400WHP 2001 Lexus IS with LS3 V8 Engine Swap

Here is what was posted on eBay:

As much as I hate to do this, the time has come for me to sell this awesome LS3 IS300.  I have nine cars and no time to enjoy them all.  I would rather see someone else use the car the way it was meant to be.   For me this was the most perfect car – the power of a Corvette, the quality and reliability of a Lexus, and the practicality of a sedan.  Truly “one car to do it all”.  An excellent daily driver, track car, or whatever else you might have in mind.  My garage will look kind of sad without this parked next to my ’97 Supra Turbo.

For some this car will need no introduction.  The build was well documented on several forums (ClubLexus, LS1Tech, MyIS, Supraforums, etc) and is pretty well known in the Lexus and engine swap worlds.

Quick Summary

* 2001 Lexus IS300

* LS3 6.2L V8 swap (same motor as the 2008-2013 Corvette for those not in the know).   Bottom end had 50k miles at time of swap; heads were brand new.

* Dyno’d @ 459hp/ 425ft lbs.  Car was dyno’d with an aftermarket cam that has since been removed, however it is included in the sale.  I would estimate the cam at 40-50hp, so the car is probably around 410-420rwhp as it sits.

* Best ¼ Mile = 11.8 @ 120mph

* T56 6 speed transmission

* KW Variant 3 Coilovers

* Original development car for Dedicated Motorsports who pioneered the IS300 LSX swap.  This is car #001.  Build is fully documented in multiple threads linked below.

* Less than 15k miles on swap (182k on the chassis)

* Interior = 9.5.  Seats, carpet, and panels are near perfect.

* Exterior = 8.5.  Paint is in great condition overall but is original and does have some imperfections commensurate with age/mileage.   Certainly a presentable daily driver, but not quite a show car/ trailer queen.

* Engine Bay = 10.  All wires have been properly wrapped, covered, and soldered.  Additionally the engine bay has been wire tucked; looks even better than OEM.

* Weighs 3374 (full tank of gas, including all stereo equipment, spare tire, etc).  The LS3 weighs a few pounds less than the 2JZ-GE it replaced, so the excellent weight balance of the IS300 is unchanged by the swap.

 

 

 

The last time this car was publicly listed for sale it was $25k and it sold in 9 days (http://www.clublexus.com/forums/lexus-vehicles-classifieds/562790-ls3-powered-2001-silver-is300-460-whp-6-speed-all-around-street-car.html).  I’ve listed it at an aggressive price to move the car quickly, so if you want the car don’t wait.

There were three things that really stood out about this car when I bought it vs other swapped cars that were for sale:

 

1)    LS3 – this build paired a low mileage block with brand new heads; everything was fully refreshed and properly built.  Additionally the LS3 received many upgrades to improve performance, strength, reliability, and to support forced induction at some point in the future.  To me all of this was far preferable to buying a car with the junkyard LS1 pullout that has an unknown history.

2)    Well Built & Fully Documented.  This car was built by Matt Owen who pioneered the IS300 LSX swap.  This was the first car he built – there was a ton of time, labor, and dollars spent in order to make this car perfect.  The attention to detail is outstanding.  See links to build threads below.  The quality of a swapped car is fully dependent on the builder, and Matt Owen is one of the best.

3)    100% Complete.  This build is so much more than just a motor swap.  No expense of time or dollars was spared to make this car right.  Beyond the motor this car boasts enhancements to just about every other system: Suspension, Brakes, Cooling, Exhaust, Audio Video, Fueling, Wheels/ Tires.  Also this car has working AC; a lot of other builds neglect that.  Depending on where you live that could be a major issue.

This car is unbelievably well built.  I haven’t had to turn a wrench on this car during the 4+ years I’ve owned it.  Other than having the differential upgraded/replaced it has never seen the inside of a shop either.  Just turn the key, enjoy, and repeat!

It also never fails to draw a crowd.  If you don’t like attention then this isn’t the car for you – I end up popping the hood and having conversations with strangers just about everywhere I go (have met some really nice folks that way actually).  One kind of attention it does not seem to attract is the flashing blue lights.  I’ve had zero tickets in four years.  I’ve seen cops crane their necks looking for the Corvette/ Mustang/ Camaro as I whiz by; they never suspect the Lexus ;).  This car totally flies “under the radar”.

I’ve done three track days and one autocross in this car.  It performed flawlessly.   Outside of that I drive the car pretty tamely on the street; guess I must be turning into a responsible adult now that I’m a married family man.

Engine

6.2L LS3 V8

EPS 236 242 .600 Lift Camshaft (included but not installed)

Professionally dyno tuned

Dedicated Motorsports Engine Mount Kit

Dedicated Motorsports Modified LS2 Oil Pan

2010 Corvette Intake Manifold and 42lb Injectors

Nick Williams 92mm Throttle Body

LS7 Roller Lifters

Comp Hardened Pushrods

Comp Dual .650 Lift Valve Springs

Hardened Seats

Titanium Retainers

LS6 Oil Pump

Billet Double Roller LS2 Timing Chain

MSD Spark Plug Wires

Billet Power Steering Pulley

ARP Harmonic Balancer Bolt

True cold air intake routed to opening in front of passenger side wheel well

All new GM seals and gaskets prior to installation

Drivetrain

T56 6 speed Transmission

Limited Slip Differential.  M85/ 3.73 ratio.  Upgraded from the M98/ 3.9 in 2013 due to the more desirable ratio for a car with this much power.

