My first VIP Platform (1998 GS300)

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Why hello there!

My name is Miranda, I usually am oh -gasp- a Honda Girl! Yeaaa buddy. But I actually know a decent amount about cars, I AM NOT one of those guys girlfriends that just goes to shows because he's going. I know what I know, and if I don't know I ask. When I get a passion for something its very strong, and I actually DO PUT IN EFFORT TO LEARN (:

So let me start out with how I got a hold of this beast.

I had an EK hatchback, with a gsr swap that had a GReddy turbo, had some ctr internals and other fun stuff. Basically my little daily driver...I got bored with her after so long, and accomplishing my gsr turbo. I felt like i reached an end.

So the ultimate decision. To put her on craigslist. Within a week, I traded her for another EK, but the guy gave me cash on top. And within two days of having that, I traded it for my Lexus!

A little the GS:

1998, Automatico!
It's like that Red/Orange Color they come in, though I have NO CLUE where to look for the paint code.
It has the 2jzge engine with 105,000 miles.
It already has adjustable coilovers, but I am not sure as to what brand, and its a full sleeve of coilovers, or stock struts with coils. (If that sounds right? LOL)
It has a in dash already, but i am aiming to replace it with a better one/

What I am planning to do/change:

Invest in a good alarm system. Lojack, etc!

Definitely need to work on the body/ paint.

Going to get new headlights if I can't buff out the haze, and going to get new tail lights cause they did a crappy job of tinting.

I am purchasing new bumpers within the next few weeks. Can't decide whether to keep stock bumpers or ??

DEFINITELY new wheels. I dislike the current wheels to the fullest, but maybe that is because they remind of of cheap rotas? Ugh. But wheels will be last. I do not want to drop 3k in wheels, and not want to finish the car you know! Haha.

Now for the goood stuff!! The pics...however 'good' they are.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j80/Native_Gurl09/107.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j80/Native_Gurl09/108.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j80/Native_Gurl09/109.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j80/Native_Gurl09/110.jpg


PLEASE do give me suggestions, comments etc...Constructive criticism is what helps me to learn and keep moving with a build.

[khanhdom]

welcome to the site, and read and learn about VIP before getting into it too fast

[jeebus]

I don't think I've ever seen that color before. Suspension and wheels is always a good start.

[speedaddict]

Welcome to VSC. Stick around, we have a lot of 2GS builds here

[ray316]

nice car definately has pontential! Nice too see a girl building a VIP ride! good luck with it! the color looks like cinnabar color

[Anonymous User]

Welcome to vsc, i was also a honda person turned vip. Haha.

Car looks to be in pretty good and pretty good miles on it too. For your headlights you can try to buff i out, i reccomend the 3M headlight restore kit i used it and my headlights are clear now. You should br able to get it from walmart for $20.

[selah777]

Welcome to vsc, I am not sure that is an oem color because I have never seen it before.

Curious as to why you want new bumpers?

[brainneeded]

i have seen this color before, i think there's a guy on here with an NA-T that has this color.

[airmax]

yeah doesnt really look like cinabar, unless its just the pics thats throwing me. welcome to the forums. also, id get rid of the tinted tails...maybe replace them with 01^ tails.

edit: get rid of that front plate. lol.

[L3GDKANG/JDM-KANG]

welcome and nice build to start with

[khanhdom]

yea the cinabar is a lot different, i thought that was the color at first, but looked at another one, and it's def not the same, unless the photos are misleading

[kingpin]

Can i see close up pictures of your headlamps .. maybe there is some thing i can do to help !

Welcome to Vsc =)

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Thanks for the welcomes...And yes definitely replacing the tails! And I am replacing the bumpers because the front bumper the tabs are broken, so it's like barely hanging on, haha...And that front place....AWFUL...idk why the last owner put the plate to the side? He just put more random holes in it...And the rear bumper because there is a spot where there is just layer upon layer of cracked paint. Like i seen that cinnabar color you mentioned. And now is this...orange? Idk...I am going back to the original reddish color.

And yes, I definitely am going to be doing a lot of reading and researching before I jump the gun and just buy a shit ton of parts that I have no idea about. But this will all come with time since I am in college full time, and have my daughter to take care of as well.

But I will be doing at least 1 major thing a month to this so I can have it done before next summer....I got six months...so October will be cosmetic work, November suspension/ fender work, December engine upgrades, January maybe paint, February another set of engine upgrades, then march wheel upgrade (maybe two sets?), Then april another shot of clear and extra clear hood bra to avoid those nasty rock chips?

This is just off the top of my head, so we shall see what gets done! Haha...

[revtek_gs3]

Welcome...good luck with the build!

[a.blanco0905]

welcome to the site, and read and learn about VIP before getting into it too fast

QFT... good luck Miranda, nice car...

