10 years back, Josh Harada took virtually every cent he had in his life cost savings to get this 2004 Lexus IS300 as well as, unquestionably, it had not been the very best bargain. Acquired via a Honolulu dealer, it was valued well over market price. Nonetheless, he would certainly taken the effort as well as utilizing his very own cash at simply 17 years-old, was the happy proprietor of his extremely initial vehicle. The only issue was he could not in fact drive it home considering that he really did not have his vehicle driver’s authorization right now.
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Audio Choices
Before checking out that Lexus dealership, Josh thought of starting with a traditional 240Z as well as he also took a trip to Kauai to see one personally. Elder than a lot of, he figured that a cars and truck that old would certainly imply heading down a long, pricey roadway. “I understood it would not make an excellent everyday vehicle driver, neither might I manage to do a complete restomod during that time,” he states. “I likewise desired an IS250 F Sporting activity, yet simply could not manage it brand-new.” So, the IS300 made one of the most feeling.
Beforehand, the Lexus saw numerous wheel established as well as small modifications as well as Josh states there’s constantly been one continuous with this vehicle, “top quality as well as interest to information, also hidden information, have actually constantly been the top priority.” That appears from afar, yet much more so as you enclose as well as bear in mind of the compulsive interest to information that flawlessly incorporates OEM as well as aftermarket touches in an obvious tidy as well as crisp style.
Taking a lot of motivation from JDM S-chassis as well as JZX develops, Josh’s design was developed at an early stage, as well as he’s invested years trying his vision. “The style I have actually constantly complied with for this vehicle is an OEM+ as well as JDM tram design,” he includes. “I desired it to seem it was tweezed off the roads of Japan.”
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JDM Link
In the process, Josh fell for a traditional Z-car construct that included a 2JZ swap fitted with specific throttle bodies constructed by Dad Electric motor Functions of Japan. You may remember that we included the store’s 3-cylinder turbo GR Yaris-powered AE86 throughout the 2022 Tokyo Car Hair Salon. Josh states, “I was addicted! After conserving up for a number of years, I spoke to Oto-san, proprietor of Dad Electric motor Functions, to see if it would certainly be feasible to buy a custom-made ITB established.” Oto-san agreed, yet with one significant caution– he would certainly not agree to deliver them for worry of damages en route.
A couple of months after going back as well as forth with photos as well as dimensions through Facebook, Josh heard that his ITB package prepared as well as he right away scheduled a trip to Japan to choose them up. “It was absolutely an experience hand-carrying them from Nagoya to Tokyo, and after that on the airplane back to Hawaii,” he remembers. “I virtually really did not make it on the airplane considering that TSA believed it resembled a bomb with all the cords as well as vacuum cleaner lines, lol, never ever once more!”
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While that ITB package was being crafted, many late evening internet surfing goals accompanied the majority of them fixated Yahoo Japan’s public auction web pages searching for OEM-optional Altezza components. Josh states that the components weren’t specifically uncommon at the time, yet locating them brand-new, or near brand-new problem verified to be a battle. His search really did not turn up vacant, however, as well as his IS300 displays a set of Qualitat Modelista fronts lights that sign up with an Altezza Legana (TRD NEO V1) front bumper with haze light deletes as well as a TRD Sports carbon-trimmed top grill. A collection of Altezza Elegant side skirts as well as a coordinating back bumper with lip was likewise sourced.
In in between the well known IS300 taillights rests a slim Modellista trunk looter over the TRD Sports carbon trunk garnish as well as you’ll locate a collection of East Bear mirrors planned for an S-chassis that were custom-made fitted to the IS’ sides. The account likewise discloses Job Outfit 05 wheels in 17×9.5 that were custom-made constructed by Jordan Mo, also known as Sensei.6, utilizing three-way chrome faces as well as facility caps with a high radiance gloss related to the barrels as well as lips. Josh pointed out that he as well as the wheel expert ended up being good friends as well as he attributes Jordan for assisting to locate a few of the components presently on the car.
Suspension Transformation
Based upon the position as well as wheel fitment, you were possibly anticipating air suspension as well as little else to supplement. Actually, Josh’s suspension is based around 326Power coilovers with flexible stovepipe hats as well as custom-made Swift springtimes, as well as the listing of modifications runs very deep as well as consists of front as well as back reduced control arms, flexible top control arms, flexible connection poles as well as back toe web links, a selection of polyurethane bushings as well as even more. The foundations of the Lexus are brand-new many thanks to Josh’s specialized interest to information. Also the subframe itself was gotten rid of, completely tidied up, as well as thoroughly redecorated.
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Just as good as the suspension upgrades as well as outside fit as well as coating are, it’s the engine bay that had every person speaking when the vehicle made its launching in the JZFilth cubicle at Spocom in 2015. “In 2019, I made a decision to lastly set up the ITBs on my vehicle, which remained in items as I remained in the middle of doing a 5-speed swap that grew out of control right into freshening the suspension,” he states. “I fulfilled Martin Phan in the beginning for simply a basic header cover work after seeing his IG web page as well as top quality of job. That swiftly become a relationship, as well as he’s assisted me virtually every action of the method, consisting of a custom-made engine harness to run the ITBs with a Haltech ECU.” If the name seems acquainted, we included Martin’s spotless MkIII Supra in 2015. Martin’s close friend, Warren Wong, likewise helped for the adjusting procedure as he’s extremely accustomed to the vehicle’s Haltech system.
