JIBBBY

If your car has an automatic transmission, the cure for your low end torque problem would be to upgrade your stock torque converter. Not cheap but very effective.. I went with a Dragon Torque Converter and just that upgrade alone got my rears spinning from a dead start. Where as before when I punched my SC400 off the line I almost had to get out of the car and push the car up to speed before the power kicked in, it is embarrassing and pathetic if you ask me, a true slug at stock... Apparently Lexus builds the car to suit Older folk and is geared towards luxury and not performance. In my opinion the stock torque converters on all Lexus automatic transmission are weak and ruins the cars ability to perform in a big way.

Aaron - Being that I have done all the upgrades on a 1992 SC400, I would say from experience the upgraded torque converter will do wonders for your low end torque. Make your sc bolt off the line, and that would be my first choice for performance upgrades...lextreme.com can build your stock torque converter for around $400, I believe...I got and installed the Dragon Torque Converter for $900, ouch.... Secondly, work on changing out the stock exhaust, it is very restrictive....The mufflers, highflowing cat converters, and even headers if you can take the noise...you will also get better gas mileage. The car will fly... Intake don't worry about, not much hp gains can be made there from stock.... So there you have it...good luck.. I also forgot to mention the installation of a good piggyback ECU unit will also bring you another 20hp or so... this piggyback boosts up your Engine Computer Control Unit output, in other terms this will up the gas and air flow output that is delivered into the engine which will create more power but also you will burn more fuel...You will notice a little difference at the pumps... This upgrade is similar to the "computer car chip" for those that are not farmiliar with the ECU or piggyback....

Yes I meant the IS350.........thanks for corrections...

I know that I wanted to hear other opinions from you guys and that is why I ran this thread. I am also glad I did.. Although a little too much gloom and doom talk, come on guys America is the strongest country in the world and we will prevail. Apparently the Middle East needs some house cleaning and we are the cleaners... I am curious though do you guys really think the Iraqi people will come to adopt US enforced domocracy? These people are third world, limited education for the most part, and huge regions are religious fanatics that think America is evil.. This seems like a tall order to accompish.... Is this war going to work out and have a happy ending? What is next for the US after Iraq? Any thoughts on those issues.....

I would say 5.5 seconds is a good guess. I had raced a brand new one from a dead stop 0-60mph not to long ago and thought nothing of it at first until I saw that it was staying right with me and then I quickly hit the nos and pulled away cleanly.. I thought I was racing a new IS400 or something (that doesn't exist) and later found out it was the new 330. I really did not think I would need the nos for that race, but I sure did... I was impressed....

K09ols- It's sounds to me like your a Bush basher and a Clinton supporter which is fine and that is your choice, most everyone takes sides anyways. I don't get into politics like most everyone and don't take sides. That way I can view each President with an open mind and not be influenced..Republicans vs. Democrates that is not for me, we are one Country and should be United in which we Stand. I voted for Clinton and I voted for Bush... As for Bill Clinton I think he did some good things for our economy, I also think he handled foriegn relations better then Bush. I also like what he is doing now with the Library and other good stuff he is trying to do. However, I didn't like how he pardoned 50 prisoners at the end of his Presidential term for personal gain $. That was not right...Those prisoners were in jail for a reason and should not have been pardoned. I have no other problems with Clinton.. Bush, don't know what to say just yet, his father was not all that bad so I would like to think his son is just like him... Like I said in the previous post if this war was started for other reasons then what we are made to believe then it had to be for a very good reason, right? If our Government setup 9/11 to gain world support or for a bigger and greater cause then so be it... I can't believe Bush and top leaders would start a war for popularity or personal benefit and murder 1000's. If that were the case our leaders would be Murderers and no better the Saddam himself.. I believe we the US are over their fighting for a good cause. We all know these muslim extremists blow them selves up to kill innocent people. We know that Sadam was a murdered and also killed his own innocent people. We also know that Iraq has defied the US for years. Did not come clean and easy with the prior nuclear inspections, etc... In conclusion, maybe we need a strong hold in the Middle East other than Isreal, maybe oil does play a part...who really knows, other then our leaders. I would still like to believe and rest my faith in the leaders of this great country and would like to believe they make decisions to help and or benefit our Country rather then to tear it down.. So whether or not these conspiracy theories are real we may never know. As for me I can still sleep at night peacefully trusting in our "elected" officials......but I do have my doughts from time to time and that is why I started this thread...

I thought the 11's were respectable in the quarter... If you guys say so then I would go to a race track.. But when I see those big blown Chevy's and slicks take the track I will get nervous real quick........Still there is no track in LA that I am aware of.. Anyway, I got these pretty little headers I am still looking at in my living room, and I need to get them in my car asap....The top end is where my car lacks, and those headers may make a good little difference... Thanks for all the respect and encouragement you are giving my car I put alot of time, learning, and hard work into it, to make it what it is today, a somewhat fast Lexus....I am not done with it yet! I want to get into those 11's then I may say I am done with this car....

My old 12cd changer works but can't read any type of cd's burned or real...Most upsetting, I think I need a new one...Is there a way to clean the lense or fix this problem, the cd loads waits then reads "error" I opened the CD changer and saw it working and shuffling the CD's in and out, but there is no read? Dump and replace or fix?

Like I said it could be a faulty sensor read, if the car runs perfect then I would forget about. Check all your fluids to make sure they are full..Oil, etc... I have had to remove the check engine light bulb on a couple of these SC's in the past because of bad reads.... Good luck, if you feel a problem while driving then just run a diagnostic check at a local import auto repair shop. They will plug in the computer and if they have the right program can run a diagnostic check to see what the problem is.. There is a plug in check point located on the top of the engine....

