View Poll Results: Would you buy a custom made GS300 STB?
Yes, DEFINITELY. Where do I pay?
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2
15.38%
Yes, but I would like to see one first.
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5
38.46%
Maybe...(please post concerns!)
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3
23.08%
Nope, I'd rather buy stickers and emblems instead!
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3
23.08%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll
Custom made STB's for the GS300?
#16
Lexus Champion
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
guys:
i have the RMM Strut Bar (the really nice looking silver one) on my '99 GS 300.
Fits well and again, looks great. Has the RMM logo in the middle and its one piece of metal.
Ted920
i have the RMM Strut Bar (the really nice looking silver one) on my '99 GS 300.
Fits well and again, looks great. Has the RMM logo in the middle and its one piece of metal.
Ted920
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#17
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Originally posted by ted920
guys:
i have the RMM Strut Bar (the really nice looking silver one) on my '99 GS 300.
Fits well and again, looks great. Has the RMM logo in the middle and its one piece of metal.
Ted920
guys:
i have the RMM Strut Bar (the really nice looking silver one) on my '99 GS 300.
Fits well and again, looks great. Has the RMM logo in the middle and its one piece of metal.
Ted920
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#18
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
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OK...two GS300 owners verified that the RMM bar fits...let me ask you guys, how's the clearance from the top of the engine? Is it like 1/4" or 1/2" or ?
Now the question is, would you guys want an alternative to the RMM bar? Also, there would be a matching rear STB...
Da-Mit - I recommend doing both front and back and I'm pretty sure that I'll be more than $100 per bar. For comparison, RMM's bar is $275 and even TRD's (which doesn't fit the GS300) was $225 and just recently dropped down to $170 (and they have mass production to help lower cost plus it's made out of steel, not billet or forged aluminum or carbon fiber)...but hey, you never know...maybe it will be around $100...
Now the question is, would you guys want an alternative to the RMM bar? Also, there would be a matching rear STB...
Da-Mit - I recommend doing both front and back and I'm pretty sure that I'll be more than $100 per bar. For comparison, RMM's bar is $275 and even TRD's (which doesn't fit the GS300) was $225 and just recently dropped down to $170 (and they have mass production to help lower cost plus it's made out of steel, not billet or forged aluminum or carbon fiber)...but hey, you never know...maybe it will be around $100...
#19
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally posted by manaray
Not bad looking...
Hey, how about if I engrave your name on your STB Globe?![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I was think about the same type of bar for the GS300's but with black towers and a brushed (or polished) bar...maybe a black anodized bar...
Because I would be making only a handful, I don't think I'll be able to get a "volume" price like $100...I'd rather not make the STB based on price, I'd rather make it based on quality...if I have to make it as cheap as possible, I'd rather not make it at all, know what I mean?
Not bad looking...
Hey, how about if I engrave your name on your STB Globe?
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I was think about the same type of bar for the GS300's but with black towers and a brushed (or polished) bar...maybe a black anodized bar...
Because I would be making only a handful, I don't think I'll be able to get a "volume" price like $100...I'd rather not make the STB based on price, I'd rather make it based on quality...if I have to make it as cheap as possible, I'd rather not make it at all, know what I mean?
![Cool](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif)
You wanna engrave the bar with my name on it? heh heh sounds very tempting............ or should I get a RAYS ENGINEERING STICKER and slap the RAY part on? :eek:
brushed aluminum bar will probably look the best. Tower, hmmmmm are there ways to paint them? If I do some DIY coloring to the engine compartment in the future, the tower part will also be painted. Default color should be black or gunmetal. YAH GUNMETAL
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#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Thanks, Manaray, for the explanation. I would be definitely interested in an STB for my GS3 as long as the ends are black (don't care for red) - preferrably a satin finish. What would look really nice is a polished aluminum cross-bar.
BTW - will there be a problem with hood clearance?
Thx...Doug
BTW - will there be a problem with hood clearance?
Thx...Doug
#21
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
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There should not be any hood clearance problems...the RMM one is said to fit and the owners didn't mention any clearance problems...
What I am thinking about doing is making a FORGED one so it can be thinner (but still strong and lightweight)...that way, you can keep the engine cover and not bump the hood...I'm sure some GS430 owners would be interested in that too...
We'll see...
What I am thinking about doing is making a FORGED one so it can be thinner (but still strong and lightweight)...that way, you can keep the engine cover and not bump the hood...I'm sure some GS430 owners would be interested in that too...
