V8 Swapped 2nd Gen GS is Pure Style
Cars like these often get passed over by folks who are more concerned with having the best and newest, but one Lexus enthusiast knew what this GS could become.
The perfect canvas
In building what he calls a hot/import fusion Jayson Pizarro has used over 15 years of experience in tuning to come up with this LS1 V8 swapped JZS160 GS300. The roots of this build style is based on what surrounded Jayson in his formative years in San Diego where muscle cars and hot rods roamed the streets frequently. "I grew up around straight domestics, so this is what inspired me to do a GM V-8 swap. My inspiration on the domestic side really comes from the hot rod guys who have a super high level of attention to detail and never compromise. They always get the part they want, even if it means saving for three years to get that wild paint job."
>>Join the conversation about this LS1 Swapped GS300 right here in ClubLexus.com.
Even more JDM
The choice to use the platform of the 2nd Gen GS was because "in Japan, these cars are considered a sports luxury sedan, but over here this platform is really only associated with luxury and VIP style. Most of the JZS160s in Japan are built with performance in mind, so I wanted to build my GS to showcase its performance side as much as its luxury and style side. I also wanted to do something innovative and different, something you rarely-if-ever see, so that's why I decided on a four-door with a V8 swap but done on a budget."
>>Join the conversation about this LS1 Swapped GS300 right here in ClubLexus.com.
It never hurts to have help
Jayson said that when he first found the GS it wasn't a pristine vehicle that was just a clean canvas: "I bought the GS for $3,000 and sold all the parts I wouldn't be using for $2,200, so the chassis only cost me $800." What came after that was a custom roll cage, custom Bride gradation upholstery, a full Ikeya Formula control arm conversion, HKS coilovers, Volk TE37s and a Vertex body kit. All of this wasn't done out of Jayson's bank account as he was able to garner sponsorship for the project from the exposure he has gained over the years on prior builds.
>>Join the conversation about this LS1 Swapped GS300 right here in ClubLexus.com.
It makes sense to us
The rationale for the V8 swap into the car is explained by Jayson like this: "The cost of an LS1 motor is about $4,000 including a T56 transmission, so when you add to that the approximately $1,500 for the mount kit, $300 for the wiring conversion, and $300-$400 for a driveshaft, you get an engine easily capable of 400 horsepower at the wheels for about $6,500. Compare that to the cost of doing a 2JZ swap, which to do right can easily run you $15,000, a GM LS V8 swap is really very cost-effective."
>>Join the conversation about this LS1 Swapped GS300 right here in ClubLexus.com.
A GS to be reckoned with
With the LS power under the hood, Jayson reflects on the performance of the GS out on the track compared to an S14 he also owns. "I've taken the GS to Buttonwillow a few times and to Thunderhill and it feels amazingly planted. I do have to use the e-brake after initiating a drift in order to control the extra mass this car has, but then it's on the power and you can nail a big smoky drift. I also love the fact that I'm able to drift it in fourth and fifth gears the whole time because of the V8's torque. It's really hard to get into trouble with the car-it just responds and does what I want it to do."
>>Join the conversation about this LS1 Swapped GS300 right here in ClubLexus.com.
Well done Jayson
To finish things off for the car came by way fo the satin black paint and finish that now adorns the sport sedan. "If you actually look at it, all the chrome is replaced with Gloss Black, the roof is Gloss Black so that it looks like glass, the wheels are Gloss Black and the decals are Gloss Black. The Satin was chosen because of its subtle contrast, which draws the eye to the details. I knew the paint scheme was working when I brought the car to the Autumn Gathering and there were guys who just studied the car for a half hour to try to figure out what was different about it."
>>Join the conversation about this LS1 Swapped GS300 right here in ClubLexus.com.
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