Well I've alwyas liked the SC's and was wondering what the best year and model would be good to modify?. I was thinking of getting a olderone and tinkering with it but i would have to sell the ES first...

I know the 400 is faster but that doesn't mean you can mod it like the 300 correct? Just wanted some feedback from you guys and what would be the best route to go... I've seen some in the classifieds for cheap but I'd rather look here in FL... These cars hold there value still so I don't beleive I can find one here for a few grand... Thanks in advance.

Tony

 

TMF, you may be suprised to find that the search feature works just as well in the SC forum as it does in the GS forum This exact same question gets asked about once every two weeks.

Like the GS forum, there are have YEARS of knowledgebase that is available to you instantly with no waiting. Just use the advanced search feature and you'll find pretty much 99% of the stuff you're thinking about asking.

This is from our under-development FAQ for the SC
Differences between the SC300 & SC400

The SC300 comes with a 3.0-liter 182 ci cast iron inline-6 motor with aluminum heads (engine designation: 2JZ-GE) and a choice between a Toyota A343E 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive or a Toyota W58 5-speed manual transmission (available from 1992-1997).

From 1992-1997, the power was rated as 225 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 210 ft/lb torque @ 4800 rpm. From 1998-2000, the power was rated as 225 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 220 ft/lb torque @ 4000 rpm. Curb weight ranges from 3494 lbs. in 1992 to 3560 lbs. in 2000.

The SC400 comes with a 4.0-liter 242 ci cast aluminum V-8 motor with aluminum heads (engine designation: 1UZ-FE) and a standard equipped Toyota A343E 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive (from 1992-1997). No manual transmission was ever offered for the SC400.

From 1992-1995, the power was rated as 250 horsepower @ 5600 rpm and 260 ft/lb torque @ 4400 rpm. From 1996-1997, the power was rated as 260 horsepower @ 5600 rpm and 270 ft/lb torque @ 4400 rpm. From 1998-2000, the power was rated as 290 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 300 ft/lb torque @ 4000 rpm. Curb weight ranges from 3575 lbs. in 1992 to 3655 lbs. in 2000.

Manual transmissions were never offered for the SC400 and were discontinued after 1997 on the SC300. The SC300s that came with optional Toyota W58 5-speed manual transmissions do not come equipped with traction control.

In 1998 the SC400 received a Toyota A650E 5-speed automatic transmission with advanced ECT-i and a burl-wood gated shifter (from 1998-2000), while the 1998 SC300 received a Toyota A343E 4-speed automatic transmission with burl-wood gated shifter (from 1998-2000).

In 1998, both the SC300 and SC400 received VVT-i (intelligent variable valve timing) engine technology. These motors have completely redesigned heads, which boast variable valve timing on their intake camshafts via an oil-driven helical gear-drive. 1998 and newer Lexus models with 4.0L V-8s are capable of low to high 14-second quarter miles. - (info provided by gs400998)

The SC400 came stock with 16x7.5-inch alloy wheels and the SC300 came stock with 15x6.5-inch turbine-cut alloy wheels.

The SC400 came with power automated telescoping/tilting steering wheel, and the third brake light was mounted inside the spoiler as opposed to on the rear dash behind the windshield in the SC300. The SC400 has larger disc brakes (11.7-inch front & 12.1-inch rear) compared to the SC300 (10.8-inch front & 11.4-inch rear). The SC300 had an optional but very rare velour (gray or tan) interior and optional but very rare hard top (no moonroof).

There are no substantial body differences between the SC300 and SC400. Models that did not include a spoiler with LED-third brake light, standard on the SC400 and optional on the SC300, were fitted with a third brake light on the rear deck behind the rear windshield.

ACCELERATION
Year, Model, & Drivetrain 0 - 60 mph Quarter mile
1992 SC300 4-speed auto 7.2 sec 15.8 sec at 89 mph
1992 SC300 5-speed manual 6.8 sec 15.4 sec at 90 mph
1993 SC400 4-speed auto 6.9 sec 15.3 sec
1995 SC400 4-speed auto 6.7 sec 15.2 sec at 93 mph
1998 SC400 5-speed auto 6.3 sec 14.7 sec at 97 mph[/QUOTE]
=================================
IN addition to the FAQ I searched this forum using advanced search for "which buy sc300 or sc400" and found these threads among many others. I also searched 'just search titles' for "sc300 sc400' which narrowed down the number of posts to sift throuh

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sea...earchid=348040

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=175469
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=185118
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=177583
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=172778
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=164092
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=147091
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=135143
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=122500
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=110311
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-1st-gen-1992-2000/79670-newbie-question-interior-sc300-vs-sc400.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-1st-gen-1992-2000/59687-differences-between-sc300-and-sc400.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-1st-gen-1992-2000/29992-sc300-or-sc400-please-help.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-1st-gen-1992-2000/25395-is-the-only-difference-between-the-sc300-and-the-sc400-the-engine.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=194687

And that's just a start... www.Intellexual.net linked in the posts above also has some great primer info for you

 

Sorry Dave, i think i did see this write up last week... I did use the search option but typed in SC300 vs. SC400 and nothing came up... Thanks again...

Tony

 

That's weird. My friend's raced an SC400 (stock) with their 240sx(moded). They beated the SC400. But when they raced my SC300(stock), I took it all the way. I guess it's just the driver, not the car.

 

Or maybe the SC4 wasnt really racing at all, lol...

 

If you want to modify (HP output) get a SC300.
If you want to cruise get a SC400. There are just about no parts available for 400 (like exhaust, intake, chips, upgrades...)

 

ECU: Harry Lemmens ECU 180 km/hr speed limit removed
Redline lifted to 7500 rpm or 8000 rpm
User switchable Code!
1. stock
2. 7500 redline, advanced timing
3. 8000 redline, advanced timing

Intake: Geez, are people really paying for those rip off intakes? Please read my temperature study and those BFI mods others have come up with in OZ to the airbox which has proven dyno gains.

Exhaust: Any good shop can help you, but use a creative pro who understands the purpose of your system - not some billy bob hack who will just chop and pop some tin can in there.

What more do you want?? It has bigger stock brakes and it can be modded the same as the 300. Want a supercharger? No problems, Turbo the 1UZ? Been done.

They are both great cars. Stock for stock the 5 speed 300 is much more fun to drive. I have loved them all - whatever you get you cant go wrong.

P

 

Parts for the SC400 are not as readily available as for a SC300, and it's much easier to mod a SC300 than a SC400, I mean not saying its next to impossible, but just more is known about modding the SC300 than the 400, how many F/I SC300's are there compared to how many F/I SC400's there are, how much does the average SC300 owner spend on forced induction than a SC400 owner spends on forced induction. It's simple as that, with a SC300, you can very easily swap a 1jz, 2jzgte, or turbo the current 2jzge with readily available kits, I can think of 3 off the top of my head. You have so many different options that is already known and used than for a SC400, it's just ease of modding thats all.

As for the original question, just the same as it's been stated before, if you're looking to mod, go with a SC300, if you are looking to stay close to stock but having a decent amout of power, go with a SC400, I picked up my SC300 after owning the SC400 because eventually I was to shoot for a decent amout of power. Probably going with a 1j swap, or turboing my current motor. I mean both can be modded, and both have been modded, one is just easier to do than the other.

 

I have to say that the 2000 SC 300 we just bought rocks. Even compared to my 93 300, the VVT-i makes a huge impact. I realize that our 400 has 209K miles so it is kinda unfair to compare to a 2000 with 44K.

Love the gated shifter also - a real joy to own.