Lexus IS300 Built to Drag With Massively Turbocharged Four-Cylinder

Unique Build

There are plenty of old Lexus IS models out there that have been fortified for the drag strip, modified in a way designed to make them as quick in a straight line as possible. However, most of those builds are powered by some sort of V6 or V8 - not a four-cylinder. Thus, this wicked Lexus IS300 from KMP Speed Shop is a bit unique, though certainly not slow by anyone's measure.

Photos: KMP Speed Shop

Power From the Enemy

However, this IS300 isn't rocking its original powerplant - but rather, a very unique Honda K24 swap. While this might seem a bit odd on the surface, the K24 is one of the most popular swaps in the world of Honda, and it has a seriously robust aftermarket to support it. The K-Series is also known for packing some serious power potential, which makes it a reasonable choice in this regard, even if it seems a bit sacrilegious. 

Photos: KMP Speed Shop

Beefed Up

In any event, this K24 is far from stock, packing a sleeved block and an array of beefed-up internals such as aluminum rods. A set of Kelford cams helps the inline-four make more power as well, along with a custom manifold, EGT sensors, and a custom exhaust, all made in-house by KMP.

Photos: KMP Speed Shop

Big Turbo

For this racing season, KMP switched things up a bit, replacing the old BorgWarner SXE372 turbo with a rather large PSR G42-1200 hair dryer, and the whole thing is controlled by an Ecumaster ECU and a custom wiring harness. 

Photos: KMP Speed Shop

Transmission Swap

This IS300 used to be equipped with a Toyota A340 four-speed automatic transmission, but KMP decided to swap that out for a tried-and-true drag racing gearbox - GM's Powerglide two-speed automatic - using their own adapter plate. It sends power back to a Ford 8.8-inch rear end via another KMP adapter, too.

Photos: KMP Speed Shop

Power to Ground

To help get that power to the ground more effectively, KMP gave their Lexus custom front and rear subframes, while Lexan windows help shave a few more pounds off its mass, which completes this latest round of updates for the quarter-mile racer.

Photos: KMP Speed Shop

Track Tested

The result is a seriously impressive machine, one that made its debut recently at Napierville Dragway in KMP's home of Quebec, Canada. With any luck, we'll get an update on how these new mods have improved the car's performance, but for now, we'll just assume that KMP is working on dialing everything in.

Photos: KMP Speed Shop

>>Join the conversation about this turbo IS300 right here at ClubLexus.com.

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