The ITB package fit well yet had not been mosting likely to accept the vehicle’s cooling– something Josh was determined regarding maintaining. A service existed by Aaron of Accuracy Construction that transformed the manufacturing facility lines to AN as well as produced a brand-new hardline course to get rid of the induction established. A Chase Bays brake booster as well as abdominal erase package paid for much more room on the vehicle driver’s side as well as it was throughout this moment that Josh’s detail-oriented frame of mind ended up being a teachable event. “I showed myself exactly how to wire while remodeling the entire harness with a minor put,” he states. “It took 2 efforts, not due to the fact that points really did not exercise yet due to the fact that I had not been pleased with the method it viewed on the very first effort, lol!”
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Island Design
A mix of brightened as well as repainted engine parts create a magnificent format as well as one you would not anticipate from a Lexus IS, also one with an outside also assembled as Josh’s. It’s a distinct formula as well as the brilliant design is one that’s ended up being associated with Hawaii’s contractors that relatively constantly have a couple of dress up their sleeves as well as handle to divide themselves from the masses. Josh’s initial objective of developing a very in-depth car that would certainly look right in the house on the roads of Japan was definitely gotten to, as well as in the meantime, after a years of structure as well as appreciating this Lexus, he states it’s up for grabs if a purchaser is interested. Otherwise, he states he’ll happily hold on to it as well as remain to construct the engine, go a little bit more with the appearance of the bay, as well as, certainly, identify a brand-new car to finish an additional transformation.
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2004 Lexus IS300
Proprietor Josh Harada
Engine Xcessive strong electric motor places; Dad Electric motor Functions AE111 ITB package; OBX V1 short-tube header; examination pipeline; Pal Club Specification II axle back; Radium catch canisters w/custom brace; Vivid Efficiency -6 AN gas lines; Power Residence Competing wheels; brightened gas rail cover, hardline crank instance air vent lines, shutoff covers; shaved/painted GTE ignition system cover; ARP 12-point equipment; heating system erase; AN-converted A/C lines; Chasebays power guiding tank moving package; Koyo radiator; Murray stress hose pipe secures; Haltech Elite 2000; JZFilth custom-made engine harness; re-loomed as well as put framework harness with brand-new OEM adapters
Drivetrain Driftmotion phase 2 clutch, flywheel; Xcessive strong transmission install; Chasebays steel intertwined clutch line
Suspension 326Power coil overs w/adjustable stovepipe hats, wheel spacers; 50k/20 Swift Majiban springtimes; Crystal Garage Japan 40mm reduced front pins; T-Demand 35mm back control arms; flexible JZX100 Cusco front top control arm; Fight Variation front connection poles, strong light weight aluminum differential bushings, flexible back top control arms, back trac as well as toe web links; Hotchkis Efficiency front guide bar, back guide bar erase; Super Pro poly front wheel arm bushings, front reduced control arm bushings, guiding shelf bushings; PBM strong light weight aluminum back subframe bushings; Ikeya Solution back reduced control arms; Figs Design light weight aluminum back knuckle bushings
Braking Lexus LS400 front brakes; R1 Idea slotted Geomet blades, ceramic pads; Chase Bays brake booster as well as abdominal erase; Stoptech steel intertwined brake lines
Tires & Tires Job Equip 05 17×9.5 +16 three-way chrome faces/center caps, very sleek internal barrels/outer lips – custom-made constructed by Sensei6; Federal RS-R 215/40
Outside Toyota Altezza Legana (TRD NEO V1) front bumper with haze lights deletes, fenders, Stylish side skirts, back bumper, Stylish back lip, antenna, Toyota Japan dealer plate; Altezza Modellista trunk looter, Evoluer fronts lights, Qualitat 1C0 tailights; TRD Sports carbon front grill, trunk garnish; custom-made S13 East Bear side mirrors w/blue glass
Inside TRD Recaro RS-G; Nagisa very reduced seat rails w/ARP 12-pointe equipment; KEY!S 350mm deep corn natural leather guiding wheel; Functions Bell center; custom-made Turret Functions weighted titanium change handle; Toyota Altezza press begin, tweeter erase, radio erase; Nismo cigarette lighter
Thanks to my good friends as well as household that assisted as well as inspired me over the last 10 years. I wish to prolong an unique thanks to the adhering to individuals:
– Jzfilth – Martin Phan, Warren Wong
– Dad Electric Motor Functions – Oto san
– Sensei6 – Jordan Mo.
– Fly Garage paint – Andrew Prothe, Jill Crowton.
– Streeter Firm – Jesse Streeter.
– Fight Variation – Alex Pfeiffer, Lance Kuwana-Chase Bays – Dustin Williams.
– Servco Toyota Components Division – Ryan Domingo.