UCF20 to UCF21 front end swap? ..eh?

excuse my ignorance of the platform, but i don't see too many exterior changes to this gen LS......so how hard would it be to swap over the front end of a UCF21 onto a UCF20? would swapping over the hood, fenders, headlights and front bumper just be bolt-on? are the mounting holes/screws the same? i'm asking because i got a great deal on a '97, but wouldn't mind doing the swap to have the newe-er looking front end.

[img]http://www.nfscars.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=594&pictureid=29161[/img]

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Lexus_LS_400_UCF20_I_Moonstone_Pearl.jpg[/img]

I remember having talks about this years ago
iirc it's pretty much bolt on jus as you mentioned
going from a 20 > 21
jus like if you were going to do the 30 > 31 swap

Yea its all bolt on.. but it would prob be cheaper just to pick up a 99 to 00

any build threads, or anywhere i can see someone else who did this already?

and i do have these codes right?

UCF21
[img]http://www.nfscars.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=594&pictureid=29161[/img]

UCF20
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Lexus_LS_400_UCF20_I_Moonstone_Pearl.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

yea, you're right w/ the codes 
First pic aint showing on my end though

"tech" ucf20 is both, the ucf"21" is the 97-00 with air. its ucf20 before minor change "the old front end" and ucf20 after minor change " the 1st pic or the new headlight"

its stupid and i hate it

[QUOTE=NET;456752]excuse my ignorance of the platform, but i don't see too many exterior changes to this gen LS......so how hard would it be to swap over the front end of a UCF21 onto a UCF20? would swapping over the hood, fenders, headlights and front bumper just be bolt-on? are the mounting holes/screws the same? i'm asking because i got a great deal on a '97, but wouldn't mind doing the swap to have the newe-er looking front end.

[URL="http://www.nfscars.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=594&pictureid=29161"][IMG]http://www.nfscars.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=594&pictureid=29161[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Lexus_LS_400_UCF20_I_Moonstone_Pearl.jpg"][IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Lexus_LS_400_UCF20_I_Moonstone_Pearl.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE]

I would imagine it being a bolt on with maybe a handful of extra holes to drill

[QUOTE=NET;456761]any build threads, or anywhere i can see someone else who did this already?[/QUOTE]

Dolce has a whole aero kit out their. the ucf2x to ucf40 is amazing!!!

but yes fenders, hood, bumper and headlights is all you really need prob some custom drilling and cutting is needed as well.

[QUOTE=PANCAKES!;456753]I remember having talks about this years ago
iirc it's pretty much bolt on jus as you mentioned
going from a 20 > 21
jus like if you were going to do the 30 > 31 swap[/QUOTE]

before to after ucf30 is not all bolt on. some trimming needs to be done.

there's a cat on here that went before to after on the ucf20. the white one with the bazerias. been mia since the car was completed. i agree though, unless you get the parts for free and diy, given thhe cost of these cars vs. the cost of parts and labor you'd be better off selling and rebuying.

[QUOTE=OG;456849]before to after ucf30 is not all bolt on. some trimming needs to be done.
[/QUOTE]


?

ucf30 > ucf31 requires trimming? 
iirc when Auto Fashion did the conversion on their white 430 I thought it was all bolt on? Hood, Fenders, Lights, bumper(?)
:shrug:

i had to trim part of the rail/radiator support and weld it back up for the lights to fit.

AH! Ok. I see. I think I recall now Freddie saying something about that
my bad
Carry on

[QUOTE=NET;456761]any build threads, or anywhere i can see someone else who did this already?

and i do have these codes right?

UCF21
[URL="http://www.nfscars.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=594&pictureid=29161"][IMG]http://www.nfscars.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=594&pictureid=29161[/IMG][/URL]

UCF20
[URL="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Lexus_LS_400_UCF20_I_Moonstone_Pearl.jpg"][IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Lexus_LS_400_UCF20_I_Moonstone_Pearl.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

Yeah the ucf 20/21 just refers to the air suspension vs non air suspension. 

