JimsGX

So I've owned my 91LS for just under 3 1/2 years now. I bought it as a project car to play around with, not as my primary driver. I put around 5k miles a year on it. I've kept a running tally of everything I've done to it over the last 3 1/2 years and I wanted to share it here. The list is pretty extensive and my goal has been to get it as close as possible to its original ride quality from when it came off the showroom floor 20 years ago. I still have a handful of repairs I plan to do to it, but anyways, here's the list in no particular order. I'm sure I've left a few things off the list. I have a stack of receipts for everything. I've done 90% of the work myself. One thing I won't do is get out a calculator to add them all up!

1991 Lexus LS400
Repairs Since 9/2007

New Front Strut Bar Bushings/Cushions (OEM – 8/09)
New Front Upper Control Arms & Ball Joints (Arnott 5/09 – Replaced Dust Boots 10/10)
New Front Lower Control Arm Bushings (OEM pressed in 5/09)
New Engine Mounts (2 – OEM 5/10)
New Transmission Mount (1 – OEM 7/09)
New Drive Shaft / Propeller Shaft (new OEM inc. center bearing and isolator pads
New Brakes All Around, Including Rotors, Calipers, Shim Kits, OEM Pads (9/10)
New Brake Sliders & Slider Bushings
New Front Caliper Brackets
New Butterfly Support Bracket that supports the front exhaust Y pipe (OEM)
New Front Catalytic Converters (Walker - 2)
New Front Exhaust Y Pipe (w/ Single Catalytic Converter Built In – CA spec)
New 17” Lexus IS300 11 Spoke Rims (9/2009)
New Michelin Primacy Tires 215/55/17 (9/2009)
New Rear Differential (used w/13k miles on it)
New Rear Differential Bushings (3) (OEM)
New Rear Carrier Arm Bushings (ADUS 505)
New Rear Strut Rods w/Bushings (OEM)
New Rear Upper Control Arms w/Ball Joints (OEM)
Full Tranny Flush + Dropped Pan & Cleaned Filter
New Steering Rack Grommets / Bushings
Full Steering Pump / Rack Flush / Solenoid Clean (refill with Mobil 1 ATF)
New Front Lower Ball Joints
New Inner & Outer Front Tie Rods (4/10)
Propeller Shaft Angle Checked & Rear Differential Shimmed to Spec. (11/09)
New LCD Readout for Climate Control
Viper Remote Start & Door Lock System Installed
Re-Foamed / Rebuilt Subwoofer
New HID – Bi-Xenon Headlight Kit Installed
New Eagle Eye Clear Replacement Headlight & Corner Assembly’s
New Clear Replacement Front Directional Markers
New Front Door Speakers (Polk Audio 5” )
Timing Belt & Water Pump Replaced @ 73k miles
New OEM Security Keyway for Lug Locks
New Sway Bar Links (Front – Moog)
New Front & Rear Sway Bar Bushings (OEM 1/2010)
New Front Struts & Coil Springs (1/2010 Arnott – Removed after 5k miles - Defective)
New Rear Struts & Coil Springs (2/2010 Arnott – Removed after 4k miles - Defective)
New #1 Lower Control Arms (OEM 9/2010 w/ New Cam Bolts)
New #2 Lower Control Arm Bushings (Adus 583, both ends 9/2010 w/ New Cam Bolts)
New Sway Bar Links (Rear – Moog 8/2010)
New Steering Rack & High Pressure Steering Hose (8/2010)
New Hood Struts (2 – Strong Arm Brand – 1/2011)
New Fuel Pump Resistor (9/10)
New OEM Struts (4) w/ Isolators (2 top front, top & bottom rear)& bumpers (11/10)
New OEM Brake Master Cylinder @ 99,500 Miles (1/2011)

