boostd4

I test drove my dream SC400 this weekend and was totally unimpressed.

I had all these big plans to have a torquey V8 and evenutally build a single turbo setup for it, but all for naught. The 1UZ simply does not make enough low end torque to justify the nightmare of custom making a single turbo kit, plus figuring out fuel/timing.

Of course, I say this because I have an LS1 powered RX7 that is an absolute torque MONSTER. I was hoping I could build something similar but more refined with the Lexus but it makes over 100wtq less and it shows.

ANYWAYS...

I was thinking about picking up an SC300 instead, and I have a few questions.

1) They have several 1JZ Soarer pullouts on ebay. Which transmission (R154, W58..etc) did the manual trans Soarers have?

2) In the US, did any of the 92-95 models have black leather interiors?

I'm sure I'll have trouble finding one, but I'd be looking for a 92-95 SC300 with black leather and possibly manual trans. Where I live only OBD2 cars have to take emissions.

Thanks!

Wicked SC

iTrader: (3)

Soarer trans is a R154....

stockhatch

iTrader: (12)

Be careful buying on ebay. Alot of those swaps say they are from Soarers, but are actually from Supras and Chasers. The Chaser tranny will work but the sump is wrong. The Supra tranny wont work(well, not with good shifter position at least) but the sump is correct.

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

usually odb1 has to pass emissions. odb2 i thought just gets the plug in test. may want to double check with your dmv.

boostd4

I'm very familiar with my local regulations, I'm a self-confessed car-modding addict. I rarely keep cars more than a year or two, and in my county, all OBD1 and prior vehicles are exempt. They are exempt BECAUSE they can't be plugged in. My state (Illinois) governemnt is pretty much broke... running dynamometers to measure pre-OBD2 vehicles is costly, and according to IL, unnecessary because there are far more OBD2+ vehicles on the road (HELL YEAH!).

Thank Jesus and Japan for making tons of awesome cars from '85-95 (amongst other years). I've had one of just about every classic 90's Japanese turbo/muscle car except a Supra. For now, the SC300 will have to do. I'll pick up an MKIV sometime in the future.

I did notice that the Soarers listed on ebay had the short nosed shifter trans (obviously not Soarer). That doesn't concern me too much. I have to see if the parts are still available, but there was a thread on here listing the housing and rod necessary to convert them, and they weren't expensive and didn't need any customization (bolt-on). If I can't obtain them, the fabwork isn't too bad... at least, not bad enough to scrap the R154 for the weaker W58.

The hardest part is deciding what to buy first. I'll have between $4,000-5,000 to spend at first... do I do the 1.5JZ swap first, or do I get the AC bodykit, GixxerDrew coilovers, and rims first?

Hard to say. I may not have a garage to work in next year so I might be forced to do the 1.5JZ swap first, but I can live with that. I've read that the torque made by the stock 1J twins on a 1.5JZ is unreal. As much as I'd like to just throw a GT35R on it from the get go, the supporting mods I would demand (injectors, AEM, etc) are a bit much to swallow all at once with the swap.

Hopefully I'll be satisfied with 350whp/350wtq for a year or so... quite a step up from either the 2JZGE or 1UZFE, I would think. My old MR2 made 350whp/300wtq and was an 11 second car. Unfortunately the SC300 weighs about 700lbs more, so it'll be quite a bit slower.

Here are few of my past cars, though I can't seem to find photos of a few of the older ones (1G & 2G DSM, built Miata, amongst others ):



[IMG][/IMG]

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

nice, loving the mr2 and the FD. thats cool about the emissions business. You shouldn't have anything to worry about then. most model years of SC's have the option of black interior, but its hard to find one. I had a red/black auto I sold for a Red/tan manual SC. the interior can always be swapped, same for the trans. In the classifieds you can get an entire interior for just over a grand. Id focus more on the condition of the car and the body more since it sounds like you are pretty handy with cars.

boostd4

I've done a lot of searching about "black interiors." I refuse to dye it. I did that with the Civic, and though the results were nice, it's just not the same.... definitely doesn't hold up as well.

From the threads I've read, people have a HARD time putting together a complete black interior swap. I don't want to be chasing interior pieces for a year.

v8soarer91

1uz with a m90 supercharger is a totally different engine to drive than turbo.

if you are thinking of doing a 1.5 conversion. just go with the 2jz-gte

boostd4

In the US,

1JZ + R154 = <$2,000 shipped.

2JZ + V160 = ~$6,000 shipped.

I'll take 95% of the power (1.5jz) for 33% of the price, thanks!

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

I wouldn't dye mine either, but every few months Aliga gets a black interior car and he usually posts the entire thing for sale. its only if no one buys it whole does it usually get parted out. I think this was the last one about a month ago. I thought about getting it myself. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...-interior.html

Snx37

R154 and yes they came w black