Need professional help
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Need professional help
No I am not talking about my mental state.
I have two SC 300's - a 1992 and 1993. Both are 5 speeds and in pretty nice cosmetic condition. The issue is they have a lot of minor cosmetic problems - mostly interior - and a number of minor mechanical issues. Both cars run well, the black 93 is a 205,000 mile chasis car with the engine rebuilt with a turbonetics kit at 182,00 miles, along with a number of other mild performance parts (shocks, springs, etc. ). The white 92 is bone stock with 156,000 on it.
I would like to find someone extremely knowledgable about these cars who can go through them and develop a budget to get them where I want them to be. I know it won't be cheap and I am willing to spend some money on them, as we all know they area blast to drive. A full restoration is out of the question as the completed value will not support the cost - even close.
Preferable I'd like to find a shop in Milwaukee (or Green Bay WI) or Chicago as I can easily get the cars there. However all options are open, I can make a punch list with pictures, etc.
I am never going to have the time or mechanical aptitude to do the work myself. So if I can't get them professionally sorted then I'll be selling them. If so I'd like to sell them someone on this forum but apparently I can't post in the classifieds short of 300 posts.
Any ideas are welcome!!!
I have two SC 300's - a 1992 and 1993. Both are 5 speeds and in pretty nice cosmetic condition. The issue is they have a lot of minor cosmetic problems - mostly interior - and a number of minor mechanical issues. Both cars run well, the black 93 is a 205,000 mile chasis car with the engine rebuilt with a turbonetics kit at 182,00 miles, along with a number of other mild performance parts (shocks, springs, etc. ). The white 92 is bone stock with 156,000 on it.
I would like to find someone extremely knowledgable about these cars who can go through them and develop a budget to get them where I want them to be. I know it won't be cheap and I am willing to spend some money on them, as we all know they area blast to drive. A full restoration is out of the question as the completed value will not support the cost - even close.
Preferable I'd like to find a shop in Milwaukee (or Green Bay WI) or Chicago as I can easily get the cars there. However all options are open, I can make a punch list with pictures, etc.
I am never going to have the time or mechanical aptitude to do the work myself. So if I can't get them professionally sorted then I'll be selling them. If so I'd like to sell them someone on this forum but apparently I can't post in the classifieds short of 300 posts.
Any ideas are welcome!!!
#2
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iTrader: (5)
Two very nice 5-speeds you have there
Okay...
The cosmetic flaws being only minor ones will come down to how much you will want to track down good condition interior parts or repair some of the ones that can be repaired. Then there is leather work: the front seats, rear seats, door arm rests, center arm rest lid and the flat section of the door panels can all be custom re-covered in new leather. Katzkin still makes SC-spec new seat covers for these cars front and rear. Pricey but well worth it. Some other aspects of the interior will always have some minor flaws such as the center A/C vents and sometimes the dash boards. The side door surrounds can be repaired and probably re-covered in vinyl if the plastic underneath isn't very compromised in shape. The rear package tray speakers can be re-covered in new fabric.
But the cosmetic aspect alone is just something you have to chip away at as you see fit. And do you want a near-mint appearing show car or is a totally restored interior/exterior that is about 8/10ths up to the standard you wish for?
Now as to modifying the drivetrains, do you have a pretty good idea of how you want one or both of these 5-speeds to be set up if they were "done"? You weren't specific as to the setup you desired even considering one car has a rebuilt engine with an NA-T kit installed already.
I don't know Illinois so I can't help you with shops but there are some members out there who may be able to recommend a couple to you.
The bigger question that stands out to me is whether or not you want to keep these cars. You state the lack of time and lack of mechanical aptitude and maybe that is a practical consideration... but if you really enjoy driving both or even just one of them is there anything preventing you from keeping one to finish modifying and cosmetically restoring at your own pace?
Modifying cars and especially tuning them when highly modified can get complicated but believe it or not many SC owners on this forum started out with only very rudimentary mechanical aptitude and learned and gained more skill along the way.
