After 140,000 KM, Our Ford Supercharged LS430 Is No More

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Transcript:

This is my 2005 Lexus LS430 — the greatest project car build in YouTube history. I’m joking, of course… but also kind of not. I’ve put over 140,000 kilometers, or about 90,000 miles, on it since we completed the build. In the process, it completely stole my heart and may have set a YouTube car-build record for miles covered without the wheels falling off.

Once we added our own special touches — including an M112 supercharger from a Ford Mustang SVT using an Elite Manufacturing adapter manifold — we achieved what might be project-car perfection: more style and more performance without sacrificing comfort or reliability. Okay, maybe a little comfort, but zero loss in reliability over those 140,000 kilometers.

And here it is in all its glory — my beloved LS430. This has been my favorite project car of all time. It’s the one I put the most mileage on, and it’s the one you guys seemed to love the most too. It’s gotten a ton of views for good reason. Just look at it.

That said, it’s time for me to move on. By the end of this video, we’ll explain why. But first, let’s go for a drive and take in the glory one last time.

Here we are, in the lap of luxury. Peter, the greatest car ever built. I really do love this car. I love my BMWs, but from a Japanese luxury standpoint, this might be peak. It makes a very compelling case for itself.

Sure, it’s 20 years old and doesn’t have modern tech — which, frankly, I don’t really want anyway. But as a daily-drivable, lowered, modified, supercharged car, it’s been absolutely faultless. It’s incredibly comfortable, and just powerful enough to feel modern and quick when you want to pass someone.

This was the lowest-drag production car in the world when it debuted in 2001, which shows how much effort Lexus put into making it not just luxurious, but genuinely efficient and refined. Even with the supercharger, fuel economy has been remarkably good. I average around 10 to 11 liters per 100 kilometers, or roughly 30 mpg — and that’s not driving it gently.

The one compromise is ride height. Because the car is low, speed bumps can be a challenge. Raising it would improve comfort and clearance, especially for daily use. That said, this car now has 140,000 kilometers on it since the build, and we’ve had essentially zero issues. That’s a testament to Lexus reliability.

We’ve replaced both rear wheel bearings, and the driver’s door lock actuator has failed again. There’s also a heater vent motor that isn’t working. But overall, this has been an incredible daily driver — probably my favorite one ever. I’m genuinely sad to see it go, but we do have a solid plan B.

These are our Augment wheels, designed to pay homage to the second-generation Supra. They use a split four-spoke design, and Dan from Augment cleverly disguised the five-lug pattern with a square center cap. They’re dirty and the lips need repolishing, but the design gave this car its own personality.

This is the second set of tires the car has been on. The first set of Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02s lasted about 50–60,000 kilometers. We then switched to Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Pluses — a high-performance all-season tire. Since this car isn’t a track weapon, the added flexibility made sense, especially for unexpected snow.

With the wheels off, you can see the Fortune Auto coilovers, which also have 140,000 kilometers on them. There’s some surface corrosion from moisture, but nothing serious. I’m applying Fluid Film to the threads so we can raise the ride height for the next owner, who’s more interested in comfort than street points.

Despite the mileage, everything adjusted easily. That’s a lot of kilometers for aftermarket coilovers, and the car still rides remarkably well. Fortune Auto would probably suggest a rebuild, but honestly, there’s no need. They still perform like new.

Since the next owner will drive the car year-round, we’re also applying corrosion protection with Fluid Film Black. It helps inhibit rust and cleans up the appearance. The car also has Hardrace arms front and rear, all with spherical bearings. Despite concerns about noise or harshness, they’ve been flawless for 140,000 kilometers.

As part of the sale, we’re reverting to the stock wheels, which were powder-coated black. They’re wrapped in Continental PureContact LS tires — a luxury all-season tire focused on ride comfort, efficiency, and long tread life. They carry a 70,000-mile warranty and perform well in dry, wet, and light snow conditions.

Before handing the car off, we’re also doing an oil change. The engine has been running Valvoline Restore & Protect for about 8,000 kilometers. A quick scope inspection shows the engine is impressively clean for a high-mileage V8. Restore & Protect isn’t an additive — it’s a premium full synthetic oil designed to reduce carbon buildup, especially around piston rings, where it matters most.

The air filter, on the other hand, was filthy — doing its job very well. After that, we addressed the driver’s door lock actuator, which was intermittently failing. Rather than replacing the entire assembly, we swapped in a new motor — a cheap and effective fix.

We also looked into the blend door actuator for the heater. The motor appeared fine, but since we had a spare, we swapped it in as a precaution. It may or may not solve the intermittent issue, but it’s worth addressing before sale.

After a deep interior clean — including the door cards, carpets, and trim — the cabin looks better than it has in years. I know tan interiors get hate, but paired with the wood trim, it’s bright and inviting compared to an all-black interior.

Finally, we washed the exterior, polished and resealed the headlights, and gave the car one last proper detail.

We’re selling the car to Brian — the same Brian who gave us his rusted LS430 rather than passing the problem on to someone else. His generosity made this an easy decision. Brian, I hope you enjoy this car as much as I did.

And don’t worry — I won’t miss it as much as you might think. Flexus 2.0 has arrived, fresh off the train from British Columbia. The next build is coming, and it’s going to be something special.

Thanks for watching, and thanks for following along with the LS430 journey.