Lexus ISF

[RichGS11]

Oh and sorry mate, no, no smells at all. I was expecting it as others have, but my exhaust is fully sealed all the way along, and I get no foul odours at all. Hence my curiosity with emissions and being CAT'less.

[RichGS11]

One alternative I also have is to purchase two gutted, stainless high flow CATs, cut them in half and then clamp them around the Y piece just before the downstream sensors and weld them on. That way I'd visually have CATs and the car would pass emissions.

I floated that to him and he said it would work, but not to worry. This at least gives me an option in the future if I want to have the car visually compliant.

It's just nice to know how well our cars run though!

[BillNick]

Again all very encouraging and welding in empty sport cats is a great idea but a last resort by sounds of it.

I have an RCF and lots of owners that have gone FBO in US complain about smell. Very interesting.

You might have reignited my desire for headers lol

[RichGS11]

4 minutes ago, BillNick said:

Again all very encouraging and welding in empty sport cats is a great idea but a last resort by sounds of it.

I have an RCF and lots of owners that have gone FBO in US complain about smell. Very interesting.

You might have reignited my desire for headers lol

It's worth investigating because I don't have it and likewise with ISF's in the States, the odd one gets the smell. I'm wondering if it's lower grade fuel or even the start of the valley plate leak? Rotten egg smell in a car is usually oil and water (head gasket). Obviously it isn't the HG, but it has to be something, because I haven't had it, even idling the car in the garage.

[RichGS11]

Took the car out for some pics....

[RichGS11]

Another upgrade to the car....

After having some issues with a knocking noise from the transmission tunnel, I managed to find the cause, the new OEM style transmission mount. The mount was not up to the task and sagged at the rubber wings. This caused two metal plates to make contact and vibrate through the car, so up turned the replacement.  RR Racings road and track transmission mount. A solid rubber unit that eliminates flex at the transmission side and compliments the RR Racing engine mounts that I already have.

The new mount has transformed shifts in manual and sport mode. This was definitely an area I was lacking performance wise and I didn't really know it until the change. The car feels even crisper and shaper when changing gears and the power feels more direct to the rear wheels.

The next performance modification will be the carbon prop install, which I haven't fitted yet, as the MOT was up next, which the car sailed through as expected.

Another recent addition saw an upgrade on the rear of the car, some facelift IS2 inner tails.

This was a rather inexpensive test modification wise, as I wanted to see what the lights looked like alongside the old outer lights. I have to say I am very impressed and the lights will be staying on the car for the time being.

Up next, Sikky carbon propshaft install!

[RichGS11]

Another update today....

Took a trip to Lincoln to talk to a gentleman who is planning on making titanium elbows for the ISF, GSF and RCF. He wanted a car to test fit some of his work and picked mine!

So up I drove and spent most of the day in the unit sizing up the titanium elbow and other options for future modifications, including a titanium exhaust system.

I did come away with a nice new present though, which will certainly help flow on the intake side, a new titanium elbow!

As expected I didn't notice any real changes in performance, but that'll come after I install a new drop in Blitz filter and a retune with my tuner, who says this is the best combo when it comes to retaining the OEM air filter housing.

A different design is on the way, one that is similar to the RR Racing system that removes the entire airbox and has a heatproof cover to prevent as little heatsoak as possible.

The gentleman creating these is also setting up a 'group buy' making each elbow only £250 each (considerably cheaper than LEMs or the equivalent off the shelf part).

.....I still haven't installed the carbon propshaft yet lol....

[RichGS11]

Took some promo shots for the company that made the elbow.

[RichGS11]

Well it's finally on and running. Sikky carbon propshaft found it's new home today. Some bits to finish off in the daylight of tomorrow and its first test run will follow. Car runs and doesn't leak from the exhaust, no codes and no vibration from the prop up to around 4k, but we'll know more tomorrow!

I am done for laying on the ground though. Too old for this 😭

Thank for looking as always.

[RichGS11]

So initial first drive turned into a longer one for all the right reasons....

So I woke up worrying about an unbalanced propshaft, vibrations, rattles, etc. I also contemplated if there'd be any sort of change at all and if I'd notice it. With that in mind, I ventured downstairs, fixed the last of the trim underneath, lowered the car and put the tools away, then came the moment of truth. Pulling out the driveway and travelling up the road with no issues, no noises, rattles, vibration was a great start, with the car feeling great up to 40 mph. Leaving junctions in D mode felt quicker under load, and acted as though I was in M mode. I wasn't flooring it, but it felt smooth, quick and like it was hungry to go faster.

