Daily Slideshow: Lexus GS300 Drifter is a Beauty and a Beast
There's something big, fast, and purple out and about up in San Jose that can slip and slide with the best of them.
Out with the slush
Adam Mao, who resides in the Bay Area of California, bought his GS300 back in 2009 after a long search for the big body sedan. He and his brother flew down to San Diego to pick up the Lexus and drove the car back. While on the way back, he stopped off in Los Angeles and gave his new car the gift of an R154 5-speed transmission from a Supra.
Making changes
Right off the bat, Adam knew that he wanted to turn the GS into a drift car so the automatic transmission had to get tossed out. Then over the next two years work continued on the sedan with a set of wheels, suspension components including coilovers, an aero kit, and other bits here and there. With the changes that had happened, there was one thing that had remained untouched thus far, the 2JZ engine.
>>Join the conversation about this GS Drift Machine right here in the Club Lexus Forum.
It's no slouch
However, after two hours the time had finally come to have some work done and so Power Dynamics out in Texas built a new forged bottom end that could handle 800 horsepower. As soon as the block was sent to Adam he went and mated it to a rebuilt, ported, and polished head. Then a Comp CT4 6265 Turbo got bolted on that blew 24 psi through a bespoke intake manifold with 720cc injectors furnishing fuel. This setup proved to be an awesome one since running 91 octane will output 624whp and 562 lb-ft of torque.
>>Join the conversation about this GS Drift Machine right here in the Club Lexus Forum.
You can do it too
This car is the culmination of ten years of influence that Adam received watching members of the drift community who not only chased power but also kept a slick appearance while doing it. This is entirely evident when you look at the community, especially, in the Bay Area, where there is an increasing number of beautiful drift cars whereas the emphasis previously was on function over form. Adam's Lexus really does set a great example for the ones coming up who want to build a great car in their garage without sponsorships.
>>Join the conversation about this GS Drift Machine right here in the Club Lexus Forum.
Parts list
| ENGINE: | 2JZ-GE with Wiseco pistons; Eagle connecting rods; custom intake manifold; Comp Turbo CT4 6265 turbocharger; ACL bearings; ARP rod bolts, head studs; Aeromotive 340-lph fuel pump; ATI super damper crankshaft pulley; Cometic head gasket; Drift Motion exhaust manifold, lightweight pulley kit; First State Motorsport fuel rail; Flex-A-Lite fan; Gates racing timing belt; GReddy oil cooler; HKS 50mm wastegate, cam gears; Osetiger 720cc injectors; Spoolin Performance intercooler piping, oil catch can, coolant catch can, 3" exhaust; TiAL blow-off valve; Tomei fuel pressure regulator |
| DRIVETRAIN: | Marlin Crawler R154 transmission, billet 3-4 shift fork, billet 5th-reverse shift fork, billet 1-2 shift fork, thrust washer, bearing retainer; custom extended shifter housing, one-piece 3-inch steel driveshaft, billet aluminum differential adapter; ACT extreme six-puck clutch; Drift Motion lightweight flywheel |
| ENGINE MANAGEMENT: | AEM V1 ECU, air temp sensor, map sensor, methanol injection system, electronic boost controller |
| FOOTWORK & CHASSIS: | Battle Version aluminum steering rack bushing, rear upper control arms, rear toe arms, rear traction arm, solid differential bushings; Ikeya Formula subframe risers; Powered By Max coilovers; 40mm front roll center adjusters; SPC front upper control arms; Top Speed front under brace; TRD stabilizer bars |
| WHEELS & TIRES: | 19x11" -14 front, 19x12" -39 rear SSR Agle Minerva wheels; 235/35R19 Advan Neova AD08 front, 265/30R19 Triangle TR968 rear tires |
| EXTERIOR: | BN Sports body kit; Ganador carbon-fiber side mirrors; Serial Nine rear over fenders; Depo LED taillights; Toyota window visors, chrome door handles; TRD front grille; Voltex type-II wing (1750mm); custom front fenders; purple amethyst pearl paint with gold flakes by Crown Auto Body |
| INTERIOR: | Sokodu Designs six-point weld-in roll cage; AEM wideband gauge; ASD hydraulic handbrake; Bride Zeta III bucket seats, MO seat rails; Takata four-point harnesses; Nardi 350mm deep corn leather steering wheel; NRG short hub, quick release; Glow Shift boost gauge, oil pressure gauge, oil temp gauge; Joe's Racing rear view mirror; Kicker 12" subwoofer; CRUNCH amplifier |
>>Join the conversation about this GS Drift Machine right here in the Club Lexus Forum.
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