Does the SC400 FEEL fast?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 89
From: Toronto, Ontario
When people used the see my SC400 and ask 'is it fast?,' the best way to describe it would be quick...ish. With TRAC/OD off, they'll push you back in the seat slightly and make a satisfying V8 growl while doing it. Keep in mind that the transmission is luxury-oriented to make it a smooth operator around town. I find the car is very reluctant to downshift in general making it feel 'slow' unless you let it know you mean business.
Peak torque doesn't arrive until 4600rpm on the 1UZ-FE's.
since 250bhp is a hefty amount, and full torque is put out around 1,500 rpms!
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: NC
That's actually not true, I did my swap for relatively cheap. I used all MKIII stuff, even the clutch pedal. I took about a day for me to do it. The swap is pretty much the same minus assembling the adapter and the bell housing, and drilling the two holes for it.
And I don't have an O/D light or CEL, neither does one of my customers, but that is probably because my car is a 92 and his is a 93.
Honestly, shopping around, I got the adapter from someone who bought the CAD from V-Eight, and the flywheel I bought from another member who bought it off of SuperRunner. Honestly, I've got UNDER a grand into my swap, and that's even buying the driveshaft and 4.08 for $250.
EDIT OP, keep in mind I shopped around and got lucky with my swap on a lot of things, but I also sourced parts for over a year.
And I don't have an O/D light or CEL, neither does one of my customers, but that is probably because my car is a 92 and his is a 93.
Honestly, shopping around, I got the adapter from someone who bought the CAD from V-Eight, and the flywheel I bought from another member who bought it off of SuperRunner. Honestly, I've got UNDER a grand into my swap, and that's even buying the driveshaft and 4.08 for $250.
EDIT OP, keep in mind I shopped around and got lucky with my swap on a lot of things, but I also sourced parts for over a year.
I can honestly say, after driving the SC400 for the first time today... It doesn't feel as fast as my MK3, but it does get off the line just as fast... feels like my Supra without the turbo. LOL!!
Anyway, yeah I had to buy stuff before we had Quantum and TV8. The last thing I bought was the QM bearing from Quantum right AFTER they did away with the Howe Bearing, so I had been collecting stuff for quite some time really.
That's actually not true, I did my swap for relatively cheap. I used all MKIII stuff, even the clutch pedal. I took about a day for me to do it. The swap is pretty much the same minus assembling the adapter and the bell housing, and drilling the two holes for it.
And I don't have an O/D light or CEL, neither does one of my customers, but that is probably because my car is a 92 and his is a 93.
Honestly, shopping around, I got the adapter from someone who bought the CAD from V-Eight, and the flywheel I bought from another member who bought it off of SuperRunner. Honestly, I've got UNDER a grand into my swap, and that's even buying the driveshaft and 4.08 for $250.
EDIT OP, keep in mind I shopped around and got lucky with my swap on a lot of things, but I also sourced parts for over a year.
And I don't have an O/D light or CEL, neither does one of my customers, but that is probably because my car is a 92 and his is a 93.
Honestly, shopping around, I got the adapter from someone who bought the CAD from V-Eight, and the flywheel I bought from another member who bought it off of SuperRunner. Honestly, I've got UNDER a grand into my swap, and that's even buying the driveshaft and 4.08 for $250.
EDIT OP, keep in mind I shopped around and got lucky with my swap on a lot of things, but I also sourced parts for over a year.
Honestly, I have no idea.
I did the swap, and the other guy's swap too, and neither one of us have a CEL. I never disconnected the trans ecu or anything.
I wired it up so it think it's in park (minus cruise control).
I didn't know that there would be a CEL until I read on Quantum's website that there would be.
I did the swap, and the other guy's swap too, and neither one of us have a CEL. I never disconnected the trans ecu or anything.
I wired it up so it think it's in park (minus cruise control).
I didn't know that there would be a CEL until I read on Quantum's website that there would be.
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 370
Likes: 1
From: Canada
Was the sc400 ever meant to feel fast? Not likely. Toyota wanted their customers to waft along in comfort. They never built these cars as hard performance machines, although in their later years were sharpened up significantly. Compared to the z30's training shoe of a cousin the jza80, the SC in all stock forms just shuffles around in loafer fashion.
Sorry but neither the 300 or 400 were meant to feel fast, nor were they very fast in stock form simply cause of the weight and design purpose. "SC" may stand for sport coupe, but the SC is more of a "luxury" coupe, thus its heavy, quiet, and wasnt necessarily meant to be or feel fast. Yes the 2JZ and 1UZ are great engines, but in a car that weighs almost as much as some full size regular cab trucks, you cant expect much...especially from a 4.0l V8.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 485
Likes: 2
From: GA
They did all they could to tune the "fast" sensation out of the car. Just look at the thread for disabling the extra transmission solenoid. I wouldn't mind feeling it when it shifts so I'm connecting a relay to the ECT switch to accomplish the same mod. My car has no traction control from the factory so I'm much better off in that regard.
It was a fast car 20 years ago, when America was used to a big v8 making 150-200 horsepower. Punch it from 50 and you won't be disappointed. Off the line it might be a little unimpressive.
I've built and owned cars that were much, much faster, yet I don't find myself unhappy with the performance of my soon-to-be-antique car. I'm just as surprised as anyone else that this is the case.
It was a fast car 20 years ago, when America was used to a big v8 making 150-200 horsepower. Punch it from 50 and you won't be disappointed. Off the line it might be a little unimpressive.
I've built and owned cars that were much, much faster, yet I don't find myself unhappy with the performance of my soon-to-be-antique car. I'm just as surprised as anyone else that this is the case.
I drove one for the first time a couple days ago, and honestly, I expected to be thrown back ( since 250bhp is a hefty amount, and full torque is put out around 1,500 rpms!) Anyways..it really didnt feel all that powerful, although I was going fast. A dumb question I know..but I'm just curious. Maybe it was just that particular SC that I drove? I had high expectations because my friend went for a ride in one of his friend SC's with no mods, and he had the crap scared out of him. 
The SC4 runs out good if it is in tip top shape, but most have a lot of miles and rarely any are serviced at LEXUS where they would get a proper going over and not an autozone hilbilly tune up.
