smooth1 Posted January 6, 2008 Author Posted January 6, 2008 howdy everyone.I am new to the forum and new to my 01 IS 300. Bought it a month ago and am loving it. I went shopping for a new Corolla and came home with a seven year old Lexus for the same price. It was the sunroof and leather seats that sold me, honest. And oh yeah I took it for a test drive. Kudos Smooth1, you have answered so many questions with your posts and pic's. I really appreciate the feedback and links that the regular contributors have added. I have a couple of queries which haven't been addressed: The first involves the shift buttons, I find the wheel mounted buttons awkward to use and so stay mostly in full automatic mode, which here in British Columbia is a shame, this being the land of the twisty coastal mountain road. I would like to add switches to the shift lever. has anybody been there and done that? are kits available...I wouldn't know what to search for. The second is regarding suspension and wheel/tires and bodykits. ( It sounds like you are getting to this Smooth1) I want to look at these as an all at once mod combo. My reasoning is that these all must work together and I don't want either a ride that scrubs it's shoes or a widebody that looks like a clown shoe roller skate. (OK it's an IS, it's not going to look like a clown shoe but you get my point I hope!) Being rear drive the back end is not much of a problem I can fit wideass shoes on ( even offset if I need to ) and either roll the fenders or slap on widebody parts or flares of some type. It is the front end that I am wondering about. I am not interested in spacers or offset wheels due to the geometry snafu's so would a (could a?) guy replace the A arms and steering links to achieve a wider stance? I am not talking huge width here, it is just a look that I have in mind. I really want to accentuate the lines of the car without giving it the I had to pop rivet these flares on to meet the road laws look. (a buddy way back in highschool had a Celica with flares that really flowed with the body and made the car look lower than low.) I am planning my build in an opposite direction from you Smooth1. I figure handling and looks first and go fast later....This way when I hear an explosion from Florida I can learn from your experience in the go fast department. I am sure glad to have found this post keep up the good work. Hello rbyoung, welcome to the LOC! Yeah, I would think the IS 300 is a nice step up from the Corolla. Nothing against the Corolla, but it's just not quite the same,,LOL!!! As for your questions, I haven't seen any paddle shift conversion kits, but that's not to say they don't exsist. To be honest, I haven't even thought about that. Your right, it would be cool. I'll check with some suppliers and see if I can find anything out, but I think I would have seen or heard about it if it did exsist. I am planning my build in an opposite direction from you Smooth1. I figure handling and looks first and go fast later....This way when I hear an explosion from Florida I can learn from your experience in the go fast department. Well, actually I did do the suspension and brakes first. I pulled the stock coilovers and put Tein CS coilovers in, LTuned sway bars and brace kit, TRD steel braided brake lines, EBC pads, Power Slot Discs, Wider rims and much softer compound tires, ( Michelin Pilots). So which of the these did you want to start with? So I guess it all depends on how much wider you want the stance to be. If your talking less then say 2 inches, then yeah, you can acheive that with 10" rims on the back and alter the offset, then roll and wide panel kit it, and yes you could widen the suspenion arms and all, but that is an awfully pricey way to go. And yeah, stay away from spacers and cheap short cuts. They allways come back to cost you more later. This way when I hear an explosion from Florida I can learn from your experience in the go fast department. LOL!! The only explosion your gonna hear from me is the IS 300 racing the Space Shuttle to the sonic boom !! I'm glad you like the thread!!
smooth1 Posted January 8, 2008 Author Posted January 8, 2008 Well, I bought a new 2JZ block, and all of this: Carillo rods with ARP 220,000 PSI rod bolts JE 86.5mm forged 8.5 to 1 pistons Ductile iron plasma top rings, tapered second ring, low tension oil rings 9310 nickel carbon steel alloy wrist pins Teflon buttons Ferrea valve springs, seats, retainers, locks, and +1mm valves HKS 1.2mm head gasket ARP L19 head studs TT oil pump 750 cc fuel injectors Unorthodox Racing Cam gear set Unorthodox Racing Pulley set HKS High Power timing belt I should have it by the end of next week. Maybe a few stragglers to come in afterwards. So, figure once I get it, and then building the motor, and then doing the swap, should be about 2-3 months for the final stage. ( I'm not in any rush, I want to take my time and make sure everything is done right and all the tolerances are exact.) I also want to do some engine dress up. Oh, I almost forgot, I'm adding a 02/Meth system also. Man, this is going to be fun!!!!
