Rebuilt 2005 GX470 Project + random E46 M3 and JK updates

Also gonna grab a roof top tent for the GX, from a TacoWorld member in a few days. It's older, but still in good condition. Couldn't pass it up for only $300. Originally $1500

https://offroadtents.com/products/tepui-ayer-2-person-roof-top-tent

 

Why does this make me think of the Confusious saying?...

Man who go camping with woman have one intent....

 

And that just makes me think of this scene from It's Always Sunny lol

https://youtu.be/zgUvwcU6P7I?si=F2h1TRnEck2KlhuV

 

I love that show!

Really, it's a best kept secret in situational commadies.

 

Picked up the rtt. it's in pretty good condition for being 7 years old. He even replaced the cover recently. Need to get some roof rails now.

Also started a return with carparts.com to return the front bumper. That crease never came out. So I'll just run the original front for now. Keeping the rear bumper cover. Also ordered some of the mounting hardware I was missing, during last week's 4th of July dealer sales.

+ $135 for rear bumper hardware

+ $300 for the RTT

 

Still can't wrap my brain around how they shipped that front bumper.....

 

Ya I wish they were upfront about what to expect when it arrives. Instead of having to research it after or find out in the return process. The rear was folded also, but it unfolded nicely. Didn't have any small fins like the front

 

check out partify for bumpers. I recently got a 4runner bumper from the shipped and it came freight because of the size but not folded. I had it paint matched and was happy with the way it came out.

https://partifyusa.com/collections/...8-cyl-4-7l?filter.p.product_type=Front+Bumper

 

Good call, thanks! I'll keep this bookmarked. Comes out to $450 after shipping and taxes. That's almost as much as both front and rear cost from the other site. Will have to see if I can't repair or find a local part out in good condition.

 

We built a Catio on the side of the shopartment that my son and his wife live in on my property. Has a little kitty door in the window so they can move in and out as they please. Old pic

Edt: about $550 in materials.

 

Flooding issue if it rains hard?

 

Where, in the catio? Hasn't done that. Decent slope to the yard in this area.

 

Ah, OK. From the picture wasn't sure it would be an issue.

 

Got refunded for the front bumper. Not even required to return it. So that's pretty nice.

I'm still waiting for Bell Lexus to ship my rear bumper hardware that I need. Says it should have shipped within 2-4 days, unless it needed to be special ordered then it's 14 days. No reply to the email I sent last week. Gonna have to call them tomorrow

 

Bell Lexus had pretty good customer service rep on the line. He tracked down the coworker that had the order, and turned out the rear bumper absorber (foam piece) they had in stock was broke and needed to order a new one. Should be shipping out today. Hopefully I have all the right parts and can put the rear bumper cover on soon. Would be nice to get it out of the backyard. And I gotta figure out what I'm going to do with the front bumper cover they refunded me for, but let me keep.

 

I believe I still need to get the plastic nut inserts, that go into the quarter panel so you can screw in the supports. But I can't seem to find any part numbers for it. Will have to post up on the GXOR forum and see if anyone there knows.

 

Finally got the jeep all back together. It was still missing these two frame side lower control arm bolt nuts. Needed to jack the rear frame up so that the control arms themselves articulate down enough to get access to the hole for the nut. Even then it was a small chore. But I went and finally bought a Badlands 3 Ton jack from Harbor freight. Sooo much safer than how I was achieving that height before, stacking spacers on the low profile 2 ton jack. Also got the sliders back on, can't get to those bolts unless they're off. Can finally got hits some trails!

 

Posted my JK project for sale again to see if there's any interest. Unsure of what to price a rebuilt title at, but I put $26k in parts towards it, so figured that's a good starting point. The original plan when I bought it at auction was to flip it, but then I spent waaay to much on parts. Into it for a total of $36k, including the vehicle itself. And tbh, that's not too bad after seeing what some people spend on parts and installation. Last time I had listed it, went as low as $18k, but no takers. https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/p...ild-phase-two-beginning-soon.4460077/#replies

 

So one of my cousins up here in Denver has a neighbor that's selling their GX470 for dirt cheap. Said the frame is all rusted out and the junk yard would only give them $500 for it. And they're selling it for $1500. Cousin may get it but he also has other projects vehicles and his wife said no lol. But he's heavily considering it. If it's still available mid August I may very well have to get it. If nothing else but the clean title! Cousin has a lift. I could swap parts over and then get rid of the current one. Something to think about.

