*V8 Swapped* Toyota Altezza - The 1st Gen ISF That Never Was

[@jdmsnowmonkey7913]

Interestingly, at SEMA 2003, a team actually created an "IS430" concept by doing exactly this, fitting the 3UZ-FE to a 1st-Gen IS. I'd imagine the owner of the one you drove followed the brief of that concept one. It was even the impetus that led Lexus to build the ISF in the first place.

[@EJ257IHI]

I remember that car at the 2007 San Francisco International Autoshow, wasn't it black with some red accents? I believe I have some photos. I ended up with a 2013 ISF 6 years later, I still have it.

[@Roddy_Zeh]

I still have the DVD with the "Rides" episode featuring that project, pretty nice car.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Very cool!

[@aaabbb9953]

uz swaps into this chassis are as popular as JZ swap. So probably this concept wasnt one factor that he followed

[@PostMortemor]

Except they mounted a V161 gearbox which costs a lot now.

[@dbegs2529]

This has always been a dream build for me! Best part about this engine vs the NA 2JZ in the IS300 (aside from power) is that it's about 200 lbs or 90kg lighter due to being all aluminum and since it's a V configuration, it can sit further back towards the fire wall so less front axle over hang. It would have been a hell of a M3 fighter had Toyota/Lexus decided to make this a real thing from factory. Only reason I assume they didn't is either cost, or it might have stepped on the Supra's toes a little bit.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah who knows but this definitely would have been a worthy competitor for the E46 M3 with the right chassis setup

[@-caleb-7201]

I’ve been looking at these for months now, I wanna put a 3uz in something and the is300 is in my top 3. Crazy you uploaded this, there aren’t many videos on these atm.

[@-caleb-7201]

Thoughts? I have TONS of folders of research, still just thinking but here are my top candidates for my 3uz. FRS (V8 coupe?) Is300 (baby ISF? IS500?) 944 (I know I’d be the most difficult but I love the body and LS is pretty popular for these.)

[@KiwiCarLife]

I’d go with the IS300. Best looking, easiest swap and it’s an awesome drive

[@masonsmith5390]

Ive been thinking frs for a while. Ive seen a couple, and the r154 with some tunnel banging will fit and is well documented because of 2j swaps. ​@-caleb-7201

[@3uzis430]

I have this chassis & engine in ireland, absolute handful. I love it

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh lovely! Yeah it’s pretty fun

[@spadgm]

Happy New Year! Glad these sort of swaps are still happening, makes for a interesting and much more lively car!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Definitely! Happy new year to you too

[@danieldoss223]

Hey man love the content, really looking forward for the next video. Definitley would be cool to see more Toyotas I would love to see a video with the AE111 if possible. :)

[@KiwiCarLife]

Got more on the way!

[@divin3kag3242]

thank you for featuring almost every form of altezza on your channel. Just need to try some turbocharged goodness. p.s. also hope you get to feature the whole toyota rwd turbo line up. 👍🏾

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah had quite the range on here now! This was definitely the best haha

[@Lucas-wp2ph]

Friend has this setup in an is200 with a bmw manual gearbox setup and a full roll cage. Just tested it today on the ice track here in Finland today with 8mm spikes. That car is a weapon.😎

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ooh yes very cool

[@Magnettik]

What car did that transmission come out of ?

[@Lucas-wp2ph]

​@@Magnettikzf-gs5-39dz Found in many BMWs. He has a billet adapter as well😊

[@Magnettik]

@@Lucas-wp2ph Thanks !

[@VirusTornado]

I’m a simple life form. I see a Kiwi car life video, I press like. For real though, you’re on a roll my man! 540i, this thing, V8 swapped skyline, R32 Golf, etc etc.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Haha appreciate that man. Glad you’re enjoying the videos. Merry Christmas!

[@GandhiBeatz]

Ive recently found an is300 for cheap price but never wanted to buy it because of automatic transmission, your intro just convicened me I made a right choice.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah the auto just isn’t great…

[@adamcako5281]

Somebody did exactly this in Hungary, the IS200 community calls it the "IS400" :D Kind of what this car needed from the factory as you said

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah for sure

[@edmund111]

Weird how you feel about the beams, I guess you have just had bad luck haha, I always thought they were great engines, top 5 toyota engines for me

[@KiwiCarLife]

Have you driven a Euro R? Would be really interested to see what you think. IMO there’s no comparison

[@xenonsaccord4447]

Happy new years! 🎉 The owner should call this the ISF-Prototype haha. Lovely collection of parts to make this beauty.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Happy new year to you too! And yeah it kinda is

[@xTruthxWithinx]

The BEAMS Altezza is a fantastic car in it's stock form. Even better with a turbo added to it. It is supposed to be a 50:50 sedan with the best driving experience offered in a car of that type

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@xTruthxWithinx they’re pretty decent, much better with a V8 though.

