174 replies to this topic

[mranlet]

Here's a rehashing from other boards' threads. JZXp will be the first to receive updates from now on.

Fresh off the trailer. Got it 2 hrs away for $1100 running and driving. Caribbean woman owner had the blown front airbags changed out for steel spring on shock, but the back was still airbag. She gave me the rear steel suspension as well.





Gross inside.

And then I got to it. Threw some shit away out of the trunk; a lot of shit: 6-CD changer, Motorolla cel phone module, cables upon cables, the spare cover, the spare spare cover, the cover for the spare cover for the spare (but not the spare), the suspenison computer, some other computer thing, the computer for the CD changer, the rack for the CD changer,first aid kit cubby, toolkit cubby, panels upon panels of trunk trim, airbag pumps, amplifier for the stock subwoofer, stock subwoofer, rear deck cover, rear seat underpad, etc. In the trunk alone there was 60 lbs of shit that went, and in the back seat area excluding the seat itself there was 25 lbs.


Then the steel suspension went into the rear and I cut the springs to the proper height.



The car will probably be another 1.5"-2" lower after suspension is done. I've also already figured out what wheels I'll be using and have confirmed that the fitment will be as sweet as bear pussy (which is so sweet on account of how much honey they eat).

So, before you douchebags can speculate what I'll be doing to this car let me make the plan clear:
Manual swap
Welded differential/Kaaz 2-way
Coilovers, probably 18kg/14kg Megan Tracks for Mk III Supra
Dual 2"-2.5" exhaust, no stupid Bosozoku tips
Stripped interior minus dashboard, bolted-down floormats and center console
6-point chassis-tied frog-ass tight rollcage
Satin black exterior
No more areo than perhaps a lip, cheap sideskirts and NB Miata valences
Later on I'll do power: cams, metal head gaskets, counter-rotating TD04s, cryo-treated bottom end, 500-600 rwhp

There will be nothing VIP about this car. It is cheap as shit, the wheels won't be some $20 billion dollar 19 or 20", it won't be shiny and it won't be on airbags, and the owner will not have a snooty attitude. In fact, here are some things you can expect NOT to see go into this car:






Here's a quick price breakdown:
Car - $1100
Coilovers - $800
Welding Differential, steering arms - $20 (materials)
Front main seal - $8
Custom driveshaft - $200
Super Secret awesome wheels - $650 with tires
Total: $2778
You can't even buy a running S13 in decent shape for that much.

I already have:
5MT W58 Bellhousing (~$400 used)
Cusco Super Single clutch (~$350 used)
Push-type slave cylinder, master, pedal ($75 used)
X73 Ebrake handle ($5 used)
Exhaust (~$50 in materials)
Wheel ($20 ebay)
Style (no value)
Know-how (invaluable)
Subtotal: $900

After all the peripherals, I'll still be well under $5k total investment.


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I've already pitched 150 lbs worth of needless shit, and I haven't even touched the sound deadening. I'm going to keep a running list of the shit I threw out just for laughs, but it's rediculous.


Swapped out the toilet seat steering wheel for a much more intuitive one, with a small spacer I made.



Aparently you can also fit a 2nd 1UZ in the back. Sold the spare motor out of my Cressida project to put towards coilover fund.

I drove 80 miles to Sarasota just like this, pulled the motor out with a hoist and drove 80 miles back at 3AM with my buddy sleeping in the passenger seat. The car is definitely a Lexus - even with no rear door it was quiet enough we could have a conversation.

And now for cool shit:



The fenders were sitting on ballon-fitment Mustang tires, therefore the car is sitting about 2" higher than it will with properly sized (stretched) tires. The wheel to body fitment is absolutely perfect in 17x9 +25 front and 17x10.5 +26 rear. I'm split between these ones (Cobra replicas), FR500s and the Saleen SSC wheels, all of which can be had for around $600 per set brand new!

For those who don't know...
FR500s:


Saleen SSC:


Also, no pictures to go with it, but I have the Ebrake handle, the clutch master positioning and pedal (which is the tricky part on the UCF chassis manual swap). Both of them are super-sneaky.

I also know what I'm going to do for increased steering angle, rear differential and coilovers. They aren't quite as sneaky, but still need to happen.

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Paint. Krylon Satin Black. 4 cans.





