LS400 LSX Project

[scorcho96]

Decided to make a project thread to try and get some help/ideas about my white '92 Lexus LS400. I picked it up a few months back and want to fix it up over the winter.

I bought the car from a guy in the air force, who was relocating, and he did all the work on it.

Got the car as a summer weekend car and something to have fun in

The basic run down of everything is:

-Stock lm7 5.3 out of a 2003 suburban with 20xxx miles
-TR220 cam with comp 918 springs
-Built Th350, revmax 3200 stall with anti-baloon plate(not sure on specs of tranny) 3 speed ratchet shifter
-Borg Warner 66mm turbo
-3 inch straight back exhaust
-Methanol injection
-Front mount intercooler
-44mm wastegate, open dump
-42/lb injectors
-Some type of custom driveshaft
-Mickey thompson street radials in rear

Pretty much everything else is a standard ls400

Things I plan to do, not in this particular order:
-Get some good suspension hopefully coilovers
-Fix all the stupid little things like needs mirrors, tears in seats, etc
-Needs a speedometer put in as well as a fuel gauge
-Decent set of rims/tires
-Paint or maybe plasti-dip or wrap depends on prices
-Fix exhaust leaks
-Make a real intake for it, since it has chicken wire over turbo inlet
-Make the rear end posi, as its presently a one wheel wonder


The car was tuned by Nelson Performance out of Texas, and supposedly made 560whp on 91 oct at 10 psi. Although I have no dyno sheets, previous owners words. I am planning on getting it tuned by a shop up here, probably DB.

Car is fun to drive, zero effort required to spin the tires, and love the look I get from mustang/camaro/vette drivers at red lights.

Ill update with pics within a day or two, but for the mean time heres a video of the car that the previous owner sent me.
http://youtu.be/_FbjH5Qfh5g


First question I have, does any body have knowledge on putting speedometers in cars? Or shops that to? As well as a fuel gauge. It is beyond my mechanical knowledge.

Thanks

[asshanson]

Sounds like a fun project. First thing I noticed was the injectors are pretty small, they are probably about maxed out currently.

Good call on the LSD, definitely needed with that kind of power.

I know of a few people that have plasti-dipped their wheels with good results, I plan on doing mine this winter. Much cheaper than powder or a professional paint job. I should be able to do my wheels for less than $10/each.

Good luck with the project!

[93gtpeater]

You suck. I was looking at this car when it was for sale. I didnt jave a way to get it down here. Really cant wait to see what you do with it. When spring rolls around I would like to see it.

[turbotalon1g]

I'd love to see that, always wanted a luxury car with turbo lsx power.
WTF!
its snowing

[Goat Blower]

All the newer cars generally have electronic speedos tied into the factory ECM. Being this is a swap, you're probably going to have to do a mechanical with a pickup off the tranny output shaft. I'm not sure what the TH350 has but it should be pretty common. I'm going to guess the same with the fuel gauge, although you might be able to use the factory sender to something like an electronic Autometer gauge.

[goodhart]

Yes! I remember seeing this on CL

[Constant_Project21]

Damn it Erik, it's snowing and I have still yet to drive this damn thing. We shall make it nice over the winter

[JET]

TH350 has a speedo output coming off the top of the tranny I believe. Nice car, should be a lot of fun!

[DSMINMN]

I too saw this car for sale on Craigslist. Sounds like a fun car/project. I cannot wait to see some pictures!

[cudvig]

everyone is getting V8's makes me want oneeeee

-Colin