Vette Boy

The TC hold 1-2 quarts max. If you want to replace all the fluid, power flush.

re: SRT intakes: how's that old line go, "figures don't lie, but liars figure"?

Yes, to get the best times, you'll need to be PWR mode with VSC off. As noted, TC is torque converter. It's the clutch of an auto trans. By loading it up to the stall speed you eliminate any delay in spooling up the drivetrain. With a little practice, you'll max out the number, whatever that is. Meeting magazine nunbers on an auto trans is much easier that a manual. I've been able to max out my old Imapala SS with auto trans, with my manual trans Vette, I'm a 1/2 second slow in the quarter mile, after 6-7 trips to the strip.

To get a good launch without spinning the tires: At a complete stop, brake hard and load the TC up by reving the engine to ~1500 RPM (right under the stall speed of the TC). If you have to much gas, the rear wheels will start breaking loose, back off slightly. At the same time, release the brake w/left foot and roll into the throttle w/right foot. This is the part that takes skill. If the throttle is just mashed, then the tires will spin and the time will suffer, if it's not rolled into fast enough, the max performance isn't realized.

If you go to lexus.com and join the owners area, you can download the manuals for your car. That's the only place I can get a nav manual for my '02 (unless I pay the dealer $20).

What's a good brand? I see rotors on-line for ~$120 a set.

So you're saying the shimmy is normal and I need to upgrade the shocks/springs and swaybar bushings to make it right?

Sorry, I missed that. I've only seen master keys on ebay, no valet or wallet keys.

When I really step on my brakes the front end shimmys just a little bit, I can feel it through the steering wheel. Is it rotors, bushings or something else?

where can I get 'em cheap?

What does the valve body mod do?

Yer sick brother, get some help I modded up my SS big time. Then I went for an LT4 Vette 'cause it weighs 1000lbs less and has 100 extra HP. I'm keeping my GS stock....once I crack the factory set up and start "improving" the rattles and hassle start coming. I need a clean reliable business ride, the GS is as fast as my SS stock.

An auto LT1 w/2.59 gear is a 14.2 sec car, that's 50% of all LT1 Vettes. With your mods you'll take 'em down in style.

On the Vette forum, people brag about how low their mileage is, proof you're not a waxer His mileage seems about right, I doubt there's any different in mileage between the 6cyl/8cyl motors. With a modern computer controlled engine, mileage is more a function of the weight and aero charactistics (for a given driver). Of course, once you step on it, the bigger engine eats more air, so it needs more fuel. One reason to keep an eye on the mileage (whatever level it's at) is to make sure the O2 sensors are not getting "lazy". As the sensors start to fade, they don't react as quickley to throttle changes and poor mileage is the result. The driver can detect the sensors are going bad by noticing the gas mileage is dropping. Another symtom of fading O2 sensors is poor idle at stoplights, esp if the idle recovers in a few seconds. Unfortunatley, the weak link of any computer controlled engine is that there's no way to detect a fading O2 sensor. The freaking thing needs to be nearly dead before the SES light is set.

I'm new here, but I modded up an American V-8 sedan (96 Impala SS). The best mod I every made on it (and I made many!) was a shift kit and looser TC. I see the favorite TC of all the Vette/Camaro/F-bird/Imapala hot rodders is available for the GS430. The PI Vigalante is able to take over 600 ft*lbs of torque, that should cover the Supra Turbo 6 cylinder folks. - IMHO, my GS420 needs another ~1000 rpm stall speed. It takes too long to spool up the motor with the stock TC. - Even with the sport mode shift enabled, it's too long a shift time. - 0.5 seconds in the 1/4 mile seems a little high, I'd expect 0.2~0.3 seconds reduction, making the GS430 a 13 sec car...not too bad. - What do these valve body kits do? - I checked the TransGo site, they make the BEST kit for GM/Ford/Chrysler...nothing for the Lexus :cries: - I doubt you'll need a trans cooler with a looser TC, esp with a kit that shortens shift time (valve body kit?). Unless you go with an outragous stall speed (>3000rpm) the heat build up isn't much for a 2500-2800 rPM stall speed converter.