engine upgrades
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Re: engine upgrades
Originally posted by LEXBOGGY
Heloo all, I was wondering has anyone with a SC400 had there heads ported and polished? and also has anyone used that turbonator thing in their intake?
Heloo all, I was wondering has anyone with a SC400 had there heads ported and polished? and also has anyone used that turbonator thing in their intake?
there is JACK **** for the sc400 in performance =( but if you are brave enough or wait
www.lextreme.com is making a turbo kit for the sc400. also dont buy the turbonator... that thing is a rip off.
if i were you id get cold air intake via www.lexussc400.com. get custom made exhaust with magnaflow mufflers, as you said heads ported and polished. custom made pistons 11:1 i THINK to get some more power out of it. also a safc-II by Apexi could help you get around 10 hp. another great link for our cars is :
www.planetsoarer.com
edit: also on www.lexussc400.com they sell a dragon torque converter which helps you out great in the low end. also you could get an oil cooler tranny kit, this helps a little bit, i think you can pick one up from www.summitracing.com . Since all the superchargers for this car are in austrailia, we dont get ne =( Personally im saving up for a custom turbo setup in a place in atlanta. i hope this helped. agian ill just post some of my fav links:
www.nopionline.com
www.planetsoarer.com
www.clublexus.com [of course!!!!!]
www.homemadeturbo.com
www.lextreme.com
Last edited by europaUO; Mar 21, 2004 at 09:58 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
I've done a little to the ports, but more to the airflow meter.
The ports are pretty decent, however, while I had the intake off for a starter replacement, I stuffed some well oiled bits of rags into the ports, and did some clean-up to the dividers where the ports go to each intake valve.
The cast surface left a rather blunt surface, and I knife edged the situation for a noticeable increase in all around power.
The airflow meter is a little easier to get at, and there are some blunt surfaces in the entry that will serve you better if they were to be rounded a bit, as well as a rubber gasket that can find it's way into the path of air.Another thing; the aircleaner that Lexus has provided is a bit small; I went to a larger one and noticed a difference as well, since I understand that the injector duty cycle has been maxxed out from using the aftermarket piggyback ecu.
After doing al of that, I ported out the airflow meter .125" on one surface inside, and raised the fuel pressure to balance it all out.
I'm currently using a Unichip fuel/spark controller (piggy back ecu) as well.
The ecu was the first thing to be installed, and all the other mods together have given about the same increase in power as that, so it's running pretty good right now.
The ports are pretty decent, however, while I had the intake off for a starter replacement, I stuffed some well oiled bits of rags into the ports, and did some clean-up to the dividers where the ports go to each intake valve.
The cast surface left a rather blunt surface, and I knife edged the situation for a noticeable increase in all around power.
The airflow meter is a little easier to get at, and there are some blunt surfaces in the entry that will serve you better if they were to be rounded a bit, as well as a rubber gasket that can find it's way into the path of air.Another thing; the aircleaner that Lexus has provided is a bit small; I went to a larger one and noticed a difference as well, since I understand that the injector duty cycle has been maxxed out from using the aftermarket piggyback ecu.
After doing al of that, I ported out the airflow meter .125" on one surface inside, and raised the fuel pressure to balance it all out.
I'm currently using a Unichip fuel/spark controller (piggy back ecu) as well.
The ecu was the first thing to be installed, and all the other mods together have given about the same increase in power as that, so it's running pretty good right now.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
if i ahd the money id buy the jdm version of the 1uz and buy the supercharger kit from aus.
rod millen is the only guys who amke a cai intake for us.
rod millen is the only guys who amke a cai intake for us.
Last edited by europaUO; Mar 21, 2004 at 06:07 PM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
there must be some size or hp difference, cause the aus and japan superchargers will fit them. ill look more into this. and since ur in aus, you got it, us usa guys get scaled down **** for no reason. god i hate this country for the cars! 
