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Introduction
I've been driving Lexus/Toyota's more or less exclusively for the last 13 years (I cheated a little and got a Turbo BMW and Had a WRX for a while) I had been missing being in a Toyota and even more so me never getting to knock one of my bucket list builds off. I had always wanted a really cool JDM Drift streetcar, 4 doors, tons of style and just enough power for it to be fun, reliable and get me from point A to B looking clean. I saw this Mechanic's Special listing on FB Marketplace with a decent looking 02 with Black Emblems and then on one of the pics I saw the Interior and a Badge on the good fender and knew I had to have it. I had a 03 Sport Design that was my unicorn and it got stolen right before my build was going to begin and ever since then I had an itch to get another one but they're still pretty hard to find. Good timing with me selling my grocery getter Honda Crosstour I was using for my business. I'm keeping this post to document the build and have something to show for in case I ever sell it or want to show off a little. I have some work ahead of me before this becomes a cool JDM Streetcar. Lets get into it.
Build Plans
Goal: The idea is a NA-T build, GE (Non VVTi Bottom End), GE VVTi Head & Manual Swapped with the intention of it being similar in build quality and driving feel to a German Car. Turbo, Nimble and Fun to drive but maintain Period Correct JDM Style and Form. It’s a pile right now but the bones are there.
New German Style Flip Keys, Cut and currently waiting for the Lexus Emblem to put on the key and swap the Transponder.
12V USB Dock installed after the 12V Socket failed.
Handy Dandy TIS Computer to use as a Factory Scan Tool
11/17/2023 - Purchase Story/to 1 Month of Ownership
I expected I was going to need to source a donor engine right away because of how the previous owner was talking about the car before purchase. There was a bunch of issues and some maintenance done before the he just let it sit. The car was having issues with being in limp mode and bogging down. It had several codes from Catalyst Efficiency codes to Random Misfire codes and some O2 Sensor Codes. It was hard to do a proper inspection before buying because the battery was dead so I just kind to got it sight unseen. First thing first I wanted to try to get it driving. It was really sluggish and was super slow. You could also hear a pretty loud Vacuum leak from the right side of the car. After looking underneath I noticed the exhaust was separated at the Midpipe right between the CATs so I assumed what I was hearing was back pressure so I gutted the Midpipe Cat and it drove but, but it still drove poorly and you could smell dumped fuel. I had a bunch of MILs
I had never had a Lexus with so many issues so repair and diag wasn't exactly something I was super confident in but I did some research, found out it could have been the MAF. I looked at it and it was clean and looked pretty new but it was a Generic Autozone MAF. I pulled it and did a resistance test and it was out of spec so I went and got an OEM Denso MAF and that did the trick with the drivability issues… until I got another MIL. It went limp again when codes came back. Similar codes so I ran a bunch of factory recommended tests according to the symptoms and started with some Ignition issues since there wasn't really anything wrong on the Intake Side after replacing the MAF (The Resonator was good.) Spark Plugs first. The car had NKG Plugs in there that were a spec down from recommended plugs for the 02's
So I ended up putting in Denso OEM recommended replacements and the car started purring. Ran the best I’ve seen since I got it (about a month or so)… until the MIL light came back. No more misfires but I still got O2 sensor codes and some efficiency codes. So I got a Toyota Throttle Position sensor since it here was a non Toyota TPS and that leaves me where I am currently. I have some ideas on how to fix the issues so I’ll post after giving them a shot.
Last edited by DriftChris; Nov 18, 2023 at 07:00 PM.
Reason: Context
I’m loving your checklist. I may have to steal it.
Good work so far.
Thanks! I have some updates. I had a **** work week so I had been super busy but I had nice Junkyard haul and some cool updates on some stuff Im doing to try to figure out a problem it seems like ALL our GSs are having all at the same time.
[Build] 2002 GS300 Sport Design