[@xTruthxWithinx]

@@KiwiCarLife I absolutely do agree. Commonly done here stateside is people take the GS430’s and manual swap them. I love those big ol lead sleds as I call it. I’m currently waiting to take delivery on my 99 Altezza RS200

[@HunterLord458]

I hope you get a 2JZ GTE swapped one to look at soon

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah me too, don’t know anyone with one

[@marvinbenjamin9908]

Go to Trinidad that even have 2zj , 3sgte swapped Subarus 😂😂

[@thatguyben3128]

_love it, not something you’ll see everyday 👍🏼_ … _Merry Christmas Bro_

[@KiwiCarLife]

Merry Christmas!

[@ShaneRobinson1996]

Now all it needs is headers/FBO and the ECU tuned! 💯🔥🫡

[@KiwiCarLife]

That would be the icing on the cake

[@turbogears900]

I would like to see you do a video on toyota aristo jzs161. You're good at this

[@KiwiCarLife]

That would be cool!

[@Low760]

I had a first gen IS200 and a 1uz which is for my hotrod. But i didn't want to upset the computer stuff. And then I needed to seat 3 kid seats so i replaced it with a vf Calais v wagon v8 because i couldn't get a gs430 or crown. Dont regret it, but do miss my is200.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Very nice

[@snggarageeng]

for some reason, it is not popular in JDM culture . Nobody asked for swap but all of us need it . Nice new tunes !

[@KiwiCarLife]

Interesting! I’d do this swap in a heartbeat

[@watchere]

so toyota actually made a first gen protytpe with the 2urgse in a first gen is300. If you google 2ur is300 you will find it, it was in a ton of press releases and tracks next to the 2is isf. It would be cool to see that car actually driven. As far as i know its still owned by toyota, its grey iirc

[@KiwiCarLife]

That’s really cool

[@Exhibitrare]

i was always thinking about putting a UZ in a 1st gen IS maybe a 1UZ just so i can do more in it because they are just better for modding

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man it’s the ideal engine for this platform

[@GandhiBeatz]

Is k24 engine same in CRV and cl9 (European market)?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Nah slightly different. CL9 one is more powerful

[@Gediminas84]

Hi, awesome build :) How did you manage to work water temp gauge?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Good question I’ll ask the owner

[@corokingi]

Def looks like fun 🤙

[@KiwiCarLife]

For sure!

[@zpe1200]

rumor has it you used to roll your rrrs when you lived in invers.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Never been to Invercargill let alone lived there haha

[@Matt-nc2sy]

Is this the same owner as the previous blue IS300 you reviewed? Looks so similar, can't tell if its the same car, or just styled in a similar fashion

[@KiwiCarLife]

Nah different people and that was another altezza RS200 with the 3S-GE

[@kiwiryker]

Hi Mate , Great channel , Kiwi ! .. Can I recommend a car to test ! - 2022/23 Canam Ryker Sport trike , registered as an open cockpit convertible car , car licence only .

[@KiwiCarLife]

Goodness me there’s not a single one in nz so not sure how I’d do that!

[@HunchoCurtis]

You reckon you could review the caldina GTT

[@KiwiCarLife]

Already have

[@xenonsaccord4447]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pavPlayfmJtoa9Usi=-jmGvlt8BdnEnyBi

[@pandabot2113]

wouldn't it be crazy to swap the uz with the verossa ?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Sure would be crazy!

[@MrWilliam.Stewart]

Give it a revin Kevin!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yepp

[@marcustvchannel5885]

Keep uploading

[@KiwiCarLife]

I shall

[@wotever99ninynine]

personally i think the 3sge engine sounds great and has more than enough hp for your average driver like myself. the 1gfe in my altezza as200 on the other hand is an absolute piece of sh*t. i mean, its nice for cruising, has a little bit of torque, quite reliable (mines at 370,000kms) and in the wet it can still drift roundabouts. so i agree about ripping out the engine (if you can afford to) if it has the shitty 1gfe 2l 6 cylinder in it. but not the 3sge, that engine is fire, and could always be modified if you want more out of it. same goes for the 2jz in the is300

[@KiwiCarLife]

Compared with literally any other high performance I4 from Honda or Subaru or Mitsubishi or literally anything, the 3SGE is extremely average. Maybe just coz I’ve driven heaps more cars, but yeah it’s not good

[@wotever99ninynine]

@@KiwiCarLife I like it, I don't need more than 210hp, and it'd a reliable Toyota, a rwd, has a LSD, 6 speed manual, and it's affordable, and more common than other high performance card (aside from bmw I suppose). And my criteria I require it to be rwd, which rules out most Hondas. But I get it, if I had driven othermore powerful cars, I'd most likely feel the same.