Jim

deanshark

Man, that's a nice list for 3 1/2 years. I would have gave up on it a while ago but then again, I've done alot to other cars I had. (The ones I really liked) The only things I've done on mine in 1 1/2 years are timing belt, water pump, tune-up, and my adventure last week, heater core. I know it needs some suspension and brake work but thats gotta wait. It hasn't run in a week but I think it's the crankshaft sensor. So, in other words, I haven't done much, thankfully.

trukn1

OEM Upper and Lower control arms along with new bushings (front and rear)
Daizen poly bushing kit for front end (nothing avail for rear)
Daizen Poly swaybar bushing installed
replaced differential from a donor car out of the boneyard (old one leaked and locked up (no fun)
New steering rack bushing installed
timing belt and Waterpump
Serpentine belt replaced
Iridium spark plugs installed
New distributor caps and rotors and wires
New OEM coil packs
Several shock changes(Tokico,,KYB [present]
H&R lowering springs (little over 1.5" drop when settled)
New ball joints
New hood struts (will knock you out if you don't pay attention when raising the hood)
18" wheels (generics from Ebay,,new ones will come when budget allows,,other responsibilities at almost 38 years old)
custom "L" stickers made for enter caps (gives it a nice touch)
Power steering rack, lines, and Pump with reservior completely replaced(dealer installed)
Optima Yellow Battery
JDM 1 piece headlights
JDM clear turn signals (bumper mounted)
JDM front eyelids installed
JDM Junction Produce fusa (knotted thing hanging,,japanese good luck charm)
custom wired Turn signal mirror covers painted to match car
front strut tower brace (courtesy of Brandicus)
20% window tint
5.25" speakers installed in bored out factory speaker baffles in door (factory is only 4")
custom speed, "Blacked out" gril installed
amp and MTX Sledgehammer subs (2-12's) installed in trunk
Many alternator changes
120 amp alternator fuse changed
annddd,,,,know I am forgetting something here,,,,,wait for it,,,wait for it,,,

OH YEAH,,,,,,,MONOTONE!!!!!!
LOL!!!

Still not done,,still have alot more to address on my 92 but a pic says a thousand words.

JimsGX

Nice!!!!!!

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

You guys could have bought a ls430 for all the money you spent

trukn1

Thanks Jim. It is still a work in progress. She looks good for being almost 20 years old now, but she still has a few internals I need to address.

Wont argue with you there. Looking at the parts listing, it would seem that way, but realistically she looks more expensive than I have put actual money into her. Besides there are a few things wrong with me getting an LS430 right now.
a. I have no car payment and really don't want one right now.
b. LS430 has SOOOOOO many aftermarket parts/stuff available for it, I know me,,,would go broke trying to buy as much of it as I can. Very little will power here.
c. Car payments + mods money (along with all of my other bills)= me not ever seeing home to enjoy it. I drive trucks long distance for a living and this car has been my weekend only project for the past 5 years.

As far as the expense involved,,between some substantial hookups for parts, buying used stuff here and there and re-working it over to fit, as well as doing a majority of the work myself (between me and my best friend who is a mechanic) I have saved quite a bit over just dropping the car off.

I chose the UCF10 (first gen) b/c of the LACK of aftermarket support for parts, etc. It makes you work harder if you want to find those rare items, hard to get stuff, and in general just set it apart from any other on the road. Not bragging, but I know of some LS430's that don't look as good as mine on a bad day, and I have had some LS460 owners look over my car and give me an approving nod. I guess you can say, I took on this project b/c most peeps, in general, have never seen and never figured that an old car such as mine could be done and withstand the testing of time. I know style is subjective, but IMO, my car has withstood it and continues to hold it's own even with the models out today; though it may not be as technically advanced. My car, to me, is just fun to drive (when she is not acting up,,LOL!)

