Lexus 3S200 GTE Build
Lexus 3S200 GTE Build
It all started when my Saab 95 Aero HOT's gearbox failed, i wanted a nice new'ish Celica to replace it. I searched for a nice one with the leather spec etc, and found one in Car Giant London. So took the Saab for a last trip and headed to the big smoke ( smoke from the gearbox also!!).
I test drove the Celica but for me it just didn't do it for me so I was about to leave when the sales guy took me to the Lexus area and pointed out a rather nice looking 2005 IS200 SE, full body-kit, leather, satnav, 18" wheels etc everything I wanted really, but high miles. so took it out for a run - remember this is London so 3rd gear is about all we got to. I liked the drive, style and over all the sound of that straight 6 engine!!
On the way home after parting with my cash I had a fun drive and really enjoyed it.
I joined an owners club, made good friends and never looked back!!
This lasted until I really missed the power of the Saab - some 150BHP more and a tubby. So the search for more power was on.
90% of people on here know the score with the IS200, you either do one of the following:
Supercharge it
turbo it
swap the engine for one with guts....
sell it
As just putting in a big exhaust and air filter just doesn't do anything much worth while.
so chatting to a customer of mine he told me of a little known garage that plays with Saabs but had a Supra for breaking - only just in and everything on it for a 2JZ swap, apart from teh 6 speed 'box, the ultimate power hike....................
OK but the IS 'box won't cope with a 2JZ so an alternative route was looked for and this is when Toyota GT stepped in and said for £x they will put one of my favourite engines into my car the 3S-GTE from my favourite 2 seater car the JDM MR2 Turbo. Far more power than a supercharger, for a little bit more money. Pound for pound a good price.
With the promise of 300 BHP to start with and a top figure of up to 500 - 550 BHP with a little more work all good news. More than the Altazza would get to for less than selling the car and buying another one - Just.....
So the deal was done.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
FirebirdPhil
11-09-2016, 03:20 AM #1OK I will re-tell this build from start to current state:
It all started when my Saab 95 Aero HOT's gearbox failed, i wanted a nice new'ish Celica to replace it. I searched for a nice one with the leather spec etc, and found one in Car Giant London. So took the Saab for a last trip and headed to the big smoke ( smoke from the gearbox also!!).
I test drove the Celica but for me it just didn't do it for me so I was about to leave when the sales guy took me to the Lexus area and pointed out a rather nice looking 2005 IS200 SE, full body-kit, leather, satnav, 18" wheels etc everything I wanted really, but high miles. so took it out for a run - remember this is London so 3rd gear is about all we got to. I liked the drive, style and over all the sound of that straight 6 engine!!
On the way home after parting with my cash I had a fun drive and really enjoyed it.
I joined an owners club, made good friends and never looked back!!
This lasted until I really missed the power of the Saab - some 150BHP more and a tubby. So the search for more power was on.
90% of people on here know the score with the IS200, you either do one of the following:
Supercharge it
turbo it
swap the engine for one with guts....
sell it
As just putting in a big exhaust and air filter just doesn't do anything much worth while.
so chatting to a customer of mine he told me of a little known garage that plays with Saabs but had a Supra for breaking - only just in and everything on it for a 2JZ swap, apart from teh 6 speed 'box, the ultimate power hike....................
OK but the IS 'box won't cope with a 2JZ so an alternative route was looked for and this is when Toyota GT stepped in and said for £x they will put one of my favourite engines into my car the 3S-GTE from my favourite 2 seater car the JDM MR2 Turbo. Far more power than a supercharger, for a little bit more money. Pound for pound a good price.
With the promise of 300 BHP to start with and a top figure of up to 500 - 550 BHP with a little more work all good news. More than the Altazza would get to for less than selling the car and buying another one - Just.....
So the deal was done.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
The issues with teh 3SGTE are simply put like this:
oil pick up is designed for transverse mounting engines, so the sump(both parts), oil pick up need swapping, the dizzy cap is in the wrong place so mounting the engine is vital to enable us to run without electronic ignition and coil packs (cost issue there!!), the head is only designed for transverse applications, so the oil drains are in the wrong place when fitted longitudinally.....
manifolds will have to be custom made to fit into the engine bay as the transverse manifolds don't fit - something that happens in 90% of engine swap builds.
the engine mounts are completely different, and the starter motor will have to be moved as it will no longer fit the space it currently sits in.
the propshaft will need modifications, and the gearbox will need moving to the 3SGE position.