 

Frame swap?

 

there's a frame for sale here in Denver for $1000 on FB. He's also considering frame plates you can get to weld over and repair holes.

 

The Bell Lexus shipment of parts was sitting in the living room for almost a week before I realized it was my package and not my cousin's lol. Also just ordered three Toyota Kits, one for nut inserts, one for pop rivets, and one for body bolts. Figured there's so many rusted bolts and brittle plastic it's best to just replace them as I go.

+ $200

$84 Auveco # 6913 Fits Toyota And Fits Lexus Push-Type Retainers Quik-Select II Kit. Assortment. Qty 1.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EDFQAU2?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

$74 Nylon Nuts & Screw Grommets Quik-Select Ii Kit Compatible with Lexus & Toyota

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COH8CPM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

$49 Auveco # 6814 Body Bolt Quik-Select Kit. Assortment. Qty 1.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KHBBJQQ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

Have had this cheap aluminum roof rack in my Amazon list for a while and decided to pull the trigger before any new tariffs push the price up further. Plus the De Minimis exception for imported goods under $800 was officially nixed last week. This has been in and out of stock multiple times since watching it. After my order, there's only 1 left. Plus I got a $50 gift card from work, and $80 coupon, so might as well. All other name brand roof racks are $950+. Lots of good FB group reviews on it.

+ $620

$700 Roof Rack for GX470 2003-2009 - High-Strength Aluminum, Easy Install with Factory Mounts

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1MFSPCZ/?coliid=I2QY1FSATOUEYO&colid=1AVN9MQDYJOGB

Edit: and now it's sold out again!

And a nice review over it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4olDJPFLlU

 

got the roof rack assembled, but needed to order some sealant to go around bolt holes in the roof before installing it on the GX. also ordered some OEM Toyota Prado window trim in black to replace the old, failing chrome pieces.

+ $12
3M Black Super Weatherstrip and Gasket Adhesive

$12 3M Black Super Weatherstrip and Gasket Adhesive, 08008, 5 fl oz, 1 Per Pack

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063X38M?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

+ $241
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado GX470 OEM Quarter & Door Belt Moulding Black SET 03-09
https://www.ebay.com/itm/113192810152

Should get all this installed in the next few weeks and have some updated photos.

Then I really, really gotta start looking at what I'm going to do about the paint. I need to get some estimates to PDR a few dents on the side. Dreading doing any body filler, sanding and all that myself. But you know...that's what this project is supposed be all about. Learning new things.

The hood has a lot of small hail dings though. Costs around $600 to order a new one from Summit. Or keep checking local junk yards for one in good condition.

 

Fingers crossed. Have someone swinging by tomorrow to check out the JK. Would be nice to sell it and pay off some accumulated project debt.

 

Nope...that wasn't the issue. I overlooked what would have been the easiest fix of all.

Buying the right gd rear rotor!

So there's an "upgrade" from the GX470 to GX460 FRONT rotors that are thicker, and calipers to replace the GX470's that are known to seize.

Well when I was in the buying frenzy at the Advanced Auto Parts Store Closeout sale, I bought ALL GX460 brake parts.

The REAR rotors on the GX460 are mostly the same, except they have a slightly different inside lip to accommodate the 8.2" rear axle. The GX470 has an 8" rear axle.

All that work lol. Removing the drums over and over. Redoing the parking brake adjuster. cutting the dust shield. Likely not necessary. I could've just fixed the slightly bent dust shield instead.

So I'll be ordering new rear rotors tomorrow and hopefully, finally, put an end to that saga.