With performance shops you really have to find a competent one and get some recommendations for them. Many performance tuning shops exist but not all of them know what they are doing with every car and not all of them are going to be as meticulous as you would be in every step of the process. A good one won't be cheap and hopefully a good one will take care with customer cars.
Because of how much it costs to fully go through a classic project car I tend to follow the DIY approach whenever possible. Your noting this as to the value of these cars is true and so it pays to at least try to do some of the work yourself. I am NOT a professionally trained mechanic but other than having the short block and cylinder head both professionally rebuilt (and separately from each other) I managed to assemble an entire 2JZ by studying widely available parts diagrams to track down the parts I needed and by following the factory TSRM as if it were a dumb step-by-step instruction guide (which it absolutely is) with the help of buying whatever specific tools I needed along the way. I have never removed or installed a vehicle's engine before but I will find what ever other instructions I need to learn as I go and I will do both to my SC300.... when I have available the limited appropriate time required blocked off in order to do so.
And believe me, I don't often have very much time to work on my car (or its spare rebuilt engine) and I don't do every single bit of service myself.
I have also considered using one of two shops in order to help me do something I may realize I cannot finish properly, but I consider this a backup option.
The caveat is that I am not tuning an engine making well over 500whp (or +++). That is also another ball game and you or your tuning shop need to know what they are doing. But you still need the car to be assembled to handle that kind of power in the first place.
My point in bringing up my own example is that despite what you say with having limited time and limited experience with automotive mechanical work, if I can do those things then so can you. I have taken the better part of seven years to get my SC as far as I have. That is a very long time but I have been patient, persistent and I asked many questions and had a lot of help and advice along the way. The new built turbo engine still needs to be swapped, the interior has been an ongoing bit-by-bit restoration over eight years (still not entirely finished) and lots of small car projects are still on the table to be completed when I can.
If I had tried to do all of this at once (or afford it all at once) I would have felt very overwhelmed and uneasy about how to complete any of it. Deciding to take things very, very slowly and stick to the desired goals no matter how long it took are part of what made it possible. This is the same general approach that I would recommend to you even if you do use a shop for some work.
At the very least, even when working with a reputable and good shop to realize your overall project goals, it pays to be as involved as you can and do what you are able to do yourself when you have a project or classic car of any kind. Working with a good shop may be the best route for you, but if you do I think you should be very, very clear about how you want your car to end up and with what specifications.
If you need some advice about what setup(s) you will need based on what your goals are, we will be happy to help you figure that out
Okay...
The cosmetic flaws being only minor ones will come down to how much you will want to track down good condition interior parts or repair some of the ones that can be repaired. Then there is leather work: the front seats, rear seats, door arm rests, center arm rest lid and the flat section of the door panels can all be custom re-covered in new leather. Katzkin still makes SC-spec new seat covers for these cars front and rear. Pricey but well worth it. Some other aspects of the interior will always have some minor flaws such as the center A/C vents and sometimes the dash boards. The side door surrounds can be repaired and probably re-covered in vinyl if the plastic underneath isn't very compromised in shape. The rear package tray speakers can be re-covered in new fabric.
But the cosmetic aspect alone is just something you have to chip away at as you see fit. And do you want a near-mint appearing show car or is a totally restored interior/exterior that is about 8/10ths up to the standard you wish for?
Now as to modifying the drivetrains, do you have a pretty good idea of how you want one or both of these 5-speeds to be set up if they were "done"? You weren't specific as to the setup you desired even considering one car has a rebuilt engine with an NA-T kit installed already.
I don't know Illinois so I can't help you with shops but there are some members out there who may be able to recommend a couple to you.
The bigger question that stands out to me is whether or not you want to keep these cars. You state the lack of time and lack of mechanical aptitude and maybe that is a practical consideration... but if you really enjoy driving both or even just one of them is there anything preventing you from keeping one to finish modifying and cosmetically restoring at your own pace?
Modifying cars and especially tuning them when highly modified can get complicated but believe it or not many SC owners on this forum started out with only very rudimentary mechanical aptitude and learned and gained more skill along the way.
