Does the SC400 FEEL fast?
10-26-11, 08:55 PM
#33
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Thanks alot for your help guys!! So hopefully I can get a good deal on a 1998-2000 SC400 that's been maintained well and punching it after 50 will give me that satisfaction I'm looking for! 
10-26-11, 09:27 PM
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10-26-11, 09:44 PM
#35
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I am actually stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, lol. I went with Bullet Cars Australia's kit because it included everything say for the tranny, shift bezel, driveshaft and pedals. Which are easy to come by, I went to Driftmotion for the pedals, Lexus for the bezel and a custom shop for the driveshaft.
10-27-11, 05:58 AM
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What kind of money would it take to push the sc300 to around 300-400hp? And could someone tell me if it's worth to pay around 7-8k for a nice SC, while you could pay 5-6k for a really nice one, but of course not PERFECT..
10-27-11, 06:33 AM
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To get a SC400 to 400hp you would spend around 6Gs, now to get it to handle that power well it will cost you quite a bit more ie, auto trans upgrades or a trans swap because the A340E is rubish, suspension, tires brakes. Simpley put it is going to cost money to get the SC400 to do what you want.....but also it costs a bit of money to get an SC300 to get the same amount of power and handling........I would say look around the forums for builds that accomplished the goals you want to see in your car and PM the OPs and ask how they went about sourcing parts and what troubles they went through.
Last edited by SC'd SC400; 10-27-11 at 06:37 AM.
10-27-11, 10:52 AM
#42
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where is the rpm cruising at 65mph using 3.76? thanks, i am not liking being at 3k rpm doing 65 right now with the stock diff. Also my w58 seems to have problems going in 1st gear when it's cold.
10-27-11, 11:35 AM
#43
If I was the OP I would take a second to think about the second statement you made. You are making it sound like doing a manual swap is common practice on these cars, when reality is... it's A LOT of work and it's way more complicated than doing the swap on a SC300. Plus, if you live in an area with emissions, you can kiss that idea goodbye because you will always have a CEL if you go manual on an SC400. Not to mention the cost of the parts and labor (if you aren't able to do it yourself). Most of the older SC400's are going under $5k all day long, the swap will run close to that when you factor in the parts like the transmission, clutch, flywheel, drive shaft, adapter plate to work with a 1UZ, possibly a different rear end (depends what you want), and all the other small parts needed. I remember doing the R154 swap on my SC and I got a badass deal on the transmission, driveshaft, clutch. from 97BlkSC300 (I think that was the name), but after all was said and done, the total was still a nice number.
Many people here talk about 5 speed swaps and even engine swaps like it is changing a set of tires,,fact is its labour intensive, costly and can be very problematic.
But they are not 'fast' cars,,just cruisers with a bit of pep.
10-27-11, 01:07 PM
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Oh please understand I am not down talking a transmission swap at all, mine took me over a week and I did most of it in my driveway while on leave by myself, and yes I do have some problems ie reverse lights overdrive flash being in park all the time, but as far as a mod worth the price, effort, and rarity I think it is one of the best mods for any SC400 owner. I don't knock on the guys that do Soarer swaps or Supra swaps at all but I think they are a bit overdone, and not without reason mind you. If you want a fast SC go SC300 and NAt it with a 1JZ head and FFIM with some stiff coilovers because that will be the fastest SC you xan build on a budget, but if you want something few have get an SC400 manual swap it and boost it, has it been done? Yes but it is among the less traveled path and so far I have not seen someone who has thought any less of me for doing the swap, if anything even people with other makes and models are more impressed than fellow SC owners.