RicoLSX

Yo, CL!

previously owned '96 Sandstone SC300 which was purchased from a co-worker with plans to swap in an LS3/6 speed combo. Five months later I stumbled upon a rare '01 Z06 that I couldn't pass up so the SC project just became a daily. The mods/project halted after a few upgrades and I later sold it sold January 2015.

I recently stumbled across this W58 swapped '92 SC400. It had more miles than I'd like, but the previous owner seemed quite meticulous in maintaining it and all the mods were tasteful and well thought out. After a week of arguing with myself on why I should and shouldn't buy it as it was more than I wanted to spend, I finally bit the bullet and picked her up on 6/26. Here are a few shots I took the day after I brought her home.








The W58 transmission is NOTHING like I'm used to (I've owned a handful of T56 cars, TR3650, E30 5-speed, and my Honda 6speed). The previous owner installed the stock SC300 shifter and it feels as if I'm rowing a canoe across the Hudson. It seems as if reverse doesn't have a synchro as I have to be a complete standstill and go into a forward gear first before I can go into gear. Correct me if I'm wrong. The car has a few tasteful mods, which I'll copy and paste from the previous owner's CL ad:

Here is what I plan on adding in the near future:
18x9.5 and 18x11 CCW Classics. Polished aluminum
255F and 295R Nitto Invo's (already have wheels/tires)
C6 Z06 six piston calipers with IS F rotors up front (SS lines, Hawk HP+ pads) - I have the IS F rotors and the adapter bracket already.
TT rear two piston
RX300 three-spoke steering wheel (if they're made in a similar gray-ish color?)
Change the current Pioneer FH-X700BT to a double DIN Navi unit (X950BH?)
97+ taillights
Auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass (and temp?) & Homelink feature.
Quality short shifter (need guidance here)
Some sort of master cylinder component made by Tilden to work with the T56 TOB - clutch currently engages RIGHT off the floor.

DISTANT future mods (as in no chance while I'm still in school)
LS3 6.2L / T56 swap
KW V3 coilovers
Bigger sways
Color change (Spice Red Metallic, Matador Red, Frozen Champagne, or Lizstick Red)

Realistically, it won't receive any of the wish list mods and I will go purchase one of my true loves (Corvette or 6 series Gran Coupe/'11-13 E92 M3) once I pay off school debt....eons from now. Anyhow, stay tuned for progress pics. If you have any suggestions feel free to throw them out. I'll try to update this thread but will also post progress pics on Instagram as I go along. Looking forward to seeing build progress from the rest of you folks as well.

RicoLSX

Here is the only modification I've done so far. I couldn't stand the stock vacuum cleaner sound of the exhaust so I had a local exhaust shop fabricate an X-crossover in lieu of the stock I-pipe. I also had them remove the factory mufflers and add some new tips, while retaining the factory resonators. I wanted to avoid drone and that nasty, unrefined tinny/raspy type noise of straight pipes. I may replace the resonators with small Borla units down the road, but I am satisfied with the sound for now. I'll be posting a comparison video at some point.





Also, here is a shot of the DIBOND panel the previous owner added. Excuse the filth, haven't had a chance to clean her up yet.

kez

iTrader: (4)

Post video of the exhaust

I need that under carriage plate thing myself

RicoLSX

Five months later, I finally have a video of the exhaust. The wheels are sitting my room and have yet to be put on as I want to give them a full polish first. School > car priorities

Boergy

iTrader: (2)

great car! i have a 97 Sc4 with a W58 tranny, best upgrade ever for this car

but was is a "SC300 manual pedal set with bondra corvette clutch extension"

thanks!

Tom

Kris9884

iTrader: (7)

Good priorities man, school over everyyyything..

maynanator

iTrader: (1)

saw your car on instagram. Awesome to find a thread on it so I can follow your progress. Love the exhaust note with the x pipe. Definitely gives it a more aggressive tone. I need to throw my w58 in my sc400 soon. How's the v8 match up to the 5 speed?

RicoLSX

I found this after a quick search:
http://www.silverhorseracing.com/bon...extension.html

Looks like it simply goes over the clutch pedal to add an extra couple of inches.

For sure! I have to do the best I can here to prepare for grad school.

Thanks, man. I love the added growl/rasp of the x-pipe. The 5 speed definitely makes the car A LOT more enjoyable to drive. 5th gear at 70MPH means 3k RPM, so it isn't quite the fuel efficient swap. First gear is quite short for take off so you'll find yourself at 3k-4k before you realize it, even at normal throttle input. It isn't my daily driver so I don't mind.

Kobrakai

Actually, that's still better than the stock auto so if you do daily one, the swap does actually end up saving you gas lol. Though, that short first gear might totally counteract those benefits.