ATSservice

Greetings,
We have a 1995 SC400 that the client is keen to revitalize.
If anyone knows of a Lexus specialty parts store, regardless of state, please advise.
We really want to avoid used parts.
Also, we know certain parts from an SC300 will fit, any other years ?
Thank you

Striker223

Yes there is some interchange, what are you looking for exactly?

ATSservice

Copious parts. Kibbles and bits, and large parts.
Trunk struts, window regulator and motors, modules for mirrors, radio is inop, ac blows cold, does not illuminate, steering wheel telescope may also need a module . . .

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

"Copious parts, kibbles and bits and large parts" is very vague. What you are looking for may be available but be advised that if you're restoring one of these cars even if you want to use as many new parts as possible you're going to need to consider some used parts in good or rebuildable condition.

The 1991-2000 Toyota Soarer (Z30 series) is the same vehicle but other than the interior being flopped for RHD there are some differences in wiring especially for the dash cluster, engine harness, signal and wiper stalks and other bits. However as with any JDM RHD that has a USDM LHD counterpart if you know what can cross over as to parts and wiring a lot of things cross over between the two sibling cars.

The 1992-2000 SC and 1991-2000 Soarer also share quite a lot of components on the driveline side in the V8 models and suspension with the 1993-1998 Supra MKIV. What does and doesn't interchange gets in depth.

Trunk struts are available new as aftermarket from RockAuto or you can buy the OEM versions (which last longer but the aftermarket versions last a reasonably good amount of years themselves) from a Lexus dealer like MyLParts (Lexus of Roseville) or from an importer like Amayama.

Window regulators are bespoke to the Lexus SC/Soarer and there are three different revisions since there were small changes to the at-a-glance-identical door windows and their mechanisms over the entire production run.

The Mirror ECU is bespoke to the Lexus SC and if not available brand new you'll need to find a good working one used off ebay or from another used car parts source. It may be possible to open the metal casing (it has tabs on the sides) to potentially give it brand new OEM brand and value type capacitors (which you'd source *only* from Mouser Electronics or Digi-Key as they will have the genuine articles) but no one has tried that yet to my knowledge.

The factory radio head unit is not available brand new any longer. It can possible be re-capped and repaired but most people will either find another good used one to install or they'll install a newer 1-DIN or 2-DIN stereo head unit using a Metra brand replacement bezel for the SC300/400 dash. You will need to consult threads on this forum by CL member Raine to get the full breakdown on how to wire up an aftermarket head unit in a 92-00 Lexus SC. Metra makes a connection harness which is advertised to work for this purpose but as they wire it off the shelf it DOES NOT WORK. However... you can still use it if you re-wire its pinouts in strict accordance with the wiring schematic instructions that CL member Raine details in his threads. Many of us have done this and it is very common for owners of these cars to undertake.

The A/C Controller screen is known to go out on these cars. The long time company that helps the 92-00 SC300/400 community with replacing that screen is Tanin Auto Electronix and I highly recommend sending the unit to them to have that screen replaced. Tanin also fully services the SC instrument clusters and upon special request they can do a preventative maintenance new capacitor service to the main engine ECU (highly recommended).

The steering wheel telescope motor is, I believe, discontinued at this time as a brand new part. A good working used one would be the next option. Be advised that it is harder to get to in the steering column than the tilt motor is. With the tilt motor in these cars you can usually fix a steering column that is stuck in the fully up or down positions by replacing a hard plastic gear inside with a new 3D printed aftermarket example... or by shimming the old original plastic tilt gear with some cheap non-metal washers available from Lowes or Home Depot. There are DIY threads for that repair on this forum as well.

(*Footnote: Some very rare stripper base model 1992-1993 Lexus SC's... usually SC300's... came with a well designed manual non-motorized tilt and telescope column. In Japan this was the prevalent steering column configuration for the Soarer variant. The U.S. and Canada market SC's overwhelmingly got the automatic motorized tilt and telescope steering column configuration. After the 1993 or at least 1994 model year the manual version of the column didn't come on any SC's but it continued to be a regular option on the Soarer variant until production ended for both cars after 2000).

Also, given the age of these cars it is best to set the steering wheel position to the owner's satisfaction and then leave the "Auto Tilt/Telescope" switch in the off position so as to preserve the life of those OEM motors. That way the steering wheel position only needs to be reset again whenever the battery gets disconnected.

....

Further, a couple of cosmetic parts are reproduced on the aftermarket now. For instance, if the rear seat lower buckle covers are cracked and broken due to age and if no good quality OEM examples off ebay cannot be found, you can purchase a new 3D printed set in either the factory tan, factory gray or factory black colors from the small parts vendor AutoExtrude.

If you are in need of a new A/C condenser, A/C evaporator core or factory heater core and none are available any longer new or aftermarket off RockAuto, inquire with an excellent company called The Brass Works. They remake parts like these to high quality exactly like OEM as different customers request them for various cars including classic Toyotas and classic Lexus models.

The very hardest parts to acquire as brand new OEM will be many cosmetic parts. Some are still available but others will need to be reconditioned from good used examples.

The leather seats front and rear can always be handled by a good auto upholstery shop. Leatherseats and Katzkin both still make the correct color coded leather skins for these cars and the upholsterer can order them for the customer.

...

As to engine parts most of the 1995 1UZ-FE V8 engine will cross reference to a 1995 Lexus LS400 1UZ-FE V8. There will be a couple of small parts that are SC specific and the upper and lower oil pans may be included in that... but it's largely the same engine in both cars.

ATSservice

Good morning,
Thank you so kindly for this wealth of information !
I will continue to check this site and your suggestions. It is greatly appreciated.