Performance Increase for 2005 Lexus LX 470

[2005LX470]

Howdy,
I'm new to the forum, and am curious about performance upgrades for my 2005 Lexus LX 470. I have done some research on headers/exhaust systems here Cat Back Exhaust Dyno Testing 100 Series

I wanted to hear from anyone that has done this themselves, or has any suggestions on chips, upgraded intake (air raid tubes?). I'm looking to increase performance and efficiency without breaking the bank.

 

[Ohthetrees]

Most of the exhaust/intake mods (marginally) increase peak horsepower at high rpm. My M3 spends a lot of time at high RPM at track days, but my 100 is more about low rpm torque and easy power. The engine, intake system, and exhaust were all tuned by some of the best engineers in the world. Changing your exhaust, intake, etc, may net you a few HP on the dyno. But I bet you a buck that your torque numbers at low/moderate RPMs would fall. I know it aint a vote, but if it was, I'd vote to leave well enough alone.

To get more HP and Torque, I think you have to resort to expensive options like a super charger.

 

[DirtDawg]

Find the rare 4.7 TRD supercharger and blow your rods boom, horsepower.

AFAIK, lextreme was the company to build the highest HP 2UZ using 1UZ parts and their custom rods. They are no longer in production, but other companies could probably custom make you some rods for $$$. If you haven't caught in yet, the weak point of the 2UZ-FE is the rods. Some people have also blown the actual block too.

Lexus Toyota Forced Induction tech articles

 

[soreneagle]

Re: Exhaust

The factory engineers have to appeal to the masses and the masses want quiet and reliable transportation. The dyno results from both systems show gains from 1800 rpm and beyond. This is about anytime you touch the accelerator.

The factory system is 2.25" and the DT system is stainless 2.5". You can have a local shop pull on a 2.5" muffler and tailpipe for $200-275. It won't be as nice as the DT but your nuckles will remain intact and your LC will loose about 20lbs. I'm planning on a Flowmaster 3 chamber 50 series. Remember that your engine is only a 4.7L V8 so 3" will likely hurt your low end.

 

[Batlowboy]

I went the Genie ceramic coated headers/ extractors, high flow cats, 3 inch exhaust and safari snorkel, there may have been a very slight performance benefit (better torque when towing), but the sweet note it provides brings me back to my teenage years, so I'm happy.

As others have said, to gain real performance benefit you'd have to go down the supercharger path, which is very expensive, not sure I'd bother with the chip idea either, as when I enquired about this I could not get any independent proof of a real power gain - other than those stated by the manufacturer, chips certainly work on the turbo diesels though.

 

[lt1fire]

Find the rare 4.7 TRD supercharger and blow your rods boom, horsepower.

AFAIK, lextreme was the company to build the highest HP 2UZ using 1UZ parts and their custom rods. They are no longer in production, but other companies could probably custom make you some rods for $$$. If you haven't caught in yet, the weak point of the 2UZ-FE is the rods. Some people have also blown the actual block too.

Lexus Toyota Forced Induction tech articles

I thought the rod issue was only on the US made Iforce V8's but the cruisers came with forged rods from the JP made V8's??

 

[DirtDawg]

I thought the rod issue was only on the US made Iforce V8's but the cruisers came with forged rods from the JP made V8's??

Several different entities have proven that the rods are the same across all 4.7 engines JP or NA or MX or...

 

[4Beast]

In my opinion, it is better to simply adjust your expectations and accept the limitations of this platform in terms of its performance. I suppose you could do a few things to potentially squeeze a few more ponies out of it, but if performance is your ultimate goal, then you are in the wrong vehicle, and should think about a 200 series or maybe a Jeep SRT8 or something. Or get a 60 series and do the Vortec swap.

 

[Manhattan]

^that^

I've had fast cars and fast SUVs. Initially, I was disappointed in the 100 (and mine is an '06 with the whopping 275 hp!). Over time, my expectations were adjusted. Six years later - despite the rest of the auto world getting faster - I like my 100 more than the day I bought it.

A friend of mine has a modified GT-R. It's 2,000 lbs lighter than my 100, with triple (!) the horsepower. To me, his car is more like a ride at Disney. I like Space Mountain as much as anyone... but the novelty wears off pretty quickly.

