Jon,

4k rpm TC will make you GS a true drag racing car. You won't be able to drive it smoothly on streets. You car will jump on every green light

 

Drew, congrats on the TC install.

You know I have always wondered why you never did the TC mod earlier considering your fairly extensive experience (at least compared to me) modding your GS.

Finally you bit the bullet and got it done!!!!! Way to go.

I am still sitting on the fence regarding the SRT intake with race ECU. Is it really worth it in terms of improved acceleration from a stop.........?

 

Thanks guys for the positive feedback
Hameed, I think you have more experience than me. Your mods are more expensive than mine especially when you count your HRE's

Do I think the SRT intake is worth it? It is pricey. Many of you know I had the K&N FIPK intake on as well. That worked well. The difference between the two is very slight. The sound is more noticable on the SRT. K&N makes an excellent product From 0-60mph I think all 3 intakes are equal. Yes, I am also comparing the stock intake.

But, when you accelerate from 60mph onwards to 100mph+ I felt the SRT as slightly more responsive than the K&N and more so than the OEM. Maybe because of the larger inner tube and RACE ECU. Did I notice a huge change in performance when I got theSRT intake....yes and that performance is noticeable in the top end acceleration "car pulled a bit harder". I actually felt I lost a little on the low end. The TC now corrects all that and more.
I would get an intake purely because of the look and the sound it makes. We all know it is only a slight noticeable difference in peformance that you can directly feel and measure. However, 38+ extra horespower based on my DYNO results is definately something to consider when making a decision.
I think the intake actually works better along with the TC. Intake alone is hard to feel.

I would spend the money on the TC first before any mod I have done including suspension, brakes, and body kit. There is no other way to explain it's...simply AWESOME. Coilover and suspension has to rank very close to the top because that was instant feedback on how the car behaved and felt.

My order would be (Torque convertor, suspension and steering ECU, body kit, intake and or exhaust)

 

Expensive HRE's does not mean I have more experience actually modding my car! I still think you have way more experience than I!
You answered my question right there! I will definitely not be doing the Intake mod. I definitely don't want to lose anything on the bottom end.

I am not concerned about increased performance on the top end since I very rarely take the car to its top end. More responsive acceleration from a stop, accelerating to pass someone or enter a highway from speeds that are probably around 60 - 80 mph is waay more important to me. My TC will be on before the end of August!! I can't wait to feel how the car accelerates then!

 

That's what I'm waiting for.

A lot of people sleep on the GS4!!!

 

another happy camper.....congrats 2 u.....one question? does the TC make u'r car louder do 2 being in higher rpm's ? i mean does it sound real loud with out even moving or just barely moving?

 

CONGRATS Drew! The TC is a definite must have IMO.

 

congrats drew

great write up

seems like you fell in love with your GS all over again

ive got a similar set up and l;ove it

just missing one thing

pm me i have a question for you

johnny

 

bluelex,
First off congrads on your baby girl. I am expecting my first baby and its also a girl anytime next week.

As for the TC, no sound increase. Its sounds like the OEM stock TC. Just make sure you install a tranny cooler. I got a really nice Hayden cooler installed.

 

thanx man, good luck and congrats 2 u aswell....i was just wondoring about the sound but u answered that.....

 

Okay guys. Stupid question. Is a TC basically a way of redirecting power to the rear wheels, like a LSD? If that's the case, how does it increase performance so drastically? I'm not doubting it, I just don't understand how it works so effectively. Can anyone explain it to me?

e-man

 

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...rque+converter

The torque converter provides a kind of variably slipping linkage between the tranny and diff I believe (?). It's like two halves of a bagel with fins inside. The fluid inside is spun by one side of the bagel, which gradually makes the other side spin until a certain speed when the two halves are locked, spinning in unison. This locked speed is called the stall speed. The stock torque conveter is fully locked at 1800rpms which means the car is trying to apply all the torque available at 1800rpms to the rear wheels. The PI TC can be ordered with a different stall speed, and many have a 2800rpm stall speed in their GS4's, including me. This basically means the engine spools up closer to 2800rpms before max. torque is applied to the rear wheels. In practice it makes the car feel more 'free revving' and since more of the car's maximum available torque is on tap at 2800 instead of 1800 the car just feels (and is) a whole lot quicker. Several told me before I did it though that the Lexus tranny would feel smoother after I installed the TC, and that is in fact the case. Because more shifts may be done at higher rpms than stock, everyone recommends putting in an extra tranny fluid cooler when installed the TC. I had a B&M racing cooler put in, in front of the radiator up high near the horn. So in summary the 2800rpm TC puts more of the available torque on tap quicker when you drive making the car more responsive. It's a hoot.

 

Thanks, T.L.W. That explains a lot. I wonder why Lexus set the car up the way it did. It sounds like a relatively simply (and somewhat inexpensive mod in terms of bang for the buck). There must be some advantage to the stock setup, right?

 

The stock setup provides better fuel economy and maybe they didn't want such an aggressive launch as you get with the upgraded TC, although you can still launch gently if you're careful.

Just so you know, the regular last gen BMW 540 had one TC and the 'sport package' upgraded the stall speed of the TC plus added the staggered wheels and slightly different suspension components I believe, which made the car quicker and handle better.

 

That is a little low no? I think about 235-240 is more like it.
Congrats on your TC. Seems this is becoming the new no-brainer.