Yeah like OG said, the parts are so expensive even with clublexus discount your better off just finding a 98-00 LS. I'm getting new hood, fenders, and maybe trunk for my 99 LS and it's not gonna be cheap at all man

[QUOTE=OG;456849]before to after ucf30 is not all bolt on. some trimming needs to be done.

there's a cat on here that went before to after on the ucf20. the white one with the bazerias. been mia since the car was completed. i agree though, unless you get the parts for free and diy, given thhe cost of these cars vs. the cost of parts and labor you'd be better off selling and rebuying.[/QUOTE]

You mean that white one down in Hawaii? That one was sic, I remember reading the article on that car

[QUOTE=Devil27;457089][/QUOTE]
Yeah like OG said, the parts are so expensive even with clublexus discount your better off just finding a 98-00 LS. I'm getting new hood, fenders, and maybe trunk for my 99 LS and it's not gonna be cheap at all man[/QUOTE]

really?? i'd think that being over 10 years old, the parts would be less expensive by now :shrug:

find the hood at a junkyard including fenders and little stuff that you will need for the swap. Later on buy some cheap used headlights I see them on upgarage for cheap ( then again I havent been on or looked in a while) it should  bring the cost down a bit. ebay,craigslist ect ect. Im sure you can find deals around that wont be over $2k in parts alone.

or

You can just buy a another LS :shrug:

Your car, your money. 
:biggthumpup:

the parts still bring good money at the yards also. not only that but they're not real common for some reason. you could probably do all right if you took you time and grabbed a good deal here and there, but if you try and go in and find everything at once expect to spend some loot.

[QUOTE=NET;457212]Yeah like OG said, the parts are so expensive even with clublexus discount your better off just finding a 98-00 LS. I'm getting new hood, fenders, and maybe trunk for my 99 LS and it's not gonna be cheap at all man[/QUOTE]

really?? i'd think that being over 10 years old, the parts would be less expensive by now :shrug:[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=OG;457227]the parts still bring good money at the yards also. not only that but they're not real common for some reason. you could probably do all right if you took you time and grabbed a good deal here and there, but if you try and go in and find everything at once expect to spend some loot.[/QUOTE]

Thats exactly what I thought too lol. But like said above, the parts aren't as common as you would be lead to think. Used or new, your gonna be spending some cake regardless. The clublexus discount thru Sewell helps a ton, but it's far on the other side of cheap.

i too would save more for the 99-up. the exterior isn't the only upgrade. the motor is newer too with VVTi and an extra gear on the trans = better mpg. there are other small difference that make the 99-up a bit more superior (i.e. antenna imprinted in the glass instead of retracting), but heck if you're getting a deal on a 97 it better be a significant difference.

as for distinguishing chassis code, i usually say UCF20 (95-97), then UCF20.5 (99-00). not technically correct but it works. UCF21 simply indicates factory air suspension, so a UCF21.5 is a 99-00 with air.

The only explanation I can figure for the expensive parts is that these bloody thing don't die. Especially because a large portion of them are never driven. It's not uncommon to see these with less than 100k miles on them.

The inner tail lights on the trunk are different too. Wider for the newer. Might be able to modify to fit, but if not then need the trunk too. Yea It's gonna cost a lot to upgrade to the newer look. Either get a 98-00 or keep what you got and spend the money on making it look good.

 95-97 still looks hard imo. But it's up to you.
[URL="http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1032/13904449.jpg"][IMG]http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1032/13904449.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[QUOTE=jj702s1;457256]The inner tail lights on the trunk are different too. Wider for the newer. Might be able to modify to fit, but if not then need the trunk too. Yea It's gonna cost a lot to upgrade to the newer look. Either get a 98-00 or keep what you got and spend the money on making it look good.

 95-97 still looks hard imo. But it's up to you.
[URL="http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1032/13904449.jpg"][IMG]http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1032/13904449.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE]


Co sign

thanks for all the info guys..