smooth1 Posted January 8, 2008 Author Posted January 8, 2008 well, rbyoung, I found a couple of sites that have the paddle shift kits available. I'm looking into the IS 300 application specifically, but they coming. Might wanna wait a bit to see and make sure they do all design and engineering R&D first.
heyoceanfloor Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 meth?! you better make sure you don't have to take your IS to rehab. that's exciting though smooth, i'll be keeping my eye out for pictures
smooth1 Posted January 12, 2008 Author Posted January 12, 2008 Oh yeah, I need a junkie to support my habit don't ya know?
smooth1 Posted January 15, 2008 Author Posted January 15, 2008 Ok, well I just had some professional pictures taken of my ride, so I thought I would share the ones I liked the most. Hope you enjoy:
flop170 Posted January 15, 2008 Posted January 15, 2008 oops.... i think i just.... uh oh.... be right back.... lol
flop170 Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 i DEMAND that you get clear sidemarkers for your car!!!!!! ...that is all! ...oh and do you find it retarded that the avic cannot be turned off.... wtf is this standby bs.... *shakes head in disappointment* oh well it's still bad a$$...
smooth1 Posted January 16, 2008 Author Posted January 16, 2008 i DEMAND that you get clear sidemarkers for your car!!!!!! ...that is all! ...oh and do you find it retarded that the avic cannot be turned off.... wtf is this standby bs.... *shakes head in disappointment* oh well it's still bad a$$... LOL!!! Yes sir!!! Actually, I haven't decided if I'm replacing the front and rear bumpers or just getting lip extensions or a lip kit. So until I know that for sure, there is no sense in spending money and time on a mod that might not matter anyway..( Ahh, the wisdom of experience as for thought and planning prevails....) You know, that was the first wierd thing I noticed about the AVIC. It is strange that you can't turn it off, but looking back, I don't think I have driven any car without the radio on at some varying volume level, ( usually on the obnoxious side.) and you can easily turn the volume all the way down and just select screen off. But that is a hassle. One thing I do really like about the D3 over the Z2 and some of the others is that there is rotator knob for the volume as opposed to the button control. For some reason I really don't like button volume controls. One touch up is a little to loud, one touch down is a little to soft. And you have to hold it down and wait for the volume to go up to where you want and if you have to turn it down in a hurry, you have to agian hit the button and wait for the volume to reduce.
flop170 Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 ya i like knob volume better too..... oh and my new battery said it wanted to fight your battery.... it's been talking crap every since i got it!!! lol..... oh and also, changing out my battery i lost all my eq settings that the place had set for me... you should tell me how yours is set so i can use that as a starting point!!! so yea.....
smooth1 Posted January 16, 2008 Author Posted January 16, 2008 LOL!!!! I told my battery what you said, and he said, even goin down, he's goin down swingin, so bring it,,,,,,,,,, PUNK!!! LOL!!!!! So have you noticed any improvements with the new battery? Other than it starts the car again.LOL!!! i lost all my eq settings that the place had set for me... you should tell me how yours is set so i can use that as a starting point!!! so yea..... Man, I don't know, that's awful personal. I think I need to see a ring first. LMAO!!!!
flop170 Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!! should i notice anything other than that??? i mean i've given it the code name ninja battery... cuz it goes "wha cha cha cha" varooommmm..... lol.... the red top is smaller than our stock batteries and it doesn't really fit under the hold down bracket that good.... but other than that it looks cool and most definetely start the car... what else does a battery do????? ....oh and eq settings.... my ninja battery's been practicing it's nunchuks all day... i'd stay off it's bad side! if it wants eq settings you should prolly give em to him... :D
smooth1 Posted January 17, 2008 Author Posted January 17, 2008 Ok, so to avoid the next ninja uprising and the unneccassary blood shed of thousands, I'll pull up the screen and shoot some pics of it, and send em to ya via classified email. They'll be on a timer though and will self destruct in 30 seconds. So get a good look and stay focused. LOL!!!!!
