madchyers IS300 build thread (pic heavy)

[madchyers]

Hello S|W my name is Chad. I've had my IS300 since 2009, been modding on a poor college student's budget. And I've some how managed to get it where it is today...

Un-molested:



It wasn't too long until I decided to mod the IS. First thing I did was buy myself an exhaust. Tanabe Concept G cat back exhaust.







Then I jumped on the bandwagon and got me some AAC halos 8K I think, maybe 6K. Anyways they looked cool for the 3 months that they worked. The inverters busted and shorted the fuses in them. They don't work anymore and they're still epoxy'd in my headlights to this day...Still not working lol. I guess you could say it's not on my priorities of things to fix.




Oh yeah, I got a Fujita short ram intake too.


Some photoshootage, cause I had to show off the sweet halos

[madchyers]

Somewhere between the exhaust and halos, I painted my emblems/debadged the trunk. I used Rustoleum automotive rattle can paint. Graphite Grey Metallic, I think it's supposed to be OEM Honda touch up paint. Best paint I've ever dealt with in terms of viscosity, bonding, and drying.







Then I took the plunge and got some coilovers. Didn't do my research, had no idea what dampening was. Nor the paychecks to buy some nice BC coils or Stance. Tanabe Sustec Pro coilovers, they're awesome for daily driving though. I can't say I'm not satisfied with them, cause they've been great since day 1.



Before



After






Same time I also installed the Tanabe rear strut bar. Makes zero difference in performance, but looks pretty cool.

[madchyers]

Sometime between the headlights and coilovers I also painted the tail light housings too. I wish I documented the process...



And then this happened:







The setup:
- XS T61 turbocharger
- XS downpipe
- XS turbo manifold
- XS wastegate (7 lb spring)
- XS dumptube
- Godspeed intercooler
- Godspeed universal intercooler pipe kit (pipes, couplers, clamps)
- Universal 4" Spectre air filter
- Walbro 255lph fuel pump
- Apex'i SAFC II
- AEM UEGO wideband
- SunPro boost gauge (lol)
- HKS blow off valve
- HKS turbo timer w/Mk4 Supra TT-7 PnP ignition harness
- TurboEast blackbox

And then there was boost


More photoshootage because turboooo. Oh and I lowered the Tanabes as low as they'd go too.










The favorite. No fisheye here!

[madchyers]

About a year and a half later I got busted with the turbo kit, which is a big NO NO in good ol Sunny Socal. So...Moar stealth.

Before:


After:


Temporary exhaust until I had one custom made:



Then I had a full 3" custom exhaust made. 2 resonators (10" and 20") to make it quiet, and a Magnaflow oval muffler with 2.5" tip welded on to replace the 4" tip.






More photoshootage:




Got some Tanabe sways too:



Then I knew I'd need more power. Got me some GTE internals and an AEM EMS...Unfortunately I blew up the motor before I could install/rebuild. Had to sell the GTE's (Supra TT internals) and AEM EMS I had waiting to install in order to pay for the rebuild.







The carnage:





While I saved money for the rebuild, I got a hold of some 3M Di-noc wrap. Decided to take on a couple of vinyl wrapping projects:









I took on some other projects as well:




Repainted my scratched dash:

[madchyers]

Here's the rebuild completed:


- Machine work on the stripped block
- Port and polished head (gasket matched and chamfered edges)
- GTE rods, pistons, rings, bearings
- 2JZ-GE oil pump assembly
- 2JZ-GE gasket set
- OEM Toyota waterpump and thermostat
- OEM Toyota timing belt
- OEM Toyota GE headgasket
- New timing sprocket
- New timing pulley
- New crank sensor
- New vvti cam gear
- ARP headstuds
- ARP mainstuds
- Mishimoto radiator

We kept the w55 also, and upgraded it with some Competition goodies: Stage 3 comp clutch, stage 2 pressure plate, and comp clutch 4140 billet steel flywheel.






Also relocated the battery to the trunk with 2 gauge wire, and relocated the ABS with this awesome custom kit.






Also got a shipment from FIGS as well. FIGS hood prop kit, clutch dampening device delete, and a pretty sweet CNC machined battery tie down bar.



She's ready for some boost now...The turbo kit is still being pieced together. I'd say about 80% complete. The specs on the turbocharger will be released after it's installed. I'll be running a GReddy EMU for tuning, and the HKS bov has been replaced with a Synapse bov. Looking to push around 15-16 lbs, hopefully seeing hp numbers in the high 400's to low 500's.

[madchyers]

Then I sold my Tanabe coilovers so I could do this:

CX Racing coilovers


Fronts comparison


Rears comparison


Some install pics




When I installed them, I kept the coils at the same height as they were shipped to me, to give me a starting point to begin adjusting the height. Rears were actually really high, but that was my error as I assembled them that way. So we lowered them significantly. Then the fronts...These coils will literally lay frame no problem. There was plenty of room to lower even more and this is how it sat out of the box (the car looks high up, but that's because the front wheels are sitting on 2 blocks of wood lol):




Adjusted:





Then I purchased my first set of wheels: MB Battles (bronze) F:17x9+30 R:17x9.5+15






Test fit:











Comparison (stock v battles):

[madchyers]

Tires! Specs are Federal 595Evo's 205/40/17 and 215/40/17. I chose these tires because of how affordable they are, and I've heard a lot of good feedback as far as stretch goes.


Fronts:



Rears:

[madchyers]

And finally, this is how the car is sitting now until I pull the rear fenders out some more:

[cyclegrip]

I have such a soft spot for is300s and yours is turbo and stanced thank you, although some proper wheels would have sent it over the top, still looks great

[madchyers]

I have such a soft spot for is300s and yours is turbo and stanced thank you, although some proper wheels would have sent it over the top, still looks great

Thanks man I can't afford some nice Works or CCW's right now. I think the Battles take care of wheel dept for now. Right now the motor is still NA, I haven't put the kit on since the rebuild. But not to worry, it'll be going on very soon Next I plan to go with a Vertex kit, get the cabin caged, and put in some bucket seats. After all that's done, I hope I'll already have been turbo'd.

It's the small things keeping me from boosting right this second, I need to re-drill/tap my upper oil pan for the oil drain line from the turbo cause I had to get a new one. I also still need misc oil lines/fittings as well.

Things like this aren't very fun to do all over again lol:




...one step at a time though, it'll eventually happen.

[rsingh3g]

I love it man. That front bumper is getting destroyed though lol. I can't wait to see more updates on this

[FunkyWagon]

sex.

[jon4862]

Looks good! Question, have you gotten an alignment since you've lowered the car? It looks like you have some toe-in for the rears and that will absolutely destroy your tires. Looks good and looking forward to seeing some videos.

[TeckniX]

Good to see you join the stance chad.. Now get this is back to boost status!

[madchyers]

Thanks fellas. I got the car aligned 2 days ago (there was so much toe it was ridiculous), and finally pulled my rear fenders out.