How to improve throttle response on 3UZ-FE

[toffee]

Got a '05 Lexus SC430 with 3UZ-FE engine, quite happy with it except throttle response. The delay, the lag, it's driving with turbo lag without the turbo. There's a "power" setting but does little to help.

Are there anyway to get more instant, crispier response?

 

[4U2QUIK]

get rid of the automatic transmission.

 

[George_R]

get rid of the automatic transmission.

Too expensive. Buying a more appropriate car like BMW would help too.

 

[gloverman]

Yep they work well with a manual transmission , done a few now in conversions. Some running the DBW and some returned to conventional throttle. Aftermarket ECU makes a big difference especially when I can ramp up the response of the DBW. We have also done valve body mods on the stock 5 speed transmissions on the early 3uz. Made a massive difference when pushed hard yet still retained the factory smoothness when driven normally. If it was a factory vehicle I would be leaving it alone and enjoying the smooth reliable ride that it was built as.

 

[George_R]

gloverman , was it some trans kit or rather purely custom work of yours? What did it change exactly? Did the trans become switching into kickdown more happily or something else?

 

[gloverman]

custom job we worked on with a transmission workshop. We wanted switchable lockup as well which we got but not in first. We up the clamp on the clutches , reduced the flar between gear changes. It worked really well with much sharper shifts with less time between shifts. We have more to do on this one yet.