[@NZbmxer0]

where is this filmed? Also Altezza or Impreza S- GT?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Hmm I’d say altezza

[@djardy07]

The F motor is a 2UR-GSE.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yes

[@rq67zxcv]

アルテッツァ直6だけど、250馬力あると思いますか？

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yes

[@yourummayscuz8521]

What would you estimate the 0-100 to be now ❔

[@KiwiCarLife]

Low 5’s I’d say

[@bdmr_isf]

how on earth could you call a a fwd accord more engaging than a lexus is?? you must've driven the most clapped out is200

[@KiwiCarLife]

See that’s exactly what i mean! The fact it’s rwd is it’s only selling point and everyone’s like “how is fwd better??” And I’m like “because the 3S-GE is such an average engine, the gears are long and it’s so hard to get to go sideways, and has the most horrible steering feel” the accord doesn’t go sideways but every single driving dynamic of that car: sound, steering feel, handling, gear ratios, just everything is better and I’m ok with it being fwd

[@bdmr_isf]

@@KiwiCarLife the gearing and power output are better, yes, but thats about it. a k24 without cams or a turbo is also a dog imo just like the 3sge. cant compare these two engines anyway cause the 3s is from the mid 80's, while the k24 is from the early 2000's. Steering is good on the IS with some decent sized wheels and tires, stock they are way too narrow. Gearbox on the is200 is also very crisp with just a short shifter

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@bdmr_isf see I disagree with all of that too, the 3S-GE beams and K20A were sold in very similar cars at the same time. And the K20 sounds and performs MUCH better. The gear ratios are better too, steering feel is better. Out of the box having driven a stock euro r and stock altezza they are really no comparison and the fact the altezza is rwd isn’t really a benefit because it has so little torque it barely spins the wheels anyway haha. This v8 one tho was a totally different car and drove fantastically well (still found the steering vague tho) oh and I drove an altezza with a short shifter and it was one of the most difficult gearboxes so use. It was almost too short, sloppy left to right between 1st and 3rd, and really stiff into 5th, and not enough reverse lockout I kept putting it into reverse instead of 1st it was just horrible

[@bdmr_isf]

@@KiwiCarLife all the accord type s i drove here felt gutless to me too, they have a 0-60 time of around 7.3s which is almost the same of an altezza despite having an engine almost 20 years newer and .4l of displacement more. of course you barely get the altezza or is200 sideways with that little amount of torque they have but i'd get a manual is300 over an accord every day

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@bdmr_isf see that’s the massive difference I’m talking about euro r not type s. Drive a euro r and you’ll understand. Very different!

[@craigauty6756]

Suprised it dident feel nose heavy

[@KiwiCarLife]

Nah not at all!

[@arcanevoid9199]

3uz is alloy block, probably not much weight difference

[@3UZFE]

It's a sub 200kg engine

[@craigauty6756]

@3UZFE yes but the stock engine was sub 150. Adding 50kgs to the nose can throw out the suspension geometry

[@davebk1031]

What ecu do they have running the show?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Pretty sure it’s just a stock LS430 ECU

[@TobyRay45]

Toyota E30 M3?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Well it’s the same concept, 4 cylinder rwd sporty sedan

[@TobyRay45]

@@KiwiCarLife its what you called the BMW E30 M3. You called it a Toyota E30. Merry Xmas by the way

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@TobyRay45 yeah it’s an example where it’s like an E30 M3 but a toyota, the comparison obviously fell flat 😂 merry Christmas to you too!

[@evan937]

5:05 "Pretty much Everything high performance in the Ninties was Manual" Yeah unless you live in North America...💯😑😅

[@KiwiCarLife]

Well yeah true haha all the euro and jap stuff was manual

[@konholio2]

Got a 3uz in my basement and I want to put it in my e36

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ooooh that would be very cool

[@3UZFE]

I put one a 1UZ into an E36, it was a good time.

[@oshaeamoyent7817]

All honesty the altezza rs200 drives better than the cl7 euro r and it handles better own both

[@KiwiCarLife]

I’ve owned a euro r and driven about 6 or 7 Altezzas for decent lengths of time and would strongly disagree. But that’s ok everyone’s entitled to an opinion!

[@overnightpartsfromjapan01]

want

[@KiwiCarLife]

Me too

[@AaronScahill]

The 1uz is a better engine

[@KiwiCarLife]

In what way it makes less power

[@joesisler3411]

NA, the 3uz is superior. Early 1uz outshines only when boost is thrown at it because of thicc rods.