2018 Lexus GX build

I’ve been wanting to cut the resonator off for months but needed my air system completed first. Ben Richards Fabrication in Burlington WA did and outstanding job bending up a piece of 409 stainless into a tailpipe and using factory hanger location to stabilize it. BTW no noticeable noise level increase. But will be testing with a db app on my phone, pre modification measurements taken.

Nice and tucked away!

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I adapted the fuel can holders from my old Tacoma rear bumper to the LFD rear bumper but the clamp for the fuel can holder didn’t work with the new Scepter fuel cans. I bent up a piece of 1/8” aluminum for AAV DR trip. This is V 1.0. I’ll be refining it on V 2.0 after my trip.

Of course I had to decorate it with stickers from the equipment brands we teach and trust!

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A couple of updates.

Cutting off the resonator has had no discernible effect on exhaust note except at wide open throttle. After 3000+ miles to AAV DR round trip the exhaust note was not annoying. Secondly it didn’t increase horsepower or fuel economy.

Now for something that will effect fuel economy and driving dynamics immensely, new gears going in Monday at Nitro Gears!

Its been a long wait. Ordered October 1st. Talking with Scott at Nitro Gears I am 1 of 90 people waiting for this ratio (4:88). Of course while the diffs are out they are fitting ARB lockers in both diffs. This ratio should put me at about 10% under factory ratio when combined with 34” tires. The 10% under should help compensate for the extra weight of the armor. I will also benefit by the transmission actually shifting into 6th gear more often. In the current configuration (3:90) I rarely see 5th and 6th gears unless flat, slight tail wind, or downhill.

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java230 said:
I'll be curious to see what your mileage actually changes to. I may consider it for the Tundra.... But I am already at 4.30.
Click to expand...

I very confident that my MPG will improve. At least 50% on the time I am in 4th gear @ 3100 rpm another 25% in 5th and 25% in 6th downhill or with a tailwind. Averaged 13.5 MPG round trip to AAVDR.
 
Diffs are back in and now the slow process of breaking them in. No more than 10-15 miles in one continuous drive then let them cool off for an hour. This is the process for the first 100 miles. The next 400 miles no heavy load, no highway speeds, varied speeds. I plan on taking the backroads to work next week to get the 500 miles knocked out.


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Made it out to Walker Valley OHV area last weekend. Lots of testing of gear. Thursday I completed my gear break in of 500 miles. Friday I drained and filled the diffs and while I was there changed the engine oil. Saturday was local cars and coffee and Sunday was trail run day at Walker Valley.

Happy to report with 34" tires @ 70 mph the truck runs well @2000 rpm. No transmission hunting and much better drivability. On the trail in low range I now have great compression braking, no need to keep tapping the brakes. Throttle input is much more controlled with less input to move the truck.

The second item up for testing was the MORRFlate multi tire deflator/inflator. It's much faster conducting both tasks I just need to get better at deployment and stowing of the hose. Bonus with the 1 liter of air in the ARB air tank stowed up from running the lockers inflation times are much quicker. This is really going to be useful with large groups with folks that don't have compressors.

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Been a busy spring, not much in the way of modifications.

We started booking folks for Backroad 4WD Training classes the first part of the year starting April 15 with a private client class the full on public classes we are now booked through mid June every weekend with public and private group classes and three overland events IOX Idaho Overland Experience, Veteran Overland Muster and Northwest Overland Rally.

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A couple months ago I came across a company out of Colorado https://store.airdowngearup.com/ . They make end cap trim pieces for the GX that with third row removed you can cover up some of the ugly due to lack of trim.

They sell for around $80.00 shipped, the parts are 3D printed. The fit is decent and they look pretty good, the texture of the plastic is quite a bit different than Toyota but they cover some serious ugly!


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Been training 10 weeks straight, finally had two days in a row off.

The GX will be on display next week at the Northwest Overland Rally. I wanted to finish up the rear door jamb project. I ordered a 4Runner rear door scuff plate, cut up some matching carpet from Truckvault and assemble the combo. Result is pretty clean. No more ugly door jamb.

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