IS300 LS1/T56 Daily Driver Build by eng1nerd

11-10-2013

I had some fuel delivery issues that I think are for the most part resolved so the car should be back to daily status. I'd like to make it out do C&O again, see that the schedule looks like for December.

2-9-2014

It's been a while since I had a real update. I've been driving the car daily for several months now and am to the point where the projects I have left are easily done on weekends.

A few weeks back I finally got my OBD2 port hooked up in the car. It had been just temporary under the hood.

This weekend was brakes. I noticed there was a pretty bad lip on the edge of all 4 rotors so I figured it was tine. I got drilled and slotted rotors with ceramic pads all the way around. I know there are mixed feelings about these, and the guys that do like them always have a preferred brand. I have used parts from Brake Motiv (ebay seller) in the past and have always been happy so that is where these came from.

Here is the rear.

And the front.

I have also known for some time now that I need solid subframe mounts. The diff. mounts I made help with the rear end rocking but moved all that force to the subframe and have worn them out. While I had the rear wheels off I took a look and as you can see there is a pretty big gap between the metal and rubber that I'm confident isn't supposed to be there. This is on the project list to get done in the next few weeks.

I have the receipt at home for hte power steering fitting. If I remember corrrect it is a metric oring seal (M14 or M16) on the rack and then M JIC -6 on the other end. I picked it up at a local hydraulic supplier I deal with at work.

The throttle cable is a universal 36" Lokar from Speedwaymotors.com. Originally I was going to use an F-Body cable but ended up with the wrong version cruise vs. non-cruise I think.

The A/C I still need to hook up. Same with the solid subframe mounts.

My wife and I are expeting our first child in the next two weeks so any time I have has been dedicated to getting us and the house ready. The Lsxus has been a reliable daily driver but hasn't seen much in the way of work lately.

Been way too long since I updated, been pretty busy with work and family. Anyhow here is what I've done lately.

Getting ready for our baby (who is now 4 months old), the Lexus got a car seat.

Over the winter I discovered I was slowly loosing coolant. Turns out the barb I had installed for the steam lines was leaking at the threads. I just turned a new barb out of aluminum and got it welded in at work.

I knew all along that the filter I had put on the intake was too small so I finally upgraded to the biggest size I could fit without going through the hood or fender well.

You can see on the right side of this picture where I added a GM MAF into the intake. Still don't have the car retuned to utilize this but at least it is mounted and wired.

At some point along the way I decided I should check the cabin air filter...I'm glad I did and kinda wish I had the day I bought the car.

Finally what so many have been wondering about. A/C. I got all the lines made up (and somehow forgot to take pictures of them. I also got the GM side wired with a relay and the factory pressure sensor. Took it over to a buddies shop to get charged and got cold air out of the vents. Then popped the high pressure relief on the back of the compressor. It seems like the system us building pressure and the sensor isn't shutting the compressor off as it should. I'm suspecting either a bad sensor, or poor choice of location for the sensor in the system (on my part). I still have work to do here but at least have light at the end of the tunnel since I felt cold air!