95 ls400 build from my igloo in canada eh, well not really...

I've been lurking here for some time now gathering info and ideas for my car.  Me and my wife found out she was pregnant early last year, which prompted me to purchase a 4dr.  At first I had a 92 1st gen ls400, but after some kids keyed the car, I upgraded to a 2nd gen LS400.

I sold my race car to fund a part of this build and for spare cash.  It was a very long project in which I never got to finish, but it was just something I rather moved on from.  It previously made 450whp and I had rebuilt it and was hoping to be pushing mid 500's.  I wished before I sold it, I had a chance to take it to the track just once.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/em1/259814_10150202078191749_6483251_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/em1/259814_10150202078191749_6483251_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/em1/249944_10150202078206749_7217699_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/em1/249944_10150202078206749_7217699_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Here was the 1st gen I had for a short amount of time.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/419292_10150560667566749_506496748_8930779_207316617_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/419292_10150560667566749_506496748_8930779_207316617_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

And this was what happened to it:

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/430487_10150591913891749_506496748_9019988_75038940_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/430487_10150591913891749_506496748_9019988_75038940_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Since it got written off by my insurance company, I found a 2nd gen ls400 right away earlier this year and was able to pick it up fairly cheap with very low mileage.  In a way, I was glad it happened, as there were issues with the 1st gen that had always bothered me.  It was very nice to have a fresh start with a super clean car.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/423035_10150604367516749_506496748_9064815_232361323_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/423035_10150604367516749_506496748_9064815_232361323_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Then I got started on swapping the suspension over with the wheels.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/418985_10150620716891749_506496748_9121641_385813704_n-1.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/418985_10150620716891749_506496748_9121641_385813704_n-1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/430481_10150626761681749_506496748_9144792_1745050910_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/430481_10150626761681749_506496748_9144792_1745050910_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/488342_10151429150065602_897240601_23552810_1619579252_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/488342_10151429150065602_897240601_23552810_1619579252_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/6999139483_e1966829d5_z.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/6999139483_e1966829d5_z.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Currently this has been my daily driver and baby shuttle, so I've been riding full soft on the coils.  I do have to say, at first I was scared having my newborn daughter in the car with the coils, but she loves riding in it.  She doesn't stop smiling every time in the car and she started recently giggling a bit whenever I scrape LOL. 

Yes don't worry, I know the wheels are not worthy, but I traded a set of 350z track edition wheels for them.  About a month ago I found a deal I couldn't pass up on and had to pick them up right away as they are prolly one of my favorite wheels of all time.  It was more of a present to myself for selling my project car.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/IMG_20120516_152959.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/IMG_20120516_152959.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

The sizing wasn't what I wanted, but with the price I just couldn't pass them up.  Let just say, they were sub $1000.  I got started on them right away.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/560404_10150963231041749_1860006142_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/560404_10150963231041749_1860006142_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Then a couple days ago, the new lips arrived.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/598982_10150976637386749_284274043_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/598982_10150976637386749_284274043_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

and I just couldn't wait to see what it would look like, but low and behold, my jack wouldn't fit under my car LOL and my low pro jack I had lent to a friend.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/545414_10150978984091749_572378565_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/545414_10150978984091749_572378565_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Right now, I'm currently waiting to refinish the centers, but I am hoping to have them all ready to go by the end of this month.  I really can't wait to put them on.

And just for shits and giggles, this is my daughter, she's almost 2 1/2 months old.  Every time she smiles, it just brightens my day. =)

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/283626_10150964901041749_726454654_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/283626_10150964901041749_726454654_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

This won't be a fast build with my daughter around, but I do have plans for other things.  So I guess I'll be taking care of it one thing at a time, so progress will not be quick to say the least.

Equips are klassic....

Goodluck with your build sir. I have the same reason to grab a sedan a year ago. Enjoy the car and your newborn:biggthumpup:

Nice! 
Glad to have you and your daughter be part of the community !

welcome vip dad and Happy Father's Day!

Thanks for the warm welcome, this forum gives me so much inspiration and ideas with some of the amazing cars here.

Props I love the direction this going,

already gave you props on CL, and it's going to continue here. LOVE the new wheels! your daughter will love them as well when she is rolling in style with ya.