[airmax]

then march wheel upgrade (maybe two sets?), Then april another shot of clear and extra clear hood bra to avoid those nasty rock chips?


ballin.jpg

what kind of wheels / fitment you looking for? just curious :biggthumpup:

[illest]

ballin!! nice to see a female in the car game...

[LuxFaction]

Nice to see another person from the PNW!

[chik-n-little]

Change your lower ball joints. Best advice I was given was to make sure all the maintenice is done

"Your sister is hot but your mom does that thing with her tongue"

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

I am looking into the Nel Classe wheels, if thats right? I love them! The three piece is just what I need too I dont want to keep 19's on the car cause right now its perfect for my daily driving school babysitter etc.And as for the aggressive fitment I am still trying my best to understand that and not confusing it with offset....I really try to be careful with my cars, but I like the idea of the replaceable lip...Haha...

And i have decided to find a shop to do a manual swap into the beast. I have been reading about a few of these done to other 98 2gs...And its killing me driving an automatic again lol...So my question is where is a realiable place in the NW (northwest oregon and washington) to get something like this done? Google can only do so much.

I am thinking of going all out for the built and boosted supra motor, though I imagine this is just as difficult as going from the honda fits k23z3 to the k20a, even though they are a little alike.

[Juzzo]

Welcome ma'am =)

So what kinda power figures you had in mind? 'Cause if you aren't going too crazy I'd say your best bet would just be something simple: NA-T with upgraded fuel side and a piggyback. Then just throw a good 'ole R154 under there, it's a lot easier to fit under than the Getrag. So it'll be an easier upgrade and less time(money) consuming.

Just some food for thought... :biggthumpup:

[Kouki Monster]

I think I have seen that car before.. A friend of mine had a color similar to that here in Bremerton (washington) It is kind of a rare color as far as I have seen.

But welcome! interested to see in all you put into it. Not many girls into vip movement, let alone in the states.

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

@ Kouki Monster: Yeah, I got the car from some white kid, haha. And he got it from some guy before that? Idk...I traded this coupe i had for it...soo now thats its been *****d around...Its mine. Hahah, I plan on replacing the bumpers, windshield, ligthing, and indash within in the month. It looks reallllllllly rough right now...But thats the fun part right? Before and after.

@Juzzo: True very true! Any build is time consuming! And since this is my daily, I prefer not to drive the type r all the time, I would only like to have it out of order for a short amount of time, since I plan on respraying it too.

I have found a couple motors here and there, but my cousin owns an import company, so within the next year I am going to venture to Japan, for 'Business' and find a couple goodies for myself :)

[romeo291]

yo yo yo, welcome to the forum!

[selah777]

I think I have seen that car before.. A friend of mine had a color similar to that here in Bremerton (washington) It is kind of a rare color as far as I have seen.

But welcome! interested to see in all you put into it. Not many girls into vip movement, let alone in the states.

kouki youre fronm bremerton?
I was born at harrison

[SuicidnS13]

Welcome to the board... dont get in over your head with the build and plan it out to a tee from start to finish and it will end up looking/driving nice. If you just start throwing parts, conversions ect into it you will end up hating your results.

You may also want to check out how built autos drive are they are a ton of fun and still practical for daily driving.

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

I am keeping the stock bumpers, and just adding lips, I do not want to get to crazy. Because this is my first VIP, I want to be able to afford to replace anything rather quickly if I do mess something up haha. Im a college kid ballin on a budget.

[SuicidnS13]

I am keeping the stock bumpers, and just adding lips, I do not want to get to crazy. Because this is my first VIP, I want to be able to afford to replace anything rather quickly if I do mess something up haha. Im a college kid ballin on a budget.

"Ballin on a budget" - funniest oxymoron to be said as of lately... Yea there are alot of inexpensive lip options as well as sideskit options. Rear lips not soo much...

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

So would it be a rear lip, or valances?

Haha yeah, I heard it awhile ago and thought it was funny...

[selah777]

I would keep it simple at first i.e. wheels and suspension.. and then focus on like aero and other mods

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Its not so much aero as it is replacing the broken bumpers. And if I am going to get the bumpers now, I may as well get the lips so I have them when I do paint you know? This car needs a lot of TLC, but with time she'll be a neck breaker.

[Kouki Monster]

kouki youre fronm bremerton?
I was born at harrison

Naw not from bremerton. but moved around a lot around the area. still here though lol! Hard to keep people in this area with cool cars. they keep leavin all the time so hard to get meets. Use to have a lot of sick 240s and skylines and rarities, probably more per capita here than any major city in washington.

[RITZY33]

Not a bad platform for a build and glad to hear your off to a great start!

PS
Honda's for life! haha
I have owned several.... pretty much any and every Honda/Acura model from the 88-00 era :biggthumpup: haha

[J.kuza]

Welcome to Vsc and we need more VIP girls! =)

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Not a bad platform for a build and glad to hear your off to a great start!

