SC- 1st Gen (1992-2000)

Saving a 92 SC400 from the scrapyard

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-06-11, 08:15 AM
  #16  
MooJohn
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
 
MooJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I'm in Milledgeville.

The car turns 20 years old this month -- build date of June 1991. I just can't believe how much car you get for the money, even when it's not a deal quite like this one. People are asking $2k for a similar year Civic shell with no engine. Don't get me started on the price of mid 80s Corollas!

Originally Posted by socal72
he said to me now what am I going to do with it?
I would have said "The same thing you planned to do with it when you thought it didn't work!"... especially if that involves selling for a good price.

FWIW, I had no idea power steering fluid could end up in the intake. I know there's a vac port to adjust steering effort, and that the pump can blow fluid all over the alternator, but I hadn't heard about it ingesting the fluid.
Old 06-06-11, 10:36 AM
  #17  
socal72
Lead Lap
iTrader: (8)
 
socal72's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Inland Empire CA
Posts: 695
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by MooJohn
I'm in Milledgeville.

The car turns 20 years old this month -- build date of June 1991. I just can't believe how much car you get for the money, even when it's not a deal quite like this one. People are asking $2k for a similar year Civic shell with no engine. Don't get me started on the price of mid 80s Corollas!



I would have said "The same thing you planned to do with it when you thought it didn't work!"... especially if that involves selling for a good price.

FWIW, I had no idea power steering fluid could end up in the intake. I know there's a vac port to adjust steering effort, and that the pump can blow fluid all over the alternator, but I hadn't heard about it ingesting the fluid.
Yeah I know I should of said that, but I was just trying to strengthen the SC community. Plus when he's practically giving it to me since pick-a-part was going to pick it up for like 4-$500, I didnt want to provoke him to hike up the price...LOL
I think he knows that I will do some good with it and that he knows that he will be able to see it all the time and say to himself "WOW! that use to be my car" I know thats what I would do.
Old 06-06-11, 11:13 AM
  #18  
socal72
Lead Lap
iTrader: (8)
 
socal72's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Inland Empire CA
Posts: 695
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Oh and about the p-steering fluid, yeah theres a valve on the side of the pump that fails and allows the fluid to be ingested through the intake by way of the vacuum lines that runs from the nipple just below the Lexus emblem on the upper intake plenum to the nipple on the intake after the air cleaner. Just locate the lines vac-lines from the IAC valve follow them up to where they connect cap them off. Remove the valve go get you a oil drain plug with the same thread pitch as the valve and a rubber plug as small as you can find cut and use the larger end thread the plug in tighten and reinstall to the pump done and done.Heres some pics of what things look like:
The first two pics are mine and the next two are courtesy of CL member "OLT"




Hope this helps.
Old 06-06-11, 03:04 PM
  #19  
luvmysc400
Lead Lap
iTrader: (2)
 
luvmysc400's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Co
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Nice find looks clean for the price.
Old 06-06-11, 03:47 PM
  #20  
//LRD
Lexus Fanatic
 
//LRD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SC LAND FL
Posts: 5,002
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Great job. I'm sure that SC was very grateful..
Old 06-06-11, 09:57 PM
  #21  
nine3es
Lead Lap
iTrader: (3)
 
nine3es's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: LA
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

nice save!
Old 06-07-11, 10:07 AM
  #22  
LEX_MAN
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (2)
 
LEX_MAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: IN
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Good job man! My hat is off to you.
Old 06-07-11, 06:24 PM
  #23  
1JZPWRD
1JZ Single SC400
iTrader: (59)
 
1JZPWRD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Alabama, Roll Tide!
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 12 Posts
Default

That is a ncie pickup. I have a rear passenger side window if you want it. PM me. I want it gone, if you want to work up a deal. I also have a ton of parts for the tan interior.
Old 06-08-11, 07:21 PM
  #24  
MooJohn
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
 
MooJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

It's already been replaced -- it was the first thing I bought after getting the car. Was $85 on ebay. It can't be easy to remove one that's intact either. It was a major PITA to install it after ripping out the broken window. I applied urethane around the opening, inserted the new window, and bolted it all down tightly -- and it leaked. A few rounds of silicone later it's now sealed.

I never did ask about the back seat. I'm shooting for black seats but I can't even SEM the ones I have. They're dry rotted, moldy, and cracked to pieces from the sun so I would consider dying some nicer tan ones black. Shoot me a PM with the price but I cant guarantee anything right now.
Old 06-08-11, 07:47 PM
  #25  
cmh
Lexus Test Driver
 
cmh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami, FL.
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Hey moojohn ur doing a terrible job... lol... ill take the car off ur hands for $850 jk no man really that car is going to thank u in the long run by giving u years and years of reliability! man fix my power steering!!
Old 09-07-12, 10:04 PM
  #26  
MooJohn
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
 
MooJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I haven't kept the thread as updated as I should, though there hasn't been a terrible amount of progress over the summer.







Since these pics I have painted all the emblems silver. The 20 yo gold plate looked awful and I wasn't about to buy new (or someone's used) chrome. I think it looks great now; the emblems go with the wheels nicely. The door pillars have been patched with carbon fiber vinyl from ebay which was much easier than painting.

I'm going to put the new door panels in soon but I want to reinforce the weak spots first. I also hope to refinish the wood on them.

The trans is also making a noise at idle, like when your power steering fluid is low. I'm hoping it will be fixed with new fluid and filter but knowing my luck it'll be more of an issue. Too bad since the trans has been excellent.
Old 09-23-12, 07:03 PM
  #27  
SoaringSC
Pit Crew
iTrader: (4)
 
SoaringSC's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MA
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

MooJohn, any updates yet on the transmission noise? I'm very interested in the progress of this car. I love that you saved her from being junked!
Old 09-23-12, 07:26 PM
  #28  
lilSCsteve
Moderator
iTrader: (71)
 
lilSCsteve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 3,235
Received 10 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

Looks sooooo much better then when you first picked this up...way to bring it back! Are there any parts you need? Post up a request, there's a lot of members with some good parts for sale.
Old 09-23-12, 08:12 PM
  #29  
brerrabbit
Lead Lap
 
brerrabbit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

MooJohn, you coming up for the next Hennessey meet? Whenever it is... I just want to see the progress, cause it diednt look like the pics do her justice.
Old 09-24-12, 09:04 AM
  #30  
MooJohn
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
 
MooJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Out of funds at the moment but I hope to get the trans fluid and filter swapped. I'm 90% sure that's where the noise is coming from.

It's not in any condition to show up at a meet just yet. The door panels (which I did buy from 1992Lexus btw) aren't in and the idle can't decide if it wants to work right or idle at 3k. The ECU is rebuilt, the TPS tests good so the next thing to try is a used ISC. It astounds me that a $100 part on any other vehicle in the world is $700+ for this car so I'm stuck with another 15+ year old used part. I've already tried cleaning & lubing the current one.

My DD Lincoln Continental is in need of a trans fluid flush too (doing the ol' Ford overdrive shudder) and it gets priority right now. Yes, I have an old man sedan to go with my old man coupe, but it does have an intake & Superchips programmer to go with the 4V DOHC 4.6
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sc4kid
Performance & Maintenance
3
06-23-17 05:52 AM
MikeBykiv
Performance & Maintenance
15
01-16-14 09:33 AM
NiceSC400
Performance & Maintenance
4
05-14-13 08:17 PM
Christian
Performance & Maintenance
11
12-10-12 03:02 PM
BBQPork
Performance & Maintenance
8
09-21-07 07:16 PM



Quick Reply: Saving a 92 SC400 from the scrapyard



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:02 AM.