SC300/SC400 New Member Thread! Introduce yourself here!
10-04-17, 09:49 AM
#4741
Pretty cool that you have the skills to "blend" these two cars into one working gem, You should definitely consider opening a thread in the Build section so you can share your exploits (if you have not done so already..). Great that you are rescuing at least one of these neglected cars.... Thanks....
10-04-17, 01:47 PM
#4742
Driver School Candidate
I do plan on starting a build thread. I had to farm out a bunch of the labor, dont have the facilities to do the work on two cars, plus a work injury has me in PT for a gimpy left shoulder. So yay, no lifting heavy stuff with one of my arms! blah.
10-06-17, 11:51 PM
#4743
Driver School Candidate
Two sc’s
So I bought a 92 sc300 a few months back, had steering issues, bad paint, clear coat is screwed, bad interior. Turned out to be bad bushings on the rack and pinion... easy fix. Got some nice seat covers that are actually custom made for the sc’s. After driving for a month, woke for work, got into the car, started it up, pulled out, and I had no power from the engine. Started taking apart the engine to find out that any maintenance that had been done to the car was half a$$ed. Cost to repair that 2jz-ge would have been in excess of $2,000. I ended up buying a JDM 2jz-ge with 70,000 miles on it as opposed to my 268,000 mile piece of crap. Got the engine, threw it on the engine stand, changed timing belt and water pump, new crank and cam seals. Switched over the throttle body, alternator, power steering pump. Had to use my motor mount brackets, new mounts, new tranny seals, fuel filter, Took about a week for the entire swap, car fired right up. Put in a pioneer stereo, original was gonewiring was a pain, installed new Rockford Fosgate speakers, upgraded the 8” sub to a 10”,surprisingly the stock amp was there and it worked. Had to install two new window regulators, windows were held up with coat hangers inside the door panels, passengers side door latch. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a car so poorly maintained. If you can’t afford to maintain it... don’t buy it! Still need to repaint the car. Just not sure exactly what color I want. Oh yeah, need to fix the heater also, previous owner had it bypassed. I know the heater valve is screwed up.
In the meantime, my dad bought a 92 sc400 that I found for him online. Original owner, maintenance records. The only thing it needed for it to run was a new battery. Dad took it to a service shop for their free assessment... $2,100 for timing belt /water pump, crankshaft seal, flush all fluids, changed tranny filter and gasket(leak), inner tie rod drivers side(turned out to be the outer), fuel filter. I ended up doing all the work, got all the parts, including inner and outer tie rods for both sides, and new suspension all around, two new ignition coils. All for around $2,000. Suspension was almost $1,000 with all new bushings, boots, and bearings. Took about a week to finish. Surprisingly, the previous owner had all the maintenance done at a Lexus dealer. But yet the original timing belt was installed backwards(arrows and timing marks wrong, right cam mark at left, left at right), the tranny had no gasket, just the red form a gasket... no wonder ir was leaking! All the fluids that I flushed were dark muddy brown. This is why I do my own maintenance... you can’t even trust the dealerships. I also cleaned as many parts as I possibly could while putting everything back together. Dad also had the sc400 repainted, metallic midnight blue. It looks really nice.
In the meantime, my dad bought a 92 sc400 that I found for him online. Original owner, maintenance records. The only thing it needed for it to run was a new battery. Dad took it to a service shop for their free assessment... $2,100 for timing belt /water pump, crankshaft seal, flush all fluids, changed tranny filter and gasket(leak), inner tie rod drivers side(turned out to be the outer), fuel filter. I ended up doing all the work, got all the parts, including inner and outer tie rods for both sides, and new suspension all around, two new ignition coils. All for around $2,000. Suspension was almost $1,000 with all new bushings, boots, and bearings. Took about a week to finish. Surprisingly, the previous owner had all the maintenance done at a Lexus dealer. But yet the original timing belt was installed backwards(arrows and timing marks wrong, right cam mark at left, left at right), the tranny had no gasket, just the red form a gasket... no wonder ir was leaking! All the fluids that I flushed were dark muddy brown. This is why I do my own maintenance... you can’t even trust the dealerships. I also cleaned as many parts as I possibly could while putting everything back together. Dad also had the sc400 repainted, metallic midnight blue. It looks really nice.
10-07-17, 04:06 AM
#4744
Driver School Candidate
Wow!
So I bought a 92 sc300 a few months back, had steering issues, bad paint, clear coat is screwed, bad interior. Turned out to be bad bushings on the rack and pinion... easy fix. Got some nice seat covers that are actually custom made for the sc’s. After driving for a month, woke for work, got into the car, started it up, pulled out, and I had no power from the engine. Started taking apart the engine to find out that any maintenance that had been done to the car was half a$$ed. Cost to repair that 2jz-ge would have been in excess of $2,000. I ended up buying a JDM 2jz-ge with 70,000 miles on it as opposed to my 268,000 mile piece of crap. Got the engine, threw it on the engine stand, changed timing belt and water pump, new crank and cam seals. Switched over the throttle body, alternator, power steering pump. Had to use my motor mount brackets, new mounts, new tranny seals, fuel filter, Took about a week for the entire swap, car fired right up. Put in a pioneer stereo, original was gonewiring was a pain, installed new Rockford Fosgate speakers, upgraded the 8” sub to a 10”,surprisingly the stock amp was there and it worked. Had to install two new window regulators, windows were held up with coat hangers inside the door panels, passengers side door latch. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a car so poorly maintained. If you can’t afford to maintain it... don’t buy it! Still need to repaint the car. Just not sure exactly what color I want. Oh yeah, need to fix the heater also, previous owner had it bypassed. I know the heater valve is screwed up.
