matsushima

Hey guys,

My SC400 runs like a top but I'm in a situation where I have three vehicles, so I don't have to daily my SC anymore. I'm thinking of building up for a motor swap, and I'm really open to options what to install in it. Where I live it possible with a little patience to score most Domestic engines for $200, even with Tranny, ECU and wiring harness it'd be less than $500. Of course whatever I'm considering will sit in the shop and be rebuilt with potential upgraded parts as well. Here are a few of my ideas, please give opinions or other options as well since I'm open for suggestions...

1. LS engine. No brainer...preferably a 6.0. Good mileage, crazy potential and hp tuner compatible...

2. 2UZ with 1UZ crank/connecting rods??? Possible? (Shorter stroke, faster revving, stronger rods)

3. 500 Cadillac. My best friend had a trans am with a built 500, with a mild build using ported factory heads it made over 550tq to the wheels.

4. Ford 289/302. Build up using forged internals, everything lightened, using older block high in nickel content. Wanting a very high compression (14.5:1) E85 built engine, crazy throttle response to at least 9000 rpm....

I'm looking for something that is hot and fun, but will last awhile while not completely breaking the bank. I'm leaning towards building the caddy to about 500whp 600tq and throwing a dual stage 250 shot on it.....

SUGGESTIONS GUYS??????????

Biddles

iTrader: (2)

Plenty of power, and good gas mileage. That's pretty much two things everyone want's out of there SC. The LS1 engine would be a great choice.

matsushima

Completely agree. I know with old school carb Engines I'm going to be changing spark plugs everytime I turn around. Not so with the LS. Im already an f-body fan I have an lt1, t56, WS6. If you look you can barely see my SC chilling in the garage lol

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Matsushima, while I think you'd have plenty of fun with a turbo JZ engine swap in an SC, you are in luck in that there is some support and groundwork already laid to swap an LS1 or LS2 + T56 6-speed (or auto if you prefer) into your car. Also, GM 5300 V8's.

I started on old carbureted Ford 302 V8's and they are a lot of fun and very plentiful but for an SC, I do think the LS1 is the best choice of all. Really well built 302 or 5.0 EFI engines are amazing but in their base form they need a lot of work to get up to the potential the LS series already has. Remember that their most popular chassis combination was in a lightweight 2800-3100lb Fox chassis. The 289 is great too but those just make more sense in a lightweight 60's Ford or Cobra replica.

The 500 Cadillac engine... yeesh, what years did those come in? That's going back quite a bit. Is that the same powerplant in the big two door FWD coupes they sold around 1969-70 or so for only a couple of years? Those were monstrous.

matsushima

I'm really tending to agree with you guys. The caddy engine isn't that hard to find honestly. It's late 60's to mid 1970's. It came as an option in all models, (472 or 500) and it came in every El Dorado (Big front wheel drive) Some of the old school motors are honestly warhorses once you start knife edging cranks, balancing and putting modern tech on them. 500, 600, 700 horses NA is possible. There's a 351C (Motor that doesn't get much credit) making 782hp on an engine dyno...

Another engine I see 20 of in the junkyard is the northstar. Pretty hot motor for what it is, I had one in a 1997 deville and liked it a lot, but they are head gasket blowing turds in all seriousness.

Aron9000

I'd suggest you buy a 5.3 V8 for cheap and do a turbo build if you're going for bang for the buck.

If you want to keep it all Toyota, buy a 3UR-FE V8/trans combo out of a late model Tundra, Sequoia, Land Cruiser or Lexus LX. There is a dealer installed supercharger kit that will get you right around 500 crank horsepower.

Not sure if that swap has been done before or how it will all fit under the hood of an SC400, but it does seem intriguing. Here's an article about that combo in a much heavier Tundra.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

The big 1969+ El Dorado coupes were what I saw the 500's in, thank you. Yeah, those are monsters.

The Ford 351 Cleveland engines are legendary. That was a motor I wish I had when I owned a 60's Mustang. Even then (90's) they were harder to find and significantly more pricey than any 351 Windsor. And only a few parts interchange with the more common 289/302/351W engines. I assume there is a carburetor-based EFI system available for them now.

The Northstar was impressive when it was new but... thumbs down to that one.

