My Lexus RS200 Turbo Build
My Lexus RS200 Turbo Build
So in April 2011 after the engine was put back together and the Lexus brake caliper was changed and Tein Lowering kit with KYB Shocks was installed I was ready to drop the engine into the Lexus.
As I sat in my garage with the engine on the engine trolly and the Lexus bonnet open, I looked at the car and then the engine and wondered what will happen if you get boost sickness. You want to increase the boost more and more but you haven't change anything structural inside the engine so the whole operation stopped there.
The new operation started June/July 2011 by stripping the whole engine every nut bolt and part.
I went and purchased new Wiseco forged pistons, Eagle forged H-beam con-rods, ARP 2000 con rod bolts, ACL racing bearings, ACL thrust washers, 1.67mm Cometic head gasket and full gasket set, ARP head stud kit. All of this has to be imported as the engine was never launched in South Africa so it was expensive and time consuming.
The head was send in for gas flowing and reseated the valves. My block was send to my brother in law who has an engineering workshop and he honed my engine block and replaced all welsh plugs.
Couple of pics when I stripped the engine
It's good to start with a good well tidied engine
Between June 2011 and June 2013 I rebuild the engine with all the best goodies on the market namely.
86mm 9:1 Wiseco forged pistons,
Eagle forged H-beam con-rods,
ARP 2000 conrod bolts,
ACL racing bearings,
ACL thrust washers,
1.67mm Cometic head gasket and full gasket set,
ARP head stud kit,
Refurbished water pump,
Refurbished oil pump,
Gas flowed head and valves reseated,
All bolts was either ARP or high tensile bolts.
After the engine was finished rebuild I imported an Altezza RS200 gearbox and flywheel as you do not get them here in South Africa. The gearbox was sent in for refurbishment just for peace of mind. I had to buy the RS200 gearbox as you dont get a bell housing to fit on the 3sgte. The Lexus IS200 and Altezza RS200 gearbox are identical except for the bell housing.
I bought a SPEC stage 3 clutch for the RS200 and fitted it to the engine with the gearbox.
After everything was installed it was taken to a engine installer that i know to help install the engine into the Lexus, as I don't have all the machinery and hoist and I don't trust my welding skills with that type of install.
The Lexus engine was removed and the 3sgte was test fitted. We then decided to box the cross member so that the engine can go in further because the oil pan didn't clear the cross member. The transmission tunnel inside the car had to be cut for the gear lever to fit threw because of the gearbox setup that was forward by 150mm. New engine mountings and gearbox mountings was build and new prop shaft as it had to be made longer.
When the car was back at my houses I started on the rest of the car. New EBC turbo groove disks in front with yellow stuff brake pads and EBC standard disks at the back with green stuff pads. Stainless steel braided brake hoses. Brake calipers was cleaned up and refurbished. The brake lines had to be moved closer to the side if the car and covered in heat material to protect it from the exhaust that now runs on the same side of the fuel and brake lines. liquid Molly Dot 4 brake fluid is used in the brake system and the whole system had to be bleed ed as all the fluid was drained out of the system.
Tein Street basis lowering springs and KYB shocks was installed that gives the car more of a street look that and old mans car look.
The original mags was taken off and sent in for refurbishment and powder coated to a dark gun metal that looks black in the shade and gun metal in the sun.
Nice mate, have you got some pics of the finished fitment of the engine?
Hi Tosh. She is being run in at the particular moment. Will take her for a full dyno in two weeks time. At this moment she is limited to 4000rpm but from 4-6 gear she is already boosting 1bar boost before the wategate opens. I am hoping for 550-600hp with some octane booster.
The Lexus IS200 came out in South Africa in a Pearl White, and that is what the car is original colour.