The biggest issue will be the electronics, the 1g-fe ecu will be expecting to see VVTI, Electronic throttle control and variable inlet control signals - which won't exist. Splicing of the 3sgte ECU into the multiplex electronics of the is200 will be difficult. Also the Tacho needed an adaptor to make the OEM one read correctly, sounds easy but took weeks to track down a good one from the USA.
So a few issues from the outset but nothing that couldn't be fabricated or modified.
Work started in Feb 2009 - a snowy day!!
1st thing I did was uprate all the breaks, uprate the suspension and get the GEO done by DR Tony at WIM (Wheels in Motion), and get some TTE Arbs (they are amazing!!)
Some build pictures:
![[Image: Untitled-1copy.jpg]](http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/yeldarb_album/Untitled-1copy.jpg)
![[Image: Untitled-2copy.jpg]](http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/yeldarb_album/Untitled-2copy.jpg)
![[Image: Untitled-6copy.jpg]](http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/yeldarb_album/Untitled-6copy.jpg)
![[Image: Untitled-3copy.jpg]](http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/yeldarb_album/Untitled-3copy.jpg)
![[Image: Untitled-4copy.jpg]](http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/yeldarb_album/Untitled-4copy.jpg)
![[Image: Untitled-5copy.jpg]](http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/yeldarb_album/Untitled-5copy.jpg)
![[Image: Untitled-7copy.jpg]](http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/yeldarb_album/Untitled-7copy.jpg)
![[Image: Untitled-8copy.jpg]](http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/yeldarb_album/Untitled-8copy.jpg)
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
FirebirdPhil
11-09-2016, 05:22 AM #2OK next part:
The issues with teh 3SGTE are simply put like this:
oil pick up is designed for transverse mounting engines, so the sump(both parts), oil pick up need swapping, the dizzy cap is in the wrong place so mounting the engine is vital to enable us to run without electronic ignition and coil packs (cost issue there!!), the head is only designed for transverse applications, so the oil drains are in the wrong place when fitted longitudinally.....
manifolds will have to be custom made to fit into the engine bay as the transverse manifolds don't fit - something that happens in 90% of engine swap builds.
the engine mounts are completely different, and the starter motor will have to be moved as it will no longer fit the space it currently sits in.
the propshaft will need modifications, and the gearbox will need moving to the 3SGE position.
The biggest issue will be the electronics, the 1g-fe ecu will be expecting to see VVTI, Electronic throttle control and variable inlet control signals - which won't exist. Splicing of the 3sgte ECU into the multiplex electronics of the is200 will be difficult. Also the Tacho needed an adaptor to make the OEM one read correctly, sounds easy but took weeks to track down a good one from the USA.
So a few issues from the outset but nothing that couldn't be fabricated or modified.
Work started in Feb 2009 - a snowy day!!
1st thing I did was uprate all the breaks, uprate the suspension and get the GEO done by DR Tony at WIM (Wheels in Motion), and get some TTE Arbs (they are amazing!!)
Some build pictures:
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
OK the bad bits........
I picked up the car and within a couple of hundred miles the turbo failed - so back to TGT for a replacement.
Next was a gear stick problem, it came off in my hand........... Not to worry TGT welded it back together and been perfect ever since.
Turbo let go again a week or so later............. Problem was a tiny leak on a pipe somewhere? OK new tubby fitted. Car went to Germany under its own steam to put some serious miles on it, whilst I was on holiday, all faults regarding general running were now sorted. It was a very complex build so a few niggles are to be expected?
Unfortunately my 98K mile gearbox just wasn't up to the power and a bearing failed nothing to serious just swap the box for another one. This point is on going.
BHP was not 300 as promised only about 250 - this is being corrected as I type.
Big sound stereo was fitted and the right amp for the sub was kindly fitted by REDZ at the JAE show.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
FirebirdPhil
11-09-2016, 05:56 AM #3Whats next??
OK the bad bits........
I picked up the car and within a couple of hundred miles the turbo failed - so back to TGT for a replacement.
Next was a gear stick problem, it came off in my hand........... Not to worry TGT welded it back together and been perfect ever since.
Turbo let go again a week or so later............. Problem was a tiny leak on a pipe somewhere? OK new tubby fitted. Car went to Germany under its own steam to put some serious miles on it, whilst I was on holiday, all faults regarding general running were now sorted. It was a very complex build so a few niggles are to be expected?
