More JDM-ness...
I know this won't seem like much of a mod as its just a lighting kit that I put together combining parts from the OEM Scion xA kit and searching for damn ever to get the right foglight housing from Japan for the Toyota IST. Many thanks to Yuki with Japanparts.com with helping find the right housings.
I just finished the install as the housings came in last yesterday afternoon. Just need to wash the car.
I like the new bug-splattered front lip mad....lol
it takes a true JDM head to appreciate all of the mods you've done to the xA. nice job man
Yeah, I'm kinda lost on this one....Before/Afters would have helped me out..lol
Yeah Justin, post the different parts that you got for your car, how long you have to wait for them and how hard is it to acquire them.
Well the time I've had to wait for parts has been cut down drastically since I use a different supplier now. Japanparts.com is located out of Tokyo and can get parts here in under two weeks. Unfortunately, shipping is a bit steep, especially for the larger parts. For every dollar spent on the large parts, you can count on 1.5x for shipping (small parts are a bit easier to swallow shipping costs).
This is what a basic 2006 Scion xA looks like..
Pre-JDM lip for the front end (this still has the JDM front bumper cover, grill, crash reinforcement, absorber, reinforcement brackets and fog light delete covers)
After the JDM Version B lip
After JDM fog lights added
The parts availability is very limited. Since everyone and their grandmother bought the xB, the market for the parts here in the states is virtually non-existant. So I had to find a distributor that was able to get the parts I was interested in. My first distributor was out of Hong Kong and was horribly inefficient. I waited over six months to get the initial shipment for the JDM front end conversion and still paid well over 2500 for that first shipment.
After quite a bit of hunting, I found Japanparts.com. They've been able to get me the small parts that I was unable to find for my conversion, and since Yuki is great at translating English, I have had very little trouble explaining what I need. I've been able to send requests for small parts such as the reinforcement brackets and the JDM Toyota IST center console box.
The fog lights have been my latest nightmare to source. I sent my initial request about a year ago and was sent the parts diagram to sort through. They were on back order and were just recently made available, so I place my order. When they arrived, they had two mounting tabs on the sides of the housing, not what was pictured, so I had to send them back. There went 100 bucks for shipping from Japan and back, thankfully, Japanparts.com reimbursed the return shipping since the housings didn't match the parts diagram. Another two weeks wait and the new housings arrived. I tried them out and they fit well.
Most people that own these mod them with the current available kits in the US since shipping and cost of OEM JDM parts is very cost prohibitive. I'm 98% sure this is the only one in the US with the JDM conversion. While it isn't as bold a change or obviously modded appearance, its definately unique. After the Celica, I decided I didn't want an over the top looking car and wanted my mods to be more subtle, that's why I chose the JDM route. Unfortunately, that route isn't any cheaper.
Current added parts list:
JDM Toyota IST front bumper
JDM Toyota IST front bumper brackets
JDM Toyota IST absorber
JDM Toyota IST front bumper cover
JDM Toyota IST fog lights
JDM Toyota IST Sports Grill
JDM Toyota IST window visors
JDM Toyota IST center console box
JDM Toyota IST rear "IST" emblem
JDM Toyota IST rear "Toyota" emblem
JDM Kenstyle rear spoiler
OEM Toyota RS3.0 Kenstyle rear lip
Tein SS+p Coilovers (still haven't installed my EDFC yet)
SSR SP1R professor 15x8 3-piece wheels
TRD rear sway bar
Brembo OEM rotors
Hawk HPS front pads
I think that's about it for the big things. JDM parts have taken me about 4 years to source everything.
diggin it, slam that mofo
Originally Posted by BonesZ33;
I'm stunned.....i had no idea to the amount of $$ invested, or even what undertaking this conversion entailed.......I'm gonna have to reach into my "special props" bag for this one.
That's a good thing. It was meant to look like it came that way.
Justin did put alot of research and time to look for rare parts. I think he just like the rarity of it more than anything lol. I have to give him major credit for modding the xA the way he does. However, the car does not a major drop for a good stance. However, it would be a pain to drive everyday with a "good stance" car.
Yeah, its as low as it will go without having to remove the locking rings on the coils and I still have scrubbing issues with the front lip as well as rear tire clearance with a full car. Unfortunately this is my daily driver as well, so it must maintain its primary function, which is daily commuter.
I do like the stares the car gets when people can't figure out what it is, too bad not a single girl in the world would do so, its been mostly older people that like the car or ask me about it.
Awesome ride.maybe you can help me.I've recently been in an accident and really need some parts for my Toyota IST.I want to know if the grill,the headlights and the hood of the Scion XA fit the IST.cause you converted your XA to an IST.Do I have to mod them or are they a perfect fit.I can't seem to find any parts for my IST anywhere,only Xa.(especially the headlights)many thanx.
Nice bump dude
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