Project Manual Lexus GS300 skidder

kyle5894

Member
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Hi, so this is my first build thread. Had a kind of thread running on my facebook page for my last car, but I want to document this one properly.

So just under two years ago I managed to get my first RWD car, it was a bone stock Mercedes CLK Kompressor. Bit of an unusual choice, but I was nineteen and the insurance was shockingly low, even for my age. With twice the power of anything else right wheel drive I was looking at and half the price to insure it was an easy decision.

Bought it a bit rusty, cleaned it up nicely, and then made it a monster. I loved this car, it looked mental and drifted verrrrry well.

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Well unfortunately the day before I left home in Northern Ireland to head back to uni in Edinburgh, I was rear ended by a white van man. :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Disgusted isn't the word. Done all the work myself on little experience. It was a proper journey building and learning to drift in this thing.

Well anyway, I don't have a big budget for these things even though I pour every penny I get into it... student life... so I decided to take to opportunity of getting a bit of insurance money to build a dream car of mines. I've always wanted a manual converted mk2 lexus gs300.

Sitting in uni one day browsing ebay, and one comes up for a good price, with a suede interior, which I was very keen on. Not a fan of leather and the suede will do nicely till its all ripped out in favour of bucket seats and a stripped interior. So I hopped on a bus to newcastle the next day and this beaut was parked outside halls the next day.

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Paint had a fair few swirl marks and fine scratches, but overall I was very pleased. Even with the worlds most restrictive exhaust, you can hear the potential in the 2JZ, and the rev limiter sounds amazing.
There is just something about the way these cars look.
 
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Car stayed the way it sat as I bought it until I came home from uni for the summer. The car is now off the road for a good cleanup and I'm still waiting on this insurance money! :mad: So I decided to do a few free-ish things to keep me occupied until I can start ordering manual and drifty parts.

I should mention, I am very OCD about my builds, I like them as clean as I possibly can get them, even if it results in lieing in the driveway torturing myself over shitty work. So while having a look under the car I decided the level of surface rust was going to bother me. So having never removed anything bigger that the diff on the CLK, the logical thing to do was attempt to drop the rear subframe in my driveway with limited tools.

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At this point I decided the fuel tank was coming out too. Never removed one of these either, but thought I'd have a go.

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Wire wheel out, and start cleaning anything with an orange tinge. Removed some heat shields at the rear and found a lot of surface rust, the spare wheel well was the same.

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FINALLY! A bit of sun for once, so I got a good bit done.
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Anywhere underseal was needed it was applied, under the rear half of the car is looking extremely clean now. Makes all the crappy work worth it.
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Few brackets and braces painted in hammerite.
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Fuel tank was undersealed and it went back in towards the end of the day.
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Working a lot of hours at my summer job at the minute, so progress is slow, but really looking forward getting some money together.
 
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Hoping to pick myself up a decent R154 for it. Not enough money to even think about a V160.
 
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Get a W58, with the power/torque you're running it will hold up and be the cheapest option

I was considering it, but hopefully in a year or twos time, I'll be saving for a nice turbo for it, so I'm thinking it's better to get the stronger box now and not have to change it when I go boost.
 
Working a lot of hours at my summer job at the minute, so progress is slow, but really looking forward getting some money together. By the way, anyone want to do me a favour and sell me a set of coilovers on the cheap for it? I'll love you forever!

How much are you looking to spend. I have a set of TOMS Advox clearing customs that I dont need anymore... after around £450..
 
Dont even bother with the r154 box dude, they are waaaay over priced for a tractor gearbox! Just do the bmw conversion on it, hold more power then a r154, cheaper to get a complete kit, cheap to replace the box if you did manage to break it and a nicer box to use. i will be using a bmw 6 speed getrag in my gs when i do my engine conversion dude and im aiming for 550bhp+ the bmw box will cover that, r154 not so much lol
 
How much are you looking to spend. I have a set of TOMS Advox clearing customs that I dont need anymore... after around £450..

Thanks for the offer man, but having read some reviews and checking spring rates they are a very soft coilover. Looking for something more track orientated.
 
Dont even bother with the r154 box dude, they are waaaay over priced for a tractor gearbox! Just do the bmw conversion on it, hold more power then a r154, cheaper to get a complete kit, cheap to replace the box if you did manage to break it and a nicer box to use. i will be using a bmw 6 speed getrag in my gs when i do my engine conversion dude and im aiming for 550bhp+ the bmw box will cover that, r154 not so much lol

I actually haven't heard much about this conversion. Would really appreciate some info. What box, where can I get the adaptor plate and will the 2jz clutch and flywheel fit under it.
 
I actually haven't heard much about this conversion. Would really appreciate some info. What box, where can I get the adaptor plate and will the 2jz clutch and flywheel fit under it.

ABC Clutches do the kit. You get the flywheel and a twin plate clutch. Its around £1700. I will be ditching my R154 and going down this route at some point!
 
ABC do them, but they're very expensive. I''ve seen that Nev of DriftMoto has started to produce them a lot cheaper. He said they were on ebay but I couldn't see a link anywhere.

Try searching for Driftmoto and giving them a call perhaps, depends if you would rather have lows or manual first though.
 
Also you are going to have fun removing the stupid trc and yaw control, also the shite progressive throttle, i would just fit a engine from a supra non vvti for around £200, they are simpler and stronger then the vvti engine as they have the same conrods as the tt.

not sure what clutch/flywheel you would need as im going v8 turbo with mine but as its been said, give never a shout at dridtmoto, hes the man in the know ;)

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Also you are going to have fun removing the stupid trc and yaw control, also the shite progressive throttle, i would just fit a engine from a supra non vvti for around £200, they are simpler and stronger then the vvti engine as they have the same conrods as the tt.

not sure what clutch/flywheel you would need as im going v8 turbo with mine but as its been said, give never a shout at dridtmoto, hes the man in the know ;)
 
Nice build dude, you have some fun times ahead trying to get one manual converted :)
I saw this at the port on easter sunday and thought it was a bit mad! I was down in my soarer. Keep the post coming :)
 
Also you are going to have fun removing the stupid trc and yaw control, also the shite progressive throttle, i would just fit a engine from a supra non vvti for around £200, they are simpler and stronger then the vvti engine as they have the same conrods as the tt.

not sure what clutch/flywheel you would need as im going v8 turbo with mine but as its been said, give never a shout at dridtmoto, hes the man in the know ;)

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Also you are going to have fun removing the stupid trc and yaw control, also the shite progressive throttle, i would just fit a engine from a supra non vvti for around £200, they are simpler and stronger then the vvti engine as they have the same conrods as the tt.

not sure what clutch/flywheel you would need as im going v8 turbo with mine but as its been said, give never a shout at dridtmoto, hes the man in the know ;)

Hmm, even you know how easy it is to delete the TRC and YAW...
Throttle will be alright!!
 
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