Unfortunately my 98K mile gearbox just wasn't up to the power and a bearing failed nothing to serious just swap the box for another one. This point is on going.
BHP was not 300 as promised only about 250 - this is being corrected as I type.
Big sound stereo was fitted and the right amp for the sub was kindly fitted by REDZ at the JAE show.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
The car was awaiting repair to the gearbox and the tuning to be done properly, unfortunately Toyota GT just couldn't/wouldn't? book the car in for the required work. After waiting a long time (2 months) I decided to look elsewhere for the work to be done so it is at SPC Horsham having an Altezza RS200 gearbox fitted and they are also going to sort the tuning out and get that holy grail of 300ish BHP. Probably change the inlet manifold as the current one is very restrictive - but thats all there is at the moment.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
FirebirdPhil
11-09-2016, 06:09 AM #4Right nearly up to date:
The car was awaiting repair to the gearbox and the tuning to be done properly, unfortunately Toyota GT just couldn't/wouldn't? book the car in for the required work. After waiting a long time (2 months) I decided to look elsewhere for the work to be done so it is at SPC Horsham having an Altezza RS200 gearbox fitted and they are also going to sort the tuning out and get that holy grail of 300ish BHP. Probably change the inlet manifold as the current one is very restrictive - but thats all there is at the moment.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
looking at the inlet manifold it doesnt look the greatest (no offence to TGT), does the altezza box differ to the is200 one then?
My Garage
Supra Build Thread
' Nothing feels quick when your other car has a 1000bhp - JamieP
Quote:A Supra without a spoiler is like a Gypsy's dog without a Nob.
Dan_Turism0
11-09-2016, 06:19 AM #5nice write up phil looking at the inlet manifold it doesnt look the greatest (no offence to TGT), does the altezza box differ to the is200 one then?
My Garage
Supra Build Thread
' Nothing feels quick when your other car has a 1000bhp - JamieP
Quote:A Supra without a spoiler is like a Gypsy's dog without a Nob.
dan_harris nice write up phil
not the box but the bellhousing does so the starter motor is on the right side where theres already a gap for it in the IS200's chassis
good write up phil
![[Image: LexuS-Copy.jpg]](http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/Sparkystav/LexuS-Copy.jpg)
Read my thread here: The Evolution of my Turbo Lexus from NA-Supercharged-Twin Turbo-Massive Single
Please leave your comments.
Sparkystav
11-09-2016, 07:08 AM #6dan_harris nice write up phil
not the box but the bellhousing does so the starter motor is on the right side where theres already a gap for it in the IS200's chassis
good write up phil
Read my thread here: The Evolution of my Turbo Lexus from NA-Supercharged-Twin Turbo-Massive Single
Please leave your comments.
The new inlet manifold is going to be one from a Nissan 200sx turbo, it looks very similar to the one SPC have built for the IS200 Turbo kit they have put together, so rounded Ally, longer runners and far bigger air volume, and very shiny for bling.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
FirebirdPhil
11-09-2016, 07:19 AM #7Thanks guys, I was trying to do it between customers and got side tracked so many times - thus 3 posts!!
The new inlet manifold is going to be one from a Nissan 200sx turbo, it looks very similar to the one SPC have built for the IS200 Turbo kit they have put together, so rounded Ally, longer runners and far bigger air volume, and very shiny for bling.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
It's good to see where things started and where they get to so it can be an inspiration for others :thumbup:
Look forward to hearing the results from SPC :biggrin:
russelllinn
15-09-2016, 05:34 AM #8Good write up mate, thanks for taking the time to do it!
It's good to see where things started and where they get to so it can be an inspiration for others :thumbup:
Look forward to hearing the results from SPC :biggrin:
Nice one :thumbup1:
Cheers
Bobby
Shy boys don't get sweeties.
Excellent write up Phil & a good read. Very interesting to hear how the problems / challenges are over come. This is serious modding & just shows what can be done to the IS as a few others have achieved as well.
Nice one :thumbup1:
Cheers
Bobby
Shy boys don't get sweeties.
Photos are coming sometime next week.....................
The Devil is re-born.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
FirebirdPhil
01-10-2016, 06:44 AM #10SPC are nearly done.........................
Photos are coming sometime next week.....................
The Devil is re-born.
"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"
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