When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
…back to the GTE GS. After painting the car, I had several other projects I was working on simultaneously. I wont mention them here since some of it is not Lexus related but if you want to see them you can visit IG: Renaissanceace. If I had an hour to spare, I was usually in the garage tinkering with some stuff. In the midst of COVID, I also moved and built a home shop. It was also time to do what I have always wanted to do since I’ve owned a GS; manual swap and single turbo.
Sourced a 6spd MT out of a 07 G37. Went all out and got the Fisch Racing 2JZ bell housing w/lightweight flywheel, ACT HD 6-puck clutch , and Serial9 Shifter, and Heatlightning Speed Shop clutch pedal setup with SC300/400 e-brake handle bracket.
I am sure glad I am able to do the things I am today. If I had started this project way back in the day, I for sure would have had to fabricate some parts. Today, enough companies exist that everything is bolt-on with minimal customization. After the manual transmission conversion, it was evident there was more power to be had but if you remember, I had mentioned the jdm stock twins were showing signs that they were on the way out.
I may get flamed with what I’m about to say I did next but oh well…. I looked into several single turbo kits, and even piecing everything together one by one. This car was never meant to be anything other than fun with a bit a style. I wanted to be reasonable with this build so I opted for the CXracing single turbo kit as the entire package came with everything I needed for the conversion. I upgraded to their GT35-T4-66 RR ceramic dual ball bearing turbo.
Faster spool? Maybe.
While I was doing that, I had ordered Serial9 Breed fenders to widen the stance…
Also found a set of brand new wheels and tires from a local guy. 18x10.5/11.5 -25/-35 Work Meister S1 3P
So after the manual transmission and single turbo were all squared away I took it for a drive. I actually drove it around for awhile and realized I didn’t like running it on a stock ECU and MAF. This was the first iteration.
anddddd I almost forgot, I also hit up VertexUSA and got another front bumper since I already had extra sides and rear to put on this GS. Got it MAACO painted to match the rest of the car.
Then came the cutting of the quarter panels for the Serial9 fenders.
I could have molded the fenders for a cleaner look but once again I decided to go the economical route in the event the fenders were to get damaged I could replaced them easier. I ended up using Rivnuts with black hardware.
Over the last two decades I’ve been teaching myself how to paint. I though’t I’d give it ago again with this car.
After I finished the paint, it took a bit of finagling to fit the Vertex sides and rear to make it look decent with the S9 fenders. While I was doing that, I had ordered an ECUmasters EMU Black with the Plug-n-play harness. That came in and I hooked it up right away to ditch the MAF setup. Here you will see the second iteration of how the motor looks.
08-17-24, 10:47 PM