I like Aron's suggestions ^^

Aron9000

The thing you need to remember about that 500cu Cadillac V8 is that it is cast iron and weighs A LOT more than a 1UZ-FE. Also you can build a Big Block Chevy for much cheaper with the same sort of horsepower, aftermarket is a lot better with those motors, but I still love the Cadillac engine for its novelty of being the largest displacement engine offered in a production car.

One day I'd love to have a 1969 or 1970 Coupe Deville with a built 500cu Cadillac V8 under the hood. Ideally that 220+ long car would run an 11 second quarter mile and remain perfectly streetable with working a/c, power steering etc, aka it would still be a Cadillac

matsushima

I checked in to weight and dimensions last night. It seemed to go like this

1UZ 390 pounds
Ford 289. 470 pounds
Iron block LS 520 pounds
500 caddy. 575 pounds
Big block Chevy 680 pounds

The issue with the Cadillac is that it's literally 5 inches taller than the 1uz. I don't think raising the hood a few cm with washers Will help at all. I'll have to cut the hood and make a scoop or cowl.....I don't know if the custom engine subframe would be able to compensate any for this and sit the engine lower so to speak....

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

351 W/C > insert any other ford motor here

I would have to second the 5.3L iron block LS and throw a turbo on it (2 if adventurous).
making loads of torque and hp on that is easy.

there is always the 1UZ or 2UZ route, but its not for the faint of heart and up there power to cost wise.

INTIMAZY

iTrader: (5)

I'll throw in two more oddballs on here.

Ford Triton v10 2005-2010 (3 valve aluminum head)
Dodge Ram V10 1994-1003


Yea I may have a little v10 fetish going on right now but hear me out:

The Ford came with a forged crank (cast rods) and can bolt up to a nice low-height E-series van manifold. Just run the factory ECU. SOHC cams can be reground for more power just like the other popular 4.6/5.4 motors. 6.8 liters of 'murica would make the SC chassis move effortlessly.

Dodge had a plain pushrod design and shared geometry with the older Magnum motors. Cast iron block but also featured fairly stout cast crankshaft and forged connecting rods. 8.0 liters of 'murica. Makes a cushy 450 ft-lbs of 'murica at just 2400rpm. Think of it as a REALLY cheap alternative to the Viper v10.

Who wants to make an SC680 or SC800?

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Intimazy, you piqued my interest with the iron-block 8.0L V10 "Poor Viper" engine

Actually, a LONG time ago I read an article in a Mustang magazine wherein they took a 3.8L V6 "New Edge" model (somewhere around MY 97-98 or 99-01), ripped out the six and shoehorned in a Triton V10. It was some work but a lot of stuff surprisingly fit. Not sure about nose weight and I cannot remember if they left it as an auto or swapped in a Tremec manual. Maybe I'm very behind the times and that's a much more common swap now. I remember in the article they didn't like the stock ECU and were looking at standalone options... which being 10-13 years ago were nothing compared to what we have today.

The Viper engine though...

INTIMAZY

iTrader: (5)

The 6.8 v10 triton is a porky 620lbs with accessories which is not horrible and really not much more than the 5.4 v8 that it shares many dimensions with. It actually fits Mustangs very well since it literally BOLTS into the factory mounts and mount locations with no modification. Just need to make space up front by the radiator which isn't too hard since those cars come with electric fans anyway. Just need to relocate coolant reservoir.

Aron9000

If you're going for the GM V8 route, get the 6.0 V8 out of a heavy duty truck or heavy duty van. Those had the heavy duty 4L80e trans in them, which is pretty darn stout. The 4l60e in the light duty trucks is kind of suspect IMO, I mean they hold up if you don't beat on them or dramatically increase the power, but from the sounds of it this combo is going to get thrashed pretty hard

matsushima

It's funny you guys mention the dodge v10, there is one at my pick a part just chilling up front already pulled, waiting to be bought.
The easiest way to get cubes would be for me to get a 460, pay about $1700 for a forged stroker kit and get I believe a 545 or a 554?? Just getting worried I'd have to cut into the strut towers to make things fit. The turbo LS route looks better everyday....

I did see an older GS300 and an 03 model with the 2jz's heavily intact....