We'll see...
#22
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally posted by manaray
There should not be any hood clearance problems...the RMM one is said to fit and the owners didn't mention any clearance problems...
What I am thinking about doing is making a FORGED one so it can be thinner (but still strong and lightweight)...that way, you can keep the engine cover and not bump the hood...I'm sure some GS430 owners would be interested in that too...
We'll see...
There should not be any hood clearance problems...the RMM one is said to fit and the owners didn't mention any clearance problems...
What I am thinking about doing is making a FORGED one so it can be thinner (but still strong and lightweight)...that way, you can keep the engine cover and not bump the hood...I'm sure some GS430 owners would be interested in that too...
We'll see...
#23
Chicago Lexus Club Moderator
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manaray.....i would be interested in both the front and rear stb's for my 95 gs300. let me know if we will have color options or just plain polished. but put me down for 2 bars either way. oh, and would the front bar fit ok if i slap a turbo in the there? i should have the turbo in by september......let me know. thanks
#24
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
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2Lexos - Unfortunately, I don't know FOR SURE if it'll clear your turbo setup but I think it will...however, you are the only one that inquired about a JZS14x version of the bar so I doubt I'll make one.
Remember, this has to be cost effective. Like I said, I'm sure I'd have to make like 10 to keep the cost down.
Otherwise, if I was just to make ONE, it's going to be VERY expensive...but like I said, we'll see. I'm going to find out some more info sometime this week...
Remember, this has to be cost effective. Like I said, I'm sure I'd have to make like 10 to keep the cost down.
Otherwise, if I was just to make ONE, it's going to be VERY expensive...but like I said, we'll see. I'm going to find out some more info sometime this week...
#25
Chicago Lexus Club Moderator
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manaray.....i'm sure you'll do what you can. i appreciate the effort that you are putting in to this. Half the shops i go to here in chicago don't even bother to check if they can get parts for my car......they just say "no that part is not available for your car!!" even though i know it's out there. It's nice to know that there are people out there like you that are willing to go out of their way to get things done. Thank you from me and the other clublexus members in advance.
#26
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
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2Lexos - Thanks for the compliment!
Ok boys and girls, here is what I've got so far...
I have been contemplating different materials for making the STB's. Of course, the natural choices were Steel and Aluminum. Steel being 2x stronger than Aluminum but weighing about 3x as much (about 2.9x to be more exact).
Now considering that I have to make these things THIN w/o sacrificing strength, I looked into something that I think is a near perfect metal...Titanium. It's as strong as steel and only weighs 60% more than Aluminum.
The only downfall is the cost. Titanium costs a lot more. I am talking to a Titanium specialist (who specializes in Titanium frame structures) to see what kind of deal I can work out. If I can not get the bars built within a reasonable price, I will have to look into aluminum (but I think I'm going to make one for myself!)...if that's the route I need to take, then I am going to go with a high grade Aircraft quality aluminum.
I'll keep you guys posted...
Ok boys and girls, here is what I've got so far...
I have been contemplating different materials for making the STB's. Of course, the natural choices were Steel and Aluminum. Steel being 2x stronger than Aluminum but weighing about 3x as much (about 2.9x to be more exact).
Now considering that I have to make these things THIN w/o sacrificing strength, I looked into something that I think is a near perfect metal...Titanium. It's as strong as steel and only weighs 60% more than Aluminum.
The only downfall is the cost. Titanium costs a lot more. I am talking to a Titanium specialist (who specializes in Titanium frame structures) to see what kind of deal I can work out. If I can not get the bars built within a reasonable price, I will have to look into aluminum (but I think I'm going to make one for myself!)...if that's the route I need to take, then I am going to go with a high grade Aircraft quality aluminum.
I'll keep you guys posted...
#28
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
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I am going to try to design the STB to clearn the engine cover. As for the speaker box in the rear, what speaker box are you talking about? You mean the subwoofer that attached to rear deck?
Well here's a picture of my UGO STB...the one I'm making should be in about the same position...
Well here's a picture of my UGO STB...the one I'm making should be in about the same position...
#29
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If you go steel or aluminum....make sure you chrome plate it. I know a couple plating houses in L.A. I do some design work on the side. I can have local machine shops spit out ANY custom designed machined part anodized/plated any color in 2 weeks or less.