Will probably take on another project soon to go full blown VIP with. Looking at either a UCF31 (05 and up LS 430), an older model Mercedes S320, or something really crazy,,,a Honda Odyssey. Yes I did say Odyssey as in the minivan. Just accessing how much time/money I want to sink into a project of this nature. Oh well,,,decisions.

deanshark

True, but then as trukn1 said, ya gotta add money into that also. Plus once ya start doing one thing, then another, you don't, or should I say "can't", stop. Ya take pride in your wrench time making it your own. (One of a kind)
trukn1; I really like the aftermarket stuff you have on yours, especially the mirror signals Is that a Ct. plate? That building looks familliar. I also love the "Monotone", I know you're not done with it yet, noone ever is.
Keep up the good work everybody.

StevieA

Ya Trukn1 your car looks awesome - I wouldn't change a thing best looking LS I've seen IMO one of the best looking cars I've seen. Reminds me of my '93 black Dodge Stealth (ya I know completely different - but both black, sleek and eye catching).
[IMG][/IMG]

StevieA

'93 LS

Purchased March 2010 with about 223,000km's cost me $2,500
Now has 237,000kms now total spent ~$10,000 - $7,500 in upgrades

Like Trukn & Deanshark said, once ya start.............

I planned for this to be a cheap car to get to work in but I love the thing and can't help making it better!

OEM spark plugs
OEM wires
OEM caps
OEM rotors
OEM air filter
OEM rear brake pads
OEM coolant temp sensor
OEM coil springs for rear
4 KYB GR2 shocks
aftermarket rear rotors
aftermarket front UCA's
aftermarket hood struts
aftermarket PS Pump
aftermarket High Pressure PS Hose
aftermarket fuel filter
used alternator
used Y-Pipe
4 used wheels
4 new snow tires General Tire Altimax Arctic
rear differential seal
rf Denso O2 Sensor
lf Denso O2 sensor
Instrument cluster rebuild
Climate control rebuild
undercoated once by me and at least 3 other times since new
Sony Bluetooth MP3/WMA CD Car Deck With iPod Control (MEXBT3800U)
MTX 1-Channel Car Amplifier (RFL600D) 600 watt rms amp for sub
2 - MTX JackHammer 2-Channel Car Amplifier (JH202) 200 watt rms each for fr & rear speakers
Infinity Reference 6 1/2" 2-Way Component Car Speaker (6030CS) front speakers
Infinity Reference 6 1/2" 2-Way Car Speaker (6032CF) rear speakers
MTX 10" Subwoofer Vented Box (JH5510D)

Brandicus

iTrader: (6)

Too much, and if I list it out ill realize how stupid ive been with modifications... lets just say im planning to keep this car the rest of my life and never keep track of the tab

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

this .

BLKonBLK98

i ask myself this question everytime i look at my car.

"what have i done to my ls!?'

deanshark

LOL
I like that custom hood strut. Are you parting it or fixing it?

trukn1

Oh this thread has gotten hilarious. LOL!!!

Dean,, the plate is from Maryland. Is not the regular white plate this is issued, but one from the Chesapeake Bay foundation. I donated some money to them via the DMV and paid a little extra for the tag. Hey I wanted to be different.

Stevie,, thanks for the compliment. would have been finished a LONG time ago, but since I drive cross country for a living and am only home on weekends, it has taken me longer than I would like to finish. So much left that I want to do. I, like yourself, only meant for this to be something to just get around in but once you start,, you just cant stop.

Brandon,,, your list is as long as the number of wheels you have had in the now 5 years I have been here. LOL!!!

willhickey

iTrader: (1)

1990 ls400 , starter, alternator , coolant flush, 18 inch sc430 wheels, tint including full windshield, black leather seats ( ebay kit), red/clear tails, eagle eye headlights, cheapo pioneer cd player polk speakers, inner and outer tie rods, reset timing, ignition coils, plugs , wires ,roters, caps, rotors and pads. WANT TO: paint it (primer), add subs, lower it (if she lets me haha) , fix the climate control, fix the trans, and who knows what else.. thanks for the inspiration ls owners. ever since we bought this for 500 the sc has been on the back burner!