With performance shops you really have to find a competent one and get some recommendations for them. Many performance tuning shops exist but not all of them know what they are doing with every car and not all of them are going to be as meticulous as you would be in every step of the process. A good one won't be cheap and hopefully a good one will take care with customer cars.
Because of how much it costs to fully go through a classic project car I tend to follow the DIY approach whenever possible. Your noting this as to the value of these cars is true and so it pays to at least try to do some of the work yourself. I am NOT a professionally trained mechanic but other than having the short block and cylinder head both professionally rebuilt (and separately from each other) I managed to assemble an entire 2JZ by studying widely available parts diagrams to track down the parts I needed and by following the factory TSRM as if it were a dumb step-by-step instruction guide (which it absolutely is) with the help of buying whatever specific tools I needed along the way. I have never removed or installed a vehicle's engine before but I will find what ever other instructions I need to learn as I go and I will do both to my SC300.... when I have available the limited appropriate time required blocked off in order to do so.
And believe me, I don't often have very much time to work on my car (or its spare rebuilt engine) and I don't do every single bit of service myself.
I have also considered using one of two shops in order to help me do something I may realize I cannot finish properly, but I consider this a backup option.
The caveat is that I am not tuning an engine making well over 500whp (or +++). That is also another ball game and you or your tuning shop need to know what they are doing. But you still need the car to be assembled to handle that kind of power in the first place.
My point in bringing up my own example is that despite what you say with having limited time and limited experience with automotive mechanical work, if I can do those things then so can you. I have taken the better part of seven years to get my SC as far as I have. That is a very long time but I have been patient, persistent and I asked many questions and had a lot of help and advice along the way. The new built turbo engine still needs to be swapped, the interior has been an ongoing bit-by-bit restoration over eight years (still not entirely finished) and lots of small car projects are still on the table to be completed when I can.
If I had tried to do all of this at once (or afford it all at once) I would have felt very overwhelmed and uneasy about how to complete any of it. Deciding to take things very, very slowly and stick to the desired goals no matter how long it took are part of what made it possible. This is the same general approach that I would recommend to you even if you do use a shop for some work.
At the very least, even when working with a reputable and good shop to realize your overall project goals, it pays to be as involved as you can and do what you are able to do yourself when you have a project or classic car of any kind. Working with a good shop may be the best route for you, but if you do I think you should be very, very clear about how you want your car to end up and with what specifications.
If you need some advice about what setup(s) you will need based on what your goals are, we will be happy to help you figure that out
Last edited by KahnBB6; 09-12-17 at 10:26 PM.
#3
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Craig is one smart dude! He hit the nail directly on the head regarding where you are going with these cars. I run Lexus of Highland Park which is about an hour south of Milwaukee. PM me on here and we can talk. Would love to help you get these cars where you want them to be. I have helped several people here on the forums and would like to extend the same help to you.
Jim
Jim
#4
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iTrader: (5)
^^ Jim, you're awesome! I know he can benefit greatly from your advice and guidance!
Truly, it depends on where you ultimately want to go with your SC('s) that determines the best cost, route and time required to get there. Another thing that has kept my own project taking a ridiculous span of years is the cost as I have been able to afford it and also the tracking down of specific parts given my chosen setup.
More conventional JDM GTE swaps/builds and NA-T builds are much easier, more accesible with parts and not quite as expensive to get underway. Unless, that is, you're shooting for 750whp++ territory
Truly, it depends on where you ultimately want to go with your SC('s) that determines the best cost, route and time required to get there. Another thing that has kept my own project taking a ridiculous span of years is the cost as I have been able to afford it and also the tracking down of specific parts given my chosen setup.
More conventional JDM GTE swaps/builds and NA-T builds are much easier, more accesible with parts and not quite as expensive to get underway. Unless, that is, you're shooting for 750whp++ territory
#5
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Sorry to sound like such a newbie but how do I send a PM on this forum? Can't seem to figure it out. Jimmymac I's like to discuss this further. Thanks
#6
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brodpphish, to PM someone, bring your mouse cursor over their name, give it a click and you will see a small drop-down menu. Select the option "send a private message to <username>".