Last edited by europaUO; Mar 22, 2004 at 02:13 PM.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,746
Likes: 1
From: Glued to my desk.
rod millen is the only guys who amke a cai intake for us.
As far as a port and polish, I don't believe anyone has done this yet. I'd probably get some reground cams before a port and polish.
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Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Europa,
the only differences I know:
1. You get a more free flowing exhaust than our JDM cars
2. Maybe something about more o2 sensors for the US?
3. You have EGR and AFAIK we don't
There is no difference to the size or shape of the engine. There is no reason I can see, apart from maybe some tiny fabrication to get around a hose here or there, why the superchargers shouldn't fit your motor?
You hate your country for cars?????????? Hello.... you have the best selection of cars in the world. Try over here... no GM or Ford sports cars. No Dodge. All the Euro brands sell jack of their selection and theyre REALLY expensive. Hell, the SC4 wasn't even imported here - we had to import them privately, and now the gov is shutting the door on that to protect they're local crappy cars. What do we get made locally that they call a "sports car"? We get family sedans with a faulty underpowered 350 chev shoehorned in it. Woopeee.
About the best thing we will have left after the gov bans personal imports will be the WRX. And we only get the 2.0 turbo over here. Quit whining. America is obviously the best place on earth for cars. duh.
the only differences I know:
1. You get a more free flowing exhaust than our JDM cars
2. Maybe something about more o2 sensors for the US?
3. You have EGR and AFAIK we don't
There is no difference to the size or shape of the engine. There is no reason I can see, apart from maybe some tiny fabrication to get around a hose here or there, why the superchargers shouldn't fit your motor?
You hate your country for cars?????????? Hello.... you have the best selection of cars in the world. Try over here... no GM or Ford sports cars. No Dodge. All the Euro brands sell jack of their selection and theyre REALLY expensive. Hell, the SC4 wasn't even imported here - we had to import them privately, and now the gov is shutting the door on that to protect they're local crappy cars. What do we get made locally that they call a "sports car"? We get family sedans with a faulty underpowered 350 chev shoehorned in it. Woopeee.
About the best thing we will have left after the gov bans personal imports will be the WRX. And we only get the 2.0 turbo over here. Quit whining. America is obviously the best place on earth for cars. duh.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 1
From: NY
Fred is right. The reported differences so far is that US cars have EGR and differences in O2 sensors. I know this from my own experience while having my headers from AUS installed.
There have been no reported differences between a US and JDM engine.
There have been no reported differences between a US and JDM engine.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 1
From: NY
Originally posted by europaUO
i was refering to the import sections, yeah v8's are america's legacy , i guess thats why the jap companies dont like us, lol
i was refering to the import sections, yeah v8's are america's legacy , i guess thats why the jap companies dont like us, lol
I don't believe it's the the japanese that hates the US market but the US market never took to japanese sports cars during that period. For example, look at the supra, rx7, 240, and 3000gt. It's not that they were bad cars, it's just that the demand at the time was low so the product was pulled.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 38
From: Houston Tx
cars the us don't get:
Skyline (G35 doesn't count - R33, 34 etc... )
SR20DET 240SX ( s13 - s14 - turbo's were shipped everywhere but US )
240SX S15
97-00 300ZX
Maxima V8 version
Soarer TT
Porsche 959
these are just a few i know immediately off hand....
Skyline (G35 doesn't count - R33, 34 etc... )
SR20DET 240SX ( s13 - s14 - turbo's were shipped everywhere but US )
240SX S15
97-00 300ZX
Maxima V8 version
Soarer TT
Porsche 959
these are just a few i know immediately off hand....
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
As far as I know, we don't get any of those either. But because there aren't even any domestic alternatives, we have had to import. This is also an option in the USA, but people don't do it much. The Australian government is doing its best to stop us though. We don't even have Mustangs, Camaros and Vettes to fall back on. We got nothin'. I was looking at importing an 89 Mustang for dragging. Looks like that's too much of a threat to our local car market though, and the government is about to outlaw it.