Thanks! lol

Last night I just bent one of the rear wheels, its a minor bend, but enough to give me vibration while going hwy speeds.  So it looks like I'll be trying to get the equips on asap, as I don't wanna roll on them for long with my daughter with me.

Got tires already ordered, so once I deal with what to do about the centers, progress on the wheels should be fairly quick.

got all the wheels put back together and picked up tires.  gonna run 225/40/18 on the fronts(10") and 245/40/18(11") on the rears.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/1340672947131.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/1340672947131.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

gonna mount the tires maybe tomorrow, gonna give the silicon some time to cure.  hopefully have them on the car by the weekend, can't wait!  Its gonna be interesting trying to fit them, 18x10 -14 and 18x11 -1.

=)  can't wait to see this.

Got the wheels on the car.  I still need to pull the front more, as when I turn it still rubs like a bitch.  

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/534824_10151003813816749_953658360_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/534824_10151003813816749_953658360_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Also made some modifications so I dont smack the upper a-arms anymore.  Sorry, I didn't take a pic of it finished, but its boxed up.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/1340925265518.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/1340925265518.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/1340929586377.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/1340929586377.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/IMG_20120628_174045.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/IMG_20120628_174045.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

And this is how its currently sitting

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/545455_10151006225251749_233556861_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/545455_10151006225251749_233556861_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/IMG_20120628_212519.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/IMG_20120628_212519.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

This is the perfect height for me, so I would like it to stay how its currently sitting.  So hopefully I am able to pull the fronts abit more to sort out the rubbing.

So dope! I'm not usually a fan of 18's on 95-00's but yours flows soooo well.

so 18x10 -14 and 18x11 -1 are your current specs that you are running??
wow looks super clean!

[QUOTE=okstance;456973]so 18x10 -14 and 18x11 -1 are your current specs that you are running??
wow looks super clean![/QUOTE]

Thanks!  Yes those are the current specs with spacers, they were originally 18x10 +6 and 18x11+14, but I had to run a 20mm spacer up front to clear my brakes, I decided to run my old 15mm in the rear to even it out abit.

was able to pull the fronts more and am now able to turn good.

[IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/539730_10151008281201749_969316402_n.jpg[/IMG]

and heres a picture of the modification to the shock tower.

[IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/314864_10151008280451749_1012207013_n.jpg[/IMG]

We just primed it, and I'll be getting it sprayed body color once I get the fenders repainted.

Well done Jin!  Best wheels ever

[QUOTE=Mugenman08;457123]Well done Jin!  Best wheels ever[/QUOTE]

Thanks alot!

Nice build!!!

No real updates on the car as 2 weeks ago I got pulled over by the cops and got a ticket for being too low, which they also handed me a vehicle instpection.  So I had to raise the car up and put the stock wheels back on to take it into an inspection facility.  Had to roll around like that for almost 2 weeks till I have time to get it done.  Got it done this morning and passed, then right away went and lowered the car back down and put the equips back on LOL.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/531238_10151043143171749_1854555028_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/531238_10151043143171749_1854555028_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I'm rolling 1/4" higher than I was previously, maybe it'll lay off the heat abit for now.  I'll prolly drop it back down to the original height in a couple weeks.  

[QUOTE=TheChefJPratt;457588]Nice build!!![/QUOTE]

Thanks!

Lookin great!!

I may be the only one.. but I cant help but think those varstoen wheels would look great on it if you could pull it off.. 326power did a ls and a crown? i think.. but similar in body style and thought it looked awesome for a sporty style. But! none the less quick progress and looks great!

[QUOTE=Kouki Monster;458406]Lookin great!!

I may be the only one.. but I cant help but think those varstoen wheels would look great on it if you could pull it off.. 326power did a ls and a crown? i think.. but similar in body style and thought it looked awesome for a sporty style. But! none the less quick progress and looks great![/QUOTE]

Thanks, ya the varrsteons weren't too bad on the car, but the sizing wasn't the greatest.  I've always wanted a set of equips for the LS, so when i found a set I jumped on it.   I'm gonna be throwing them on my s14 when I start working on that car.

dope! pics of 14?

18's for the win :)

i can dig it. eh?

