Steve Chandler - Lexus IS200 1GFE turbo

Join Our  Stance Auto Mags Group, Give Our Facebook Page a Like, and Follow us on Instagram

These Photographs are supplied by the  Photographer named, check their Link for Bookings.

!!! Please Order Your Printed Magazine From HERE !!!

More images are in the slider above

Steve Chandler

Lexus IS200 1GFE turbo  

Instagram: @Bingbloke

I’m a Design Engineer. I'm a 41-year-old petrol head – aka: “Boomer” as my kids call me, married to my wife Nicky (who still puts up with my “spannering”) and have two awesome kids Ellie 14 & Hari 12. 

I have always been into designing and making things, which early on progressed into my career in Engineering and then spilt into other areas like the car scene. Soon as I could drive at 17, it was my passion to modify/change and upgrade anything I could afford to at the time. 

This has led me to undertake many car projects and to my latest one. 

My Dad & My mates pretty much got me into cars and the car scene, The Car scene has changed for me along the years, but always stayed a positive outlet. Growing up it was about being with a group of mates, all aspiring to do the craziest modifications or most complicated mechanical fixes/upgrades. 

Everyone respected each other’s builds and shared in this common passion. In later years when my kids were born, my car funds suddenly switched to the “kids funds” lol. I didn’t mind as my priorities changed and I let go of the car thing for a few years, just doing bits and bobs to keep me sane. When my Son was older (around 7 or 8) he too took interest in fast cars and things I did mechanically to repair people’s cars or my own. This kicked off the Car scene again for me and now included my son this time around... He is now as much a petrol head as me I think, and both now enjoy cruising to car shows. Even my daughter Ellie who appears “too cool” to care about cars, secretly enjoys the attention the car brings. 

My Dad was a clever Engineer who sadly passed away when I was young. As a kid, I remember he could somehow fix practically anything & he also had a passion for motorbikes, cars, mechanics & anything that he could build or go-fast in. He inspired me a lot, which also led to me being a hands-on petrol head & DIY Mechanic/engineer.

So, I currently drive this Lexus IS200 1GFE turbo. 

My great mate Grant Journeaux has a blue is200, which we swapped the engine out from a standard 1GFE straight 6 to a 1UZ V8… then turbocharged it. It's insane!! It wasn’t long before the JDM bug got me and I had always loved the aggressive look of the is200! I was getting one!!! I had by this time also done a few paid drift sessions & RWD was the way forward for me. So much fun! 

What makes my car unique is that 90% of the modifications made to it, have been designed and made myself. There may be similar cars out there but to that point, none are the same! I like to be a bit different, but try and keep the is200 vibe similar. So a tasteful and interesting build I hope.

Spec of the car so Far – all work carried out by myself: 

• Rota Kyusha 17” alloys – 9.5J ET12 all round. 
• BC Racing Coilovers 
• Wax oiled all underneath 
• Polybush anti-roll bar 
• Drilled and vented discs all round 
• Front adjustable top camber arms 
• Rear adjustable toe arms 
• Painted callipers 
• Rolled arches 
• Metal sport trim and pedals. 
• LED Ring Rear lights and fogs (homemade) 
• Ducktail spoiler painted and fitted 
• Bonnet catches fitted and genuine Nissan GTR bonnet vents fitted. 
• TRD Bumper splitters and side skirts painted and fitted 
• Sparco Red Bucket seats with 4-point harness (home-made runners) 
• Harness Bar (designed and Home Made) 
• Pop-up sat nav converted to hold my AFR and Boost gauges (designed and Homemade) 
• AEM AFR Gauge and Prosport Boost Gauge 
• TRD speedo face (home-made) 
• Bride gear gaiter 
• Solenoid fitted to fuel flap to open with electronic push button (homemade) 
• Starter button and ECU port installed in centre console (homemade) 
• Race steering wheel 
• Full 2.5” stainless exhaust system from turbo back (Home Made) 
• LSD differential 
• Full Turbo conversion + intercooler etc (fitted/installed Me) 
• Modified Sump 
• HKS Turbo Timer 
• 1zz fuel injectors 
• Fuel Pressure regulator and modified return/fuel pump 
• Det3 programmable piggyback ECU – Dyno Mapped to 8psi / 267BHP 
• Alloy Engine bay strut brace 
• D1 Oil catch can 
• Stainless braided hoses 
• Alloy power steering tank 
• The majority of engine bay bolts are replaced with stainless. 
• Alloy intake pipe and intercooler pipework with black silicone hoses. 
• Alloy ECU Lid (homemade) 
• Rear window Vents (designed and homemade). 
• Japspeed thick Rad 
• RAM Air induction kit with steel heat shield box (homemade) 

All the work on this car (fabricating / welding/painting/making/fitting, was carried out by myself. 

Dyno Mapping was done by Lloyd Specialist development, @lloydspecialistdevelopmentswho is Awesome! 

The Cool Photos are by an amazing photographer James (@JSTE Photography) – such talent! Also, hat off to my main guy Grant @grantjourno too, who has always been my spanner happy wingman. (What’s worse than a petrol head..? TWO CRAZY PETROL HEADS! Hahahaha)

My very first car was a Vauxhall Astra Mk2. It was a hideous colour & remember the number plate ended in KFC !!! haha, It was a good car to start practising bodywork, electrical & mechanics on when I first started out. I did a lot of bodywork repairs/painting & remember making and installing a Sub Box/boot build. My first go at a sound system. The car got written off when a Van smashed in the back of me at a junction. The rear was squashed right up apart from the indestructible bass box I made which survived lol.

I was never much for social media back then and even now I’ve only just joined Facebook this year lol Instagram has been a good way of posting the progress on my car and getting feedback from others. One or two have even been able to use my posts to help with their own builds which is cool.

The good Car enthusiasts out here are all about helping and having passion for the scene.

Since joining Facebook I am now part of - Lex Nation- who are a great bunch and all about things Lexus! Grant introduced me some time back... If it's Lexus. Get involved!

I used to do quite a few car meets back in the day. These days I take my son and generally do more local bigger events. Castle Combe forge action / JDM combe / Spring action are the common ones I like to attend. For most of the events, I have been lucky enough to sit on a club stand in the main circuit. 

Dream Car… what a difficult question for a car guy lol. I guess it is a bit like fashion and depends on the occasion. In a nutshell, I would have to say, I respect the supercars out there, but for me, it's an old-school Japanese Grunt and power. This would include cars from 180sx / 240sx up to the S15 & R34 skylines. My favourite car then is not specific, but most vehicles that have been built to go SIDEWAYS!!!

• What Modifications Can You Do to a Lexus IS200?

Please leave your comments in the comments section at the bottom of the page

'The future is bright as long as we can still Smell the Fumes'

Stay Up to Date Check Out Our Google News and give us a Follow

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

All of our Magazines can be found on Amazon, they Print and Deliver worldwide, Stance Auto can not be held responsible for the final print, and all complaints and returns must be directed to Amazon.

UKTM no: UK00003572459

Best WordPress Hosting Get 25% Off!