djspock303

Thanks everybody for being friendly and continuing on the tradition of the old 1st gen ari... cough GS300s! I plan to do a bit more with this vehicle in coming months but its really a run and maintain daily driver. I need to focus my attention to my is300 now.

For those of you who don't know i have a big nasty manual turbo is300. However the manual trans is giving me fits again. Just upgraded to the clutch, pp, and flywheel back in February but spirited driving the other day in boost and the trans does the following now.

I can get it into all gears, i can drive it in all gears, but the N, 1,2,3,4,5 and so on N its this terrible grinding bumping sound as if something worked its way loose.

I will be back !

Here is a pic of the is300

joewitafro

Looks awesome!

So, which manual trans do you have? R154 I assume because of your power level, but some do W58.

You said you hear the sound when you coast with the car in neutral? Does it sound like a transmission whine that gets louder the faster you go? Or is it literally like something is bouncing around loose.

djspock303

Let's say i bought as much time as a w55 would hold and it lasted a hell of alot longer than others w55s . I have not found out yet but i bet when i drain the transmission fluid there is most likely gear teeth, synchro's and god knows what else.

If i can find the right r154 and the budget that might be the answer. If not ill rebuild a w58

Clunking noise

joewitafro

Throw away the W58 friend, you made a naive (and cheaper) option which came stock in your car I understand, but at your power levels you just blew your transmission apart.

Time to move foward and think of your options... What is your budget?

R154 is losing support, its a truck transmission that shifts like crap and has thrust washer and synchro issues with abuse (such as drifting, hard shifting, drag racing, clutch kicking) around 400-500+hp. A setup like this would cost anywhere from 500 dollars for a mk3 turbo transmission + 300 for the bellhousing, to 1500 for a potential rebuilt trans or even a soarer R154 from japan.

V160 is costly but your best option for staying with a "toyota" transmission. Made by Getrag its a six speed out of a 93-2002 toyota supra twin turbo. With upgraded clutches this transmission has been known to take quite a bit of abuse. Best if you didn't do "HIGH MPH" runs with this trans as thats when problems arise... So just don't stay in it so long. But this trans has held 600,700,800,900, 1000, 1200+ rwhp builds of a multitude of varieties and styles of driving. It's more expensive though, you are looking at about 5-6k for this transmission.

You could try and fit something else non toyota in, What are your power goals and plans for the car? How do you want to be able to drive it.

Nixspeed

R154 has plenty of support and is a great trans. There are lots of guys making big numbers on them. Driftmotion sells any upgrade parts you could ask for as well as conversion parts.

djspock303

I know all about the v161, v160 and the cost and benefit, i know the cost and benefit of the r154, and the cheap alternative with the risk and no benefit of the w58 and w55. However I plan to sell the is300 as it is too small for my dd, and fun. I will be using that money and cash that i save while driving this nifty gs300 for the next 10 mo and be purchasing a newer 2013 gs350 4th gen or a 3rd gen 2010-2011 awd gs350.

Now that our house is mostly paid for and we have no debt i also plan to do what i always wanted to do and build a mkiv supra which will in fact have a v160 in it call it my weekend car

follow me as we go into the future ...................

Nixspeed

You could just buy my gs and call it good lol.

djspock303

Ok pulled the w55 today and found what was expected shreds of metal. So ill be working on that for a bit

I do have some quick questions for my new daily driver

1. I filled up after driving 280 miles total - 16 gals which is on par for the 2jz - how big is the actual gas tank on the gs300, and when does the gas almost empty light come on, when it does how much is left etc. 280 miles driven, no light, and needle was just a tad above E so i didn't want to push it.

2. I didn't realize this until today but the 12 disc magazine for the cd changer is gone. Best price and and best place to buy another one? Is it a particular model or are all Lexus 12 disc cd changers the same - i have the Pioneer system not the other.

Thanks All !

Nixspeed

The light well come on unless it's burned out. Mine comes on very low.

I just sold my old cd changer but ask around on here.