Say I have pic related, a first gen LS400. Market value about 3K.
Market value for a decent E39 M5 around here is about 13-15K. Smart option, of course, would be to buy one. However I kinda like the LS's looks more(guess they've grown on me), the weight is a bit lower, and it's got better front suspension compared to the M (struts. Vs. Double wishbones).
Now, suppose YOU had a 10K budget to spend, to make an LS400 into a drivers car that can compete with the M5. What would you spend it on?
If you say manual swap, it'll be between 2 and 5K. Figure 3K, and assume a 7K budget.
>>14724069
Nobody?
>make an LS400 into a drivers car that can compete with the M5
no offense but i don't think that's really possible. the LS is great though
off the top of my head you'd have to
>new wheels and top of the line tires
>completely new suspension
>more power out of the engine, supercharger maybe
>lots of chassis stiffening
another issue is the lack of performance aftermarket, like i dont think there's polyurethane bushings for it
why not get an SC300 and do lots of supra parts swaps? it's the same platform so (most) parts are interchangeable. turbo dat 2jz
>>14724122
So basically, this would be enough:
http://www.autotrader.nl/auto/lexus-ls/1996/helmond/735nx/lexus-ls-ls400-600-pk-zeer-snelle-auto/
>turbo
>600hp
>coilovers
>wheels & tires
>brakes
It'd just need chassis stiffening.
I'm dead set on a V8.
>>14724151
i thought the 1zufe was really hard to get power out of though? that one might have a shitload of money sunk into the engine to get those power numbers.
wait are you euro or usa
>>14724160
Yuro, Dutch.
>>14724160
>>14724165
Oh, and UZ isn't hard to get power out of. Stock internals hold up fine to a sane 500hp, but they're fragile beyond that. Block and engine itself, despite it's low displacement, can take just as much abuse as a JZ.
forget turning it into a drivers car its a goddamn 20 year old luxobarge
Id modernize the ICE, coilovers, and some good wheels and tires
use whats left to get a quiet but free flowing exhaust and headers on a VVTI engine
>>14724184
E39 M5 is almost a 20 year old luxobarge too, doesn't make it less of a drivers car.
Why quiet when the 1UZ sounds glorious uncorked? Maybe a set of electronic cutouts though, to keep cops at bay.
>>14724199
a M isnt a Lexus that was never intended for performance driving of any kind
and because its a luxury car I dont like the idea of making it loud
Buy my GS and manual swap it if you want to blow out E39 M5s
Plus a GS is more of a 5 series fighter and can be made to handle, LS not so much.
>>14724307
GS looks worse though compared to the granite-hewn LS.
>>14724307
>not having an IS 300
F A G
>>14724490
thats the faggiest Lexus tho
>>14724496
>virgins actually believe this
>>14724499
it is tho
its a sports compact ffs
Ive only seen girls drives them
>>14724174
It really depends which year 1UZFE it is. Mostly, the changes where Conrod Thickness, Compression Ration, and introduction of VVT-i. The earliest non-vvti 1UZ-FE would be the better choice for power gains on stock internals.
![Lexus-Toyota-Rods[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/1m8KNbr.jpg "Lexus-Toyota-Rods[1].jpg")
>>14724515
Forgot to post pic, and spelled "Ratio" wrong.
>>14724508
Tell me more, also tell me about your sweet Miata