smooth1 Posted January 17, 2008 Author Posted January 17, 2008 should i notice anything other than that??? i mean i've given it the code name ninja battery... cuz it goes "wha cha cha cha" varooommmm..... lol.... the red top is smaller than our stock batteries and it doesn't really fit under the hold down bracket that good.... but other than that it looks cool and most definetely start the car... what else does a battery do????? LOL!! So, your headlights don't seem brighter??? Dashlights aren't a little clearer?? MAybe getting a better spark in the cylinder which maybe made the car a little faster??? :)
flop170 Posted January 17, 2008 Posted January 17, 2008 ummm.... i don't know if all that is better.... i can't remember how it was..... maybe though....
smooth1 Posted January 20, 2008 Author Posted January 20, 2008 Well, I just got back from the IS-F test drive at Moroso Speedway. If you go the the IS-F forum , you'll see my post there. But this post to clear up one question, ok, maybe a few questions. 1) Yes, My IS300 pulls harder than the IS-F. I think if they were to drag, I would have it easily by atleast a second, maybe a bit more. 2) The IS-F would lap faster than my IS300, because it has great brakes, and does pull from the lower rpms better. 3) No, I don't want to trade my IS 300 in for one. Because I drve my car on the street, not the track, and out here, I think my car is faster and that's where it counts for most of us. And while I like the way it looks, it doesn't Wow me like the IS 300 has. And there is no aftermarket for it at all. So it's a buy it and drive car. Which would drive me insane. IT"S NOT WHAT YOU BUY, IT'S WHAT YOU BUILD!!!! That's just my opinion though.
dcfish Posted January 25, 2008 Posted January 25, 2008 New motor.. Built for speed , NSX ANYONE??? (Besides the vette)
smooth1 Posted January 30, 2008 Author Posted January 30, 2008 Just another update. I purchased a block from Block Innovations, ( 2JZGE ), with 8.5 to 1 compression JE pistons, Carrillo H beams, ARP wrist pins and head bolts, Ferrara Titanium valve train, +1 mm. and a stage 2 Vvti cam. I went thru it and it's primered and I'm gettting ready to paint the block. I'll post some pictures later. I have a new intake, and fuel system on the way, along with the rest of the bolt ons. So progress is slow, but steady.
dcfish Posted January 30, 2008 Posted January 30, 2008 Just another update. I purchased a block from Block Innovations, ( 2JZGE ), with 8.5 to 1 compression JE pistons, Carrillo H beams, ARP wrist pins and head bolts, Ferrara Titanium valve train, +1 mm. and a stage 2 Vvti cam. I went thru it and it's primered and I'm gettting ready to paint the block. I'll post some pictures later. I have a new intake, and fuel system on the way, along with the rest of the bolt ons. So progress is slow, but steady. Smooth, Will you post pic's on the progress ?
smooth1 Posted January 30, 2008 Author Posted January 30, 2008 Just another update. I purchased a block from Block Innovations, ( 2JZGE ), with 8.5 to 1 compression JE pistons, Carrillo H beams, ARP wrist pins and head bolts, Ferrara Titanium valve train, +1 mm. and a stage 2 Vvti cam. I went thru it and it's primered and I'm gettting ready to paint the block. I'll post some pictures later. I have a new intake, and fuel system on the way, along with the rest of the bolt ons. So progress is slow, but steady. Smooth, Will you post pic's on the progress ? Pictures??? On this thread?? I don't know man..........well after thinking it over, ok. LOL!!! My camera is on "vacation" in the Keys right now, but as soon as it returns I will be able to post some pics of the progress. :)
rbyoung Posted February 7, 2008 Posted February 7, 2008 hi smooth1 Been at work for the past 28 days and have no satellite internet on the boat. looks like your ride is progressing nicely. The pro photos are sweet. how has your research into paddle shifters progressed? I have seen one kit in Sport Compact car, and like you will be doing a bit of research in this direction. I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction as far as chip / chip re-programmers go? I seem to be suffering the poor fuel economy problem, and will be disconnecting my battery for the prescribed ten seconds to see if this resets things, but this has gotten me thinking about chip programming. My Captain has a Tacoma which he has re-programed to great horsepower improvement (at the cost of consuming more fuel) I figure that if i am burning the gas anyway I might as well get a bigger bang for the buck ) ( fuel here in British Columbia is $1.18 litre for Chevron premium, works out to about $4.50 a US gallon.) keep up the good work, you are an inspiration.
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