gerrb

iTrader: (34)

yeah ... trying to make sure there are no stubborn rusts on this car so am grinding all the surface rusts I see before I do the measurements and cutting where exactly the front support will be welded . Wish you were near so you can do the welding for me.. hahaha.

I went through your build thread. That FD will be a monster to reckon with !

babillarac

Lol . I would gladly help you. Thanks i just hope i can finish it soon

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

Well I knew you wont refuse help to a person in need !


I don't even know what I am still doing with this second 1997 5speed 1 of 120. The slightest chance of me keeping it entails me to give up a running 2jzGTE SC out of the 4 that I have which is very tough after all the work I have done on them . All what those cars need basically is cosmetic in nature.

Well , whatever happens , at least this original 1997 5speed would be brought back to life if not by me , by someone else . That was my intention when I decided to buy and rescue it. It doesn't belong to the scrap yard which apparently it was destined to go after 18 months of it sitting in the open and nobody was interested with it. I was surprised nobody was calling the code enforcer of that city for it to be towed out since it was in a public parking lot. Mark the former owner was a good person so I guess no one dared to do him wrong by reporting a junk car located in a public parking lot.

Been working since I woke up .. replaced the blown air bags .






Looks like I have a good idea of how one of my cars with the APTech Body kit will look like once their 50mm quarter panels and 50mm front fenders are added. Picture below only has a 25mm front fenders. Having 50mm front fenders, I believe will make it look better. Thanks Irving and the APTech people for making good products for our beloved SCs. Don't forget the damn diffuser after this

Blkexcoupe

iTrader: (8)

That car is a perfect example of a widebody car. I really wish I could find more photos of that car or was able to see it in person before it was parted out.

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

Huh ? ... the car was parted out ? Dang , that car looks so nice to be parted out ! Wish also we can find a lot of pictures of that car in all angles.

Yeah I can't wait for Irving's car to be completed with all the wide body kit and their initial APTech body kit and see how the car really looks like. I bet it won't be that far from that car on the picture above. Even better in my opinion since it will have wider front fenders.

Blkexcoupe

iTrader: (8)

Yeah, my blitz nur touring exhaust is from that car, and I've owned it for a few years now (I should really get around to installing it). The guy I bought the exhaust from said it was his wife's car and that it had already been gone for a while.

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

This second 1 of 120 1997 SC300 5speed has come a long way since I got it two weeks ago . I currently do not have an extra 1997 front bumper so for now I will contend myself with the 96 bumper while I search for a 97

From a car that was condemned by every one , that included me :






To a car that looks like it will be on the road once again soon :
​​​​

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Gerry, it's looking great so far! Have you already finished the upper support reconstruction and welding?? I know any bumper is better than no bumper but we need to find you a front bumper from a 97-00 in any color to throw on there, lol

You've got a tough decision to make with this one. It could definitely be a keeper. It could even be a potential swap for one of the milder 2JZGTE drivetrains currently in one of your other cars. I know that you can't keep every SC you have at this moment including this 97 1-of-120 you're restoring but... that's a tough decision.

From the last pictures of the front and interior it's looking fine now!

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

Nice one! Like Kahn said, we need to find you a '97+ bumper. It's a rare care that needs to be easily identified as a '97 upon first sight!

Ezroni

lol this is the first time i've seen a 97+ with a pre-97 front bumper

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

My poor second 1997 SC300 original 5 speed , , you guys are making fun of it for having a pre 97 bumper ... . Better than none

Craig - you remember my Red Mamba II , when you saw it in person it had the 1992 original muscle look you wanted ? Just plain 92 bumper with a lip and not even 97 side skirts and rear ?

I actually have a solution for this 1997 SC300 5 speed without spending a cent. I told you since the last time you saw that 92 car with a 2jzgte , I have converted that into a 1997 look . I can simply return the 92 red bumper into that 92 car and use the 97 bumper into this 5speed so you guys don't make fun of it .. hahaha . I was contemplating also to make this 92 into a APTech Wide Body if their kit pans out well. I hate to tear apart the oritinal 97 5 speeds for a wide body. A conversion to wide bodied SC needs you to cut up the quarter panel so it won't be on the way of a wider wheel / tire which I am not doing on an original 97 5speed. But the question is am I keeping the damn car ? 6 SCs gives me an headache right now. I don't know which to let go. One surely I know , red NA-T project (I have done least so far) but got to decide on another or two.

