mveale's '99 GS400 Build Thread
#17
#18
For sure. I live in Portland now and I'm usually all over the place. What dealership do you work for? Yea maybe we can meet up one of these days. Have you been to the red door meet yet? They had a big turnout when I went last summer.
#19
I've driven through RDM a few times in recent months, but I was just on my way home from somewhere, so I didn't park and hang out. I'd like to though! It'd be fun to get some Lexuses together and go.
Anyway, finally washed the thing and took a couple iPhone night shots. I'll snap some daylight pictures tomorrow.
#21
#23
It looks fine from the outside, it fits nicely within the factory lines and doesn't have any noticeable gaps. The only issue I ran into was that one bolt was a couple millimeters off center from the hole. I'm just going to bore out the hole in the factory mounting tab a little bit and it should fit fine. However, I bought it used, so the original owner may have had to modify it a bit. If he did, he didn't mention it.
The only thing that worries me is the mount for the hood release. It's long and flimsy, and I think it could be snapped off if you don't open the hood carefully.
#24
Sneak peak of a BIG update...
I was lucky enough to purchase the old body kit from YaKuZa_GS's car. It's a Version Select front bumper with custom-molded dual fogs/halos, Admiration side skirts with puddle lights, and an Admiration rear lip. It's mounted up looking great.
Over the next week or two I'll be installing my coilovers and going an inch of two lower, redoing my exhaust with S2000 AP2 tips, wiring up the halos and puddle lights, restoring headlights, and some rock chip touch-up.
I'll take some real pictures when it's all done. For now, this is all you get!
Thanks for looking!
I was lucky enough to purchase the old body kit from YaKuZa_GS's car. It's a Version Select front bumper with custom-molded dual fogs/halos, Admiration side skirts with puddle lights, and an Admiration rear lip. It's mounted up looking great.
Over the next week or two I'll be installing my coilovers and going an inch of two lower, redoing my exhaust with S2000 AP2 tips, wiring up the halos and puddle lights, restoring headlights, and some rock chip touch-up.
I'll take some real pictures when it's all done. For now, this is all you get!
Thanks for looking!
#26
The tips fit great, but I had no idea how much of a sound difference tips can make. The 4x18" Magnaflow tips were LOUD. It made the GS sound like a modded Mustang. Now that I have the S2K tips, which look great, but use 2-1/4" pipe, it is significantly quieter.
Anybody ever had in-person experience with a cat-back straight pipe GS400? Mine has only the two rear resonators left and is really quiet. I like my cars loud, but straight pipes are really hit or miss, so I'm not sure whether cutting the resonators out is a good plan or not.
Pictures:
#28
First, I picked up an L-Tuned grill from a member here. I think it matches the bumper quite nicely. I'm gonna try to find the same mesh as the grill and use it behind the bumper to bring it all together.
I really like the factory Lexus Xenon headlights with yellow fog lights below. While searching for some transparent yellow vinyl, I stumbled across this pearlescent stuff that reminded me of PIAA's crystal ion fog lights that I have on my Suburban. Decided to give it a shot, here's one side done:
Both sides done:
They look green sometimes, apparently. But I think they turned out pretty cool! Certainly different than plain yellow fogs.
Puddle lights are done. Wired into the footwell lights so they turn on when the car is unlocked and fade out like the dome lights.
Here's how they work:
Next project: Wire in the halos...