Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car

Humble plans to transform this Lexus GS began a couple of years ago, but it's turned into far more than the owner could have imagined back then.

By Brett Foote - August 14, 2019
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car
Lexus GS300 Dreams of Becoming a Drift Car

Multi-Faceted Build

We see all sorts of interesting and diverse builds here in the Club Lexus forums. Everything from VIP to stanced show cars to budget racers and pretty much everything in between. But when Leja145 set out to fix up his GS a couple of years ago, his plans were quite multi-faceted.

Photos: Club Lexus Forums

Starts With Maintenance

At the time, Leja145 has long term plans of drifting this car. But first, it needed a bunch of typical maintenance, including a timing belt, water pump, radiator, thermostat housing, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, cam seals, VVTI pulley, and alternator.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus GS build right here in the ClubLexus forum.

First Things First

Leja145 had already ordered a set of BC Extreme coilovers and Megan adjustable front upper control arms. He was also planning on completing a manual swap. But first, the new suspension goodies went on and gave this GS a nice lowered stance.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus GS build right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Clean Shave

And even though this was eventually going to be a drifter, that didn't mean that Leja145 wasn't going to make it look good, too. He soon shaved the trunk lights and repainted it for an extra clean look

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus GS build right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Tuck Job

Over the next few months, subtle tweaks just kept making this GS better. Most notably, Leja145 decided to go with a staggered 18" front and 19" rear wheel setup, with all four tucked neatly in the fender wells.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus GS build right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Keep Hope Alive

At this point, you might think that those drift car dreams had died. But Leja145 soon began working on installing his necessary hand brake, which came from an SC300. And by now, parts for the manual swap were flowing in on a daily basis.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus GS build right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Change It Up

The new front wheels finally came in, making this Lexus a matching set once again. A new set of Japanese taillights changed up the look a little further, as did an IS300 steering wheel for the inside.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus GS build right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Changing Plans Again

With a little work and some help from another member, the manual swap was completed without too much trouble. But soon after, Leja145 switched things up again with a plan for new wheels and a full body kit from Version Select.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus GS build right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Total Transformation

It wasn't long before the new parts were on, painted, and looking fabulous. Together with a fresh set of chrome AVS Model T7, this Lexus GS was looking very different from the car he started with.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus GS build right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Far From Finished

Of course, this killer build is far from finished. It's looking great, but it still hasn't hit the track and Leja145 still has a bunch of mods planned for the future. So be sure and head over here to stay tuned for future progress!

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus GS build right here in the ClubLexus forum.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section right here on the forum.

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