MongooseGA

iTrader: (6)

The 97s had the same motor making 260 HP. The 98+ cars had the 290 HP VVT-i motor.

bodiby

My initial thought was to get a SC300 and then add turbo. Until I started to think about passing smog. Perhaps I am being really paranooid, but I do not want to add a turbo and then not be able to pass a visual inspection (stupid california visual inspection ... blah).

MongooseGA

iTrader: (6)

You won't be making an SC400 fast without FI anyway. These cars don't have the luxury of making big NA horsepower like American V8s. Forced induction can do wonders though.

You'd be better off with a 300. It'll be cheaper to modify and the vast amount of experience tuning it will pay off in the long run if you have any problem.

Psionic

I'm sorry, but that made me laugh .

jibbby

The VVT-I motor is the most powerful out of the 400's and is tuneable...What are your plans for the motor in the future that would require tuning? If A.F.I or nos is planned then save the money and get a older 1uz-fe. You can work with the VVT-i and tune... I wish I had that motor under my hood now although I don't not have any complaints with what I got now....

Just lost a race to an M5 BMW today, I had one of those untimely tranny shifts occure while riding the nos and the race was over...That happens from time to time...The M5's BMW's are very fast cars to my suprise......

bodiby

Read the post. I don't want to boost. I know that the SC300 has much more potential then the SC400 if you boost it.

MongooseGA

iTrader: (6)

Sure, but read my last post. The 1UZ doesn't really have any potential unless you boost it.

bodiby

I know. Neither does.

ISC400

Just so you know I found my SC400 w/195k miles its in great shape for being a 92, the guy I bought it from really took care of it and had all its maintenance records. So after a lil touch up here and there and after switching to fully synthetic oil and also doing my own BFI. I dyno’ed @ 202HP & 220.7TQ, these numbers blow away the factory rating of 250hp & 260tq.

MongooseGA

iTrader: (6)

That's about what the cars should be doing stock. They were definitely over rated, or the engine is just seriously restricted. It's probably a combination of both.

I always kick myself when I think about spending $1,000 for a full exhaust, or an SAFC to maybe put down 210 RWHP. I love the V8, but a 1JZ swap is looking more and more practical each day. I should be able to do one for a few grand.

Turbo cars are easier to modify and, IIRC, a 1J can put down 250 RWHP on stock boost. MMM, tempting.

jibbby

As I tell everyone - on these older SC's the exhaust becomes very restrictive (mufflers and cats) you will notice "big" power gains with just a good set of high performance mufflers and let's say a two into one magnaflow cat converter with high flowing Y design.. Those dyno numbers will jump up on you with those simple upgrades and you will be pleasantly suprised.......A piggy back ECU helps too...


The IUZ-FE's have some pontential without AFI....If you do everything around the motor like I did and some drive train mods you will be able to beat out a new 350z or 4.6L Mustang 90's....That is respectable for automatic 4.0L engine and tranny.....Add nitrous and your off to the races....

MongooseGA

iTrader: (6)

I don't consider a 350Z a fast car, and I don't consider it to be a huge win to beat a 90's Mustang. With the money and custom work that would be required to get the 1UZ to pump adequate HP, I could drop in a stock 1J and have the fun of boost and know that I can buy almost any part I want, already made. It's just not worth it to me to modify the 1UZ.

Really, what kind of power will a 1UZput down with high flow cats and a full mandrel exhaust through a Y pipe? Add in a A/F controller like the Apex'i SAFC and BFI and someone might be able to make 230 RWHP. Hardly decent, IMO, considering that's pretty much the extent of the work that can be done to the car without doing major customization and spending a ton of money. I hate the idea of nitrous. It's like cheating, so that'd never be an option to me.

ISC400

At DSR in San Jose, that's the place where i dyno'd my car, i was told that my car would put down an extra 30RWTQ by full exhaust, meaning from headers all the way to the magnaflow mufflers and SAFC tuning, so that alone will put me at 250RWHP = 305HP at the flywheel. Given the 22% Drivetrain loss. So the 1UZ is a good option, it just depends what car you can get your hands for a better deal.

sonyman

Headers are the main component in that list that are going to give you a real benefit. The stock manifolds are extrememly restrictive.

Scott