nnnickkk's SC400 Build Thread
07-06-16, 07:59 PM
#1
nnnickkk's SC400 Build Thread
Hi All!
This is my 3rd SC. My previous 2 were both white/tan 300's, a 94 and 98. This time around I wanted to go with a 400. Also I didnt want tan interior, so I went bought the first one I looked at, a 92 with grey interior, Nakamichi, heated seats, 130k miles.
Day I bought it.
Immediately after purchase, went to drop it off at a performance shop where I used to work to rack and inspect it.
Ended up finding a rear brake line had been rubbing on the wheel. I took it to Tustin Lexus to have that replaced, ended up finding a hardline leaking under the hood as well. Had them convert & recharge the A/C, drain and fill diff, full t-belt package w/ water pump, valve cover gaskets, plugs, wires, and some other little misc stuff. Figured if I am going to start daily driving it I want it bulletproof reliable.
One of the first mods was the Acura MDX antenna since the power unit was busted. It is part number 39150-S3V-A01. Super easy install, just needed a washer for the inside for it to fit the oblong hole in the body of the SC.
The headlights needed some love, so with the 3M kit they look good as new.
Added some LED low beam bulbs as well (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
While I was at it with the lighting, replaced every bulb on the car with LED. Cluster bulbs are still on order.
I am forcing myself to get suspension/wheels/tires until I do major cosmetic stuff, so red film over the dated looking amber tails for now.
Went to my guy to have window tint done, a quick job turned into an all day ordeal since I ended up rebuilding and reinforcing the door panels and glass surround trims. Added washers on most of the bolts since the cardboard/poly/whatever it is door panels are getting aged, filled the window surrounds with foam to prevent even more cracking, and also had to glue everything that was broken back together again.
And finally after a 8a-5p window tint job...
More updates to come!
This is my 3rd SC. My previous 2 were both white/tan 300's, a 94 and 98. This time around I wanted to go with a 400. Also I didnt want tan interior, so I went bought the first one I looked at, a 92 with grey interior, Nakamichi, heated seats, 130k miles.
Day I bought it.
Immediately after purchase, went to drop it off at a performance shop where I used to work to rack and inspect it.
Ended up finding a rear brake line had been rubbing on the wheel. I took it to Tustin Lexus to have that replaced, ended up finding a hardline leaking under the hood as well. Had them convert & recharge the A/C, drain and fill diff, full t-belt package w/ water pump, valve cover gaskets, plugs, wires, and some other little misc stuff. Figured if I am going to start daily driving it I want it bulletproof reliable.
One of the first mods was the Acura MDX antenna since the power unit was busted. It is part number 39150-S3V-A01. Super easy install, just needed a washer for the inside for it to fit the oblong hole in the body of the SC.
The headlights needed some love, so with the 3M kit they look good as new.
Added some LED low beam bulbs as well (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
While I was at it with the lighting, replaced every bulb on the car with LED. Cluster bulbs are still on order.
I am forcing myself to get suspension/wheels/tires until I do major cosmetic stuff, so red film over the dated looking amber tails for now.
Went to my guy to have window tint done, a quick job turned into an all day ordeal since I ended up rebuilding and reinforcing the door panels and glass surround trims. Added washers on most of the bolts since the cardboard/poly/whatever it is door panels are getting aged, filled the window surrounds with foam to prevent even more cracking, and also had to glue everything that was broken back together again.
And finally after a 8a-5p window tint job...
More updates to come!
Last edited by nnnickkk; 07-06-16 at 10:11 PM.
07-09-16, 01:16 PM
#3
Clean car! It looks like you're local in Orange County too.
Would you mind posting up some night time output shots of those LED head lights? I was eyeing the exact same ones on amazon a couple of weeks ago, but I couldn't decide if I wanted to pull the trigger.
Would you mind posting up some night time output shots of those LED head lights? I was eyeing the exact same ones on amazon a couple of weeks ago, but I couldn't decide if I wanted to pull the trigger.
07-10-16, 09:10 PM
#5
Thanks!
Yeah im in OC. Would love to meet up and check out your SC, its super clean! I'll get some pics of the cutoff with these bulbs, its really amazing for how old the car is.