To read, send/reply and manage your PM's, go near the top right of any ClubLexus page when you are signed in and under "Welcome, brodpphish" click the "your notifications" text once to reveal a drop-down menu. There, select/click "unread private messages" and you'll be taken to a new page with all of your received and sent messages. From there it's just like any old fashioned email client
To read, send/reply and manage your PM's, go near the top right of any ClubLexus page when you are signed in and under "Welcome, brodpphish" click the "your notifications" text once to reveal a drop-down menu. There, select/click "unread private messages" and you'll be taken to a new page with all of your received and sent messages. From there it's just like any old fashioned email client
#7
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Kahn I just re-read your advise and it is excellent. Made me think abou treally what my objectives are for these cars. The black one has a tan interior and I'd like to do a complete swapt to a black interior. This woudl take care of almost all the issues on the balck one. Some niggly things like the power antenna will need to be addressed but that will be a short list. I'd like to interior to be professionally done. Can you reccomend anyone near teh Green Bay WI area who knows thees cars? The ignition system on the black car was intially insatalled with the NA-T conversion 2004 (dynoe at 320 hp. before a great Greddy stainless exhaust was put on. I know it can be upgraded for more power and tunability for about $3k by a good local speed shop. So that really leaves the interior as the main thing to figure out. The interior swap new igntion will give me teh 9/10th car I am looking to have.
I'm willing to pay for a complete conversion to black interoir. Where to start?
After this is addressed I'll figure ou tthe white car.
I'm willing to pay for a complete conversion to black interoir. Where to start?
After this is addressed I'll figure ou tthe white car.
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#8
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The act of swapping to to a black interior just takes following some DIY guides we have accumulated here on the SC sub-forum. It the collecting of each black interior part that will be a project for you. The parts are out there both from forum seller and ebay sellers. Check the SC300/400 classifieds section regularly to see if any black interior parts or sets are being offered for sale. Sometimes complete or near complete black interiors are offered up for sale in the CL SC300/400 the classifieds.
However while Lexus probably still carries some black interior parts I would only go that route if something were impossible to find on the used market after patient searching over time.
And I would save all your tan interior parts after your conversion to black. Either to recondition the other car or to sell on the forums. While the rarer black interior parts are popular, tan interior parts in good shape are desired too.
Now as to the tuning, I'm not familiar with the Green Bay, Wisconsin area, sorry. However if you and your cars are in Illinois as your location suggests I would take up jimmymac30 (Jim) on his offer to help you with this. He's close to you and knows his stuff and knows local people and shops who can help you
320whp is a good solid conservative number for an NA-T conversion. What ECU did your previous tuner set you up with? The rule of thumb is that once you get past 450-500whp you will start getting into a costlier bracket of modifications. At your current power level up to 450whp or so you should be able to use the tried and true reliable JDM Aristo 2JZ-GTE ECU conversion with your NA-T engine.
However while Lexus probably still carries some black interior parts I would only go that route if something were impossible to find on the used market after patient searching over time.
And I would save all your tan interior parts after your conversion to black. Either to recondition the other car or to sell on the forums. While the rarer black interior parts are popular, tan interior parts in good shape are desired too.
Now as to the tuning, I'm not familiar with the Green Bay, Wisconsin area, sorry. However if you and your cars are in Illinois as your location suggests I would take up jimmymac30 (Jim) on his offer to help you with this. He's close to you and knows his stuff and knows local people and shops who can help you
320whp is a good solid conservative number for an NA-T conversion. What ECU did your previous tuner set you up with? The rule of thumb is that once you get past 450-500whp you will start getting into a costlier bracket of modifications. At your current power level up to 450whp or so you should be able to use the tried and true reliable JDM Aristo 2JZ-GTE ECU conversion with your NA-T engine.
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