Hello guys. Been a while. Still own the same 93 LS I bought in 09 and it hasn't changed.



Just had some incredible luck over the past 2 weeks. I was told that my local pick-n-pull cut the prices of all engines to $175. I went to the yard to grab a spare 1st gen 1uz since I have done a couple of swaps in my other cars. I walked right up on a 1998 GS400!! Needless to say, I left with a 1uz VVTi for less than $200.



I also grabbed the the engine ecu, ignition key, ignition cylinder, key reader and transponder amplifier. I didn't get the trans because the car was in such a violent crash, that it cracked the case. I did grab the bellhousing and torque converter. One week later while visiting another junkyard I came across a 2001 IS300 with the 5 speed auto trans. It was already pulled (someone pulled it with the engine) and left on the ground for me to pick up.



Looked inside the car and found a clean steering steering (airbag hadn't deployed) with the e-shift buttons.



I did have to go back to the GS400 to grab it's transmissions input shaft and pump to swap into the IS300 trans.


NOW, I'm trying to decide if I should drop this into my LS.
OR, pull out the 1st gen 1uz I swapped into my cressida and drop this in it's place.




I KNOW this will be sweet in the cressida with the 5 speed auto and factory looking e-shift.

Updating the LS400 would be kinda cool.
Maybe I should just buy a 2000+ LS400/430 and just swap the cress.

 

that is an AWESOME buy! Easily picked that motor up for 1/4-1/5th it's going rate.

I would say that unless you're going to turn that cressida into a drift/track car (ie with a 5spd manual) then you may as well go ahead and drop the motor into your LS. All you'll need is a front sump from an LS 1uz and you'll be good to go (GS is mid sump iirc). It should swap straight over from your old stock LS motor.

May want to go back and pick up the clock spring from the GS so the buttons work

 

That cressida is freaking awesome! This might sound dumb, but I never realized they came rwd, or did they?

Oh, and I think i would put it in the LS, since you already have the v8 cressida.

 

PD.
I know it was a steal. I started shaking when I saw it. BTW, to your and my surprise, the GS400 1uz is a front sump.



I don't drift. I build my cars to preserve them. My cressida may see the drag strip in the future but that's all. I've got time to decide which car this will go in. Gotta finish another project while I replace a few broken parts for this VVTi. The throttle body was cracked in the wreck. A used one will run me $300+. Have another valve cover on the way. The passenger side was shattered in the wreck.

USOFF89,

Thanks and YES the cressida is rwd. It is the father to the LS400. Top of the line Toyota sold in the US right before Toyota started the LEXUS line.

 

That's a super find
I still miss the MX 73 Cressida we had. Your 83 is

 

damn that is one heck of a pick up for that engine.

 

cressida's were never FWD.

my bad, 2GS and 1/2/3 LS are all front sump.

Crowns were mid.

 

friggin awesome! i would put the VVTI motor in the LS. i always loved v8 cressidas. very very cool stuff! so you are planning to run the eshift on whichever car the motor goes into?! personally it's not really that much different than rowing the gear selector but cool if you could make it all work!

 

On the flip side, now's a great time to do the valve cover gaskets and starter

 

Already on it!



Starter has been replaced recently (reman)



Intake manifold is huge and heavy!!



I can understand why they go with plastic manifolds now.

She'll get the full gasket job ( minus headgasket)

 

Hey Yotarip, were you ever on the ToyotaCressida.com forums? i can swear i have seen that MX83 before.. i had an MX73 for about 6 years...

 

Dude!! Haven't heard much from you in a long time. I'm glad those tail lights still hold up pretty well
BTW I didn't know that the blue cressida is yours, i've seen it once at the pick a part in wood bridge. Clean car and i definitely didn't know that it has a 1uzfe in it. Amazing find dude. Do you still make your way up north once in a while?

 

Put the VVTI in the LS for sure. I love Cressidas. I totaled mine years before I got the LS. LS somewhat feels like a Cressida but waaaaaaaay better.

 

if it was me i would just boost the cressida the way it sits and throw the vvti in the LS. im in the process of doing a 1u swap to a 96 4runner.

 

Hey Man!!. I see you have moved up a LS400 generation. I may do the same. Yeah, that was me. I go to that junkyard and their other yard in Fredricksburg on Rt1 often. As a matter of fact, the fredericksburg location had a CLEAN low mileage GS400 in the yard a year ago. They were selling the engine for $200. Problem was, they didn't have the key and their yard setup sucks. No engine lifts, all cars are on the ground with no wheels and the dirt ground was like quicksand since it had rained for a couple of days.

I'm up there alot, hoping to find a MK2 MR2 in the yards. I have one that needs a few interior pieces. I'm going to finish my 1mzfe swap in that after I finish the 1UZ toyota pickup seen in the pics.