Here's why It's Worth It to swap your IS300 Wagon to Manual Transmission

This Video is dedicated to this Lexus IS300 Sportcross with a 5-speed transmission and I'll be explaining why it is worth it to swap your Automatic IS300 into Manual transmission
I used the W55 Transmission from an wrecked original Lexus IS300 Sedan M/T to stay as close to how it would come from Lexus with this swap. Stay Tuned for a driving impression and personal reflection!
Follow my friend Advanced Garage Instagram at / advanced_garage_
0:00 Introduction
0:40 The IS Models
1:52 Manual Transmissions Swaps
4:14 Engine Bay
7:05 Interior
11:52 How did I swap it
13:55 Is Manual swap worth it? DRIVE
19:13 Cost of Manual Swap
20:44 Conclusion
Thank you Everyone who supports the JJ vdz channel!
Be sure to check out my Giveaway Video to be entered for a chance to win the $50 O'Riellys Gift Card.
Cheers!

[@lucasn5460]

So much great information, I can't thank you enough for making this video. Suprised this video doesn't have like over 10k views

[@jjvdz]

Thanks man really appreciate your support. Hopefully someday it will

[@jyudat4433]

Dude this is a really good fkn video. Super detailed and informative. The only thing I did notice is that in Canada, we didn’t get the 1gfe or beams. Was still just the 2j

[@jjvdz]

Didn’t know that, I thought Canadians got both. Thank you for watching the video man really appreciate your support!

[@tfiwstlaw]

I'm in the middle of swapping my Sportcross now, can't wait to finish it!!!

[@battosaijenkins946]

@JJ vdz, mad props B. I'm a Honda/Acura fanatic but definitely row my own gears and those who never learned will never know what it feels like to know when to shift etc..., there's no other way to enjoy it! 👍👏👍

[@jetguyfly1]

Great video!

[@Buezok]

This is my dream build once i graduate, i need one in my life

[@jicez6649]

Great video, another popular transmission for the is300 in the United States is the aisin ar5 transmission out of a pontiac solstice, saturn sky or polaris slingshot. The ar5 is basically a newer r154 and has been great in my is300. I also agree the manual swap is worth it and totally changes the character of the car.

[@iheartgs400]

AR5 is much better option and holds way more power than the weak sauce W55/58

[@jicez6649]

@@iheartgs400 I'm glad I went with the ar5, originally I was going to go with the w55/w58 but the examples I found seemed over priced and in not the best condition

[@palmmutestudio5791]

@@jicez6649 Are the Honda 2007 Accord AR5 gearbox the same and valid for the IS300?

[@palmmutestudio5791]

Where did you find the bell housing for the ar5 for the 2jz?

[@jicez6649]

@@palmmutestudio5791the Honda accord transmission will not work as it is designed for the transverse front wheel drive accord platform. The lexus is300 is a longitudinal designed rear wheel drive design

[@DrDr1v1]

Very informative 👏. Your mechanic sounds really bad ass

[@jjvdz]

Thank you man really appreciate that, don’t forget to give Advanced_Garage_ a follow

[@ITubeUser23]

Thanks for the video! I’m about to check out an is300 wagon with the manual swap done to it tomorrow! Other than what you already said in the video, anything else you’d recommend I look out for? I’m coming from a world of Hondas lol so any help would be great!

[@drewrout]

Great video. Small correction on the history though. The Altezza was the base chassis for all the IS models from 2001 to 2005 where as the Altezza was an older car that was only sold in Japan from 1998 to 2005. The IS200 was also not sold in the North American market.

[@jjvdz]

Thank you for that, and thank you for watching the video🤙

[@ethangonzalez5221]

Your friend deserves some 🍻

[@ThePspivan]

MK3 non turbo Supra came with regular Shifter W58 you’ll need a JZ Bellhoseing if you want to use this transmission MK4 none turbo and SC300 came with the tripod version of W58 and both have a JZ bellhousing

[@dan_orst]

The gearing of w55 is really short, thats why you get this feeling of instant torque. I had j160 transmission in my 2jz altezza gita which has similar gearing to the w55. After i swaped it to w57 which has longer gears it feels slower. Now im looking for a w55.

[@Kacpa2]

Power also has to do with ecu. Throttle is semi-electronic and it does hold back alot never letting the throttle fully open in automatic.

[@Kacpa2]

How seating position compares to Supra/sc300? It is close to coupe style sitting position/feel?