Seat and bracket. $100 Sparco Evo, which will probably be replaced by a MOMO soon. Bracket needed 1" RHS tubing to space it from the floor because I couldn't see over the dash cowl even with a particurlarly long torso.




Ebrake handle, Clutch pedal mounting, suspension and wheels to come shortly. Until then you all can go suck it.

[shawley]

lookin good! keep us updated!

[huckersideways]

Its about fucking time someone built a proper LS400. Your my hero, for now.

[Jason]

for a budget build im disapointed at the waste of $20 for the 4 cans of spray paint. you can make your buddies wash your car for less than that all summer. thats why beer was invented.

get the fr500. chrome.

[lucas]

x2 on the FR500s but no chrome

[KeCHENG!]

Did I miss something here.... dont you need a special bellhousing for a manual swap on these 1uz motors? I dont see it listed in your build

[stsleeper94]

I am loving it! Nice work on the car. I am still laughing about the uz in the back seat. Can not wait to see more.

[mranlet]

Did I miss something here.... dont you need a special bellhousing for a manual swap on these 1uz motors? I dont see it listed in your build

Yes, but I made it myself back when there was none available. It's listed in the "already have" category.

I'm not worried abou buying paint - I'll spend more than $20 in beer during cage parties. We do this thing here where if you come and put in grind time on building cages others will do the same for you. This car is next on the list.

The UZX73 got scrapped because I decided that the UCF will be better suited for what I want to do with it. Double wishbone, bigger dimensions, strong brakes and factory-installed V8 make it superior in performance to the arcaic X7 chassis.

[Bill]

i was about to say fuck the paint idea, but i see i'm way too late. i'm just tired of satin black flat black, whatever, cheap = leave it alone in my stupid opinion. why don't you get $100 of red holo-glitter vinyl and cover the entire car. that would be fucking memorable hahaha.

this car is like a big fat slutty chick on jenny craig, when she slims down she'll just be as slutty. hot honey bear vaginal discharge

[theianmonster]

God I fucking love this.

[Monolith]

That thing is going to be SICK once you get the manny tranny in there with the welded diff....let the ownage begin!

[mranlet]

I made an Ebrake bracket and ran the cable, but I ran into a snag; The throw on the pedal rig is about 3", whereas the X7 handle only throws a measly 1.25"! Wat da fahk!

My bracketry for the X7 handle is pretty nice, but I'm contemplating scrapping it and just adding a handle to the LS's foot deal and running that where the Ebrake handle should be. No pictures until I figure it out though...

[Jason]

can you run a larger pulley on the back of the x7 ebrake to change the ammount of throw?

and keep the foot brake. you should have a functioning e-brake in case of e-mergency. add a hydraulic staging handbrake instead

[mranlet]

I got it. Had to weld on a plate and extend the acting arm of the Ebrake by about 4" to get enough throw. To gain back the mechanical advantage I lost, I had to add a big ass stupid gay handle...

[miles]

at least your doing something with yours....nate's had his for 3 or more months now and its still completely stock except for fixing the ps problem and taking the axle backs off.....fail shit

[mranlet]

I've kind of forgotten about the internet and have been busy building awesomeness instead.


This is some rediculous stuff going on. The bracket for the Ebrake is a tubular frame and I had to extend the throwing arm on the Ebrake by about 350%.


All the shit fell out of my rear doors too. Toyota garbage build quality, you know. Saved 30 lbs per door.


Sure, just throw a clutch master and pedal in there.


Also shaved 32 lbs from here.


Looks better on GS wheels


Shit yeah. Now I have a legit reason to get shot at [by Bloods]


Ultra-rare Little Tikes Le Mans fuel door.

I'm next up for rollcage in our Wednesday night cage party crew, but I've got to strip out the rest of the interior, bust the sound deadening and clean out under the dashboard first. Cage progress ought to start next Weds.


I've also already picked up a diff with a lower ratio R&P, bought some suspension components, gotten a pedal destined for clutch, and have the footwork already done for doing Z33 transmission since the W will explode if you merely show it to a 1UZ...

[ameenit]

i like where this is going more than the cressida.. keep up the good work!!

i do think it did look better with paint before you rattle canned it..

[Baboonass]

Now this I like. I've often thought about something similar. Make sure you keep us updated. It keeps my mind off my own broken down Hoe of a car.

[rayray]

with all the extra lexus dead weight in there taken out, you can probably get it under 3000lbs