I am considering turning my 2003 GS430 into a track car. It only has 70K miles on it, but selling the car would only get about $14-15K. If I put a manual trans and some big brakes on it, it would be a great track car.

I already put on some upgraded A/R bars on it.

 

It would still be a chore to get that thing around a track nicely, even with a BBK and manual trans. Weight will always be your enemy. You would be better off selling that and getting an IS300 for 10k-ish and using that as your base platform if you feel the need to stay Lexus.

 

thanks for the reply. I know that weight is the ultimate factor for all changes of direction (brake, acel, left, right).

Just finding out if I could drop a five speed in this car. I have always liked this body style, and 300 hp and 300 lb torque is a nice power bump.

The other issue for me is selling this car for it's current street value is a crime! It's the best sedan we have ever had.

 

if you want a gs in that body style for a track car i would get a high mileage 2006 gs300 and swap the motor for a 2jz and do 6speed swap and interior tear out suspension work etc. that would be my opinion because idk if the stock lexus motors can handle the track abuse unless your going to build it yourself... just some of my thoughts...

 

Lexus first entered the motorsport arena in 1999 when its racing unit, Team Lexus,[211] fielded two GS 400 race vehicles in the Motorola Cup North American Street Stock Championship touring car series. In its 1999 inaugural season, Team Lexus achieved its first victory with its sixth race at Road Atlanta.

They used automatic transmissions in that series.

 

You can swap in a 5spd R154 which can handle the power of the GS430, the gearing is somewhat short but that depends on the track. Here's a link to CL where a member put a R154 on his UZ block in his SC400: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/perf...-my-sc400.html

There are also other members that put a Supra Getrag 6spd on a UZ block.

 

as everyone said, that's a horrible choice for a track car. you'd be better off selling it and buying a proper sports car. however, if you must, i'd either just leave the transmission and just get high performance brake pads next time they need a change. the 3UZ-FE engine in there will have no problem at all standing up to countless hours of abuse on the track. Those engines are almost built to the quality of the 2jz!