[@iheartgs400]

The swap is absolutely worth it if your going NA-T or 1JZGTE/R154/AR5/CD009 route. The W55 full swap is roughly around 2K nowadays.

[@yorukhunt5603]

Doesn’t the W55 also come in the Toyota pickup 22re 4x2? Would be a lot cheaper

[@jicez6649]

I agree and I think it's worth it for the stock 2jz also, it totally transformed the driving experience compared to the automatic

[@masterjiraiya224]

Though the W 58 transmission does bold right up to the sportcross the shift it does not lineup exactly how the W 55 does. You’ll have to get a different type of shifter just for it to work inside the sport cross and sedans from what I’ve seen online and in person

[@jjvdz]

Interesting I didn’t know that. Good info, and thank you for watching the video

[@jyudat4433]

How about for factory manual IS’s would the w55 shifter work?

[@masterjiraiya224]

@@jyudat4433 w55 shifter works on if not all w series Toyota transmission but should work on most of them if I’m not mistaken

[@nickfrost4682]

Id say look into the grannas racing t56 transmission over the v160 . Cheaper replacement parts and its proven to hold power

[@lowkeydiegoduran4724]

You forgot to mention that outside of the United States the altezza was also offered with a 3sge 4 cylender that reved up to 8000rpm :)

[@Kacpa2]

Only in Japan as Altezza RS200, aswell as 1gfe and 2jz versions as AS200/300. Everywhere else it was a lexus is200/300.

[@thomasthrana234]

Just bougt a Toyota gx105 chaser. Thats the one with 4x4 system and 1gfe engine. Do you know there is any manual swap on the marked for this???

[@Kacpa2]

You wont be able to keep 4 wheel drive. Unless you somehow adapt toyota pickup(ie Hilux or Tacoma) truck manual gearbox to fit in it. Manuals meant for Chaser/Mark ii are all RWD. If you want all wheel drive and a manual, subarus are better way to go. Like Legacy/Liberty 3.0R 6mt.

[@Caliberstylz]

Is2hunnid wasn't offered in Canada, we also had only the 3hunnit

[@valentinealfred1270]

I like the vido

[@bryansenulis7242]

Had 3 is300 fun cars but hard to interface with standalone...wrecked all of them

[@nickbuchanan9220]

Have you had any issues with smog?

[@raoul6083]

hey man, i have a manual swap in my IS as well but im having issues with heat and fumes coming in through the shifter hole, how did you solve that?

[@jjvdz]

Do you have the rubber m/t shifter boot?

[@raoul6083]

@@jjvdz no cause theres no place to attach it to on the centre tunnel

[@DanceChicks]

🏎🏎🏎

[@danh3008]

what did you do with the trans tunnel?

[@jjvdz]

I welded the m/t tunnel to the body of the car

[@jcjcjcjcjcjcful]

so are you selling your car?

[@IADMTB]

Did you buy the car with the swap already done or did you do it yourself?

[@jjvdz]

I did it myself with the help of advanced_garage_

[@IADMTB]

@@jjvdz Where are they located? Might be interested in getting work done by them.

[@jjvdz]

send me an email

[@supershadow230]

if my auto trans dies I’ll go w55

[@mro9466]

IS300 Wagon Manual ... why on earth wasn't this car sold in Europe

[@MrTacoma]

I’m starting to wonder how much more reliable are these really than a bmw E46 ……

[@GooseBumppps]

A lot more

[@nonamus9947]

Hey bro labor for w55 is $1k to $2500 tops otherwise they scamming

[@jjvdz]

Restfully, in today’s reality labor is much more than that at any legit establishment

[@bryansenulis7242]

I not trying to abuse post..just a toyota guy

[@estegerset]

The gita had a 4wd manual beams engine in japan

[@Kacpa2]

4wd was only on 2jz version and automatic. RS200 was one that had Beams 3S-GE 4 cylinder with 6 speed manual. It was final version of naturally aspirated 3S motor from 86-99 Celicas and MR2 sw20.

[@estegerset]

@@Kacpa2 no it wasnt, i had a chance to buy a 4wd manual, but skipped it cause it was only the 2 L. Japanese cars have endless options. You dont really know unless you there to see it

[@DrDr1v1]

Forsure knw how to read the brochure for someone that didn't do the manual swap lol. Advance Garage did. If it wasn't for him that car wouldn't be running

[@masterjiraiya224]

Do you realize your point at the alarm speaker when you’re also touching the clutch line? Come on bro get it together 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@jjvdz]

Lol what did you say bro? Didn’t quite get that