ok, so I am planning on doing the GTE VVT-i swap by mid next year. I know I need an exhaust, but dont want to custom make it.

I just got my Blitz intake filter in and I like how it smoothed out the idle and sound of the motor. I was thinking about picking up an exhaust which I could install now and enjoy but still use with the swap.

My top choice is the Apex-i WS2. I love the clean classy look to it, it has a nice sporty tone which is not so loud that it would create attention,,,, pretty much how the is300 should be, performance with luxury.

I do not plan on going high boost or anything big for at least 6-8 months after the swap is done as to ensure the motor is working properly and wont blow.

SO I am thinking that for the time, a 2.5" exhaust is perfectly fine for the desired application, Agree or disagree?

 

Yes basic 2.5 IS exhaust is fine for boost. A custom 3" would make more power but you should be fine

Based on your post you sound like somebody who's real particular. I hope you're ready for all of the headaches a modded car comes with.

 

lol, I am EXTREMELY particular. when I clean my Olympic Arms 556 after a day of shooting I tear it down to even having the trigger assembly torn apart and clean every bit. lol

I am the same way with my car, I hand wax it 2x per month, synthetic oil changes at 3000, pull the plugs every 3k to look at fuel mix, I keep a micro fiber cloth in the car and wipe the interior nearly every day.

I am ready for headaches, wont be the first build or swap I have done, most recent was putting the 5VZ-Fe from a Tacoma into the back of a 1992 MR2. then I turbo'd it.

 

I know 2.5" will be fine for it, more so just seeing if anyone, you especially since you seem to know your stuff, know of any exhausts out there that give the same quality and appearance as the WS2 but in maybe a 3" set up.

my other option for after the swap that I have been thinking about is if I do change from a twin to a single, or if I keep the twins and just bump the boost up is make either a 2.75" or 3" dp for the twins/single and step it down to fit the 2.5" of the WS2.

a bit more flow and reduced back pressure from the initial pipe off the turbo, but nothing spectacular. I just really am trying to keep the look and feel and sound of the IS to what it is at heart,,, a LUXURY sport car.

 

I am even planning on getting the Elbrus I02 rims in 17" and sending them to be either chrome or black chromed so I can keep the OEM look.

 

i dont think there are any 3" exhausts for the IS that are not custom piping. maybe someone like SRT can make one and ship it. i think Peter Farrell used to make a 3" but the fitment was an issue

if youre considering a single over the stock twins, while the motor is out is the best tme to make this change. its a huge hassle to remove the stock twins once the motor is in. you may have to pull the motor again in order to remove the twins.

 

never heard of these wheels. personally not a fan. theyre basically the same as oem wheels

http://tires.tirerack.com/tires/Elbrus%20I02

 

yeah, i know the twins will not easily be removed once in. I am thinking that once it is in, after 6-8 months if everything is working properly and solid, I will either pull the motor IF I am going to do a single, or if not then remover lots of it to start either polishing or powder coating to clean up the overall appearance. At that point I can decide to pull or not, really dont have a problem pulling motors. I have it down to an art. I got to the point on my MR2 that it was easier to pull the motor to do anything so I got my time down to 45 minutes to do a pull.

the reason I like those rims is exactly why you said you dont... they look OEM. It is my goal to make my IS look and perform like it should have off the floor. they should have offered it with a turbo package, and bigger rims would have been much nicer. the most I am doing to the body even is the Type R lip in front. clean, plain, simple and hopefully reliable. Yours is very clean too though, love that front bumper and skirts