NWsc400

Hi guys,

I recently picked up a 2000 sc400 which had the exhaust pretty hacked up from some random muffler shop when the previous owner deleted the resonators. Anyway, I'm trying to replace all piping after the front 2 cats but can't seem to find any aftermarket options as all I've seen only provide a set up for 1992-1997. I'm looking specifically for the front pipes after the cats and mid pipe/resonator, as I know there's a lot of muffler options that go from 1992-2000. Do the 1998+ gs400 pipes fit? Any advice is appreciated!

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

First of all congratulations on finding a 2000 SC400!! That is the second rarest of all SC variants and made in very few numbers for the final 2000 model year. That was a special order only only model at the dealer by that time regardless of whether a dealer or customer put in the request for it.

To your question I'm not sure if the piping after the OEM catalytic convertor pipes for SC400's changed between 1992-1997 Non-VVT and 1998-2000 VVT. I'm referring to the pipes *before* the axle-back mufflers as you said. It is possible there is a difference but I am not sure honestly.

SC300 pipes before the axle-back muffler assemblies you can't use as bolt-in on any SC400. Your best bet would be sticking to SC400 OEM mid-pipes.

Definitely no GS400 piping will fit these cars as bolt-in parts. Different chassis and different bends.

This may help. Here are diagrams from the Toyota/Lexus EPC diagrams for the 1992-1997 SC400 exhaust pipe configuration and for the 1998-2000 configuration:

1992-1997 SC400:




And 1998-2000 SC400:




As far as I can tell these look identical to me and very well could be the same image used for both respective parts diagrams. But usually even minor differences show up in these detailed Toyota/Lexus EPC diagrams if there are any.

Don't hold me to it as I've never tried it myself but based on these diagrams for the two separate SC400 revisions I think you *may* be okay to source post-front-cats piping from any other SC400 to replace the hacked up OEM pipes you've found in your 2000 model. I'd say the newer the donor car the better though.

NWsc400

Thank for the reply KahnBB6, I appreciate it! I'm really in love with this car and have been looking to purchase one for quite some time and luckily found a low mileage one that meets my needs for a deal I couldn't pass up. Thank you for confirming that the pipes for the gs400 and sc300 won't work. It is interesting that the diagrams you showed above have the same image but I have also confirmed that the part numbers for the front pipe and mid pipe are different between 92-97 and 98+. Worst case scenario I could purchase it new from the lexus dealer ($480.00 for the front pipe) or wait for someone to part out their 98+ sooner or later but I've had a problem finding anyone since the car is fairly rare. Hoping someone has some input on where they may have purchased theirs, if it's interchangeable, or if there are any aftermarket options.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

You’re welcome! It is always exciting to start off with a special new (new to you!) car that you’ve been looking for!

The rarity of 98-00 SC400’s does complicate things a bit sourcing a few parts such as an OEM exhaust assembly.

I’d hoped the part numbers would be the same between 92-97 and 98-00. Alas.

You could alternatively take a printed version of one of the diagrams of the center piping section to a professional exhaust shop and ask them to recreate it in stainless steel. They could re-use the flanges at all ends from your old center exhaust pipes and try tonmatch the angle to your catback pipe flanges.

Do you think any part of your hacked up original center exhaust assembly is reusable at least to get the mounting angles and general pipe shapes right?

You could try ebay as well but assuming you were to find the correct pipe assembly it would be quite a large box to ship. Some parts dismantlers give pretty good deals even for shipping on large items though.

Jeff Lange

iTrader: (1)

Every piece of the exhaust from the manifolds to the tail pipe has a different part number for 92-97 and 98-00. If you got yourself the entire exhaust system from the heads to the bumper from an earlier car, I've no doubt it could be relatively easily made to fit. Any less than that and you may likely require a bit of modification to get it to fit correctly.

Jeff

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

I put axlebacks and a custom mid-section (replaced the center and rear resonators) on the '94 SC400, then switched it over to the '98 SC400 later. The rear resonators are a different configuration (Kahn, one of those diagrams is incorrect; '98-00 enters on the inside and exits straight out the back (with a different can shape, as I recall) like pictured, but I remember '92-97 being a sharp bend with a side entry), but that didn't matter since they were being bypassed. The mid-pipe lined up fine and looked identical from a visual inspection on the lift. The only issue we ran into is the axlebacks are pinched in a little close to the bumper cutouts. Probably just a slight difference in where the exhaust hangers are.

Looking through my files, it doesn't appear I took a picture of the respective setups. I do still have the original '98 exhaust, if a picture of that would help.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Jeff and t2d2 thank you for clearing this up. If one or both of the partsouq diagrams are incorrect (it came up as basically the same image for both revisions) visually then I'll remove whichever one doesn't conform to accuracy and amend my post. While they generally show small differences between mid-cycle revisions they don't in all cases, this apparently being one of them.

If I have understood your last post correctly, t2d2, for the most part NWsc400 may be able to bolt in the older SC400 exhaust center section (post cats) requiring only slight modification of the hanger locations and some re-angling and re-welding of the pipes leading to the flanges on the mufflers?

Forgive me if I have misunderstood in attempting to form a mental picture of the differences between the 92-97 and 98-00 midpipe/resonator assembly bends.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

Ugh, this new forum software sucks. I uploaded an image to illustrate and it overwrote the response I had just typed out... No one likes a quitter, but I hate stupid stuff like that and have no desire to start over.

NWsc400

Thanks for the replies fellas! Yeah, I'm beginning to think I need to just live with it for now until I find someone parting a 98+ sc400 or just bite the bullet and purchase new from lexus (~$1k). Either way, I appreciate you guys giving your responses and let me know if you find or know of anyone parting theirs out! Thanks!

Maserati

iTrader: (1)

You can always check out the facebook sc groups or facebook marketplace they have pieces in no time, also you may have to hunt on ebay for parts as well.