[QUOTE=Kouki Monster;458456]dope! pics of 14?[/QUOTE]

Old pic, but the s14 is the same.  I picked it up pretty much all original and stock.  Its auto with only 120k kms on it, 2 owners, no accidents, lsd, 5 lug.  My wife is currently driving it as a daily till I pick something else up for her.  
[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/564921_10150865182781749_154963186_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/564921_10150865182781749_154963186_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Got a 5speed swap ready, coils and I'm slowly putting a ka-t setup together for it.  Just want a fun weekend car.

no real updates on the car, just did the timing belt and water pump and some other little maintenance stuff as it hit 140k km's recently.  I really need to re-do the exhaust, but I guess I figured out why I'm not scraping in the front like I used it.

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/2012-07-31095021.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/2012-07-31095021.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

LOL, it made clearance all by itself as it used to hang low in the front.

I really wanna hack it off at the cat flange and just get my friend to weld in a new section so I can tuck it up a bit more and build it out to the back with new mufflers.  If some of you are familiar with the ls exhaust setup, what sizing should i go with, that would still give me good ground clearance in the middle?

damn thats nice.

[QUOTE=levie;460323]damn thats nice.[/QUOTE]

Thanks!

[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/529976_10151087114986749_550447601_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/529976_10151087114986749_550447601_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

my LS with my buddies Q45, over at a friends place for a bbq

This thing is so rad! Looks great Jin!

[QUOTE=Jin.;459815]I really wanna hack it off at the cat flange and just get my friend to weld in a new section so I can tuck it up a bit more and build it out to the back with new mufflers.  If some of you are familiar with the ls exhaust setup, what sizing should i go with, that would still give me good ground clearance in the middle?[/QUOTE]
2.25" with x-pipe to your choice of mufflers. add resonators for sound suppression.

looks good man, love this color!

[QUOTE=timmy0tool;460436]2.25" with x-pipe to your choice of mufflers. add resonators for sound suppression.

looks good man, love this color![/QUOTE]

thanks for the info timmy! I'll defiantly be looking into this very soon.

Jin Car is looking Great, I saw you not that long ago (2-3 months ago) in richmond, and was bitching and moaning because i had just gotten a ticket for "unsafe vehicle" and yet i saw your riding lower and more cambered (in the rear lol) than i was, I think you still had the Vossens? on it.  I was the Guy with the y32 Gloria, I think we were on alderbridge going opposite directions?

[QUOTE=BCVIP;461477]Jin Car is looking Great, I saw you not that long ago (2-3 months ago) in richmond, and was bitching and moaning because i had just gotten a ticket for "unsafe vehicle" and yet i saw your riding lower and more cambered (in the rear lol) than i was, I think you still had the Vossens? on it.  I was the Guy with the y32 Gloria, I think we were on alderbridge going opposite directions?[/QUOTE]

Thanks!  I think I remember, it was on alderbridge I think heading towards hwy91 and I was still on my varrestoens.  Nice Gloria!  I've always wanted one, but I hate dealing with RHD LOL.  That sucks, ya a month ago I got one of those and a VI.  Now I have my car setup at 57cm from the ground to the headlight, since the minimum is 56cm lol.  I've been pulled over after the VI a couple times now and I keep measuring tape in the car and just measure it out in front of them now hahahaha.

dope!

a recent pic over at my buddies shop getting ready for a big annual summer meet for a local forum.
[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/538966_10152060219830602_1647546608_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/538966_10152060219830602_1647546608_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

and here is the reason I can't ride dumped for the time being.
[URL="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/484450_10151127104366749_660886907_n.jpg"][IMG]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p565/Jin3198/484450_10151127104366749_660886907_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Thats my drive way thats been getting messed up more and more everyday because of the construction by the city.

56cm to center or bottom???

[QUOTE=BCVIP;462064]56cm to center or bottom???[/QUOTE]

center of the headlight.

thankyou, Time to bust out measuring tape with the new wheels going on;)

[QUOTE=BCVIP;462069]thankyou, Time to bust out measuring tape with the new wheels going on;)[/QUOTE]

haha no prob!  I would recommend setting it to 57cm just incase, as it gives you abit of leeway LOL and also keep the measuring tape in the car.  you know how some cops here are...