Super glad I did the foam. Its all going to come out again someday to do the audio, will definitely be doing some more foam and reinforcement.
Super glad I did the foam. Its all going to come out again someday to do the audio, will definitely be doing some more foam and reinforcement.
08-30-16, 08:17 PM
#7
Its been a while since my last update, had some issues with the car, but figured it all out!
For about a week I had a 'ghost' check engine light. Symptoms were while driving, the check engine light would go off and on at random, when it was on the car would dump a ton of fuel and bog out, sometimes even just die. At idle, it would be at around 200rpm, dump fuel and not want to drive, then all of a sudden the light would shut off and go back to normal. When trying to jump the terminals to pull codes, nothing was able to be pulled, just a solid CEL. Also when turning the key to ignition (not running) when all the lights on the cluster are supposed to be on, the CEL was not lit up. At first it stumped me so I tried some cheap solutions first like a new MAF and cleaning the idle control valve.
Ended up doing some research and talking with some veteran Lexus techs, with the research I did and their input, I decided to replace the ECU. Found a used one on ebay, popped it in, she's back to her normal self! Big thanks to this thread and all the info in it: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...capacitor.html
After I got that figured out, I dropped the car off with my friends at Magnaflow where they needed an SC for some R&D on cats and exhaust measurements, they hooked me up with an axleback!
Fast forward to the mods, I have some Apexi N1 EXV coilovers on the way, front upper & lower control arms and the Prothane front upper/lower bushing kit, Godspeed rear traction rods and toe arms.
Wheels & tires are still being contemplated, hoping to have at least the suspension & wheels done and on by end of October for the Street Neo Classics show.
For about a week I had a 'ghost' check engine light. Symptoms were while driving, the check engine light would go off and on at random, when it was on the car would dump a ton of fuel and bog out, sometimes even just die. At idle, it would be at around 200rpm, dump fuel and not want to drive, then all of a sudden the light would shut off and go back to normal. When trying to jump the terminals to pull codes, nothing was able to be pulled, just a solid CEL. Also when turning the key to ignition (not running) when all the lights on the cluster are supposed to be on, the CEL was not lit up. At first it stumped me so I tried some cheap solutions first like a new MAF and cleaning the idle control valve.
Ended up doing some research and talking with some veteran Lexus techs, with the research I did and their input, I decided to replace the ECU. Found a used one on ebay, popped it in, she's back to her normal self! Big thanks to this thread and all the info in it: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...capacitor.html
After I got that figured out, I dropped the car off with my friends at Magnaflow where they needed an SC for some R&D on cats and exhaust measurements, they hooked me up with an axleback!
Fast forward to the mods, I have some Apexi N1 EXV coilovers on the way, front upper & lower control arms and the Prothane front upper/lower bushing kit, Godspeed rear traction rods and toe arms.
Wheels & tires are still being contemplated, hoping to have at least the suspension & wheels done and on by end of October for the Street Neo Classics show.
Last edited by nnnickkk; 08-30-16 at 08:21 PM.
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09-04-16, 04:07 PM
#13
So in preparation for the wheels & suspension, I spent my labor day sunday laboring on relocating the harness from the driver fenderwell to the engine bay and back around. Going through a few other threads here, I found a great youtube video that aided in the process. The harnesses you unplug in the driver footwell are a bit of a pain, but a good light and a set of picks will get the connector out with ease. Got the harness out, re-routed up top, wrapped in electrical tape then covered with loom. Pics below:
Here is the link to the youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Httq...ature=youtu.be
10-12-16, 09:47 PM
#15
Got all my parts gathered for the suspension/wheels/tires phase. Apexi coilovers, OEM upper and lower LCA, Prothane FCA bushing kit, Energy ball joint covers, Godspeed rear traction and toe rods.
Enkei wheels and Hankook tires
Burning out the OEM bushings on the control arms
Here is a sneak peak, going to work out some small kinks, try and get some good photos done and take the car to show at Street Neo Classics at Toyota corporate on Oct. 23.
Enkei wheels and Hankook tires
Burning out the OEM bushings on the control arms
Here is a sneak peak, going to work out some small kinks, try and get some good photos done and take the car to show at Street Neo Classics at Toyota corporate on Oct. 23.