toxo

Just FYI (if this guy doesn't respond - not wanting to steal any business!), I've got a MK4 in bits at the moment and many parts are the same between the MK3 and MK4.

Yes. 94+ UK LS400 suspension is all the same.

Top secret I'm afraid ;) And very much on the back burner at the moment while I sort my MR2 out! No one really knows a great deal about the ECUs, Toyota ECUs are a particular pain to reverse engineer and you only really get that happening where there's a market for modifications or a lot of enthusiast interest, neither of which is the case with the LS400!

It's entirely feasable if you're looking at getting one that needs a bit of work. I've picked up a MKIV with 117,000 miles on it for under a grand which needed a new track rod end, a few dents pulling out of the wing and a new indicator. Seen someone else pick one up for even less that needed a new driver's door skin. They are out there at the prices you're looking at, if you're not picky. 10yr old 2nd hand cars with low MPG really aren't worth a lot right now.

You won't get hold of an car where the engine and the transmission ECU are separate. That situation only exists on the JDM Crown Majesta I believe, which are so rare it's untrue. I can only speak for the MKIV (which due to gearbox and VVTi has a unique ECU from previous marques) but a lot of the functions are separated out - ABS & TRC are a separate ECU, body electronics are a separate ECU, etc. Unlike the Toyotas of old the PCB in the ECU isn't silkscreened with a 3 letter code for each pin as there are simply too many of them in too high a density to be able to fit it in!! I am part way through using a MKIV VVTi engine for a project, at the moment I am dismantling the stock loom and working out pinouts and stuff for the ECU. Fooling it into thinking the gearbox is still there and the selector lever is set in a specific gear seems the best way forward for mating a manual gearbox up. Have a read of the forums on http://www.v-eight.com/ Edit: I believe a model of GS in the states also got the VVTi engine with the same (fake) 5 speed box as the MKIV, so it's worth trawling the US sites for workshop/wiring diagrams etc. Edit 2: There are sump differences between the revisions of engine too, if a front sump application is alright for you then no worries, but you can change it to midsump by using a few parts from a Soarer 1UZ, sump, oil pan, baffle plate, oil pickup etc.

MKIV certainly has valve 17630-16040 as part of its power steering system. Trace the smaller pipe that comes off the underside of the air intake connector (the resonator box that you've bought from me) and you should find it I think. Bit hard to tell from the Toyota diagram though!

I'm breaking a MK4 LS400, so I've probably got one. Obviously 2nd hand balljoints aren't the way ahead, depends what sort of budget you're on though.

Do you have a service history - when was the last time the transmission fluids were changed? I had this issue with an auto supra and it turned out to be that there wasn't enough gearbox oil in the box.

I know this is probably not much use, but I know that if you take the vents above the stereo unit as well, you can swap the MKIV kit into the MKIII. So, the stereos themselves cannot be that different - the mounts must be the same etc. I would use the MKIV guide as a base and go carefully! I've not had any problems with security codes with the stereo in the MKIV. Again, that might not be much help.

Hopefully you've got this all sorted by now, I know how unnerving it is driving around with a broken rear driveshaft!! If you are still after any parts however, I have a complete rear transmission from a Y2K LS400 sat around in my workshop. It's non DHP but that shouldn't make much difference as far as I'm aware.

As I was skimming down this thread I was hoping someone was going to mention Sky. They've been the only broker that's been able to insure me on 1 of my cars, and have insured me on all 3 in the past. They will likely have paired you up with Chaucer insurance (part of the Lloyds insurance group) who have specific grey import policies, which is why I'd have suggested them to you if someone hadn't beaten me to it!

Edit: Whoops, didn't realise how old this post was!

Edit: Whoops, didn't realise how old this thread was...

I don't know if they're the same but I'm breaking a 1999 LS400 and still have the head unit. It looks like this:

I was gonna say, I'm sure last time I asked you said you were driving a shed... Anyway I don't think you'll be getting a flurry of emails straight away, need to pay for the Lexus, or do you need some more work to do?

That was my plan, but my account hasn't upgraded yet. lol, MR2 electrics are stone-age. I've got one of the later, MAP based ones but even that is childs play! Edit: Ahh crap! Just worked out who you are

Pretty sure the 1UZ engine is bigger than the fester Dave! It'd need to have some kind of TARDIS engine bay for that.

Hi All, I've recently joined because I'm building a car using an LS400 V8 engine and intend to pick some of your brains about some of the rather complex Lexus wiring :) I am based in Milton Keynes and have a 285BHP MR2 Turbo, a negative BHP MK3 Fiesta and have just acquired my donor car, an X-reg LS400 VVTi with 129k on the clock (so just run in!). I've subscribed to 'Gold' membership today but I guess it takes a while to kick in so I'll have a nose around the forum while I wait. Cheers! John