Bolt-on Ford V8 Supercharger Wakes Up This 2005 LS430!

Thanks to Vibrant Performance’s impressive catalog of off the shelf fabrication parts, this build was finished in surprisingly simple fashion.

We all know that the Lexus LS is the brand’s longstanding flagship sedan and with it brings lofty luxury and exceptional quality. While the 290HP 3UZ V8 engine powering the third gen LS430 did provide acceptable power for the large sedan, it would be a reach to call it quick.

After all, the LS is to ride in style and comfort, not so much rip around and mash the throttle at every stop light. Or is it? While being solely RWD, these big body flagships don’t exactly drift or really even lose traction too easily with stock power.

What happens when you change that by throwing on a Ford SVT M112 Eaton Supercharger onto your LS430? Well, the good folks at Speed Academy found out for us in their latest YouTube video.

Form and function, all in the one of the world’s most iconic sedans

In this one the team is getting ready to put the finishing touches on the sedan in order to get it ready for its maiden journey with forced induction. For those unfamiliar, this is the OEM supercharger unit found on many Ford models, including the SVT Cobra.

Obviously, this is not exactly a plug and play upgrade, however, it is simpler than its face value. The potential for the utilization of the stock ECU is specifically a big plus.

So, the team at Speed Academy first needed to get a revised throttle body to supercharger flange from Elate.

Then they proceeded to design the intake system connecting the stock airbox using a variety of off the shelf Vibrant Performance tubing and silicon couplers.

The process was surprisingly easy thanks to Vibrant’s vast catalog of options, including the drill-in bung fitting that requires no welding.

After a healthy coat of paint and some fresh gaskets, the LS was ready to put back together and get its first start since the upgrade.

Out the box with no CELs or obvious issues, after a quick warm up, the LS was ready to rip.

Noticeably quicker above 5,000 RPM and able to break traction off the line, even this subtle difference perked up the otherwise lofty LS sedan.

While the transmission is definitely dated and on the lazier end, this supercharger is only the beginning of this build. More power, an aftermarket ECU, and many more shenanigans are on the way. Make sure to stay tuned!

Daud Gonzalez

Hi! My name is Daud Gonzalez and I am a local Southern California car enthusiast who loves motorsport to the core. I have spent many years diving deep into modifying, building, and racing cars since beginning my journey with a 2011 BMW 335i Sedan back around 2015. Since then, I have built alongside many close friends several cars for motorsport, including several road race and drifting builds. Few experiences can replicate the full-body immersion that driving a car at the limit on a race track provides. Until that gets boring (which currently seems like never), I will remain dedicated to enjoying motorsports! Thankfully I was able to combine that passion of racing and high-octane adrenaline with another pleasure of mine: writing. I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I enjoyed writing them. If you are in SoCal, find me on the racetrack!