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refurbishing a 5-speed with an SC400 interior and maybe some body parts
Hi. Glad to be here. I've had a 5-speed '95 SC300 since '04 and had a '94 before it that died in a crash. It runs well and the body looks good but it has some putty on it and a little rust behind the front wheels, but it is solid underneath.The interior is in bad shape.
Seats, esp the driver's seat are hard to find and good ones are dear. If it weren't a 5-speed I'd probably just sell it for body parts. But ... I just found a 98 SC400 parts car: same color, great leather, and the body is very well preserved. The seller is putting the engine and suspension in a vintage pickup and adapting a 5-speed, which I heard isn't possible, but he told me that it's just a different pattern on the bell housing and adapting it is easy.
So, even though I'm not especially mechanically inclined, I'm going to try to install/replace
1. a warranteed heater control unit and stock radio from ebay, with 12(?) CD changer from the 400 - not sure it's the right one.
2. all seats, center cup holder, and console lid
3. gas cap
4. trunk hinges
5. and the left door interior panel.
6. rocker panels and front bumper - a deer committed suicide on it and was replaced by Geico. It's just painted.
I also I need LEDs in the instrument cluster, but I hear getting that off is hard. Oddly, I noticed that the automatics have a vertical gear indicator between the speedometer and tach, Maybe the 400 cluster will fit, but I prefer to keep the old one even though the clock is stopped.
Not restoring it, just want to keep it around.
So I hope I can find a little help on these threads. My searches bring up a lot of threads: I have to open and search each one so I'm finding it hard to find what I need. I did find a nice tutorial on taking out the radio and climate control unit, But getting the door panel off is a horror. Someone suggested that there's a bolt under the handle so the wood trim has to be pried up to get to it. Please no, there must be better way. Maybe I'll just try replacing the door, with the old locks, but that probably means taking the panel off. I'm stuck on that one.
I've been a member of CL since I was lucky enough to find my "baby" in early 2013 with less than 90K miles and am probably the #1 lurker :-) I'm not a mechanic, so don't know all the names of the diddly bobs, just love by car and now trying to decide what to do with her.
Pearl White / Gray interior
129,600 miles
Original everything except I upgraded the stereo (but have the original in a box)
New transmission about 40,000 miles ago
How does one know if they should keep a car, and, more importantly....how much is too much to put into her. I've seen a lot of cars that you guys have restored. I'd love to do that to her, but .....
How does one know if they should keep a car, and, more importantly....how much is too much to put into her. I've seen a lot of cars that you guys have restored. I'd love to do that to her, but .....
I think a good majority of us find ourselves asking this same question quite often.
My name is Domingo feel free to call me "D" if you wish. I am an early Retiree and moved back to Texas after living in Oregon since 1986. It's great to be back. I have own a 1997 LX450 and recently purchased a 1993 SC400. I enjoy both my vehicles. It hurt me when a hail storm this year damaged the LX and the insurance totalled it, but they weren't going to take it. LOL. Currently I am considering updating the audio systems with bluetooth technology and cameras nothing too wild. I enjoy photography, cycling, kayaking and hiking (except where there are rattlesnakes). I look forward to meeting a lot of you and sharing any knowledge I come across with you also.
I just got an automatic 2000 sc 300. it is currently my daily driver but this will become my project car. first thing on my list is swapping it to a manual transmission. but where do i start? ps dallas, texas
Wow!! You guys got some real clean SC's!! You don't see much of these here on the island. It's a very under rated car, but she's awesome and very comfortable. She will last a long time as long as you give her proper maintenance.
Hello - I am new to the group but not new to Lexus. I have owned mostly SUVs. I am joining this thread due to the fact that a close friend of mine has passed away and left me his cars - one of them being a red Lexus SC300. I believe it is a 1992 - I will double check the paperwork. He loved his cars kept it in beautiful condition. I am not sure yet what I will do with the car, but perhaps will sell it. Here are pictures. Thanks - glad to be part of this group!
Just bought a 1996 Lexus SC400 from the original owner.
I work at a dealership.
144k miles got it from my boss, who got it from original owner, for $2400.
We have a dead 1993 SC(that is available for parts for anyone in need) I stole a bumper from and applied it because it had a small square gash from what i assume was a trailer hitch but the owner claimed it was a shopping cart dolly (hes a lawyer who is full of ****)
it needs a lot of love to be up to par: front rotors/pads, 2 tires(slowleak), valve seal, oil change, inspection, motor mount, paint ... now that im listing it all i feel like i overpaid rofl
I've wanted an sc since the 90's, but never took the plunge. While searching for a parts civic to repair our extra car I ran across this and couldn't pass it up for $1000. It has a damaged quarter panel and a few scratches that need to be repaired. Other than that it's in decent shape for 25 year old car.
11-07-18, 04:57 PM
New To CL
