Small Performance mods
#1
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Small Performance mods
I'll be buying a 2000 ES300 within the next couple weeks and just had a few questions.
I looked under the hood earlier to figure out how difficult maintainance is going to be. I currently have a Chrysler that takes 8 hours to change the plugs out in because theres so little hand room and so many darn screws and bolts on the back side of manifolds that you cant get to. It looks like on the Es300 there's a manifold on top that just has three screws in the front, and i'm assuming all 6 cylinders are under there. Is it really that easy? Just those three screws and i'm done? Or is there something else major that I can't see yet? And if so, how long does it take to get to the cylinders?
Question #2, it doesn't look like K&N or AFE make an intake system for the Es300, what brand do you recommend? and is there a sponser that gives us a discount?
What other minor mods/improvements would you recommend?
Thanks for the help!
I looked under the hood earlier to figure out how difficult maintainance is going to be. I currently have a Chrysler that takes 8 hours to change the plugs out in because theres so little hand room and so many darn screws and bolts on the back side of manifolds that you cant get to. It looks like on the Es300 there's a manifold on top that just has three screws in the front, and i'm assuming all 6 cylinders are under there. Is it really that easy? Just those three screws and i'm done? Or is there something else major that I can't see yet? And if so, how long does it take to get to the cylinders?
Question #2, it doesn't look like K&N or AFE make an intake system for the Es300, what brand do you recommend? and is there a sponser that gives us a discount?
What other minor mods/improvements would you recommend?
Thanks for the help!
#2
Changing the plugs is that easy, not much more to it. This car is very easy easy to deal with maintenance wise. Changing out the oil is very easy too. Weapon-R makes 2 different applications for the ES300 intake (a little pricey) and I believe www.lextasy.com also makes a Typhoon intake.
#3
You can do the plugs with the right flexshaft extension & u-joint, otherwise you need to take the upper intake air chamber off to take the rear bank out. Once you do it a couple of times, it takes about 5 min once you get started, no big deal.
There are a hand full of intakes, but none of them do anything. Just makes the car louder... Which is cool, because they sound like a Porsche on speed , but nothing performance wise.
Pay 250-350 for a custom y-pipe made. That's the only thing intake/exhaust wise that's going to actually do anything. 10-15bhp. After that, if you want a bit more N/A, spend a few hundred on getting the heads ported & polished.
Otherwise, n2o, a custom turbo, or the crap TRD charger.
Everything else either doesn't do anything, doesn't do anything for the money spent, or is a huge trade-off that simply isn't going to be any better on the long run(cams/headers are all 3).
There are a hand full of intakes, but none of them do anything. Just makes the car louder... Which is cool, because they sound like a Porsche on speed , but nothing performance wise.
Pay 250-350 for a custom y-pipe made. That's the only thing intake/exhaust wise that's going to actually do anything. 10-15bhp. After that, if you want a bit more N/A, spend a few hundred on getting the heads ported & polished.
Otherwise, n2o, a custom turbo, or the crap TRD charger.
Everything else either doesn't do anything, doesn't do anything for the money spent, or is a huge trade-off that simply isn't going to be any better on the long run(cams/headers are all 3).
#4
Lexus Fanatic
The front 3 spark plugs are located under the engine cover you directly see (just gotta take those metric hexhead bolts off to get at them). The other 3 plugs, though, are located between the firewall and the throttle body. It can be time-consuming and a real pain if you don't have all the right tools. You will most likely need a socket set, flexible extensions and a set of skinny arms to get to the rear plugs. When I had my spark plugs changed last time, it took about 2-3 hours for my mechanic friend to do all of them. I treated him to a couple beers in return
#5
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Originally Posted by Pheonix
There are a hand full of intakes, but none of them do anything. Just makes the car louder... Which is cool, because they sound like a Porsche on speed , but nothing performance wise. ).
#6
Originally Posted by lexusk8
When I had my spark plugs changed last time, it took about 2-3 hours for my mechanic friend to do all of them.
#7
Lexus Test Driver
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Originally Posted by plugmaster
Question #2, it doesn't look like K&N or AFE make an intake system for the Es300, what brand do you recommend? and is there a sponser that gives us a discount?
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#8
Lexus Champion
Originally Posted by Pheonix
There are a hand full of intakes, but none of them do anything. Just makes the car louder... Which is cool, because they sound like a Porsche on speed , but nothing performance wise.
#9
Super Moderator
True...intakes makes a lot of noise and minimal power gain as opposed to the big whopping power you might be looking for. You really need to shield any inside air with a shield to prevent as much hot air from getting in as possible. Even then, not much difference.
It takes a lot of trial and error before you get it the way you like.
It takes a lot of trial and error before you get it the way you like.
#10
speaking of heat shields has anyone got a cold air box for their intake. I've tried buying the Weapon - R one from at least 4 different sites. Turns out many companies claim to have them over the phone, but then when you buy them, they say it can take months and put you on a waiting list. I went to the source and called up Weapon -R, they said the cold air boxes never made it to production. Just a tip for those seeking one of their boxes or are currently on a wait list.
#12
Super Moderator
Originally Posted by ari07
speaking of heat shields has anyone got a cold air box for their intake. I've tried buying the Weapon - R one from at least 4 different sites. Turns out many companies claim to have them over the phone, but then when you buy them, they say it can take months and put you on a waiting list. I went to the source and called up Weapon -R, they said the cold air boxes never made it to production. Just a tip for those seeking one of their boxes or are currently on a wait list.
#14
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remove the exhaust box or the intake resonator box? will that really increase hp, or just make it sound louder? How hard is it to remove, and if exhaust box, will that at all mess with a smog check (or am i thinking of the wrong component?) as i'll be moving in a few months and i'm sure a smog check will be required for new registration.