 

[Tremek]

200 + fast car owner here, and I also had both a 100 and have an 80 now; the 200 at my altitude has adequate power, and in Texas would feel pretty genuinely quick. Unfortunately the 100 never got the aftermarket love re: blower and turbo setups that would rectify its lack of power relative to what feels 'quick' to the modern butt-dyno...

Frankly the aftermarket power-adder solutions in general are pretty weak across the US LC line. But with that said, if it's in your budget you might want to go drive a 200 and see if that could scratch your itch as they have quite a lot more oomph. I suspect headers & exhaust might trick your brain a bit on your 100 but you're still lacking a platform that has strong support for custom tunes to really uncork the potential.

Re: fast car comments above, with all due respect if you feel like a GT-R or the like is a Disney ride, I get it - but that happens to be something that's pretty fun for most enthusiasts. Hence why I have both, and also why my 100 went away quickly (dog-slow with the 4 speed + steelies up here at altitude, probably as slow as my 80.)

 

[Manhattan]

Oh, I agree - fast cars are fun. But, when you consider a bone-stock 'Vette breaks the fastest speed limit anywhere in the U.S. before it's done with 2nd gear... the next 5 gears seem kinda pointless. It's just that it's hard/illegal to enjoy really fast cars.

I rode in another friend's Underground Racing Lamborghini (dyno tested at 1,285 hp) - we hit 193 mph on the highway. He was bummed - wanted me be able to say I'd done 200+ in a car. He said the car's not as fun as his slower cars "it basically idles through the gears to 125 in a few seconds... can only drive it hard on a track"

 

[ton504]

Find the rare 4.7 TRD supercharger and blow your rods boom, horsepower.

AFAIK, lextreme was the company to build the highest HP 2UZ using 1UZ parts and their custom rods. They are no longer in production, but other companies could probably custom make you some rods for $$$. If you haven't caught in yet, the weak point of the 2UZ-FE is the rods. Some people have also blown the actual block too.

Lexus Toyota Forced Induction tech articles

From what I've read, the rod failures are from the TRD piggy back units failing and dumping fuel causing the engine to hydrolock...This didn't stop me from installing the blower on my LX470 lol. Its been running great and the supercharger whine is addicting. But in the end, its just a heavy SUV thats not meant to go fast.

 

[DirtDawg]

From what I've read, the rod failures are from the TRD piggy back units failing and dumping fuel causing the engine to hydrolock...This didn't stop me from installing the blower on my LX470 lol. Its been running great and the supercharger whine is addicting. But in the end, its just a heavy SUV thats not meant to go fast.

That statement was really just a generalized one. The 4.7 blower is great as long as it's maintained and handled properly. It's when people try to run too small of a pulley for extra boost or the piggyback units fail that the rods break. I'd buy one if I could find one, heck I wish magnuson still produced the 4.7 blower.

 

[Placemotorsports]

Anything can be made fast with the right amount of money but IMO, money is better spent elsewhere on these things than go-fast goodies with minimal gains.

 

[ton504]

That statement was really just a generalized one. The 4.7 blower is great as long as it's maintained and handled properly. It's when people try to run too small of a pulley for extra boost or the piggyback units fail that the rods break. I'd buy one if I could find one, heck I wish magnuson still produced the 4.7 blower.

Buy my TRD supercharger kit and I'll throw in my 2000 LX470 lol.

 

[johsti]

Remove the seats and spare tire. Don't install sliders or bumpers. Downsize wheel size, and go with lightweight P-metric tires.

A catback and tune won't do much on these vehicles and you may lose low end torque and reliability. Not much you can do other than the supercharger. Headers are another option which may provide some gains.

 

[maxse01]

Hi there,

I did the DT headers, catback, K&N CAI and a custom cat section with flowmaster high flow cats, everything is 2 1/2 inch. Ran this setup for about a year.



It for sure makes more power and helped make up for the 500+ lbs of iron I've added and 33" tires. However, last week I put on a 14" resonator to kill some of the sound (the wife didn't care for it and I was honestly getting a little annoyed on long trips). I lost a fair bit of top end, but it's much more tolerable. In hindsight, I'd do it again but probably just do the headers and do a custom rear section. That gives you enough oopmfff, but as others have said...this is an under powered vehicle by today's standards. I have an M5 for when I want to go fast.