IS300 Customization Gallery
Intake air filter insulation
What happens when you add 2,000F insulation to separate the air filter from the engine heat by also sealing to the hood?
The end result is a turbo that doesn't work as hard. Warmer air takes more energy to compress, so the turbo works harder than necessary with warm air.
Before the insulation, my intercooler cooled the air to near outside air temps of around 85F according to my air temp sensor in front of my TB, BUT the ambient air temperature sensor in front of my turbo measured temps of +120F with only a tiny plastic shield (even though it sealed to the hood). NOW I'm seeing only 2 or 3 degrees F above outside air temp PREturbo and my car feels more peppy.
The insulation was bought from Amazon for about $40, outside of that it's just plastic and thin aluminum sandwiching the insulation together.
The IS350 came stock with Advics front calipers. These 13.1 inch diameter vented rotors mixed with the 4pot 44.5mm pistons in the Advics calipers provides a great increase to your stopping power compared to the OEM IS300s front brakes which have a 1.5 inch smaller diameter with the same caliper clamping force. This upgrade provides a 25% increase to your front brake effectiveness, BUT this will shift your brake bias from a 70% front bias to a 75% front bias (calculations are in the brake formula section of this website). If your ABS has been bypassed, your front brakes will be more likely to lock up compared to OEM, but the bias can be corrected on the rear by upgrading to 0.5 Coefficient of Friction pads (like these DP3848C from EBC). Upgrading the rear pads along with the front Advics calipers on stock IS350 pads keeps your bias closer to normal at 69% front bias by increasing your rear grip roughly 26% over OEM.
These calipers require you to install them with the 350phi IS350 adapter kit purchased from their website and do not fit Enkei RPF1s (pictured) without extreme shaving. Most 17" wheels fit.
2006+ IS350 Monoblock calipers (Advics)
Highlander Alternator Installation on 2JZ
This is not an overly complicated installation. The Highlander (03-07) and the Sequoia (03-08) use similar alternators, both of which are a higher amperage rating than the OEM IS300 (90a) and Supra (100a). Shaving approx 5mm off of the top ear of the alternator and you have a 130a or 150a alternator. This alternator requires a repin from 3 pin to 4 pin, which is not overly complex either.
03-08 Sequoia 150 amp 27060-0F050
Removable intake manifold assembly (intact)
The intake manifold I bought used off of a Supra locally on Craigslist, it had seen approximately 20 years of use. After a sandblasting and a powder coat it looked new again. The Radium parts (fuel rail, injector pulse damper, fuel pressure regulator and pressure gauge) add a touch of elegance. The Boash 82mm throttle body on the front of the Greddy intake manifold curves around the OEM IS300 power steering reservoir perfectly!