Then I pushed the car on the bypass and the goosebumps started. Faster, smoother, the power going where I wanted it, no hesitation and lovely gear changes in M. This then resulted in a 20 minute blast on the local dual carriageways and I was not disappointed (goosebumps still remained).

The car is something else, arguably the most important modification I've made. Headers and a tune were a jump, a carbon prop is a leap. No more prop wind, everything happens in a instant. It feels as though the car has lost 200kg's. It hasn't, it's just lost the rubber guibos and centre joint that adds a delay and hesitation.

My morning fears vanished quickly and from upshifts, standing starts, cruising to downshifts (predominantly 2nd to 1st), everything is smoother and predictable. The car also seems quieter with less NVH, most likely down to the single piece prop I have now instead of the OEM two piece with joint.

Very, very happy is an understatement!

[RichGS11]

Well it's not always good updates whenever you play around with cars. You have to take the rough with the smooth and on Sunday just gone, we had the 'rough'!

It started with a great show in Newark at ExclusiveJDM's Season Finale. Some lovely machines on show and a great drive up there....

With that said, along came the 'rough'. So initially and unrelated to the latter issue, I wasn't able to get into the car as the fob stopped working. No low Battery warning previously and after some fettling with the Battery I was finally able to gain access to the car to leave the show!

A pleasant 45 minute drive home ensued, until I pulled into Starbucks 20 mins from home and the car lost all gears. I instantly knew what had happened, the gear linkage had separated and the car by default, went into N mode. The car was stranded in the car park until a couple of amazing ladies came out of Starbucks and helped push the car into a bay. A 5 hour wait for recovery took place with me being completely unable to find a gear....

Fortunately with the modified car scene being what it is, someone jumped to my rescue and let me leave the car at their lockup, with a view that it would need to go on a ramp to repair.

The next morning I went to the car knowing that if the linkage had failed, I'd be able to lift the entire shifter assembly out of the centre console and with that said, I went to work in the morning removing the associated parts. Fortunately luck favoured me and the shifter linkage was separated. The new pucks at the end of the carbon prop have larger bolts, and it looked as though a bolt had just clipped the cotter pin holding the linkage together. As a result it came out and the joint came apart. This was a result because I could dismantle the shift assembly and reconnect everything in the car without needing ramp time!

So I ordered parts from Toyota and the 4 day delivery wait started!

[RichGS11]

Once the parts from Toyota had arrived, totalling the grand sum of £17, it was time to go to work on rebuilding and tweeking the shift assembly to prevent this issue reoccurring.

First the little bundle from Toyota which was made up of grommets, washers, cotter pins, etc.

The little area I had to work with.

Reassembly and then reconnecting the Battery after removing to charge at home.

The best image for me! After a test run and putting the car through its paces, I was finally able to say she was back on her feet!

Washed up this evening and given a little treat using some detailing spray I purchased at the show! I have to say this stuff is really, really good. It's so workable and sits lovely on the ceramic coating!

I have to say it wasn't the highlight of my Lexus ownership but definitely one of the pitfalls when pushing the limits of modifications on such an incredibly rare car in the UK. Having one of the most modified ISF's in the country has its issues, but I'm learning more about this beast all the time. Will it stop me from further changes, no of course not. This winter will see some big changes in weight reduction and carbon aero before next year's upgrade to forced induction. 

Next up a retune to get the car at optimum performance before the winter tucked away for some hefty weight loss. If the weight loss is good enough, then FI can wait. I want the car to be driveable on the roads I use it on and a 700bhp ISF might be a step too far, we shall see!

I'm so glad she's back, I love this machine!

[RichGS11]

A little trip to Caffine and Machine The Bowl to test the repair, which I'm now confident is back to normal.

Next up for the car:

- New outer facelift tail lights

- Choose CF seats

- LS460 3.13 diff swap with ISF LSD (essentially the same diff set up that is in the new IS500 Fsport)

- Arrange shipping for new CF bonnet and CF diffuser

- Remove and hydrodip window mouldings and front grill gloss black

- Look into brake upgrade

- Enioy the dry roads before winter comes along and she returns to the garage for a few months lol!

I'd love to get the car timed on Dragy before the winter arrives, as it would be nice to see where she currently sits before any more work. My friend came with me to The Bowl and is convinced that it's a lot quicker and nimble that it was stock. Sadly driving it and getting used to it, I have to see it in the numbers, but I'll take his word for it!

I would imagine that this is the last update for a while as I don't have immediate plans in the pipeline purchase wise and the above list is the winter plans. So hopefully she emerges from hibernation with the above achieved!

Thanks for reading.

[jeffrosie6]

Hi Rich. So very interested in the Titanium intake elbow. Please send me a link   🙂