Has anyone thought about swapping out the engine and drive train for a RC-F or a GS-S setup?
I think they do fit as the RC also comes in with all the same engine options. Plus the engine sub frame seem to be the same part number.

 

The V8 won't fit in the IS engine bay, which is why there isn't a current gen IS-F.

 

With enough money, you can make it fit

 

Kanoo racing told me we can do twin turbo on my 3IS + tune ( 150WHP ) that's what they told me ( daily driving )

Price : $13000 USD
ETA : two months

 

You'd need a shoe horn.

The GS has a wider setup, which allows for the V8. This is the reason why they use the GS front end for the RC, rather than the one from the IS.

 

That is a crazy amount of money for only 150HP. You'd be better off with a Nitrous setup.

 

I think about it everyday, but then reality sets in. My wife would kick my ***! 8-)

Seriously though, used engines can be found for about $7k, you'd still need the ECU, trans, wiring, and some know how. As for whether it would fit, IMHO I think it will without issue and the reason there is no IS-F anymore is that it didn't sell well, and Lexus knows they can sell more and make more money with the RC-F. You'll see the same thing with the GS-F in time. Low numbers and the fact it doesn't really compete will kill it too.

 

If you're going to go through all that time and money, might as well do it right with a 2JZ-GTE instead: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ma-2013-a.html

 

I'm not sure that this is the case since Lexus was able to fit the 2UR-GSE motor in the previous generation 2IS engine bay.

Has anyone ever compared the size of the engine bay between the 2IS and the 3IS?

 

anthonys2r hit the nail on the head. I would do a 2J swap for the money you would have to spend to do the swap.

 

+1 on that and it's been done before

 

Started to look at part numbers, the IS and RC-F have the same engine subframe part number and so does the dash panel.
This would potentially mean the transmission and engine will fit. Since the steering rack is bolted to the subframe, the same part can be used.
The only major remaining issue I can see is the overall length of the engine on the front, need the radiator to be moved about 3-inches forwards.

 

Im bumping this, the RCF has been out for 3 years now.

 

why don't you just buy RC-F IS-F LC500 ?

 

While I don't know the exact dimensions, my take is if the V8 fits in a Gen2 IS and the Gen 3 IS is bigger than a Gen 2 IS, I don't see why it wouldn't fit.

Car makers don't decide on not making a model just cause an engine doesn't fit. There's a billion other considerations.

OP all you'd have to do is take tape measure to gen 2 and compare to gen 3. I wouldn't expect to see any substantial differences. If anything, I'd say Gen 3 would be bigger.