First tuneup for Me and My Sc400. Spinning Tires Now! ;-)
04-10-13, 05:28 AM
#1
First tuneup for Me and My Sc400. Spinning Tires Now! ;-)
WOW,
First of all, thank all you guys for the information and the inspiration. I would have been happily paying for all work on my car until i caught the bug, and got the confidence/knowledge for DIY here.
SERIOUSLY THANKS!
I have never done much of anything beyond changing my oil on a car in my life and I am not a young man.
I decided to make the move on this tuneup and It turned out wonderfully.
My car felt pretty fast but sluggish down low and I think the "sluggish" got really more pronounced after I put seafoam in the gas tank. Maybe that [further] fouled my plugs, you will see them below.
I decided to do plugs, wires, caps, rotors, coil packs, coolant temp sensor, fuel filter, thermostat, and a few other things today. It was a large undertaking for a man who has never had a garage, and just purchased his first socket set last month from sears..
WHAT? no Check Engine Light after installation? (i actually had one but it was just the cable going into my MAF being unplugged)
I expected to be posting with emergencies to such a degree I had my iPad ready.
Anyway, on the way home, I was treated to the biggest surprise in some time for me.
My car feels seriously FAST to me.
Many will brag about the spaceships they have driven for reference, and I defer if thats your history........... but I can't see how anyone can call a stock well tuned Sc400 SLOW.
There are WAY faster cars, but THIS is (now) one of the fastest cars I have owned now that I see what it is designed to do!
I don't think i really need 400/500 horses now, just a 5 speed on this motor and I am good.
Today, on the way home is the first time I have spun my tires easily with this car. I didn't try off the line, just while in motion.
I couldn't be happier about the improvement, and the DIY spirit I caught here that made me DO IT.
This is SO not something i would have wanted to do 20 years ago, and I had the time of my life today doing it today.
Thanks Again!
First of all, thank all you guys for the information and the inspiration. I would have been happily paying for all work on my car until i caught the bug, and got the confidence/knowledge for DIY here.
SERIOUSLY THANKS!
I have never done much of anything beyond changing my oil on a car in my life and I am not a young man.
I decided to make the move on this tuneup and It turned out wonderfully.
My car felt pretty fast but sluggish down low and I think the "sluggish" got really more pronounced after I put seafoam in the gas tank. Maybe that [further] fouled my plugs, you will see them below.
I decided to do plugs, wires, caps, rotors, coil packs, coolant temp sensor, fuel filter, thermostat, and a few other things today. It was a large undertaking for a man who has never had a garage, and just purchased his first socket set last month from sears..
WHAT? no Check Engine Light after installation? (i actually had one but it was just the cable going into my MAF being unplugged)
I expected to be posting with emergencies to such a degree I had my iPad ready.
Anyway, on the way home, I was treated to the biggest surprise in some time for me.
My car feels seriously FAST to me.
Many will brag about the spaceships they have driven for reference, and I defer if thats your history........... but I can't see how anyone can call a stock well tuned Sc400 SLOW.
There are WAY faster cars, but THIS is (now) one of the fastest cars I have owned now that I see what it is designed to do!
I don't think i really need 400/500 horses now, just a 5 speed on this motor and I am good.
Today, on the way home is the first time I have spun my tires easily with this car. I didn't try off the line, just while in motion.
I couldn't be happier about the improvement, and the DIY spirit I caught here that made me DO IT.
This is SO not something i would have wanted to do 20 years ago, and I had the time of my life today doing it today.
Thanks Again!
04-10-13, 06:54 AM
#4
I don't do much of my own mechanic work, this thread makes me think I should be doing more of my own work.
And little things make all the world of difference. My other SC has a small exhaust leak, and even just a tiny exhaust leak I notice a loss in power on that car.
And the SC is definitely a fast car. I kept up with an older E class mercedes AMG merging on to the highway the other day. He probably had 350hp. Was really impressed how well the SC did. I didn't get to properly race him but the SC is no slouch. On videos of acceleration of my car from launch it does 0-60 in 6 seconds flat, with just a high stall torque converter I'm going to be in the 5s. The car is definitely fast enough to get me into trouble.
Good thread
And little things make all the world of difference. My other SC has a small exhaust leak, and even just a tiny exhaust leak I notice a loss in power on that car.
And the SC is definitely a fast car. I kept up with an older E class mercedes AMG merging on to the highway the other day. He probably had 350hp. Was really impressed how well the SC did. I didn't get to properly race him but the SC is no slouch. On videos of acceleration of my car from launch it does 0-60 in 6 seconds flat, with just a high stall torque converter I'm going to be in the 5s. The car is definitely fast enough to get me into trouble.
