"Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's" (africantacoman) 06/18/2019 at 22:38 • Filed to: None

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Howdy Oppo, since I’ve been graciously gifted posting privileges, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dylan, but y’all can call be Bylan, I live in the suburbs of Illinois ~1hr from Chicago, and I love cars. I’m 22 and pursuing my Associates Degree in Mechanical engineering, with a Bachelors in Engineering in the future. I own 2 cars, a gold 1997 LS400 that I bought when I was 18 and I’ve put it through hell, and a few months ago I bought a black on black 1998 LS400. Today it finally started after sitting dormant for 2 weeks. I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with these old Lexus’s, learning them inside and out makes owning multiple easier. These cars have taught me a ridiculous sum of things, and i fix everything on them myself. Through a lot of trial and error, I’ve done timing belt/water pumps on both, crank seals, cam seals on the 97 (the 98 is much more difficult, requires removal of camshafts), recently a starter replacement on the 98, and everything in between. I love getting my hands dirty and making something work. I feel blessed that I found this car forum, you are all the nicest bunch of people on the internet that I’ve seen. I’m not an automotive journalist or anything like that, but I hope to share some of my life and a lot of my cars with you lot. And now for some pictures (yes they’re probably crap quality, I have a quirky Blackberry Key 2 LE because Iphones are boring and lame, and physical keyboards are COOL )

Chuckles > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/18/2019 at 23:01

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Welcome! That’s a nice fleet you have there. I typically end up with smaller cars (I currently have a Miata and a Fiat 500), but I sometimes think it would be nice to have something spacious like an LS400.

CB > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/18/2019 at 23:15

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Welcome aboard! Your garage looks pretty sweet. You and the other Lexus guys will have fun. So yeah, enjoy your time here and stay out of the basement.

V12 Jake II- New and Improved! > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/18/2019 at 23:16

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Hello Bylan, I feel like I recognize the name from somewhere but I can’t be sure. Do you have any recommendations on a source for  quality parts, I’m in the middle of overhauling my 97 LS400 and I’m struggling to decide on which brand I should use for the power steering pump. 

WilliamsSW > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/18/2019 at 23:33

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Welcome from another Chicagoland Oppo! Nice fleet of Lexuses, or Lexii, or Lexuseseses!

Under_Score > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/18/2019 at 23:37

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People are nice until you say you like Nissan.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > V12 Jake II- New and Improved! 06/18/2019 at 23:47

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We’ve ran into each other on clublexus I believe, where I actually recognized your username! Quality parts are getting harder and harder to find. Even an oem pump from the Lexus dealer is going to be an outsourced 3rd party pump, not to mention cost $$$. When I replaced the pump on my 1997, I scoured ebay for a pump with a 2 year warranty and that was made in the USA. It was cheap too, like $60. I’ll check my eBay purchases to see what rebuilder I got mine from. It’s been installed for over a year now and works fantastic. I use valvoline maxlife atf for the powersteering system, 0 leaks. And of course delete the idle up valve on the pump. 

For Sweden > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/18/2019 at 23:53

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Illinis? On my Oppo?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/18/2019 at 23:58

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Welcome

I really don't envy that starter job

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 00:00

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Unfortunately the pump I bought isn’t saved to my eBay account purchases. Lots of the cheap pumps on ebay ship from California, I’d lean towards one from maxpeedingrods because they’re a California company but no guarantees. You can also get a pump gasket rebuild kit, I’ve watched videos on how to rebuild these pumps but that’s too much downtime for my taste.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Chuckles 06/19/2019 at 00:03

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Theres something about big body cars that just does it for me. I rented a little bmw Z4 convertible in Miami recently and that was an absolute blast, go-kart compared to my cars. But for moving people, things, and soaking up bumps, a leather lined long wheel base V8 cannot be beat. One day I'll get a beater miata to experience the "miata is always the answer" but I'll probably just end up V8 swapping it lol 

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > WilliamsSW 06/19/2019 at 00:06

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Its hard to figure out the proper plural term for them! I guess Lexus's is grammatically right but I like Lexii

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Under_Score 06/19/2019 at 00:07

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I honestly can't stand Nissans. Even a 2019 Nissan is miles behind basically every other import brand. Plastic fantastic and VQ motors sound like garbage. Sorry not sorry lol 

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 06/19/2019 at 00:11

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It was actually not that difficult, knocked it out in 2 evenings. I’d researched the procedure for years, even before buying the 98. The whole intake manifold can be removed as 1 piece, held in with like 8 bolts. Getting all the wiring harnesses and plugs out of the way was difficult, breaking every spark plug and injector clip on the way, and heaving the 40lb manifold out of the was a PITA. But the starter went in easy enough. I’ll make a post sometime asking oppo why my car wouldn’t start after the starter replacement, and today it randomly started as I was about to tear it all apart again. The car sat for 2 weeks because I had no motivation, now it’s back on the road.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > For Sweden 06/19/2019 at 00:11

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Where it hails, snows, rains, and shines all in the same day. We get it all here in the midwest! 

WilliamsSW > For Sweden 06/19/2019 at 00:12

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Illinis?

