When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So This weekend was a big lesson learned. Just because you know how to do something. Even have the tools and the time. Maybe you shouldn't. Why you ask? Well I'm 52 with 4 compression fractures in my back from an accident in 2014. Yet my mind still tells my body "YOU CAN DO IT!" then I pay for it for the next week. This is a perfect example. My Upper tail gate has some rust spots poking through and I got the upper and lower tail gate at a steal for just $100 in perfect condition. Only problem, both the trim and the paint colors are different. So I set to task this weekend to paint the upper tail gate myself. While I'm pretty proud of the job, my back is really barking at me. And I still have to color sand, buff, then disassemble the current tail gate and install this one. Whew what was I thinking?
I completed the replacement of my upper tail gate last night. What a big job that was!
Replacing the 3m tape. Cutting out all the letters, Measuring and proper placement took about 2 hours
Then I installed all the wiring for the locks, wiper motor, and lights. And the weather seal Another hour.
Then I removed the old rusted Tailgate look below. You will see how bad it was. WOW!
Check out the difference!
All Installed
I still need to let the paint cure for at least a week. But I needed my garage back. I will then wet sand the few imperfection and orange peel out of the paint and buff it to a brilliant shine. But for now it looks great and everything works.
Total cost and saving.
Tailgate $100 local, Ebay for the same cost $650, Savings $550
Paint supplies $150.00, Local body shop color change paint job and replace tailgate cost $1200, savings $1050
Total Cost $250 plus 3 days work in my garage and a sore back
Total saving $1600
Nice work. There must be something in the way Lexus (read Toyota) designs their tailgates. That seems to be the only part on the LX that rusts easily. Before I sold it. my RX300 started getting a few rust bubbles on the tailgate as well.
New larger rack came in today. Look at the difference in size to the one I had mounted. Wow Much bigger!
So I took a few hours today and took everything apart. I had to remount my rear lights and the awning, Everything fits so much better. And I have a ton of room up there now.
Then I had a very close call. I cleared getting out of the garage by only about 1 inch, whew!!! That would have sucked to have had to take that all apart again
Looks great. As for the tailgate, from my understanding, the seals on the top brake light (and on ones with spoilers the mounting points) lets water in causing the tailgate to rust from the inside out. Had our tailgate painted 3 times in the 170k and 12 years we owned it. The 3rd time, at the suggestion off a post on IH8MUD and only 16 and not taken every seriously, I told the collision people to replace all the seals, and we never had a rust issue again with the original tailgate.
Looks great. As for the tailgate, from my understanding, the seals on the top brake light (and on ones with spoilers the mounting points) lets water in causing the tailgate to rust from the inside out. Had our tailgate painted 3 times in the 170k and 12 years we owned it. The 3rd time, at the suggestion off a post on IH8MUD and only 16 and not taken every seriously, I told the collision people to replace all the seals, and we never had a rust issue again with the original tailgate.
I put silicone weatherstrip adhesive around the top brake light and there is no spoiler so hopefully that will take care of it.
There might just be a road trip to U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN in the near future for this beast. If the Steelers make it, I'm there. It would be a dream road trip and Tailgate party. I already told my brother to be prepare to take some vacation days! Super Bowl LII Feb 4th 2018!
Nice project! I honestly have to say, I feel that Toyota keeps losing more and more soul as they move further and further away from the vehicles that they launched in the 1990s. I keep wanting a 100 series but can't bring myself to get rid of the GX that I also love. Sometimes I even think of switching the 200 series out for a pristine 100. What I really should do is sell the Supra because I rarely ever use it (just no place to enjoy it around here) and it'd free up some garage space (and bring in a lot more bucks than would be needed for a nice 100).
I also removed the third row seats to give me more storage room. I had to remove and reinstall the second battery. I also mounted a yeti one gallon jugs and added two storage boxes inside.
Nice project! I honestly have to say, I feel that Toyota keeps losing more and more soul as they move further and further away from the vehicles that they launched in the 1990s. I keep wanting a 100 series but can't bring myself to get rid of the GX that I also love. Sometimes I even think of switching the 200 series out for a pristine 100. What I really should do is sell the Supra because I rarely ever use it (just no place to enjoy it around here) and it'd free up some garage space (and bring in a lot more bucks than would be needed for a nice 100).
I would keep the Supra and sell the LX570. The LX570 is an incredible car but there is something about the LX470 that is more appealing. The Supra is so legendary that I could never sell one.
I totally agree with you about the new cars not having the soul of the old ones. I don't know if it's the fact that all of the cars have similar front ends and look a like or if it's something else. I work at a dealership and none of the cars bring me the same excitement of the old cars like the LX470, LS400 or SC430 do. Cars like the LC500 and GS-F are cool but it's still not the same.
11-06-17, 05:00 AM