Good thread
04-10-13, 08:27 AM
#6
Glad you caught the DIY bug, those rotors have seen better days thats for sure!
Plugs actually don't look too bad no signs of wear on the insulator, but from the huge gap I can tell they are old.
Im sure it made a huge improvement, glad you are enjoying it.
Once you start doing it its not so bad, whats the next mod? lol...
The 1uz gets a bad rep sometimes because of simple ignition issues like these, but the motor itself is solid.
Toyota put souped up versions of the 1uz in all their race cars years ago, its a really nice engine when you look into how much attention they put into all the small details, which is why they spent almost a half billion $ researching them.
Plugs actually don't look too bad no signs of wear on the insulator, but from the huge gap I can tell they are old.
Im sure it made a huge improvement, glad you are enjoying it.
Once you start doing it its not so bad, whats the next mod? lol...
The 1uz gets a bad rep sometimes because of simple ignition issues like these, but the motor itself is solid.
Toyota put souped up versions of the 1uz in all their race cars years ago, its a really nice engine when you look into how much attention they put into all the small details, which is why they spent almost a half billion $ researching them.
04-10-13, 03:57 PM
#7
Thanks For The Support Guys!!!
I don't do much of my own mechanic work, this thread makes me think I should be doing more of my own work.
And little things make all the world of difference. My other SC has a small exhaust leak, and even just a tiny exhaust leak I notice a loss in power on that car.
And the SC is definitely a fast car. I kept up with an older E class mercedes AMG merging on to the highway the other day. He probably had 350hp. Was really impressed how well the SC did. I didn't get to properly race him but the SC is no slouch. On videos of acceleration of my car from launch it does 0-60 in 6 seconds flat, with just a high stall torque converter I'm going to be in the 5s. The car is definitely fast enough to get me into trouble.
Good thread
And little things make all the world of difference. My other SC has a small exhaust leak, and even just a tiny exhaust leak I notice a loss in power on that car.
And the SC is definitely a fast car. I kept up with an older E class mercedes AMG merging on to the highway the other day. He probably had 350hp. Was really impressed how well the SC did. I didn't get to properly race him but the SC is no slouch. On videos of acceleration of my car from launch it does 0-60 in 6 seconds flat, with just a high stall torque converter I'm going to be in the 5s. The car is definitely fast enough to get me into trouble.
Good thread
Glad you caught the DIY bug, those rotors have seen better days thats for sure!
Plugs actually don't look too bad no signs of wear on the insulator, but from the huge gap I can tell they are old.
Im sure it made a huge improvement, glad you are enjoying it.
Once you start doing it its not so bad, whats the next mod? lol...
The 1uz gets a bad rep sometimes because of simple ignition issues like these, but the motor itself is solid.
Toyota put souped up versions of the 1uz in all their race cars years ago, its a really nice engine when you look into how much attention they put into all the small details, which is why they spent almost a half billion $ researching them.
Plugs actually don't look too bad no signs of wear on the insulator, but from the huge gap I can tell they are old.
Im sure it made a huge improvement, glad you are enjoying it.
Once you start doing it its not so bad, whats the next mod? lol...
The 1uz gets a bad rep sometimes because of simple ignition issues like these, but the motor itself is solid.
Toyota put souped up versions of the 1uz in all their race cars years ago, its a really nice engine when you look into how much attention they put into all the small details, which is why they spent almost a half billion $ researching them.
The next mods?
I am going to mount the Work VX-ZF (255/285 18) and Roll/pull as necessary.
Then timing belt water pump, seals etc. Unfortunately, I am not ready to tackle that one.
If I was getting it done at a local shop I would SURELY volunteer to help for free just to learn. I am getting it done at a Toyota dealer in Manhattan though and I'm sure their insurance wont allow it.
After that, suspension. I am trying to decide on a spring/shock combo. I feel like the gixxer-drew is the "sportiest" I could safely go in NYC but it's over budget. I'm considering Tanabe NF210 for supra TT. Or a similar drop. I'm thinking 1.5 Max.
Then i will make it beautiful. A milder kit, 97+ parts, who knows as i am collecting a few different body parts, painting them my color and swapping them in and out to change the look until i fall in love with one.
Wonder what they did to those 1UZ race motors. They must be SWEEEEEET! I'll have to look them up.
Thanks for the inspiration man. Your patience and informative posts are an education unto themselves.
