Lexus IS350 6MT Build

[Jeff Lange]

After years of waiting and researching, I feel like everything is right for me to start this project and I'm pretty excited to say the least!

Car started as a 2011 IS250 6MT and over the years I have done a lot of changes to the car, including suspension, LSD, a few computers and exterior parts. Still, this is the biggest change I've done for sure.

And so it begins!















Jeff

[Sentry]

Cool! So 250s came manual but 350s never did, but a 2GRFSE is a plug and play(ish) swap into this car?

[Redlined_8000]

Very nice! I didnt know these ever came in a 6MT. What engine is that your're swapping?

[EK 2.0]

Having access to OEM parts is SUCH an advantage during builds like this and your 86...haha...


Looking forward to all the improvements and updates man!!

[Jeff Lange]

Originally posted by Sentry
Cool! So 250s came manual but 350s never did, but a 2GRFSE is a plug and play(ish) swap into this car?

Yeah, you could get the IS250 RWD with the manual up to 2012, but the IS350 never came with a manual. If it had, that's what I would have bought for sure. But alas, I shall build it myself.

Originally posted by Redlined_8000
Very nice! I didnt know these ever came in a 6MT. What engine is that your're swapping?

The IS350 in fact didn't come with a manual, but I am swapping that engine into an IS250 that did come with a manual.

Originally posted by EK 2.0
Having access to OEM parts is SUCH an advantage during builds like this and your 86...haha...


Looking forward to all the improvements and updates man!!

Everyone can order the parts, :p But I know what you mean, it's definitely more convenient for me I suppose.

I, also, am looking forward to updates! I want to drive this thing.

Jeff

[Projek01]

Is that a new or used motor? I'm sure all those OEM parts are really expensive even though you work at Toyota.

I wish they made a 6sp awd powertrain.

[EK 2.0]

Originally posted by Jeff Lange


Everyone can order the parts, :p But I know what you mean, it's definitely more convenient for me I suppose.

I, also, am looking forward to updates! I want to drive this thing.

Jeff

I say this as a parts guy at CHT haha....and yeah the inherent price advantage is obviously a plus...BUT...just having access to parts catalogues and the ability to sit and take the time to research what you need a the biggest plus haha...

I did the same when I was a Honda parts guy and building up my EK...

[Sentry]

Originally posted by Projek01
Is that a new or used motor? I'm sure all those OEM parts are really expensive even though you work at Toyota.

I wish they made a 6sp awd powertrain.

I'd much rather RWD than AWD.

[Redlined_8000]

Originally posted by Jeff Lange




The IS350 in fact didn't come with a manual, but I am swapping that engine into an IS250 that did come with a manual.

Jeff

Very cool! Unique, and OEM friendly. Nice work.

[Jeff Lange]

Originally posted by Projek01
Is that a new or used motor? I'm sure all those OEM parts are really expensive even though you work at Toyota.

I wish they made a 6sp awd powertrain.

It's a used engine, Toyota doesn't really supply complete engines most of the time in North America, unless there is a specific reason. Even when they do have stock though, the pricing is so out there that nobody really would ever consider ordering one anyway. So yeah, it's used, haha.

Originally posted by EK 2.0


I say this as a parts guy at CHT haha....and yeah the inherent price advantage is obviously a plus...BUT...just having access to parts catalogues and the ability to sit and take the time to research what you need a the biggest plus haha...

I did the same when I was a Honda parts guy and building up my EK...

The price advantage is the biggest plus I think for me, I have enough catalogs at home that I peruse in my spare time, lol. It's true though, having access to everything on a daily basis is pretty nice.

Do you still have the EK?

Originally posted by Sentry

I'd much rather RWD than AWD.

Generally, I would too. Still, if a 6MT AWD drivetrain existed, I would have pondered the thought for a bit for sure. Just because.

Originally posted by Redlined_8000


Very cool! Unique, and OEM friendly. Nice work.

Thanks.

Jeff

[EK 2.0]

Originally posted by Jeff Lange


The price advantage is the biggest plus I think for me, I have enough catalogs at home that I peruse in my spare time, lol. It's true though, having access to everything on a daily basis is pretty nice.

Do you still have the EK?

Jeff

Yes sir I do...daily it all summer....If I can haha...

[94boosted]

That's quite the swap What was the reason behind the V6? More power? Would a turbo kit or SC not have been cheaper? Just curious.

[Jeff Lange]

I'm going from a 2.5L V6 to a 3.5L V6, so up from 204hp and 185ft-lbf to 306hp and 277ft-lbf.

Turbocharging or supercharging the 2.5L V6 is ineffective and expensive. Wouldn't recommend it, haha.

This will be cheaper, faster and more reliable than trying to modify the 2.5L in my opinion.

Jeff

[01RedDX]

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[Jeff Lange]

Originally posted by 01RedDX
Any upgrades to the clutch/tranny or leaving it stock?

EDIT: I think someone posted an exedy fiber disc upgrade on their IS previously, not sure if it was you.

Stock clutch is rated for 250ft-lbf, I am using a Spec pressure plate with 8,050N clamping force that should be more than enough. I would like to run something with a bit more wiggle room, but don't want to increase the pedal effort more than I have to. The car is still my daily driver after all.

I will be running a dampened clutch disc though, not a solid. Keeping the dual mass flywheel as well.

Other than that the transmission and drive line is all rated for more than the engine is, so it should be happy. The gearing is going to be a bit shorter than the IS350 had, but that is because I have a 3.91 Torsen LSD instead of the factory 3.73 open diff. I have thought about swapping back to the 3.73 gears, but I don't think I'll be doing that yet, it's a pretty small change anyway and I am happy with the revs to vehicle speed with the 4GR and the power band is very much the same with the 2GR.

Jeff

[Jeff Lange]

4GR-FSE successfully removed. Now to swap over any parts that I want to keep onto the used engine and need to finish modifying the engine-side of the wiring harness for the manual transmission. My attempts to find a larger clutch disc that would fit the 4GR pressure plate and flywheel have failed (had hoped a 7M-GTE/1JZ-GTE clutch disc or 5VZ-FE clutch disc would work, they don't), so I will be sticking with a stock-sized 236mm clutch disc.

Of note: the RA62 is in reality, quite a large transmission.




Jeff

[78si]

Nice

[01RedDX]

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[Jeff Lange]

The AY6 transmission is rated for 345ft-lbs by Aisin. The IS250 and FR-S AZ6 transmissions are unrelated. This one is about 80% larger than the AZ6 in an FR-S. Highest torque I'm aware of for this trans is in the IS220d at 300ft-lbs, though the 2010+ FJ Cruiser also puts about 280ft-lbs through it as did the Cadillac CTS.

Highest I know of is the Ray Hall 4.0L twin turbo 2GR in a GT86 in Australia that put 550ft-lbs through it. I don't know how long that held up though.

FR-S TL70 beside an IS250 RA62:



Jeff

[01RedDX]

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