Sunday, July 04, 2010 - 05:15 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Hmm exciting.........
I am selling my BMW and caning the project to put a 1UZFE engine into it, for two reasons, 90's 3 series are too cheap and quite ugly to spend that kind of money on, secondly, the garage I was going to use for it over the few months of custom engineering work is no longer available so I have no where suitable to do it!
That got me thinking last week, what Toyota can I put the 1UZFE into?
I mean I didn't want to sell the Celsior half cut for a loss, and really a car with that engine, So it occurred to me why not an Aristo or GS300 JZS160, to make into a GS400.
The best part, from my understanding all the parts are the same between a Celsior and Aristo so it will just drop straight in, though need a bit of electrical work and exhaust modifications to get it going, plus a cert.
Should be an easy conversion my mechanic can do over a few days.
The plan now is to get rid of my lame BMW and get a 1997-1998 2JZGE Aristo, hopefully in the upper spec range with leather. My goal is to have it all done sometime in August.
This means I can then road test the supercharger kits I am making up.
Will update how I get on here!
Evan Kaio DieHard Beautiful sunny good @ rugby 'Canes' country '91 UZZ31. 92 TT
Sunday, July 04, 2010 - 07:16 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Yeah but those Aristos are heavy outdated dogs. Way over priced.
Heh also a considering an Altezza, but they are a bit of a cheap Toyota/Lexus. Rather than a full sized quality one.
Would take a fair bit more custom work I would expect. Not so keen on such a smallish car though.
Hmmm investigation reveals I need a new setup engine mounts and brackets from a GS400, so I will get a quote from my man at Toyota, expect around the 500 mark retail so a bit less at his prices.
Appears sumps are much the same. Both front type.\
Not a bad one there Evan, but a bit too many ks and it looks to be a base spec el cheapo model.
Monday, July 05, 2010 - 07:57 am, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Christian Somerville wrote on Monday, July 05, 2010 - 12:27 am:
Zi-Four's are soo good and no downside to AWD V8? mmm, just get a controller if you want more power to the rear.
They are too old mate. Reason I am going for one of these JZS160 is they are more modern, safer, better looking, sportier, and were made up until recently 2005. Tired of going for early 90's cars.
Plus a lot of performance would be lost in the 4WD running gear and it adds another 100kg or so.
Matthew Sharpe wrote on Monday, July 05, 2010 - 06:37 am:
Looks like its probably a re-badged Aristo from the steering wheel.
Seems you would be right Matt.
Dan McColl Goo Roo Victoria (The Nazi State) Active V8 and the Beast.
Monday, July 05, 2010 - 05:22 pm, by: Dan McColl(Hoon)
Altezza, Make an IS400. Would be awesome.
Only real issues, from what I understand is if you want to make every tiny little function work as per factory then there is a fair bit of electrics and wiring to do.
Monday, July 05, 2010 - 06:32 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Dan McColl wrote on Monday, July 05, 2010 - 05:22 pm:
Mechanicals basically bolt in.
Yeah, with the GS/Aristo it pretty much is, I just need to get the right engine brackets and mounts from Toyota, shouldn't cost too much.
Though I am sure the IS/Altezza conversion is a bit more work. Don't think any factory mounts work so would have to go custom. Probably for the direction I am taking that would again end up being a little complicated.
I imagine it would be much more of a hoot to drive, then again the Aristo would still be gutsy, especially with an old M90 in the mix, more grunt than a factory GS400 easily. Though a whipple would make it the ultimate mid sized sports sedan.
Monday, July 05, 2010 - 06:37 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
I actually took a 1999 GS300 for a drive today.
It was not the best example, but gave me a good idea of what they are like. Nicely appointed, very comfortable, awesome build quality, amazingly quiet and the handling seemed to be Lexus ish but you had a good feeling through it, quite a bit nicer than my Soarers handling with out a doubt.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 07:21 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
They are nice looking cars for a mid sized saloon too. I was interested in one a few years ago but decided to stick with the Soarer.
My Mother-in-laws IS200 is the only IS I've ever driven. Handles very well, would be way better than my Soarer in the twisties if she would put some decent rubber on it - a bit slower than my SC300 in a straight line, but not by much (not a fan of the G1 though, at least not in factory form, very un-engaging engine), stops much better - very well put together - better than any 90's 3 series I've driven anyway.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 04:17 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Matthew Sharpe wrote on Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 07:21 am:
They are nice looking cars for a mid sized saloon too
Yeah I agree.
Quite conservative cars, but that is what we like. Rather have something thats understated yet goes well and is comfortable on the inside than something that shouts about itself. Though they do have a somewhat aggressive look when compared to say an LS400.
Matthew Sharpe wrote on Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 07:21 am:
very well put together - better than any 90's 3 series I've driven anyway.
Agreed, I went in a friends cousins Beams Altezza, nice interior when I think back to it, in comparison to my currently 325i. Times like this I am rather annoyed I have the 325i, sure it drives nice but the interior is pretty el-cheapo, I've recently put it all back to stock so its quite a nice place to be but still has nothing on any Lexus model. I can already tell it's going to be a pain to sell. All well you live and you learn!
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 - 02:28 pm, by: James Cahir(James987)
Hi Mike, I've driven and been in a couple of GS300/JZS161 Aristo's and I think they're great - very refined and comfortable. One thing to watch out for, if you're not already aware of this, is front lower ball joint failure. I've personally seen one example of this and heard of other cases - it can be pretty dangerous.
My brother in law's car was travelling at 80kmh when this happened -
Friday, July 09, 2010 - 03:43 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Yeah Dan I am selling it off, putting the 1UZ in my BMW after all, using the stock auto so that is making it much easier. That will just free up some cash effectively laying there.
I plan to come back to it but get a newer better type of charger when the time is right, I feel I am wasting my time with the M90... recently I redesigned the custom manifold on my CAD program to suit a W140AX too, but it got me thinking why am I wasting my time with the M90 still...
Looking at the power figures, temp outputs and restriction of the M90, coupled with what others have said regarding it I don't find them feasible anymore.
So yeah I drove another Aristo the other day and I its okay, but didnt seem that great, bit of a glorified Camry to an extent, still great but I have a new vision to complete my BMW 1UZ conversion with the stock 1UZ auto, running a shift kit. That is cutting the cost in half so its much more doable. Trying to get a dummy block to use for the mount setup, just bought the front of an E36 subframe/body to use at my yard as a template.
Goal is to be going by the end of August. No mucking around this time.
Friday, July 09, 2010 - 06:17 pm, by: Cameron James(Dinosoarer)
Yay Mike! Glad you changed your mind - maybe your efforts will inspire my slack-arse mate to get moving on his 1UZ BMW!!! I think he is keen for Auto + Shift Kit + manualised valve body + B&M shifter... had this setup in my R31 and it was rad
Friday, July 09, 2010 - 07:05 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Cameron James wrote on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 06:17 pm:
I think he is keen for Auto + Shift Kit + manualised valve body + B&M shifter... had this setup in my R31 and it was rad
Heh, that sounds excellent.
I intend to sort out some kind of manual control over the Auto to control it with a factory M3 SMG shifter, so has R N D in a row, then to the left tiprtonic mode, backwards pull is up a gear, and forwards push is down a gear. Maybe a job for the old 'suprastick v4' but I would say there are better things about now days that do the same thing.
Will just run a normal leather manual shifter surround and the SMG knob, but you get the idea, best way to get use of a A341E
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