5-speed SC3 with VVT-i engine? Would it work?
 

Hi there, I have a 92 5speed SC300 and in the near future I will be thinking about purchasing and dropping in a VVT-i engine from a 1998 SC300. So my question is, would this be possible? Which ecu would I use? I know that Lexus never made a 5-speed manual SC with VVT-i, So im wondering if this is possible.

Thanks

It can be done, but it won't be fun. You'll not only need the engine, transmission, harness, ecu, coil packs, manifolds, exhaust, etc, etc, you'll also need to adapt your return style fuel system (no big deal there) and there are many small details you'll need to take care of. You'd have to use a '98+ ecu but then you'd have to figure out all the values the ecu sees from the automatic and similate them to keep from throwing a CEL once the 5spd is in there. It can be done but unless you're getting a mechanically complete '98+ car for cheap to swap everything over from you'll have to weigh whether it's worth the aggravation. Might be better for you to sell yours and just get a 98-00, there were many other updates to the newer cars that would make it worth it for you.

whoa, that is alot. Ok, thank you very much. It was just an idea I had for a minute

...the minute it took for lex to reply? :)

lol pretty much