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Finally got a hold of a worthy GS to build an KEEP! 1998 model that's factory HID, heated seats, OEM yellow fog, etc. I once again went to OKC to retrieve this one. Owner had it sitting in the garage. It has a minor dent on the front left corner fender and miscellaneous rock chips on it. Story is the original owner blew the motor so I'm contemplating 1jz-vvti head on GTE internals with the existing NA block. But for now I will just get it running a new NA unit and build the bottom end that's in the car now on the side. I've grown out of the VIP scene and just want a tight handling slightly big power sedan with some functional aero and cooling features for the brakes and engine. This will take time but the end result we be something that I can drive for years to come. Here are some quick pics of the car as it sits now. Initial investment is $550.00 which was the purchase price of the car!
Last edited by Answer300; Oct 24, 2025 at 03:04 PM.
Reason: added description
I was able to find a clean JDM NA swap at my local importer JDM Engines Corp. I've done business with them for years and they've always done me right on swaps. Basically just going to swap the US harness to this motor and mate it to the existing transmission and roll it. Meanwhile; I'll break down the motor that's in the car now and save the block for the 1.5JZ-VVTI build.
Last edited by Answer300; Apr 28, 2018 at 11:05 AM.
And my mother-n-law's 1GS. Surprisingly, she's attempting to mod this car ! She bought it for $400 and I just got it running for here about a week ago. Needs some TLC but she's gonna take her time with it. She's especially excited about our 2GS project because it was the 1st car my wife and I had when we 1st met 11 years ago. She always tells me that I should have finished that car, hence 1 of the reasons we're building this car.
Sick bro .. you thinking about putting a 2jzgte in that thing?
Thanks man! Actually what I'm doing is taking the NA block that's in the car now, refresh and building it up with GTE internals and then I'll put a 1jz-gte VVTI head on that. I'll either run a old school HKS T04-R or a Greddy T67. I've thought about a Tomei Arms compressor kit but I'd like to get this car to 550-650hp. Haven't decided if I'm gonna just build the trans in it now or do a R154. I have a extra auto trans at home that I could essentially have Level 10 build so that would be a drop in affair.
Don't use level 10 if you have the transmission built. There are tons of threads here and on the Supra forums that all say they have no idea what they're doing and the people who used them had failures in under a year
Don't use level 10 if you have the transmission built. There are tons of threads here and on the Supra forums that all say they have no idea what they're doing and the people who used them had failures in under a year
Really! Hmmm, thanks for the caution on that. I know my bud Jeff Tsai does them but I'll be back in Nashville with the car once the rebuilt motor is ready to go in. I'll tackle that later.
Well, everywhere I check for the Sessions kit; it's discontinued. Sucks because that is the exact look I want so now I'm back to the drawing board. I might just address other areas on the car and save the exterior for last. Problem is I like all of the older Aristo kits from "back in the day" Only other kit I'd consider right now is the TRD lip kit ( AUTHENTIC )
Last edited by Answer300; Mar 12, 2018 at 06:58 PM.
So it's about time to go ahead and get this old motor out and to the side to make way for the fresh unit. Thought I'd let you guys see what the previous owner left me to deal with. A couple coil plugs need to be replaced but I can source them from the donor harness since its all the same for the most part.
That just might be the ugliest header I've ever seen........
Mixed breed 2JZ NA
Today was the 1st real work day on the car since I got it a couple weeks ago. I'm beat for the night since I've been turning wrenches since 10:00am! Lots of the USDM stuff had to be swapped over to the JDM motor to make sure its a straight drop in. Power steering pump, full intake manifold, fuel rail and the injectors. Once the motor is in i'll switch the water pump system to the USDM version which will eliminate the fan clutch and fan. Really all that's left to do is install the torque converter, bolt up the transmission, button it up and it'll be alive once again.
Last edited by Answer300; Mar 8, 2018 at 06:56 PM.
As of tonight, my wife and I got the motor and trans back in the car but the OEM trans mount and motor mounts separated at the rubbers so ill need to address those. That will all be done this Thursday and we'll fire it up.
Toyota and Lexus Join Mille Miglia For The First Time
Slideshow: A five-car lineup spanning more than five decades of Toyota performance and engineering will tackle one of Italy's most celebrated automotive routes.
Timeless GS
