nextlevelcoupe

iTrader: (1)

i will be stopping by the dealer tomorrow to get all the details on this 98+gated shifter and wood shift **** conversion to compare parts from 95 to 98 to see if's possible to do -and then do some research in finding the parts for a very discounted price,of course if the price for this kind of modification is astronomical in expense-back to the drawing board,but i think this mod would definetely be worth checking into.....................wish me luck!!!

oh and by the way.....if anyone reading this post has any helpful input towards this project..please post!!!



-thanx

Ryan

Nextlevel,

You do realize that 98+ had a totally different tranny. Its a 5 speed auto instead of a 4 speed auto. Also note that the dash has a different shift indicator as well.

The only reasonable thought I have come up with is that you might be able to "trick" the interface between the shifter and tranny. I just looked on ebay and it appears that there is even a slight difference between the 98 and the 99 - can someone please explain this!

I really, really, wish you luck - this is one of the last frontiers for us with older SCs. I honestly think our best bet is to modify the shifter and make a new console piece entirely out of wood. Look forward to others thoughts.

Ryan

Ryan

This is from a '98, notice the bottom gear "L" by itself.

Ryan

try this:

Ryan

Here is the dash on the same car:

Ryan

Okay, by the time I posted this I think I just figured something out - the 98 SC400 is a 5 speed and the 98 SC300 is a 4 speed. Can someone please confirm this. Also, if this is correct, how does the auto tranny in the 98 300 compare to the 92-97 SC400?

Here is a post of the 400 shifter:

Ryan

sorry, here you go:

Ryan

Here is the dash for the same car:

lex400sc

Just a tip along your journey: disassembling an actual 98+ SC's gear shifter and removing the instrument cluster to study it will reveal a lot for your project. Somehow I think you'll have to heavily modify or completely replace the metal shift rod inside, but if you're lucky Lexus designed them similarly between the 92-97 and 98-00. Keep us updated, I want to do the same thing!

Anthracite SC

Your findings will be REALLY interesting. Please let us know. thanks.

nextlevelcoupe

iTrader: (1)

thanx for the support guys, i'm about to get the schematics for my 95 and compare it with the 98 sc300 gearshift(being that it is a 4 speed auto like my 95 400)but i am going to try to get it to work with my 95 dashboard.
i will keep you all posted as i get more info...............

Ryan

Please don't give up and let us know - we all want to do something.

nextlevelcoupe

iTrader: (1)

still working it out.............

Grimpy

A while back, some guy was selling his car on eBay. He had the conversion done. I emailed him about the price and he said it was about $5000. So it has been done. Good luck on your project and keep us all inform.

Lex Luthor

That's correct Ryan, there is no 5 spd auto SC300, and all 98+ SC4's have the 5spd, same as the GS4. I can't see the conversion being anything but a major PITA, but good luck to you, of course with enough cash anything can be done...