Has anyone modified their sc with these headers: http://l-tunedparts.com/product/?id=2103
I'm just curious if they fit well, how long job would take, etc.
I'm also interested in the RM Intake:
http://l-tunedparts.com/product/?id=577
Do you think this intake is better than the Injen intake?

 

The S&S headers will need to be accompanied by other exhaust modifications. You could fab a downpipe, change the location of the cats, and make the rest of the exhaust system work, but it would be much more cost effective to go all the way with a new exhaust system: headers, cats, x-pipe, and mufflers with 2.25" piping throughout. The flange type and location on the S&S headers is different from the stock SC flange type and location. There exists no real swap-and-go header for the 1UZ.

As for the intake, it is well documented by way of a flow bench that the BFI (Big Freaking Intake) is the best modification available. It uses the stock airbox with a few homemade modifications. This is the holy grail of Club Lexus BFI write-ups: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=131460

A properly designed intake and exhaust system from the headers back together could net 8-10% hp gains. There is an SC430 guy who documented his S&S Header install very well, and after swapping out his stock header that is better designed than our SC400 header, he still netted like 30wtq from the upgrade. I found his write-up: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=66

 

Thanks for all the information. I really appreciate it. But doesn't ektuning.com make a true bolt on header for the sc400? As for the exhaust system, is there
any you recommend? I'd like to get a dragon torque converter and do the exhaust in the same weekend. I hear a lot of positives about the magnaflow exhaust, do you know where I can find that setup for a good price?

 

There is no pre-fab exhaust out there for the SC400. You will have to go to a shop that has a pipe bender to get something custom made up.

Since you mentioned Magnaflow, there are MANY Club Lexus guys with Magnaflow products. Magnaflow makes a nice 2.25" X-pipe as well as a ton of 2.25" muffler varieties. They have two straight-through varieties that sound strong. I don't recall the part numbers, but their website can get you there in a hurry. To boot, Magnaflow makes a nice, high-flow catalytic converter that is an excellent value. Getting two cats, an X-pipe, two mufflers, and the S&S Headers (plus gaskets/flanges - flanges are sold separately through S&S), you would give the exhaust guy everything he needs to put a set-up together for you.

The only rule of thumb is to keep everything 2.25" throughout. Any bigger is WAY too large and the exhaust gases will get "confused" on their way out of the car, killing low end performance. Any smaller, and you risk choking the engine as the exhaust gases will not have enough room to flow at full speed on the top end.

The Dragon torque converter will get you off the line really impressively. If you mash the pedal, you will do one hell of a burn out to the redline as your engine will be under its fat power band much quicker. In addition, the smaller diameter and lighter weight converter will give you better throttle response almost everywhere as you will minimize rotating mass. An LSD is not a bad idea to prevent wheel spin with the jacked up converter.

 

Check out the Lexus Owners Club Forum....

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...howtopic=30822

I was reading this thread the other day about someone who did a mods to his SC400. He said that he had a ton of fitment issues with the S&S Headers. I personally haven't bothered to check and see how well they fit as I never purchased a set but he did recommend two other sets that he said may not have the same fitment issues. I think he recommended trying the one frok ektuning.com

http://www.ektuning.com/cgi-bin/cp-a...xus:lexussc400

Happy hunting. If you end up getting either set let me know how they sound. I'm considering saving up for some headers and a Dragon TC in the future once I get squared away with some basic issues I have to resolve.

 

I am running S&S headers and yes you will need to do some custom pipe work but if you are installing headers I can’t imagine why you would want to hook them to a stock system anyway.

BFI is the way to go as Mark(Blizzy) said. Thanks for recognizing my BFI install!

Magnaflow all the way!
See my install here!
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219784

On the Dragon TQ that is a great mod! I will be pulling one out in the next month or so and selling it so watch the classifieds. It has about 3000-4000 miles on it.