How do I prepare the Lexus sc400 engine for Turbo

[TheWard75]

I want to eventually Twin Turbo my Lexus sc400, but first i want to make sure the engine can handle the modifications. Also i want to add as much HP to the engine as i can, but money is kind of an issue because im a freshman in college and money is tight. Should I buy a new engine kit or strip my stock, clean it, and then upgrade it? Any help is appreciated.

Brandon

 

[XR8tt]

This question comes up all the time..
If you said what you are prepared to spend?
Or in stages.. If you wanted to open engine etc...
Its been well proven this engine in GOOD condition will run all day on 400 h.p....
Keep in mind with even 350 to 400 rwh.p your torque is nearly doubled, or feels like it has. This makes things hard on transmissions. But makes car MUCH nicer to drive..
Stage one would be to leave engine totally std.. Run around 8Lb boost with 2 T3 turbo's.. A single GT35R ,T04Z, T66 to T70 sized single too..

Its the TUNE that makes engine safe.. Upgraded fuel pump, bigger injectors, colder spark plugs..I guess it would cost $5 to $7k at this level to build, depending how much you do yourself..
A stand alone ECU IMO is mandatory...Its major part of good tune and impossible without one as the are designed to read boost etc..

To go the next step in performance your looking at MUCH more money ..
Rebuilt or another engine built with forged low compression pistons and forged rods..
To do head mods can get expensive!! Changing the cam buckets at $22 each X's 32 ...It seems the cam std cam and exhaust side is the area that needs attention..
Steel Cometic or MLS heads gaskets and head stud conversion is best to help prevent head lifting on high boost levels..
Then the transmission won't handle to torque.. So you enter the unknown area and get std auto upgraded or convert to home grown auto ?Which is a known torque / power capacity.. As in Ford C4, AOD 4 speeds and G.M's T350 / 400 and there 4 speed equivalent auto's..
Converting to manual ? The home grown [well Mexico] TKO etc..
The Toyota Supra manual conversion is popular ...
On tune , what works etc www.turbomustangs.com is a wealth of information.. What would work on pushrod 5.0 would work well on 4.0 cammer turbo size wise..
The early 1UZ's had better rods than latter model...

 

[stevechumo]

XR8tt said it all. You must have a budget number, otherwise, it can be unlimited.

 

[TheWard75]

This question comes up all the time..
If you said what you are prepared to spend?
Or in stages.. If you wanted to open engine etc...
Its been well proven this engine in GOOD condition will run all day on 400 h.p....
Keep in mind with even 350 to 400 rwh.p your torque is nearly doubled, or feels like it has. This makes things hard on transmissions. But makes car MUCH nicer to drive..
Stage one would be to leave engine totally std.. Run around 8Lb boost with 2 T3 turbo's.. A single GT35R ,T04Z, T66 to T70 sized single too..

Its the TUNE that makes engine safe.. Upgraded fuel pump, bigger injectors, colder spark plugs..I guess it would cost $5 to $7k at this level to build, depending how much you do yourself..
A stand alone ECU IMO is mandatory...Its major part of good tune and impossible without one as the are designed to read boost etc..

To go the next step in performance your looking at MUCH more money ..
Rebuilt or another engine built with forged low compression pistons and forged rods..
To do head mods can get expensive!! Changing the cam buckets at $22 each X's 32 ...It seems the cam std cam and exhaust side is the area that needs attention..
Steel Cometic or MLS heads gaskets and head stud conversion is best to help prevent head lifting on high boost levels..
Then the transmission won't handle to torque.. So you enter the unknown area and get std auto upgraded or convert to home grown auto ?Which is a known torque / power capacity.. As in Ford C4, AOD 4 speeds and G.M's T350 / 400 and there 4 speed equivalent auto's..
Converting to manual ? The home grown [well Mexico] TKO etc..
The Toyota Supra manual conversion is popular ...
On tune , what works etc www.turbomustangs.com is a wealth of information.. What would work on pushrod 5.0 would work well on 4.0 cammer turbo size wise..
The early 1UZ's had better rods than latter model...

Thanks RX8tt, but my dad and I are going to do all the work. He grew up workin on his cars and he cant wait to work on mine. The money is gonna come over time and i am expecting for this to be a long process, but worth it. My lexus has an automatic transmission, so should i convert it to a supra manual transmission or an automatic from this link ?http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=2&Category_Code=A340kits

 

[XR8tt]

In my build I used Argo rods, mage local..

Some C.P low comp pistons.. Compression is 8.8 to 1..


With a 11mm stud kit from Lextreme..

Parts can be obtained here also..
http://www.lextreme.com/allgo.html

 

[TheWard75]

We decided to bore the engine and install larger pistons. Is it a good idea to buy an engine rebuilt kit off this site or buy an engine at a junkyard(if i can find one)? I have already rebuilt my trucks engine once and understand the lexus is going to be a little more difficult. Once i can begin the project, the rest should flow. Just need some advice before i begin. The whole process will be recorded through this thread.

1. Engine rebuilt kit or junker to upgrade and work off of?

2. Which transmission kit off this site for my 92 Lexus sc400? http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=2&Category_Code=A340kits

3.Boring the engine ok?

4. I am trying to bring about 600 hp to the car( adding in engine mods, torgue converter, and twin turbo). So if anybody has any other suggestions about the engine, it help a lot.

Brandon

 

[XR8tt]

Bore as little as possible.. 0.020 should be o/k..

 

[JustenGT8]

pm Jibbby, he's the man to help you out. No need for another post until it's built and we hear about the numbers.

 

[stevechumo]

pm Jibbby, he's the man to help you out. No need for another post until it's built and we hear about the numbers.

LOL...:thinkerg: