1996 Lexus LX

Description

This is my 1996 Lexus LX450.
I purchased this truck from a dealer who in-turn purchased it after the original owner traded it towards a new vehicle.  I am essentially the 2nd owner.
When I reviewed the Lexus's history I knew it would make a great candidate for my plans. I have an entire folder of maintenance history.  This truck was maintenanced at the same dealership from new till now.  The print-out from Lexus shows over 40 pages right from the digital records.  The original owner cared for this truck, and it was treated with respect and care.  The original manual is even stamped with the dealers notes from all the recommended maintenance intervals.  Rest assured, regular oil changes and PMs were completed on schedule by qualified Lexus techs.
I set out to build a Landcruiser 80 series truck that is ready for daily driving or off-roading with an emphasis on drivability.  I've worked on nearly every aspect of this truck, I am very impressed with the build quality and condition.  It's hard to believe it's pushing 158,000 miles, a true testament to Toyota build quality and regular maintenance.  This Lexus was repainted at some point in it's life, it's hard for me to
ascertain
why because there is no evidence of body work or
repairs
.  There's no rust, no bubbles, no signs of trauma.  I wonder if the previous owner decided to have it painted to freshen it up sometime along their ownership.  The quality of the paintwork is excellent, I didn't discover the new paint until I began detailing the exterior with an inspection lamp and close scrutiny.  The pictures tell the story, it's a
fantastic
color scheme and shows beautifully.
A little bit about me, I love working on projects in my garage.  It's my avenue to relax and challenge myself. I'm not a used car dealer, I'm not a "flipper", I'm not a collector. I'm just a guy who enjoys working on fun vehicles.  I'm selling this Lexus in order to start the next chapter in my shop.  Speaking of, I'm always interested it new projects.  If you have a trade for me to consider go ahead and let me know.  I don't have anything lined up yet and that's pretty rare for me.
Anyways, a picture is worth 1,000 words but I was limited to 24 pictures in the gallery.  Please check out the 2 videos I attached below. It would take me many paragraphs to document everything there is to know about this Lexus.  I'll just make a quick summary of what this project entailed.
The entire driveline has been rebuilt minus the transmission, transfer case, and engine.  Front and rear axles were stripped bare and new 4.88 gears with ARB air lockers were installed.  Up front, I installed new burfields and rebuilt the knuckles using the highest quality parts.  All suspension bushings, tie rod ends, etc have been replaced.  The Icon 3" lift, Ironman links, caster plates, and Tatton front driveshaft make for a quiet and normal ride.  It's not much stiffer than factory, but the look and capability is nothing the factory suspension can match.  The fluids in the transmission and t-case were changed as a matter of course. All new brakes, pads rotors calipers soft lines, etc were installed for piece of mind.
As for the interior, it still has the factory carpet and headliner.  I installed seat heaters in the front 2 seats, and a simple aftermarket Alpine stereo with a reverse camera.  The seat heater switches and USB are located in the center console to keep everything looking as factory as possible.  The 1st and 2nd row seats were recovered with new leather and the original seat cushions were bolstered with new foam.  The 3rd row seats are original and are included in the sale. The steering wheel was refinished in black leather and obligatory weathertech floor mats are installed.
As with any project aside from the winners at Pebble Beach, there are points to mention.
1. The repaint is excellent, it's a solid 9.5/10 Check out the close-ups in the gallery for the condition.
2. The previous owner had portions of the under carriage coated in some type of hard-waxy coating many years ago.  I inspected everything for signs of rust, I found nothing, and I chose to paint over the coating to make everything look consistent.  There are some signs of minor corrosion under the truck, but there is nothing specific to point out. I scoped the inside of the frame for good measure, there's no signs of any sort of rust.  The body is 100% rust free.  bottoms of the doors, fenders, tailgate etc are all spotless inside and out.
3. Listen to the exhaust, I can't tell if the factory muffler is a little louder than normal.  The exhaust bolts from the header flange to the tailpipe are corroded as expected, but there are no leaks.
4. The leather seat cover on the Driver side bottom was cut a little too large around the bezel for the switches.  There is a 1/16th gap between the leather and the plastic.
5. The seats have new brass gears installed, but the motors are original and a little sluggish.
Aside from these details, there's not much else for me to mention.  The videos and pictures tell the story.
Logistics:  I live in NE Ohio 44404.  Shipping is buyers expense,  and I can help with the logistics.  I've sold a few vehicles across the country, and have experience making that process as easy as possible.  The title is clean and clear in my name, no funny business.  I require a quick deposit, and then payment within 7 days, and I'm open to just about any form of payment.  If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask.  My feedback record speaks for itself, and the stuff I've posted on Youtube speaks to my dedication to doing things the right way.
Thanks for checking out my listing.  Have a fantastic day! -Bob
Lexus LX450 / Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Project Build in 6 minutes!  Time lapse.
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Youtube2
1996 LX450 Land Cruiser 80. Walk Around, Exhaust, and Ride along
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