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > CB 06/19/2019 at 00:12

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If only either of these boats would actually fit IN the garage. They're like 9 inches too long lol

For Sweden > WilliamsSW 06/19/2019 at 00:13

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Yes that is what I said

WilliamsSW > For Sweden 06/19/2019 at 00:17

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  Next you’ll say “ Illinoize"

WilliamsSW > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 00:20

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Lexii sounds better!

V12 Jake II- New and Improved! > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 00:24

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So even the Lexus brand pumps are going to be of a lower quality than the original?

For Sweden > WilliamsSW 06/19/2019 at 00:25

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The University of Illinois Fighting Illinoize?

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 00:39

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Welcome, ylan.

If you want to talk LS400s, please see DaftRyosuke, our resident LS400 owner and enthusiast. 

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > V12 Jake II- New and Improved! 06/19/2019 at 00:51

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No doubt, they just don’t make them like they used to. It looks like an oem pump, not sure if they're now oem or if they're 20 years old and sat on a shelf somewhere, runs $500-$600 on ebay. And that's just absolutely absurd. You can buy a whole LS beater for $500 lol

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 06/19/2019 at 00:55

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His ucf10 is gorgeous. Go nna need a few more boats to compete with me though

V12 Jake II- New and Improved! > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 00:57

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Is there any good way to filter out American made pumps on eBay? I’m not averse to spending oem money, I just want a product that’s going to last, and obviously saving money is always a good thing. 

LastFirstMI is my name > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 01:32

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Welcome! To truly initiate you to Oppo, here are some terrible recommendations:

1. You obviously need a third car. Consider a Miata or rusted-out Jeep .

2. You probably also need a dog. Something smart and hyperactive like a Jack Russell Terrier or Blue Heeler, so your apartment is completely trashed when you get home from school. A cat would also suffice.

3. Those are some sweet cars. I’m imagining the black one as a full mobster car with limo tint and something heavy in the trunk. The gold one would look great with some knobby tires and a roof rack, like this:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/jalopnik.com/how-to-turn-an-old-diesel-mercedes-into-the-ultimate-of-1823830740/amp

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > LastFirstMI is my name 06/19/2019 at 01:59

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I need a yard to have a dog. When I get one, it’ll be a Shiba inu. They’re very smart and very fast. I’ve got 2 family cats, one is very dog-like and plays fetch. Off-road ls400s have been done! https://www.clublexus.com/articles/found-craigslist-off-road-ready-lexus-ls400/  the looks suits them well I think. Not really my style though. A third car will need to come with more parking spaces! I like miatas and jeeps though. I actually looked for a manual sport XJ with the 4.slow when I bought my 97. 

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > V12 Jake II- New and Improved! 06/19/2019 at 02:05

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Not that I have seen. Just gotta do lots of clicking and read the descriptions. When I bought mine, I looked up the company that sold it and they were very adamant of being made in the USA, and the site didn’t have poor grammar or misspellings. I really wish I could find the one I bought. I know installing a cheap  pump and having it leak would really suck, it was not an easy feat to remove and install.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 05:44

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An official welcome to the crew sir! Nice to see more folks joining the posting ranks! I’m Oppo’s resident lover of weird, small and crappy Euro, Eastern Block and Japanese stuff.....so a bit the opposite of your Lexi! Very cool cars though, if I ever wanted a luxury barge, I think an old Lexus would probably be up on the top of my lists. That black one is awesome....black was a fairly rare color for them, wasn’t it?

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 05:48

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You speak the truth, but missed the real reason. Damn CVT. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > LastFirstMI is my name 06/19/2019 at 07:29

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I have 3 cars.....sometimes 4 or 5 depending......

I also have a dog.......Jack Russel/Blue Heeler mix........He’s 14/blind/diabetic and has always been the kindest most laid back dog.

Can’t argue with 3.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 07:30

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Welcome aboard.

Good to see another “Semi” local Oppo join our ranks. 

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 07:56

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Welcome to Oppo!!! Nice car collection, you need more now.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 08:45

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Welcome! Nice cars. 

$kaycog > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 09:00

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Welcome to Oppo! We love having new victims friends here!

shop-teacher > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 09:24

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Lexii is definitely better.

What suburb/are are  you in, if you don’t mind me asking? I live in Villa Park.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 12:04

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Welcome to the automotive debauchery! As a fellow Dylan I am happy to see you spell it the proper way. Can’t wait to read more about what you have going on automotive wise.

I am going back to school for Mechanical Engineering so more Oppo engineers yay .

Khalbali > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/19/2019 at 18:34

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Welcome! I’m near Elgin myself, there’s quite a few Chicago OPPOs, maybe we’ll meet at a.... m eet.....

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > CaptDale - is secretly British 06/19/2019 at 20:12

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None of that Dillon nonsense round these parts. Good luck on your schooling! Huge respect for anyone going back to school after dealing with life.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Khalbali 06/19/2019 at 23:13

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Thatd be cool! Hopefully there’ s some decent car shows in the chicagoland area this summer, I need to do more car stuff and make car friends

CaptDale - is secretly British > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/20/2019 at 10:57

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ha ha right?! Heck even met a Dylon before.... *shutters*

Thanks mate, same to you . Only 27 so just spent a few years out in the real world which helped me decided what I wanted to do for a career. 

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/22/2019 at 11:00

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Welcome! I somehow missed this post...

Those barges are absolutely wonderful :o