How did the assumption that this car has a 1JZ? Its badged 400 on the trunk, and has the front lip.

OP, if in fact this is a 1jz 2.5-TT, your timing belt is no where even close to $300...do it yourself, its simple, and should cost less than $200 WITH the water pump.

 

I've made this assumptions cause when I search for the 2.5 Twin Turbo, that's what come out...

I don't understand all, what I know is:
- the car is badged SC400
- the engine is a 2.5 TT

As said, I don't feel myself doing the timing belt. For what I've seen on others threads, that's beyond my mechanical abilities, and that will be one of the first things to do if I want to start the engine as it is cracked everywhere

edit: I've not seen the car for long - less than 10 minutes - but can it be a Toyota Soarer that has been rebadged Lexus SC400 ?

 

Guys he's not in the us.. he's in queensland australia.. i think lol.. so it could in fact have the motor he's saying. If it is.. just get it, its a good deal even spending the money you said.. Make sure when you do the timing belt get all the seals done at the same time.

 

Yeah, most likely re-badged.
They never sold the car as a Lexus in Australia, it was sold as a Soarer. Unless someone took the time and money to import an SC400, but since it's the 1jz under the hood it's most definitely a Soarer. It could still be a 98, I think the Soarer never got updated tails over it's entire build cycle, but I'm not entirely sure.

Might as well take it, you can always junk it or sell the shell if you decide not to work on it later.

 

Soarers did get the same upgrades as the USDM SC's, so this is definitely a 92-94. Lets not confuse an already confused member.
In addition to this, RHD and cloth seats confirm its a Soarer thats just been re-badged 'SC400' (how hard is it to switch the tags or even the entire trunk).
That being said 'JZZ30' is not the engine code, rather, thats the chassis code. JZZ30 and JZZ31 have the inline-6 JZ turbo/non-turbo engines, while chassis code UZZ30, UZZ31, and UZZ32 have the V8 1UZ engines. Basically thats the difference between the USDM SC300's and SC400's. Overseas 300's and 400's are all called Soarers unless you look under the hood and either see a JZ or UZ engine. So you're next move would be to pop open that rusty hood and see what you've got. Then we'd all be better suited to help you with maintenance advise. Hopefully that helps clear up some confusion

 

It's a free car. TAKE it and run. learn to turn your own wrenches, or sell it as is, or part it out

 

OK thanks all of you.

As sc300max said, I'm in Australia, in the north of Brisbane.

For scENFORCER, I don't know when I'll see the car again as it is at 90km from where I live. And the actual owner doesn't know a lot about cars. While looking at photos I've taken, I think she said the car is form 1998 cause on the passenger window can see this date under the dust written in an older layer of dust !!

While thinking of it, there were also pb with doors: driver's one is difficult to open (need to shake it a little) and passenger's one can be opened only from inside. Are those issues difficult to fix ?

For the other one, if I summarize:
* Tyres : around 4*$100
* Timing Belt: $600 to $800 (done by a mechanics)
* Brakes: around $200
* pumps : around $300
* Battery : around $100
* all fluids / filters: around $100

So can say a little less than $2000...

What would be a selling price of a roadworthy car in Queensland ? When I had a look at ads, can see price from $2500 to $9000 !!!

 

The car is worth what someone will pay. The for handles likely need new plastic clips. Type in sc300 door handle fix. Also if you get creative you can rig it yourself. ps, drop the mechanic idea and that 2k will drop drastically.

 

Definitely ****** the car up. It's a free car. You cant even find a free ford anymore. Only biggie that it needs (from what it sounds like) is a timing belt.
The 2.5 TT Soarer engine is a non-interference engine, so you should be fine if the car is running and the timing belt breaks, though, I still wouldn't drive it with a cracked belt.

 

Sorry to reply so late, those last days at work were quite busy

Thanks SC400slide ! I thought that all engine were "timing belt sensitive" ! I mean, if the timing belt breaks, the engine is dead ! Now I know about interference and non interference engine !!

As far as I'm concerned, I'm ready to take the car without thinking: the car is free and as lots of you said, I can fix it, or sell it.
But I mainly need to convince my wife that all costs - towing the car (90 km from home - I have quotations at $200-250 from towing companies), make it roadworthy ($2000) compare to what the car worth.
So far, it seems those costs ($2250) will be slightly less than what the car worth (lets say few more than $3000...)

And if I understood well, SC400 and Soarer are exactly the same. So if I found parts from a Soarer - like seats, doors' panels.. - they will fit perfectly inside the SC400 ? That's it ?

 

Yes most all parts are interchangeable.
What you have is most likely a Soarer that's been rebadged with Lexus badges, since it has the 2.5 liter turbo engine. That engine was not available in the Sc400 from factory, so it's very very unlikely that you have a Lexus SC400.

But the badging is irrelevant anyway. The interior and trim is mostly identical. There may be a few differences that I'm unaware of, but as far as I know all of the parts are interchangeable.

 

OK I finally convince my wife this afternoon - providing that all costs will be paid by another job I have to find (I work part-time)
Now I will contact some towing companies to have more quotations and see with the owner when it could be done.

After that, I think I'll often ask questions to all of you, as I don't know a lot about mechanics....

BTW, someone said need to purge the fuel (can't find it again quickly). Why ? fuel will be too old and engine will not start or can it be damaged ?

 

Hi all and Happy New Year !

the car has arrived yesterday at home

I have done quite nothing so far except removing the battery.

In order to test most of electrical of the car, I thought to use the battery of my other car - a 2001 Toyota camry with a 3.2l V6 - however it's not exactly the same:
- battery in the lexus : 70, CCA 490, RC 110
- battery from the Camry : 68, CCA 520, RC 105

For what I understand about battery, the battery from the Camry is nearly the same except for the size.
As I don't want to start the engine yet, just to test lights, power windows, radio, door locks, ... do you think I can use the other battery without having problem with it after - meaning I will be able to start the camry ?

thanks in advance !

 

Congrats on the free Soarer!