GKlexus

Hey guys....I have a 97 sc400 with 120k miles but have the opportunity to purchase a 99 sc300 with only 70k miles...I was thinking of replacing the sc400 with the sc300...my sc400 is in good condition and the sc300 is in excellent condition....what are your thoughts - Pros & Cons

horent135

iTrader: (10)

who selling 99 sc300 with 70kmiles, let me know if you don't get it.

SC400 got more power stock, so if u planning to keep it stock and get some power it sc400. 99sc300 is nice, but with 70k u will soon have to do the big maintenance like all the belts and etc.

stephenz

timing belt is not that bad.get the 300 more fun if you plan on boosting it!

Cloud9

iTrader: (2)

for cruising - SC400
for boosting - SC300 (better if it's a manual tranny but I doubt it is

IOWNALEXUS

iTrader: (14)

The 99 SC300 has lower miles,perforated leather,gated shifter,3 spoke wheel and 50k less miles..........so why is there a problem deciding?? IMO the 97 SC400 came up short it has the looks but not the ***** of the VVTi engine so no big loss there so i guess it comes down to the color and price difference......

amgine808

I worked at a lexus dealership and the biggest problem with the 400 is the all aluminum engine. You can't do anything to it without taking it apart and filling it with forged this and that. The 300 will take 5-700 on stock internals. Plus if you want to change a starter on a 400 you have to take off the intake manifold and everything attached to it cause they put it in the V. Can you say pricey, and time consuming. Nothing beats a poor mans Supra except a Supra, or a Skyline or a 500 horse awd. Just my two cents.

huddleston

iTrader: (3)

SC3 - easy choice

klepto2

iTrader: (1)

I had the same choice to make and I went for the 300. My 400 was clean but I could not resist the calling of a boosted I6. Did it and I have no regrets. Get the 300 and boost it.

TURBO819

iTrader: (5)

+ 1
It all comes down to what you want the car for???
Cruising???
OR
Power????
Exterior : They Look the Same
Interior : Perforated Leather, Gated Shifter & Three Spoke Steering Wheel
Colors : Millennium Silver Matallic, Baroque Red Metalic, Golden Pearl, Renaissance Red, Angora Beige Matallic, Imperial Jade Mica, Black Onyx
No Bad Colors in 99 (My Opinion)

$loJam

IMO, you're better off keeping the 400. If you want an upgrade to what you have get a 00 SC400 with vvt-i. It is the final chapter for the Lexus SC gen 1, it's the quickest stock SC (98-00) with all of the factory upgrades. Not too long ago I saw a mint 00 sc 400 with 60k for like 12k. I LOVE my 98 sc 400 plat/blk and will never part with her although she might get jealous b/c I'm going to add a new Taco to the collection. Drives smooth like my 05 RX330 but much quicker. Basically, you're getting new technology in a true classic 20 year old body design.

Wicked SC

iTrader: (3)

SC300 FTW! More options than the SC400..

stevechumo

iTrader: (5)

Some of you don't seem to know what the SC400 is capable of, including the Lexus tech that was mentioned earlier. If you talk about boost, the V8 loves boost so much. Boost it at 12 psi and see how it does to a 17 psi SC300. It'll get away right at dead stop due to its monster tq at low end. The tq is more important than the hp.

The aluminum V8 block can handle boost as much as the SC300 before the SC300 needs to be rebuilt. This V8 engine has been boosted to 450-500 rwhp and rwtq with stock internals at 16-17 psi of boost. But here's the key: the late V8 can't be boosted that much because it has skinny rods comparing to the pre 95 model. I don't think the late SC3 has beefy rods neither. The rods will bend or break before anything else. Did someone mention 700 hp on stock SC3? Are you day dreaming with your 2 cents? LOL.

amgine808

Are you serious? If the all aluminum engine is so great why don't they get used as much as the I6 in comp, especially since it is lighter?

As for the smaller rods, its a 2JZ, all would agree, enough said.

And NO! There is only one all aluminum engine worth a damn and its not made by toyota. The heat causes the heads to warp. They blow head gaskets all the time.

And what happens at a competition when your starter goes out, are you gonna take the intake and fuel rail and all related parts out just to change it? NO, IT'S NOT COST OR TIME EFFECTIVE!

Again...DUDE?

TRD_Power

I'm all for the SC400 or nothing, but in this case it sounds like the 300 is your best bet.

stevechumo

iTrader: (5)

If you're really building this engine and trying to tweak the most potential out of it, then you know this aluminum block isn't the factor why it's not as popular as the inline 6. The main factor is because it's so damn hard to make a turbo or supercharger to fit in the engine bay. Every single thing has to be custom made and it'll be quite expensive if you don't do it.

There's actually more than a handful of people in the U.S. and a lot of people in other countries that have been using this engine to swap into other custom cars and boost the heck out of it. This engine is also used on airplane and boat in custom applications. There're also custom internal parts to build this engine to be bullet proof. If you're interested, I'll be more than happy to link the reference. There're some specific forums dedicated only to this engine and its sibling V8.

Dude, you only need to change the starter for once in your lifetime when you own it. The starter can last up to 200,000 miles easily. Do you think you'll own the engine to 1,000,000 mile and change the starter 5 times? Think again!