968racer

If painting aluminum, you will probably want to prime with yellow oxide primer or paint specifically for aluminum to avoid the paint from flaking.

mandyfig

Will do. Or else use the primer-paint combo.

tromly

+1 benzo, that is sweet looking, will have to do it

redrocks

Nice job!

tshelly

Mandyfig I was thinking if I used the galvanized soffit I would not have to cut it. It looks like the roll is pretty long. By the way how did you tie down the ends? I saw the 5 ribs on my RX but I noticed there were none on the extreme left or right. Also, what would you do for the vent holes that are to the far right and to the far left. It appears the one to the far right is more vulnerable as it exposes the windshield washer container. How would you cover this with the screen?

xis

Nice job and great idea!

mandyfig

For the far end, I used tie wraps (as well as the other locations) but in this case, I bored holes drectly on the body which will remain un-noticed. I could have shown it on my DIY, can not remember if I did take a shot of the ends.

tshelly

By the way what was the width of the screen you used? I went to HD and the only galvanized soffit they had was 4 inches. Bought it and when I got home I put it up to see if it was wide enough and it was too short. I did not see anything at HD that was wider. Any suggestions where I can find the wider stuff?

tshelly

I went back today to HD to take back the soffit that I purchased. I started looking for some different galvanized mesh and I saw something about 10 feet up on a shelf. I asked an employee to get it down. It was a galvanized rain gutter guard that was 3 ft. long and 6 1/2 inches wide. The holes were bigger than the soffit mesh. They were $2.16 each. I then bought some different black cable ties. They were $2.05 for 20. So it looks like now I am set to go. I like the rain gutter guards better than the soffit: the edges are not as sharp.

4482

When I did my 05 RX I went to Home Depot and bought the 6"x3' gutter guard model 122-225 (SKU #808857) and cut it as needed. It was $1.94 at the time. There are two hinges on it that come right off. I cut it in half and overlapped it a little in the center for ease of installation. You sure won't need all of it. After I cut it to fit, I painted it with black rustoleum before installing it. I used the black ties.

I'm now in the process of doing my 10 RX which is a little harder to get to the gutter guard needed area. You would have thought Lexus would have corrected the problem by now !


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draco

Just to drag up this old thread again (wow it's been almost a year since it was last touched). I have only just come across this, so anyone that has bought a RX330 or 350 recently may want to have a look at this. Thanks to Mandyfig who originally brought this idea to the forums.

I have pretty much done the same thing, only difference is I have used standard front bumper mesh, so shinier than guttering and also have added it to the vents on the sides of the front bumper.

The thing I love about this mod, is that (1) it protects that air-con condensor really well and (2) it gives the front of the RX a little more depth and updates it somewhat. I love the look of it.

draco

All I have to figure out now is how to shrink that over extended license plate holder

mandyfig

Great job! Where di you get the front bumper mesh, how much?

Rainbird

Very nice! Is that "bumper mesh" stainless steel?

Rainbird

Hey guys, I just did a search on eBay Motors for bumper mesh. They have some nice looking products sized 12" x 48". Using these it could be installed as one piece. There are aluminum and black ones from $24 to $50.