Thread: Toyota/ Lexus 4.0L V8 info

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Anyone know anything about these? I want to put one in a lightweight hotrod. T bucket style frame not sure if I'll use my failed build rat rod cab or buy something like a '27 roadster body. Either way it will be a Speedway Chassis

The specs, when coupled with a lightweight car are just too hard to ignore, despite being Japanese.. 4.0L 32v quad cam OHC, aluminum block/ heads. 250hp rated at 364 lbs. 6 bolt mains.. Same playing field as Buick 215/ Rover V8 but puts it to shame. And better than the FWD pile, Caddy called the Northstar.. It's only problem that I can see ( but is great for a Rod ) is that the starter is in the valley where you can't see it.

I 'think' that The Headers for the 2UZ engine ( 4.7L Tundra engine ) fit but I'm not 100% sure. I'd probably make headers for it anyway.

I'm planning on getting one from a JDM supplier with ECU and A340 automatic transmission. The whole thing with low miles goes for under $1,500.. They exist from the Lexus LS400 and SC400 in the USA, but seemingly not on the east coast. No junkyards around have them and the ones that do and would ship would be over what I can get a JDM for. The engine code is 1UZ on these.

Sounds very cool. I hope you can pull it all together, of course pictures will be required! LOL...

Oh I will, I've been out of the game for too long and got the itch again. I've got to see if I can rework the scratch built cab's cowl so it looks decent and If I can't I'm just going to order a complete '27 kit from Speedway. I've got an explorer 8.8"

I had forgotten your sheet metal project. That was a few years ago now.

Yeah, it stalled because I never had the funds to get it 'right'. The Ranger/ Homemade frame just was too hideous to get into and the cowl needs some re shaping along with chopping the body off at the doors. Now that I actually have a decent disposable income I can actually do it up at least somewhat 'right'.. I'm going to use a Speedway T frame so that I know everything is well designed and I don't have to worry about it too much.

Good for you. Can't wait for you to start.

My late wife drove an Infinity G35 Coupe with a 3.5 liter V6. The motor was available in a 280 or 298 hp recipe. Don't fiddle around with something that's hard to find. Get this whole G35 platform and build a rod around it. I never drove a car with better transient response. You could yank it from one lane to the other and it never leaned. Front motor, rear drive, just like a REAL hot rod.
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Oh parts for the 1UZ are not hard to find at all. The SC400/LS400 actually sold pretty well in the USA, I just don't think they sold well on the east coast. Parts counter will have everything needed. The JDM suppliers supply lower mile engines/ transmissions but are otherwise identical to the USA counterparts, minus the Toyota badging instead of Lexus since the brand was not around in Japan then. The cars over there were simply Toyota's over there..

The G35 coupe was the Infinity version of the Nissan 350Z and the R35/V35 Nissan Skyline. I've driven a 350Z and I agree, it handles great. The platform is actuallly DE TUNED from the R34 platform which was exclusive to Japan/ Skyline marque that came before it.. If you want to see a factory monster, that has the nickname Godzillia, look up R34 GTR on Youtube.. Japan's 'Muscle car era' happened about 1989-2002ish.. Before I finally decided on building the Hotrod again, I was actually looking into importing a Skyline R32 GTS-T which has a 2.0L twin cam turbocharged straight 6 and is RWD and importable into the USA. But it costs $3k in shipping, exporter and duties plus a car would be $4k on the low end for something that would need reconditioning. My money will go farther elsewhere

A fella at Lexus put one of these engines in a 32 Ford several years ago. It was a big hit on the car show circuit. Here's a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_5d_Mb0p_Y

And here's another story about it... Lexus Hot Rod: Hot Rod Hero: Lexus goes retro in a contemporary way | Autoweek

Sweet. Mine won't be that involved. But for sure I'll polish the valve covers at least and the intake probably.. Theres a company in Australia that makes Supercharger intakes for the older non VVT-I engines also, but I don't think I need it.