Greylor

Ok, I have a couple of newbie questions so please bear with me.

I want to buy an SC300. Realistically one from 1992-1994.

How reliable are they? Are there any common problems? How expensive are they to fix? If I buy one with 90k miles will I be able to use it as my daily driver for the next 3 or 4 years?

Thats my major concern. My other questions are around upgrading an SC300.

I've been reading a lot about the upgrades but I still have some questions.

Aside from the Greddy exaust I can't find that many performance upgrades for the sc300's (aside from taking the engine out and putting a supra engine in).
Are there cold air intakes, or headers? If so where do I look?

Here's a better question.
I buy an SC300 for around 10k. I sell my car for 16k. What should I do with the leftover cash? I'm looking mainly for performance upgrade options. The Sc300 is sexy enough without a body kit.

Should some money be left over for repairs?

Thanks in advance for the help,

Matt

SDSC300

seach: sc300 common problems
there are a few helpful threads.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ommon+problems

SupraCoup3

there's TONS of performance mods... It's a simple bolt on turbo. People here w/ the SC300 are running w/ 525 HP @ the rear wheel on race gas... with the stock engine. You can do PLENTY without doing an engine swap... Search for TURBO. And you'll start drooling! (The SC300 can take almost any N/A supra performance part... it's the SupraCoupe!)

John

Greylor

Ok so literally any Supra part will work? How about tower strut bars, and sway bars? Are all the dimentions the same?

Also regarding the turbo, how much do they cost? It doesn't say on the toyomoto site. And could I install it myself or would I have to remove the engine? Remember I'm working within about a 5000 dollar buget.

Honestly I don't want 525hp to the wheels. Are there variable boost controlers for the turbo? This has to be my winter car as well, and I live in NY state.

Thanks for the link SDSC300.

The question still stands. From a performance standpoint, what would you do with 5k to upgrade a SC300?


Matt

SupraCoup3

f-max makes a turbo kit that's a pretty good entry level unit. No crazy HP numbers, but it does come w/ a FMIC (front mount intercooler) and some other goodies. It's about 4800 if I remember correctly.


The problem I've heard about using the supra front strut bar is that the 2JZ-GE engine sits higher that the Supra TT's 2JZ-GTE engine. Hece the strut bar doesn't clear the higher 2JZ-GE (SC300) engine.

Other than that iteams such as lower control arms, brakes etc etc will fit.

Greylor

Wouldn't I need to at least get an exaust if I was going to turbo?

Is there anything you can do to the car to get it to around 260 to the wheels without turboing or supercharging it?

Trying to have a little money left over. And would like to put in a better suspention.

Matt

SupraCoup3

A new air filter maybe, w/ a MAF adapter.
Apexi S-AFC is $309 (plus dyno tuning) and will net you an extra 25 Rear wheel HP... you could get a torque converter (if automatic) and then spend the rest on suspension & save what's left for a rainy day when you want new rims or something...

John

Oh yea... If you can, try to get a 5 sp.

Greylor

Don't worry, I want a 5spd.

Other than the Apexi S-AFC and the Greddy exaust, what else can I do to get a few more horsepower (obviously short of turbocharging)?

SupraCoup3

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=42584

that's a guy selling some stuff that made is SC300 do 260/270 HP @ the rear wheels.


I'd be careful... something about aftermarket cam gears not having harmonic ballencers, search thru past posts. Some guy who wanted to become a sherif's deputy got an SC3 and wanted to do it up, but no turbo.

look for pullies in the past posts.

John.

Bean

iTrader: (1)

you don't have to worry about balancers with the cam gears just the main crank pulley

Greylor

Thanks a lot SupraCoup3. Very helpful.

So have any of you guys had problems with your cars (ones not brough on by after market parts)?

I'm amazed to see how many people have turboed their cars. How does that effect engine life (or will it never matter).

I have a 2000 Jetta (worth around 16k) automatic, and I want to get the SC300. Good buy? or am I an idiot? Comments


Matt

Greylor

Something else.

I just got an email back from Toyomoto. Their stage one kit is $5500, as opposed to the fmax kit for $4800. Which is better?

Matt

Greylor

Anyone??

Camshaft

The Toyomoto kit is better, as per members of the club. Cmputerwiz has the FMAX kit with a toyomoto manifold, which is the hot setup. Fmax manifolds supposibly has problems.