Long-Running Lexus SC400 Build Goes for Broke

Money Pit

One thing we know about car enthusiasts is that whether they have a little extra cash or a lot, chances are, it's going into their project vehicle. And that's certainly the case with Club Lexus member BrokeEF, who couldn't help but sink all his extra dough into his SC400 once he got over the initial stage of ownership.

Photos: Club Lexus Forums

Fixing Stuff

Of course, we rarely care about silly things like return on investment in the world of modding. But BrokeEF managed to make it a full year into ownership before he started sinking money into his SC. At first, he just focused on fixing things that, well, needed fixing.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus SC project right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Good Start

Luckily, that didn't entail much. As BrokeEF explained, this car was obviously well taken care of before he snagged it. "This car was in immaculate shape, especially for being a Chicago car. The last owner had it since almost new (a few years old) and took it to the dealer for EVERYTHING."

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus SC project right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Rip It Apart

Of course, that's never really stopped anyone from tearing into a car before. And in this case, it didn't stop BrokeEF. That included ripping into the interior to remove the old broken alarm system, as well as repair the broken speedometer. He also installed a new head unit and IS300 steering wheel while he was at it.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus SC project right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Boring to Fun

For a while, BrokenEF focused mainly on general maintenance, things like installing new plugs, wires, and caps. But after all of that was sorted out, the real fun began. He soon revealed his plans to install some sort of forced induction (at first a turbo), as well as build up the transmission and rear end.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus SC project right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Change of Plans

And we aren't just talking about some pre-made kit, either. BrokeEF went to the trouble of fabbing up all of the piping for his used Procharger P1SC purchase. That value buy effectively replaced his plans for a turbo, but neither he nor we were disappointed by that development.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus SC project right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

LS Swap Time

Suddenly, however, plans changed again. BrokeEF found a guy who desperately wanted to buy his 1UZ, so he yanked it out and parted ways with it. Good news is, he also located a 5.3-liter LS V8 for cheap. So he stripped that new motor down and got to work installing it in the SC.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus SC project right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Wiring Mess

As always, the biggest part of this particular job was getting all the wiring sorted out. But after some time, everything was neatly separated and ready to go. And since LS swaps are the norm these days, BrokeEF had no problem finding all the parts he needed to make it happen.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus SC project right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Life Problems

Unfortunately, the transmission BrokeEF got from his buddy was shot, which slowed down progress a lot. Good news is, however, he decided to go back to the turbo idea for his new mill, in this case, a 76mm Precision piece. Life also got in the way as his old house was robbed, after which BrokeEF and his family found a new one. But eventually, things got moving on the SC again.

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus SC project right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Final Stages

At this point, BrokeEF is still collecting the final parts for his killer SC build. The engine and transmission are out of the car again, and we hope to see some real progress soon. So be sure and head over here, because you can bet this Lexus build will be well worth the wait in the end!

>>Join the conversation about this Lexus SC project right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

For help with the service of your car, check out the how-to section of ClubLexus.com.