3Sgte St215 In 1999 Lexus Is200

[RS200T]

Hi

My name is Jaco Muller and I am from Sunny South Africa. I bought myself a toyota 3SGTE ST215 engine in August 2010. After I had the engine I had to find the body for it, I came across a 1999 Lexus IS200 Sport. I bougt that in November 2010. Till this far I stripped the whole engine. Is in the prosses of putting it back tohether again.

The foolowing parts was replaced and is waiting installed

Forged Wiseco pistons

Forged Eagle rods

ARP head studs

ACL raceing bearing for con rods and crankshaft

Head has been flowed and ported

New gaskets and seals all around

1.6mm Cometic head gasket to drop compresion ratio from 9:1 to 8.6:1

Blok has been honed and freeze plugs been changed

Garett 60-1 turbo

600x300x75mm aftermarket intercooler

My biggest problem is the gearbox because the IS200 is connected to a 1ggfe engine and the one that is replacing it is a 3sgte.

What would be my best solution. Replacing it with a RS200 gearbox or just changing the bellhousing or modefying the is200 bellhousing?

Please help

[sparkystav]

its been done once over here that i know of, and the RS200 gearbox is best

[RS200T]

Thanks for the advice.

Attached is my 1 and only IS200.

Is the Lexus IS200 propshaft and diff strong enough to handle a turbo charged engine, or must it be replaced?

[Monster-Mat]

an is200 gearbox is fine, but you need the altezza bell housing and then you will need to put the shifter mount into the second possition....(.clear when the box is on the floor)

you will need to change the oil pickup and the sump, the distributer will need removing and you will need to go for full electronic ignition as the distributer will foul on the bulkhead, there are a few other bits and bobs if you need to know, just ask

the is200 diff and propshaft can handle an incredible amount of torque and power...so need to worry there, i am still running a std diff in my car......after a Kaaz 2 way blew up!! i am running 540hp

[Lex_bw]

Hi Guys,

Lesedi here from Botswana, right next to South Africa. I've had my 2002 Lexus IS200, 1G FE, 6 speed manual for a few years now and have become quiet bored of the 1G FE. I looking to do a conversion as well and thinking of the 3S GTE engine as a possible option.

I spoke to a guy who sells these engines in south africa and he said that it could be done and that I could use an adjuster plate to match the 3S GTE with the Lexus IS200 gearbox. What I want to also know are the details of what else would have to be done to achieve a headache free conversion that won't cost me too much money nor take up too much time. I've read more horror stories than those about smooth conversions.

I'm not looking to race or anything, I just want an IS200 that moves with a bit more conviction than mine is currently doing. 250 - 280 bhp would do me just fine. I use the car daily so a conversion that would also give me better better Power and MPG is welcome.

It is a very lovely car and love its handling. Please help!

[HoodRich]

Another fellow South African - Welcome Jaco ;-)

[LexIS200Sport]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the 3S-GTE only available as a transverse-mounted engine?

[RS200T]

Hi guys,

Sorry for being so long offline, but i didn't knew you guys responded to my post.

The 3sgte engine is one of the most uncommon engine in the tuning circles even more the new generation one the ST215, yes the engines came only out in transverse-mounted configuration, but that doesn't stop anyone of changing it to rear wheel drive. The 3sgte in my opinion is one of the best designed and manufactured engines that Toyota has made till date. Heap of potential, but not allot of parts available from the shelf and allot has to be imported or manufactured. Well modified and tuned engine can easy do 500hp, and with forge parts much, much more.

We had to change the sump and the sump pickup for that and that wasn't too big of a mission. Where the fun really starts is when it is installed as the IS200 exhaust runs on the right hand side and the 3sgte is on the left hand side. With this the fuel lines and brake lines has to be modified to get it away from the heat of the exhaust.

There is a few hiccup that we sorted out threw time and effort and modification but I think it is worth it, just because nobody wants to go through the hassle and change/modify everything so they use the 2JZGTE engine. Awesome engine but everyone is doing it so that is why i went for the 3sgte, allot a patience is needed.

But I am almost there only need the exhaust and manifold the be-manufactured and finish the ecu wiring.