VIP161 // S161 swap
VIP161 // S161 swap
I have a 1998 GS300. I'm planning on doing an Aristo 2JZGTE VVT-i swap. So far the car has BC Racing coilover suspension with the swift spring upgrade. All the bushings on the front of the suspension arms were replaced with Prothane polyurethane bushings. The front upper control arms were replaced with SPC adjustable arms. The lower ball joints were replaced with MOOG. The wheels are custom Work VSXX 18x11 on the front and 18x12 on the rear. I have lips to make them into 18x13 once I get some fender flares welded on,
I have the worst luck with headgaskets. Previously, I had an SC300. Blew the headgasket and had to get rid of it. On my current GS300, the original motor had an internal headgasket leak. Swapped out the motor with a used GE motor that had a freshly rebuilt head on it. 1000 miles later, I discover that its got an internal headgasket leak. So now, I'm looking to replace it with an Aristo swap.
I will use this build thread to document as much as I can. Any input or advice is greatly appreciated. I've had an Aristo swap done before on my old GS430. Unfortunately, I had a shop do it all for me so I never got a chance to document it.
I have the worst luck with headgaskets. Previously, I had an SC300. Blew the headgasket and had to get rid of it. On my current GS300, the original motor had an internal headgasket leak. Swapped out the motor with a used GE motor that had a freshly rebuilt head on it. 1000 miles later, I discover that its got an internal headgasket leak. So now, I'm looking to replace it with an Aristo swap.
I will use this build thread to document as much as I can. Any input or advice is greatly appreciated. I've had an Aristo swap done before on my old GS430. Unfortunately, I had a shop do it all for me so I never got a chance to document it.
I bought the motorset from a local distributer, JDM Engine Bay in San Leandro, Ca. They have a wide variety of motors, cars, clips, and parts. Their service is great! I shopped all across the map and this was the cleanest swap I had found for the right price. It has the Aristo auto trans (3F310) and the ECU has no immobilizer.
I have a CX Racing intercooler ready to go. I'm only using it because it was a left over from a previous project. The kit is universal with a 3" inlet and outlet. I picked the universal kit because I'd like to get some pie cuts on those pipes to eliminate as many couplers as I can. The piping will be 3" all the way around. I do plan on getting the CX Racing intake to replace the stock inlet pipes on the stock twins. I like it because it looks clean, it flows smoother, you can bolt on a BOV to it, it points down so your IC piping doesnt have that sharp 45 degree angle coming down, and best of all its got a 3' inlet.
I'm not sure why my pictures are coming out weird but here is the green/black ignition wire. I pulled it out of a GS300. I traced it back from connector to connector and pulled it to use on the GTE igniter and connector. The Aristo igniter has a missing plug on the connector. Its actually got a little rubber blocker. You simply pop it out and replace it with one end of the green/black wire. The other end goes to the black connector by the ECU. You'll see the missing spot for it. Pretty easy. From what I understand, the purpose of this wire is to power the guage cluster and provide you with a functioning tach. I've been doing a ton of reading and research on this wire. If I understand this correctly, this is the only wire that needs to be added or modified when doing an Aristo GTE swap on a 98'/99' GS300 making the swap really straight forward.
I'm going to use the Aristo 3F310 auto trans for the time being. I really just want to get this motor in the car already. I don't really mind running the auto for now. I didn't take a picture but I have a CD009 out a 2005 350z with complete Z1 performance clutch kit. Once I'm done with the swap I will be gathering the tranny swap parts. I know most people use the Collins adapters but I prefer using the Maverick adapter. Yes it is more expensive than Collins but you can use any 350z clutch and flywheel so the options are endless. With the Collins kit, you have to buy their customer recessed flywheel and clutch kit made specifically for the JZ to CD009 swap. It limits you to using only their clutch kits and you end up spending more in the long run.
Pictured below is the front half of a 93' SC400 driveshaft and guibo bushing. This would eliminate the need to have a custom driveshaft made. It bolts up legit to the Aristo trans. I just simply slide the splined part of it into the other half of the remaining GS300 driveshaft and you're good. In some of the posts I've read, people have mentioned that it does not work. The SC400 front half and GS300 rear half seem to work just fine.
Pictured below is the front half of a 93' SC400 driveshaft and guibo bushing. This would eliminate the need to have a custom driveshaft made. It bolts up legit to the Aristo trans. I just simply slide the splined part of it into the other half of the remaining GS300 driveshaft and you're good. In some of the posts I've read, people have mentioned that it does not work. The SC400 front half and GS300 rear half seem to work just fine.
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that’s the first thought that came to mind. On the original motor, I did two coolant flushes. One flush was done when I got the car and first noticed the rise in temp. The second flush I did right before I replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat, and upper/lower hoses. I even replaced with a larger capacity aluminum radiator. A year later the aluminum radiator starts to leak so I change it out for a stock Denso radiator. Before the new radiator went in, I went ahead and replaced the thermostat again because I was in denial.
I wonder why it was stated in other threads that the front sections of an SC400 drive shaft will work with the stock Aristo 3F310 auto trans with the rear section of the GS300 driveshaft. I've even seen people mention it in YouTube build videos. I wouldn't have been so confident and going out to the nearest junk yard to pull the mother****er off. Well, I appreciate you showing me this now than letting me find out the hard way later when everything is out.
Oh really? So the complete GS300 auto driveshaft is the same length as the aristo shaft? I don't mind elongating the holes on the flange if thats all I need to get that thing on. If it does work, it can be my short term solution as I do plan on having a single piece alloy shaft made in the future. I'm just trying to get this motor running before my head gasket puts the GE out of its misery.