PS
Honda's for life! haha
I have owned several.... pretty much any and every Honda/Acura model from the 88-00 era :biggthumpup: haha

Damn! Haha, me too.I have had over 30 cars in the last few years...though my favorites were my rhd dc2, my si, my ek hatch, and my current and never getting rid of my py itr...I just dislike DA's...but I have had them.

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Welcome to Vsc and we need more VIP girls! =)

I know a couple girls, that are single, into cars haha

[RITZY33]

Damn! Haha, me too.I have had over 30 cars in the last few years...though my favorites were my rhd dc2, my si, my ek hatch, and my current and never getting rid of my py itr...I just dislike DA's...but I have had them.

Nice resume of cars baller haha, but why do people hate on DA's ? Lol my personal fav but I can understand since I have the same distaste for EF's lol...but yea I'm working towards a nsx sometime in the near future, then I'll be complete :biggthumpup:

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Lol yeah...I love me some honda ! But i like culture of 'VIP'...its rather interesting and more disclosed than the 'jdm' thing,.

[Nite_Grind]

Welcome to VSC Miss. Cant wait to see the progress.

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j80/Native_Gurl09/110.jpg

Before


http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j80/Native_Gurl09/003-2.jpg

After

[speedaddict]

nice work...please dont go buy a TTE Replica lip...

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

nice work...please dont go buy a TTE Replica lip...

Nope, just keeping her stock all around.

[CrazyHawaiian]

The paint code for a car is usually found somewhere in the door jams, probably a sticker with the Lexus logo and some kind of alphanumeric code. If there are no stickers in the jams, maybe it was resprayed. Sometimes you can also find build codes via the VIN of the car, telling you what color the factory sprayed. What color is the engine bay? Thats usually a giveaway of a color respray (unless they pulled the motor and all, which would indicate maybe it wasn't a cheap job). Another place to check, remove a door panel and check the color of the inner door skin, another place that is often overlooked (unless again, it wasnt a cheap job). You could check further, removing the rear carpet. Its also possible it is a rare factory color, in which case you might want to consider keeping unless you just plain dont like it.

Few different things you could do with the bumpers. If the only reason you want to replace them is because of broken tabs, maybe consider a cheaper alternative of just fabbing up some simple brackets to secure them. Would probably be cheaper than sourcing replacement oem bumpers (even used) and then paying for the paint (which might be tricky if the paint code is unknown and thus hard to match). If you want to replace them because of cracks or other reasons that justify the cost, then I understand. In that case you could source used oem bumpers, and then keep these original ones on the side, maybe using them as a base for some sort of custom work involving cut/mold to a different kit not offered for your car (which is always cooler than off the shelf in this game, and in fact seems to be the norm in Japan these days). If you plan to respray a bumper, might as well get the lip kit at the same time. If you plan to respray the car, might as well wait till then to do the bumpers.

As for the suspension, maybe get the car on jackstands, remove the wheels, and clean up the coilovers. If you can find out the brand, maybe its half decent, something you could work with, saving you money, or allowing you to compliment them with other suspension components (inc bushings or adjustable links). If you have the wheels off, check the inner barrels for brand/specs, or better yet just measure. In the vip game its all about width and offset, specs you need to help you determine fitment or ask for advice here on VSC. Maybe you could even sell the wheels (keeping the tires) and use the money to buy wheels with similar but more aggressive specs and/or a different style. Not all wheels are 3k hehehe but of course, depends on your personal pref. What size tires are on those wheels?

I think you got a good start here on the build, tho I still have my doubts about you posing as a woman on VSC chat (hahaha kidding!!!) But for real, good platform, lots of support, and lots of Aristo knowledge here on VSC, pretty much the sky is the limit.

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

So true with the bumper info. Only, i am pretty sure these are done...I will try to take some pics of the damage and post them up...Maybe I could get some more help lol...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, im just so lazy, plus, school has been kicking my ass this term. But I really need to jack that sucker up and see whats shes moving on.

And I am a girl, I promise...haha.

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Fun stuff this weekend!
So when I first got the car, the guy told me not to adjust the steering wheel for some reason, and I was ok? Why...he said he didnt really know thats what he was told...

So yesterday, my husband pulled the car out of the garage to warm it up because I was still getting ready to leave the house lol, so while he was waiting he decided to start messing with the car. And he adjusted the steering wheel, he made it come out closer to him. And what do you know? The steering wheel wont turn the damn wheels anymore.

Soo as we were already in a hurry I was pissed and so we had to leave the car in the driveway for the day. We get home and I told him to fix it cause he broke it, what do you know???!?!!?! Theres no bracket at the end of the column to hold it in place if you adjust the steering wheel to come towards you or to go back in. Sooo my question is...Does anyone know where I can buy this piece? I have no idea what it is called. I willl try to take pics of where the piece needs to go if that helps.