LS7 Clutch and Steel Flywheel

Dedicated Motorsports Two Piece Driveshaft

Dedicated Motorsports Clutch Hydraulic Kit

Dedicated Motorsports Shifter

 

Suspension

KW Variant 3 Coilovers

Hotchkis Sway Bars – Front and Rear

FIGS Traction Bars

FIGS Rear Toe Links

FIGS Solid Steering Rack Bushings

Dedicated Motorsports Solid Differential Bushings

Dedicated Motorsports Spherical Rear Lower Control Arm Bushings

 

Wheels/ Tires

ASA AR1 wheels – 18×8 front, 18×9 rear.  Perfect condition; zero curbing.

Front Tires: Kumho Ecsta XS 235/40/18 front (50%)

Rear Tires: Continental Extreme Contact 265/35/18 (new; <500 miles)

 

Brakes

FIGS Supra Brake Rotor Brackets

DBA Slotted Brake Rotors (MKIV Supra 13” Rotors)

Hawk HPS Brake Pads – front and rear

Motul Brake fluid

Fuel

Walbro 255hp Fuel Pump

-6 Prolite Fuel Lines

Trickflow Fuel Pressure Regulator

 

Cooling

Koyo Aluminum Radiator

160 Degree Thermostat

 

 

Stereo

The stereo in this car is phenomenal.  The 5 channel amp pushes a ton of power through the 10” subwoofer and speakers.  Additionally the head unit has a ton of features: it plays DVDs, has a touch screen, includes iPhone lightning cable hookup in center console (can be modified to fit Android or other devices with a different USB cable), integrates Pandora, has an SD slot for music/media, and more.  There is a knob wired below the driver’s seat that allows for easy adjustment of the subwoofer level.

* Pioneer AVH4300DVD

* MB Quart OA 1100.5 5 channel amplifier

 

Exhaust

Dedicated Motorsports 1 3/4 headers with 3 inch collectors

Stainless Steel Custom Dual Exhaust; includes two separate center sections that can be swapped out:

* Exhaust #1: X pipe; no cats or resonators

* Exhaust #2: includes cats and resonators; separate runners

Exhaust work performed by Enthuza Exhaust in Atlanta, GA

 

Other

Best year of IS300 – 2001 is the only year without the “sticky dashboard” issue

Dedicated Motorsports Power Steering Line Kit

Passes Georgia emissions with ease

HP Tuners Pro

Dakota Digital Tach Converter

Scan Gauge OBDII Reader

PLX Wideband O2 Sensor and Gauge

Taylor Battery Box (mounted in trunk for improved weight balance)

 

For those not versed in the LS motor lineage, a quick summary.  The LS1 is a 345hp 5.7L motor that was introduced in 1997.  A high output version of that motor, the LS6, was introduced in 2001 for the then-new Corvette Z06 model.  In 2005 the LS2 replaced the LS1 as the motor for the C6 Corvette; it is a 6.0L motor that leveraged many of the performance improvements from the LS6.  In 2008 the LS3 motor was introduced, displacing 6.2L and making 430hp.

The Bad

* Reverse sometimes pops out of gear.  Can be prevented by keeping your hand on the shifter.  Has not gotten any worse over the past four years.   All other gears engage and hold properly.

* Paint is beginning to show its age in a few places.  The front bumper and hood have rock chips commensurate with a car of this year and mileage.  There is a small spot of clearcoat peeling on the rear spoiler.

Ownership history – the car was built by Matt Owen of Dedicated Motorsports in 2010.  He originally transplanted an LS1 into this car, then a year later upgraded to the LS3.  He sold it to a guy here in Atlanta in April 2011; that guy’s wife didn’t much like the car and he sold it to me two months later in June.  I’ve had the car ever since.  The car was a two owner car at the time of the swap.  The autocheck shows one incident (a fender bender in 2010) and is otherwise clean; detail is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2QaXkkHwcWybS1vSEc5SHZwVGs/view

I’m probably the most reasonable seller you could ask for.  I have priced the car aggressively vs what similar builds have sold for, but If it doesn’t sell at asking price I’ll continue to lower it until it does.  I have been as detailed as possible in this ad to prevent any surprises later.  I want this car to go to a good home and I want its new owner to be delighted.

 

$1000 deposit holds the car for 7 days.  I’m not interested in any trades; my garage and driveway are busting at the seams.  Pickup is available in Atlanta, GA.  From out of town?  No problem – Atlanta has the busiest airport in the world with dozens of flights daily from major cities.  Fly in and I’ll pick you up in your new IS300!  Additionally I am happy to partner with an auto shipper of your choice if you prefer to ship the car.