Front End Swap?
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: CA
Front End Swap?
Im new to the whole lexus/vip style. Ive always worked on honda's, acura's, and rode bikes but i think its time for a new chapter so i decided to come this way.
Question:
Say i was to pick up a 91, 92 ls400 would there be any way to swap the front end to say a 99 front end w/o cut and weld or would it be a bolt on swap? Just a thought
Question:
Say i was to pick up a 91, 92 ls400 would there be any way to swap the front end to say a 99 front end w/o cut and weld or would it be a bolt on swap? Just a thought
NELOC Mod
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,201
Likes: 9
From: MD
Couple of things,,
If you are willing to invest the money into what it will cost to swap the front end, then anything is possible; however consider a few things.
1. The 99 (period) is dimensionally larger than the 91, 2 different generations.
2. The body lines will NEVER line up correctly, without a WHOLE LOTTA work, and even then, asthetically, it will be wayyy off.
3. THe front end swap is NOT a simple bolt on procedure. Again 99 is bigger.
4. The money that you WILL invest to do this WILL more than PAY for a 99 period so just skip all the headache and just get one.
Not trying to tell you what to do with your car, but in answering your question you are also asking for opinions as well. There HAVE been some examples of people who have done front end swaps on a first gen LS, and some of them just turned out really bad. Others,,quite unique (to put it lightly). There was someone who went so far as to swap the front end off of an S-Class Mercedes onto the LS. It was unique, but there was ALOT of money put into the car. Trying to find the thread for pics.
EDIT,,,,,found it,,,,,https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...des-front.html
If you are willing to invest the money into what it will cost to swap the front end, then anything is possible; however consider a few things.
1. The 99 (period) is dimensionally larger than the 91, 2 different generations.
2. The body lines will NEVER line up correctly, without a WHOLE LOTTA work, and even then, asthetically, it will be wayyy off.
3. THe front end swap is NOT a simple bolt on procedure. Again 99 is bigger.
4. The money that you WILL invest to do this WILL more than PAY for a 99 period so just skip all the headache and just get one.
Not trying to tell you what to do with your car, but in answering your question you are also asking for opinions as well. There HAVE been some examples of people who have done front end swaps on a first gen LS, and some of them just turned out really bad. Others,,quite unique (to put it lightly). There was someone who went so far as to swap the front end off of an S-Class Mercedes onto the LS. It was unique, but there was ALOT of money put into the car. Trying to find the thread for pics.
EDIT,,,,,found it,,,,,https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...des-front.html
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: CA
Couple of things,,
If you are willing to invest the money into what it will cost to swap the front end, then anything is possible; however consider a few things.
1. The 99 (period) is dimensionally larger than the 91, 2 different generations.
2. The body lines will NEVER line up correctly, without a WHOLE LOTTA work, and even then, asthetically, it will be wayyy off.
3. THe front end swap is NOT a simple bolt on procedure. Again 99 is bigger.
4. The money that you WILL invest to do this WILL more than PAY for a 99 period so just skip all the headache and just get one.
Not trying to tell you what to do with your car, but in answering your question you are also asking for opinions as well. There HAVE been some examples of people who have done front end swaps on a first gen LS, and some of them just turned out really bad. Others,,quite unique (to put it lightly). There was someone who went so far as to swap the front end off of an S-Class Mercedes onto the LS. It was unique, but there was ALOT of money put into the car. Trying to find the thread for pics.
EDIT,,,,,found it,,,,,https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...des-front.html
If you are willing to invest the money into what it will cost to swap the front end, then anything is possible; however consider a few things.
1. The 99 (period) is dimensionally larger than the 91, 2 different generations.
2. The body lines will NEVER line up correctly, without a WHOLE LOTTA work, and even then, asthetically, it will be wayyy off.
3. THe front end swap is NOT a simple bolt on procedure. Again 99 is bigger.
4. The money that you WILL invest to do this WILL more than PAY for a 99 period so just skip all the headache and just get one.
Not trying to tell you what to do with your car, but in answering your question you are also asking for opinions as well. There HAVE been some examples of people who have done front end swaps on a first gen LS, and some of them just turned out really bad. Others,,quite unique (to put it lightly). There was someone who went so far as to swap the front end off of an S-Class Mercedes onto the LS. It was unique, but there was ALOT of money put into the car. Trying to find the thread for pics.
EDIT,,,,,found it,,,,,https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...des-front.html
thanx for the advice and everything
NELOC Mod
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,201
Likes: 9
From: MD
Young Grasshoppa,, you have much to learn. LOL!!! Let's start here,,
http://www.lexls.com/info/lsgenerations.html
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Yes just get a 98-00 model. In the long run it will cost you much less, since you will have to get some maintenance work done to both cars most likely. The older one will probably require more, so if you get the 98-00 you will have more money for mods. You will have to spend so much just to get a base to start with if you go with a front end swap on the 90-94. The cost doesn't make sense unless this is a show car and you are getting fully sponsored for the bodywork and all the other parts, if not save your chips for a 98-00. They are coming down in price and are quite affordable now. My suggestion is get a 98-00, enjoy the extra power and 5'th gear then mod the H E double hockey sticks out of it! 