[Juzzo]

Fun stuff this weekend!
So when I first got the car, the guy told me not to adjust the steering wheel for some reason, and I was ok? Why...he said he didnt really know thats what he was told...

So yesterday, my husband pulled the car out of the garage to warm it up because I was still getting ready to leave the house lol, so while he was waiting he decided to start messing with the car. And he adjusted the steering wheel, he made it come out closer to him. And what do you know? The steering wheel wont turn the damn wheels anymore.

Soo as we were already in a hurry I was pissed and so we had to leave the car in the driveway for the day. We get home and I told him to fix it cause he broke it, what do you know???!?!!?! Theres no bracket at the end of the column to hold it in place if you adjust the steering wheel to come towards you or to go back in. Sooo my question is...Does anyone know where I can buy this piece? I have no idea what it is called. I willl try to take pics of where the piece needs to go if that helps.
That piece "should" be somewhere in here? -> http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_1998_LEXUS_GS300~400~430_JZS160L-BEAQFA_4501.html

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Wellll after looking through that site for a good while, I decided to take another look at my car...And found a piece just chillin at the end of the column. After inspecting it and the column, they had similar pieces, so i brough them together, and snap crackle pop. Fits tight and snug. Haha.

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Car might be, getting sold back to the original owner.

[chik-n-little]

Glad it was a easy fix ...

"Your sister is hot but your mom does that thing with her tongue"

[Kouki Monster]

why is it going back to the original owner?

[Mrs.Rodriguez]

Well its not now, but I had put the car on craigs, and the guy (your friend if im correct?) had seen it and texted my husband wanting to buy it back. But he offered a very low...amount. So I guess hes not getting it back.

[Kouki Monster]

if he from bremerton, its probably him. But I think he got a new lex now.

[AristoLUV98]

Well I just traded a 2000 Honda Civic Si for this GS300. THE only reason I traded for this car was because Im not a fan of Hondas much. I have owned quite a few toyotas while stationed in japan and they are wonderful cars and currently have a 89 240sx with a SR20DET swap done by yours truly. RWD!!! lol The last VIP I owned was a 1992 Toyota Mark II. 2JZ-GTE Auto. I really miss that car. As for this car.......Once I got it home I did the usual thing any responsible car owner would do. And that was to give the car a good, clear, visual inspection.
The car is indeed quite rough. nothing like i saw in the pictures but I drove a long way to get this car so Im going to make it happen. The front bumper was only being held on by 3 of the four bolts. The rest of the bumper(side mounts) are gone. I managed to secure it with lock wire and a bracket my friend made out of aluminum. So now the bumper sits correctly on the car with the bracket and lock wire hidden.
The fog light are not connected, oh wait, the bulbs are not even there. As for the steering column issue, Im a bit up set that was not disclosed to me upon trade. Im upset I had to search the color of the car and stumble upon this thread. Lucky???? Well, I will tell you one thing. This is a very good candidate for a proper VIP build. The interior is about a 7 1/2. but with proper cleaning and detail, I can get it back to a 9 or a 9.5. This will not be a fast build but a build that will take time and be done right. So once i find out the color of the horrible over spray paint job I will post it. Its a very cool color, just poorly done.

[jdm4lyf]

Well I just traded a 2000 Honda Civic Si for this GS300. THE only reason I traded for this car was because Im not a fan of Hondas much. I have owned quite a few toyotas while stationed in japan and they are wonderful cars. The last VIP I owned was a 1992 Toyota Mark II. 2JZ-GTE Auto. I really miss that car. As for this car.......Once I got it home I did the usual thing any responsible car owner would do. And that was to give the car a good, clear, visual inspection.
The car is indeed quite rough. nothing like i saw in the pictures but I drove a long way to get this car so Im going to make it happen. The front bumper was only being held on by 3 of the four bolts. The rest of the bumper(side mounts) are gone. I managed to secure it with lock wire and a bracket my friend made out of aluminum.
The fog light are not connected, oh wait, the bulbs are not even there. As for the steering column issue, Im a bit up set that was not disclosed to me upon trade. Im upset I had to search the color of the car and stumble upon this thread. Lucky???? Well, I will tell you one thing. This is a very good candidate for a proper VIP build. The interior is about a 7 1/2. but with proper cleaning and detail, I cant get it back to a 9 or a 9.5. This will not be a fast build but a build that will take time and be done right. So once i find out the color of the horrible over spray paint job I will post it. Its a very cool color, just poorly done.

Can't wait to see the build on this thing, good luck dude.

[AristoLUV98]

Ok, so the color is Cinnabar. Good now it can get resprayed right. Im going to start my own thread on it this weekend.

[timmy0tool]

dang so the honda lady got a honda and the toyota guy got a lexus, win win!