What exactly is the big obstacle to someone supercharging their SC400 on their own? Most people don't have the knowledge/fabrication capabilities?

Is it because no one has done it completely before, and thus there is no definitive insight or guarantee that it can be done (well)?

Seems to me that someone could make it work, log what they did, and pass it on. A kit is simply a body of knowledge transformed into a pre-defined package of parts and actions.

So is lack of reliable and repeatable precedent the crux of the issue?

 

http://www.mechtech-ms.com/html/turbo.html

Further down the search results, I ran into the aussies. I guess they contacted him and found that the mech-tech thing was a one-off that never went any further:

"Thank you for your inquiry. We have Twin Turbo charged (2) SC400's, a couple years back. (you can reference the turbo mag article on our web site). The systems worked great. We do not however tool or jig the system. It is custom 1-off install. The cost is approx: $14,500-$15,000. We are considering going into manufacturing so we can produce a kit. I estimate the Kit cost at about $8900-$9500 complete. Please call us for further details."

Yikes! Pass.

http://www.lexus.australia.as/techni...rcharger_2.htm

ALSC - Andy's rig is mentioned in there, along with a few other attempts.

 

number of people have spoken to mech-tech about the twin turbo sc400.
9000 for a twin turbo kit is not a bad price. 14000 is bad price.
I think that article may be more than 2 years old now.

 

Several people have done it, its just that a lot of parts have to be custom made. Producing the custom parts for a kit then becomes not cost effective.

Then factor in the extensive tuning involved and it no longer becomes a bolt on kit. You really need to know what your doing and be able to adjust it in real time in order for it to work. People want a plug and play kit.....and that right now is impossible. DIY is the only way.


Keith

 

So noted, there is no bolt-on solution. But let's be honest - you can still record what you use, what you do, and how you tune.

If one of the people who has done it simply kept track of the parts they used, what they did, and the specific tuning numbers, it'd enable a lot more people to try it.

The R&D and technical knowledge to develop a solution is the tough part - repeating what someone else has done based on their notes and recommendations, well, that's a little easier.

 

CL user lextreme's got a self R&D custom twin turbo setup on his LS400 runs 324RWHP. you can go to www.lextreme.com to see detailed photos and step by step of what he has done and parts he used and all necessary information for you to replicate a twin turbo setup. Its been documented.

 

All parts are custom made the first time around, no matter what part you are talking about. The fact that you now have a part(s) that fit, and you know the specs on them, you can now mass produce them without the time involved in the initial R&D process, which in turn would allow you to produce them at a cost effective price point without the R&D labor time/ money involved.

As far as the tuning/ dyno time, thats to be expected with any SC or turbo kit, I dont care if its a one off or a kit that has been in production for years. It comes with the terratory, more flow= more fuel= more tuning. If your rational is that if you have to tune a car after modding it then its not a bolt on kit, then there is no such thing as a bolt on kit, anywhere. You "MIGHT" be able to get away with not tuning a mild SC set up, but I doubt it. you will never be able to bolt a turbo kit on any car without tuning it, yet they are still considered bolt on kits.

 

Just to let you know. TT on a SC is not impossible. I have done it on my LS400. My system should work on SC400 too. Please do copy my system. I have nothing to hide. However, i made few mistakes on the way and i learn from and i can share with you. Many people asked my if i would produce the kit. As I told to many people its cheaper for my to produce 10 kits instead of one. Producing 10 kits is the same about of work at producing one kit.

If you have enough determination, JUST DO IT! It not as hard as people think.

Secondly, I am looking to a 92 SC400 to do some R&D. I decide to make a supercharger for the SC400 instead of single turbo. Supercharged is very easy. I need someone to let me borrow their car for 3-4 months and along with $3000. I can make you a supercharged system. What is in it for me? The pattern right to the supercharged system.

We all know supercharged system will produce slight less power than turbo.

This is my vision. 8 psi with completely stock fuel system and intercooled. Estimated RWHP would be around 300 rwhp. Of course with more fuel upgrades and so on, your SC400 can see 500 rwhp. The hardest part of supercharging is the bracket. Guess what? My brother is a CNC specialist. He can make me anything i show him.

Now, i need to sell my 500 rwhp Cobra first before i can allocate the money to do the supercharged project.

 

Oh, I'd be down with just supercharging it myself with some proper counseling and feedback.

Problem is, I discovered the heinous insurance costs of even a 1997 SC400 compared to what I have now, a WRX. I was hoping to get a used car and pay less, but not the case here.

 

This is so true, but you have to realize that people like us that supercharge cars (I've done several in the past) are gearheads looking for power. We tinker and tinker and tinker. We don't use CAD systems to document changes in parts, we just fire up the welder or hit the grinder. We just eyeball it and work it till it fits-kinda trial and error. And when it finally works we smile, we don't look at profit potential, we mourn the $$$ spent on the project but enjoy the hobby. Making a kit from an installed and functioning SC isn't as easy as it looks. We don't take detailed notes, nor do we even document the whole process. We don't have time- we have a family to deal with along with jobs. We starve to find just a few minutes to work on our car.

Have you ever tuned a 400's computer - Nuff said!

I'm a Biologist by degree with an engineering minor, not a business man. I wouldn't even know the first step to clear the legal issues involved in making a kit, let alone how to draft the specs for the fab shop to make the parts; or even how to produce, advertise, and sell the product. Not to mention the money required to get the initial 10 kits required for most shops to produce the parts. Then factor in the non existant time that I (don't) have.

The mentality to DIY and be done with it is so much more convienient than making a kit. Kudos to those that have the money and resources to make one though.

I've looked at SC'ing my 400, but the computer is my biggest obstacle. Untill we can safely manage the fuel system w/o having to use a stand alone, or without having severly low boost potential, it just isn't worth the $$$ to invest.

I've got several NOS kits collecting dust in my garage, and I'd rather slap one on and play with timing than to drop thousands into a supercharger and realize the OEM computer will just limit everthing. My SC is my daily driver, so I must keep it reliable. I have other cars that are my toys with full setups- but for the Lexus, it has to be reliable. I look forward to the Australian SC becoming a kit, but fear it will not work on Americam models due to the different computers and fuel used. Time will tell. If it works, I'll be the first in line. I wish them all the best of luck and look forward to seeing their progress. Unill then, I wait and listen. I've enjoyed being the gunnie pig too many times in the past. I've enjoyed the glory and had my day. Now I'm older and don't have the time or the money that I used to. I wish others the same luck I've had in the past and hope to work off someone elses knowledge for once. Now family comes first. If a VERY reliable SC kit comes out- I'll buy it. And I look forward to the day.

Keith

 

hey guys, i dont know if you have ever came across these websites i am about to post, but i dont think i ever seen them on CL. They are both sites with TT 1uz-fe; the first one is a turbo kit i stumbled across, and the 2nd page is where i got the link for it! well i hope this is a breakthrough for some sc4 owners! well enjoy

http://www.mechtech-ms.com/html/turbo.html

http://members.optushome.com.au/acti...twinturbo.html

Kevin

 

heres a pic of a TT 1uz-fe

 

nice link! I have never seen that! thanks for the info... now if I could only get it done for 50 bucks! haha

 

This was posted last week by Martel.

Merged

MW

 

As a result there is huge potential for more gains. Currently the car is pulling 220kw at the wheels with 520ft/lb of torque.

I really dont know how he get some much torque from the two turbos. I think its T25. I am getting 324.5 rwhp with 327 ft/lb. How is he get 520 ft/lb with only 220 kw (think its somewhere around 270-300 rwhp)