In the meantime, my dad bought a 92 sc400 that I found for him online. Original owner, maintenance records. The only thing it needed for it to run was a new battery. Dad took it to a service shop for their free assessment... $2,100 for timing belt /water pump, crankshaft seal, flush all fluids, changed tranny filter and gasket(leak), inner tie rod drivers side(turned out to be the outer), fuel filter. I ended up doing all the work, got all the parts, including inner and outer tie rods for both sides, and new suspension all around, two new ignition coils. All for around $2,000. Suspension was almost $1,000 with all new bushings, boots, and bearings. Took about a week to finish. Surprisingly, the previous owner had all the maintenance done at a Lexus dealer. But yet the original timing belt was installed backwards(arrows and timing marks wrong, right cam mark at left, left at right), the tranny had no gasket, just the red form a gasket... no wonder ir was leaking! All the fluids that I flushed were dark muddy brown. This is why I do my own maintenance... you can’t even trust the dealerships. I also cleaned as many parts as I possibly could while putting everything back together. Dad also had the sc400 repainted, metallic midnight blue. It looks really nice.
In the meantime, my dad bought a 92 sc400 that I found for him online. Original owner, maintenance records. The only thing it needed for it to run was a new battery. Dad took it to a service shop for their free assessment... $2,100 for timing belt /water pump, crankshaft seal, flush all fluids, changed tranny filter and gasket(leak), inner tie rod drivers side(turned out to be the outer), fuel filter. I ended up doing all the work, got all the parts, including inner and outer tie rods for both sides, and new suspension all around, two new ignition coils. All for around $2,000. Suspension was almost $1,000 with all new bushings, boots, and bearings. Took about a week to finish. Surprisingly, the previous owner had all the maintenance done at a Lexus dealer. But yet the original timing belt was installed backwards(arrows and timing marks wrong, right cam mark at left, left at right), the tranny had no gasket, just the red form a gasket... no wonder ir was leaking! All the fluids that I flushed were dark muddy brown. This is why I do my own maintenance... you can’t even trust the dealerships. I also cleaned as many parts as I possibly could while putting everything back together. Dad also had the sc400 repainted, metallic midnight blue. It looks really nice.
Holy smokes! That's a lot of items on the list to cover! I'm glad you got your SC sorted, back up and running. It's also fantastic when your mechanically inclined and can do your own work, this assures you that know what's been done. I love doing what I can as well. However my work schedule doesn't allow for much things to be done sometimes, so I do what I can as soon as I get the chance. I look forward to seeing some pics of both the cars. Stay well and enjoy.
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dadswrld (10-08-17)
10-08-17, 03:56 PM
#4746
2 more SCs restored from the brink of extinction... Way to go.... Congrats to you and your Dad for keeping these on the road..... Great job.....
10-09-17, 12:07 PM
#4747
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: FL
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Hi kids, 99 sc300 owner, but lately not a driver...issues with throttle body, replaced with used, no change. Someone noted that 5 volts required for proper operation and I was wondering if anyone knows testing procedure, and back tracement if variation detected? I am just an everyday kinda guy, can do some...but not all. I would appreciate any and all help...thanks Phil.
10-09-17, 01:38 PM
#4748
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: FL
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Hi kids, 99 sc300 owner, but lately not a driver...issues with throttle body, replaced with used, no change. Someone noted that 5 volts required for proper operation and I was wondering if anyone knows testing procedure, and back tracement if variation detected? I am just an everyday kinda guy, can do some...but not all. I would appreciate any and all help...thanks Phil.
10-09-17, 01:48 PM
#4749
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Mn
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Hi kids, 99 sc300 owner, but lately not a driver...issues with throttle body, replaced with used, no change. Someone noted that 5 volts required for proper operation and I was wondering if anyone knows testing procedure, and back tracement if variation detected? I am just an everyday kinda guy, can do some...but not all. I would appreciate any and all help...thanks Phil.
10-14-17, 11:29 PM
#4750
Driver School Candidate
Hi,
I have recently bought a 1991 SC400. I have a tried to improve the exhaust note but it's fighting back and refusing to make any noise. I have removed the resonators and added straight through mufflers. Then I thought I'd fix the ground noise on the radio and found that a previous owner had been busy with his wire cutters behind the radio, so I've left the exhaust alone and I'm concentrating on soldering the wiring loom back together. Hopefully I get the radio working soon as I can't hear the exhaust below 4k RPM and I've broken a couple of speed limits soon after that.
I have recently bought a 1991 SC400. I have a tried to improve the exhaust note but it's fighting back and refusing to make any noise. I have removed the resonators and added straight through mufflers. Then I thought I'd fix the ground noise on the radio and found that a previous owner had been busy with his wire cutters behind the radio, so I've left the exhaust alone and I'm concentrating on soldering the wiring loom back together. Hopefully I get the radio working soon as I can't hear the exhaust below 4k RPM and I've broken a couple of speed limits soon after that.
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Duck05 (10-23-17)
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Jbrody10 (10-23-17)
10-23-17, 08:02 PM
#4755
Wow... that is easily one of the cleanest cars we've had posted on here..... Does not appear you have to do anything but normal maintenance. Congrats and welcome..... Nice find...