

Cool, I just bought some self tapers. It has a big bolt that goes into the front crossmember

 

Are you done yet?

 

Nope! Went snowshoeing today with the family. Will finish the front tomorrow and waiting on the airbags for the rears.

 

Subbed. I have been trying to convince my brother to buy a gx! I think he is mostly convinced, just trying to find the right one as they say.

 

That is a poor excuse, get back to work.

 

I hear ya, they are only becoming more popular.

 

Finally finished the front suspension. Sittting at 4” lift over the stock suspension. Guess I need to hurry up and get some armor to make it sit lower. Went with the 700 spring rate knowing I would be getting skids and a bumper eventually.

 

Ordered a pair of OEM cv axles from a junk yard in Montana to swap out the aftermarket cv axles the previous owner swapped in. Found out 03-09 4runner and 07-newer FJ cruiser CV’s are the correct ones to use. Tacoma CV’s are a little different.

 

Ordering a Demello front bumper today. Now it’s time to patiently wait for it to be built