And for the front support , all it needs is a good welder to weld things properly but it is all said and done .

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

Hey, we're picky...especially when it doesn't include our own wallets!

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

I might be biased but I like the 95-96 bumper, just remove that plastic part and bam! intercooler opening.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Gerry, for my part I was not making fun, I swear! I knew you were using parts from your stash and yes, any bumper is better than no bumper at all. I know this was an effort to not spend thousands of your cash to resurrect it. And I DO still like the classic muscle look your Red Mamba II had, yes. It was the original 92 bumper with the factory SC400 lip and '92 style rounded side skirts and rounded rear bumper on the RM2 that just did it for me. It also has a great look in its current form with the '97+ body kit.

You know I have a stock bodied 92-94 style SC with a 97 front bumper swapped on but also a '92-'96 SC400 wing swapped on-- I'm not going to claim I've adhered to any standard of concours with my SC. But that's why these cars are so great visually: from the factory revisions alone and the original body lines there are many great subtle looks that can be had and since they all look good it comes down to personal preference.

I guess it's just the fact that it's such a very rare production SC that has it's own registry no less. The 97-00 front bumper is just such a part of the image of a 1-of-120 M/T.

But I absolutely wasn't making fun of your effort to bring it back to life or the results you've achieved, Gerry. Without you the car would have died and been stripped and whether you keep it or not I think we're all glad that this rare one was saved so that it can be enjoyed. I still can't believe it has a clean title with what happened to it. Looking at it from your latest pictures it's night and day!

.....

As for the wide body kit, I think I'd also lean towards using that on a less rare SC but that's me. I think '97 M/T SC's with either the stock engine or a good turbo engine/transmission don't deviate from what makes them rare and original. Changing the car too much visually I think has a different impact but then again... this is *your* car and how many 97 M/T owners have modified their cars and still they are known and valued for the rare production numbers?

The bigger issue you say is causing you stress is the number of SC's you have at this point. Right now you have pretty much every desired variant from model year to body style to engine type and transmission type. And you have good coverage on all of them too so that is not a concern and you can enjoy driving any of them you like to. One will never do it for you I know but ultimately I think focusing on finishing up the cars in your stable and after that focusing on the ones that really make you happiest would be most fulfilling. And I know that little things will change as you continue to work on them all and of course you'll have an SC shell and some parts as backup so I don't count those.

It is a difficult thing to work out because it is so very personal. You have one SC that is destined for 1500whp / V160 / 220mm diff and at least one that has a stock twin 300whp / Auto daily driver tune. And several others in between... all different even including a couple of stock NA engines. The NA-T engine I think is something you should definitely go ahead with to experience it and invent with no matter what car gets that engine.

Even if one or even two cars will have to go at some point I think right now you are in the process of deciding which cars those will be. All of your SC's are unique and they all act a bit different from each other. Finishing up this 97 M/T will help I think because even if you set it aside for a bit in the back you can then really decide what you want to do with all the other chassis. Then it will be clear to you if the 97 M/T is destined to join your big power V160 '97 or if it is to be sold.

I think you should keep experimenting in order to discover which of these cars you have makes you happiest. You will know which ones are the true keepers and other than maybe moving one of the cars you have in the short term I don't think there is a rush.

...

And you know... you don't need to change the current 97+ look of your RM2. It is looking good, the paint matches and that is a nearly completed car! There has to be a good deal somewhere on a 97-00 bumper in any color that can be snagged for the '97 M/T under repair.

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

Hahaha ... Craig , no worries I was playing. .After all you guys are all right . No doubt , a 1997 SC300 original 5 speed should have a 1997 front bumper . So that it will be . At this point I will just put it back to its original form and install same drive train just like from the factory then decide what to do with it.