gerrb

iTrader: (34)

For now , I just want it restored . I hate knowing that the car be scrapped since no one was buying it from the owner . It went under a jeep so damage is above the bumper aluminum support which is above the frames. Decided to pick it up since I got everything to restore it and the other 1 of 120 I am suppose to get can wait . The owner is still having second thoughts on that.



Yeah, the previous pictures make the car look as though unsalvageable ... but in reality it just looks bad in the pictures. The bumper support wasn't even dented. If you got all the parts , it is an easy fix actually.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Gerry, you have some amazing luck finding 1 of 120 M/T cars

Definitely happy to see this one being restored and you have everything you need to do it over there. Seeing that picture is a reminder of just how low these coupes are even at the stock ride height. It also gives me chills when I think about the factory braking system on pre-1998 SC300's.

187

Is there a difference between 92-97 & 98-00 braking systems? I've never seen a 98-00 in person.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

187, there is for SC300's only. 1998-2000 SC300's have the same slightly larger front and rear brake calipers as all 1992-2000 SC400's, 1993-1998 Supra MKIV NA's and all 1991-2000 JZZ30 and UZZ3x Soarers. 1992-1997 SC300's (US models anyway) actually have larger diameter brake rotors in the *rear* than in the front. Stopping capability and fade resistance for a luxury sports coupe is not very good with original 92-97 SC300 braking systems. All of them benefit from upgrading to 95-00 LS400 calipers or Supra TT calipers but I am sure the SC400/MKIV-NA/Soarer size calipers and rotors are a bit better from the factory.

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

Craig - this car had been on this forum for a while so it wasn't really luck finding it on my part . In fact there were classified ads about it but nobody was buying it since it looked like it had a frame damage and will cost a ton of money to get it back on the road. The front picture makes it look so bad but give me some time , you won't even know this car was in an accident not unless I tell you and will surely be another great 1 of 120 1997 SC300 5 speed. It is for me a very easy fix . You will be surprised .

Here is the thread about this car early this year : https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...epairable.html . Even I thought this car was a gonner then .

It was only when I had those 3 parts car that I thought of this car again. Collected all the parts I needed and had more conversations with Mark , the owner. He is a very nice guy. I can't ask for more from him. He told me everything I needed to know about the car . Gave me all the pictures I wanted so I can verify its condition like he took out the front bumper to show me that there was no dent on the bumper support no frame damage. I did a carfax and autocheck , title was clean and had 142k documented miles. Though it has a bit more on the gauge cluster today since the last carfax report which was months before the accident.The deal was something that was very hard to pass on or to refuse so I jumped on it right away. Mark just wanted it gone. The transmission alone surely costs more than what I paid for the whole car plus all my expenses to bring it home. Am probably be moving its coilovers to my Old Man Tan SC. For now ,just want it all stock. I have literally everything it needs to bring it back to its original condition.

I just actually picked up the car today. All the tires were bad so I brought a set of wheels / tires





Interior is in pretty good shape except for the blown air bags







towing it back to my place

Ezroni

wow... i've seen this car for a while on craigs and on here... didn't know you picked it up... you're the man for bringing this beauty back to life !!!

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Gerry, I am sure I will be surprised! The car doesn't look great on the front right now but I do see that the frame itself seems to be intact. The main body and rear look fine and the interior is undamaged (replaceable airbags aside). A little bit of surface rust on one frame rail which I am sure you can take care of easily. The rest of all that hardware you now have so... I look forward to see the result! I read the thread you posted also and unless I am mistaken it sounds like the 2JZ engine may have sustained some internal damage. You must be replacing that with one of your spare GE engines. I'm amazed it survived with a clean title! 147k+ miles is not too shabby either!

Later in the finishing touches have you also considered replacing the seatbelt webbing? I have been looking at contracting Ssnake Oyl Products to replace the webbing in a spare SC seatbelt set I have-- maybe something to consider for later? Unless you have spare seatbelts already that haven't been stressed/stretched from a collision.

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

Thanks !

The rusts is surface rusts so it is not a big deal . I have 3 sets of seat belts from the 3 parts car so I will choose the best from them. And the engine , definitely is going out . The block ,crank , upper / lower oil pans with baffle / oil pickup and dampener will still be useful. You know with those alone if I sell them will get me back my money. A lot of SF members have been asking me for those parts lately. I am planning to install the 108k miles spare engine I have and mate it to its transmission as I bring it back to its original condition. Mark, the former owner initially wanted to get it repaired since he knew it is repairable so he didn't claim any insurance loss to keep the title clean. But time past and he wasn't able to collect the parts needed and get it done till he just wanted it out of his place.

This thing below will do the whole trick . I would just have to cut it more since the car's left and right side fender didn't really go much further in :



It is actually just spot welded in some areas ... left top area of chassis :



right top area of chassis .... so it is really an easy fix



once the old is out and this is in ... it will look good again with the replacement hood and fenders installed. Then remove and replace all the other broken parts which I all have.



need to name this new 1997 sc300 5 speed ... here it is near the 1997 Black Pearl

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

After an hour of removing the broken parts by doing some overlap cutting just to see how much more I need to cut... below you see the progress . In due time all I need is to get the new piece welded in place and this 1997 SC300 5 speed will be in good shape again . I had the hunch that the repair of that wreck wasn't that hard at all after seeing a lot of pictures sent to me by Mark that's why decided to grab the car from him. I haven't done really much work on it and I already see a complete car on the horizon. I just need to do some precise measurements now so the whole piece will fit like a glove before any welding is done. I believe it will be this shell on which I will build my NA-T... keeping two 1997 SC300 original 5speed in my barn since they hopefully will keep their values more than the other SC shells.

Ezroni

just realized... that's not a stock '97 color is it? looks like '95's teal mist metallic

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

The color is just similar to the 95's Teal Mist (6N1) on the picture . But its color is Classic Green Pearl (6P2) based on the Door Tag .


Now I know what to name this car ... Green Pearl ... since my other 97 5speed is Black Pearl !

Ezroni

damn then that makes it even more rare since that color was only out in 1997. can't wait to see the end result

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

Yeap , based on the Lexus Color Codes , it was only used for some SCs produced in 1997 so having it on a 1 of 120 makes it all the more rare.

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

Glad you snatched that one, gerrb. She looks to be in good hands.

gerrb

iTrader: (34)

Thank you Thomas . A lot of people , me included , had thought this car was a goner the moment Mark had posted this car almost a year ago on this forum . So no one took him seriously when he made a classified ads about the car saying it seems repairable. Even I thought it was a parts car. I am glad , he did respond to my requests for more info and more pictures. At least now, it is not going to the scrap yard. Glad to have saved a 1 of 120 from destruction.