Toyotafication in process

"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366)
02/28/2020 at 17:10 • Filed to: Toyota Aristo, Lexus GS

Yes, it has an oil leak. Good old 2JZ cam seals. I’m working on that too.

Changed out the Lexus door sills for Aristo ones, and changed out the grille for one with a Toyota logo on it. The grille is otherwise the same, but the JDM one was in better shape.

Up next: door visors, rear badges, and JDM turbo wheels.

DISCUSSION (17)

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > interstate366, now In The Industry
02/28/2020 at 17:19

Isn’t the toughest part of a Lexus2Toyota conversion getting the AARP sticker off the bumper?

/s/

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > interstate366, now In The Industry
02/28/2020 at 17:20

You put the new rims on the couch ?

interstate366, now In The Industry > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
02/28/2020 at 17:22

For an LS or E S, sure. For a GS, it’s removing the donk wheels.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
02/28/2020 at 17:23

If not for them, there would be a large dog laying on it at all times. They’re there until I buy tires, at least.

sony1492 > interstate366, now In The Industry
02/28/2020 at 17:29

Ma nual swap or turbo next?

interstate366, now In The Industry > sony1492
02/28/2020 at 17:53

Suspension, then engine. I’m still undecided on which way to go on the engine. NA-T probably isn’t a good idea with the mileage, and other than that I’m undecided between a 1JZ or a 3UZ.

sony1492 > interstate366, now In The Industry
02/28/2020 at 18:05

The 3uz probably isnt worth the effort

SmugAardvark > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
02/28/2020 at 19:05

At least they’ll be comfortable!

interstate366, now In The Industry > sony1492
02/28/2020 at 20:28

You think so? I’m only looking to make somewhere in the 300-320 R WHP range, and that’s doable with a 3UZ. 1Js are just going up and up and up in price, and 2Js are overkill for what I want to do. I’ve got my Fiero for a more track-focused build; this is just for getting my feet wet for working on cars again.

sony1492 > interstate366, now In The Industry
02/28/2020 at 21:05

De finately worthwhile if you really want it but the UZ’s are wide engines so you’ll probably be forced to use oe log exhaust manifolds, and there isnt much aftermarket. Making 300 at the wheel would likely require a manual swap ($2k) and all the bolt ons.(which im guessing costs much more then rebuilding it’s current engine before going na-t)

That being said, I’ve got a 1uz sitting in the garage and I’d be happy to give whatever measurements you might need for consideration.

interstate366, now In The Industry > sony1492
02/28/2020 at 21:37

Yeah, the only decent aftermarket exhaust manifolds I’ve come across are PPE headers, and they’re another $1000 by themselves. Either way I’ve got to buy a downpipe. Another option would be to get another GE that doesn’t have so many miles on it and do an NA-T from that, so I could still drive the car while I build the engine. Obviously I wouldn’t just throw everything on that stock engine, but I’ll have room in my garage for it. Like I said, I’m undecided on what to do, which is why I’m doing other stuff first.

TRDadam > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/01/2020 at 09:43

P ull engine tear it down rebuild it yourself it's a cast iron block last dam near forever with a zero interference head made to be rebuilt. No need for new engine high mileage or not plus you will know what's in it.

foxbody > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/03/2020 at 00:27

Kinja'd!!!

T oo bad you didn’t start with a black on black Sport Design with 80k original miles

J /k. C ool start bro. M y GTE/TR6060 plans have been severely derailed by baby. W hat you planning to do for suspension? I might start there too, but really want to keep the Lexus effortless-wafty-quality, our roads everywhere in the PNW are straight trashed.

Don’t do 3UZ. The GS400 already exists, and you could literally just... buy one. And more importantly, 300 hp NA feels a lot different than 300 turbocharged, and, I would argue, is a helluva lot more boring. Boost man! Plus you already got the motor mounts and almost all the wiring, etc. for the GTE.

interstate366, now In The Industry > foxbody
03/03/2020 at 00:41

Yours looks a lot cleaner than mine. Mine has almost 250k, though I only paid $1600 for it. I’m probably going to get BC coilovers for it, which is what I was planning before I decided to buy all the JDM stuff instead, and get the FIGS adjustable toe arms and such to fix the geometry. I also might run a FIGS rear sway bar, but from what I’ve read, lowering the car might interfere with that, so I need to do more research before committing to it. Just making it a bit stiffer and better handling. I’m just used to Hondas and their tighter feel.

I’ve definitely backed away from the 3UZ after reading up on things...probably just going to do NA-T instead of buying a GTE, unless I get a major pay raise soon. I’ve got a near $400/month car payment on my TL that I’d otherwise be setting aside for turbo, and I figure by the time I get enough saved for what a GTE costs now, they’ll have gone up even more. Driftmotion sells NA-T turbo kits that look to be good for the money, so I might go with one from them unless there are better ones.

interstate366, now In The Industry > TRDadam
03/03/2020 at 00:45

I may end up pulling it if it starts acting up, but GEs are cheap and I can have one to tear down and rebuild in the garage while still driving the car on weekends and off days. Like I said, it’s all still up in the air but I am leaning towards NA-T now.

foxbody > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/03/2020 at 14:23

NA -T approach is dope, should easily support your goals without having to drop a full new motor in.

Curious to hear how the BC coilovers feel, my buddy had a set of those on his WRX and I didn’t even know it was on coils until he told me. Keep us poste d on the suspension mods!

interstate366, now In The Industry > foxbody
03/03/2020 at 20:30

Will do. First thing I’m doing is getting tires for the turbo wheels, then suspension after that.