Does anyone know where I can get longer wheel studs for my sc400? Any suggestion. Here is a pic of my short stock wheel stud....

Sorry that intake will not give you more then 5hp over stock. If you are looking for power gains don't look into changing out your intake look into changing out your exhaust. Maybe larger exhaust pipes, high flow mufflers, cats, headers. Lexus stock intakes flow well enough... I have an even better intake on my 400 and I maybe gained a few horses, nothing to talk about.. Here is a pic of my intake... The best performance intake would probably be a cold air box intake for your Lexus, that will out perform all these other intakes including mine....

Just wanted to inform everyone who may be interested in these mods, for starters the electric fans work great, however I had to relocate a pulley and disconnect the hydro pump plug.. In doing so the hydro pump is disabled permently the only problem is the ECU will now get a bad read and the oil light will come on at full throttle and stall once in a while at idle. What I did is used a simple looping 10ohm circuit at the open end of the disconnected hydro pump plug as shown in the last pic. Any electric auto shop carries these little circuits. This tricks the ECU to think the pump is working fine... Problems solved here are the closing pic.

A race track in LA? Yeah right......These cars aren't worthy of a race track. Not even mine yet.....

That is just so funny that you mentioned that Subaru. Sounds like it maybe a close race after all if it does 0-60mph in the high 4's. Shoot I did not know they made a Subaru that fast that was AWD. We have been trying to plan this for two weeks now. To answer your question - Yes I did install the dragon torque converter and yes it made a huge difference from takeoffs, it brings a whole new feel to the car but does nothing for top end power or speed. Makes for very quich take offs....Infact you will be able to spin your one rear tire (open end differential) some from a stand still which the SC's can't dream of doing stock not even the newer ones I don't think... Anyway, I purchased the T.C. on line a year ago for around $900 and when I got I had a tranny shop through it in for $300.. It's expensive but the results are impressive. Changing out your exhaust is another way to get great HP gains. The exhaust and the torque converter are the biggest limitation with the LS and SC400's. In regards to the race, it should materialize and your welcome to check it out. We are looking for a quiet street non residential somewhere around or near the LA area to race 0-80mph any ideas "ANYONE"? There is a airport in the San Fernando Valley but it is too far for all of us to meet out their. The steet I usually get my races on there is a light and it we would have to time it, and there could be a few other cars so that street in not a go. It would have to be a smoothe mile street with no cars, no houses, no cross traffic and no police. Maybe an industrial area. A safe place...ANYONE?...

Yeah, I here those SUBARU's are really quick especially off the line and if the intake is changed out on them. Infact this is very ironic because I am trying to find a really safe and empty street to race a Subaru 4 cylinder turbo this weekend somewhere in LA....A couple of friends are trying to set this up. By any chance that wouldn't happen to be you I would be racing would it? I noticed you live in Arcadia. Ca. ;) I can play catch up with the best of them, especially when that second gear kicks in and the rears start to grip. That little Subaru better have a serious head start, or else it should be caught. Just remember a little over 400hp in an SC400 is no easy car to beat especially if it is equiped with a Dragon Torque Converter and Supra Twin Turbo Limited Slip Differential on it. However, after racing that Porsche I do see a clear advantage at take offs with the manual transmission, AWD light weight turbo'd cars. Infact a while back I almost lost a race to a old Honda Civic that was turbo'd and gutted but was not AWD. If it were not for the Civic's poor takeoff off (turbo delay) and poor traction, I may have lost, it was starting to catch me even in my second gear I was so suprised. This race should be fun.... However, my car is currently having some minor issues, but should be ready to go by the weekend if the weather is infact permitting. They say it might rain. There is no way I will race an AWD in the rain. I will lose for sure. My little issue I am having is with my recent hydro pump deletion it is starting to play games with my ECU just a bit....I should have it figured out shortly, hopefully a cross circuit where it was unplugged will fix the problem... Oh by the way, what do these Subaru's do 0-60mph in?

You mentioned a SUBARU, is that the AWD turbo 4 cylinder? Just curious?

I hope and pray our soldiers are over their fighting and dying for more then just oil which I believe they are.....and I want to believe we are helping to prevent terrorism and not just heating it up. I know the problem doesn't stop at Iraq, there are neighboring countries just as bad as Iraq, that most likely harbor terrorists and extreme hatred towards the US.. I think if we settle down Iraq and create a democracy really against half the countries will, then the buck doesn't stop their. After Iraq is finished when ever that may be, what's to say it's over. Iran is now a threat.. The only problem with extending the war beyond Iraq is we would be perceived as a conquerer and aggressor. Nations such as South Korea and China get nervous and start their Nuclear programs back up, the Unitied Nations takes a walk on us. This is a delicate mess we are in, and like I said before I hope and pray it turns out for the best.......

Thanks you guys I am already starting to feel better about our Country again.

I am not very knowledgeable on world affairs, but I do stay informed and watch and read the news daily and know some things. I too remain very skeptical about this and still rest my faith in our leaders that they are doing the right things, but there are some compelling facts that need to be explained especially with the pentagon crash.. The only possible reason I could think of would be - The USA needs control of the middle east gas supply. Without control of oil we cease to be a Nation. It is like blood to the body. Without it everything dies. The big money people possible needed a reason to go into the middle east to control the oil supply...the ends justify the means more than likely with the real movers and shakers of government (who aren't the elected people - they are just pawns from Bush all the way through the ranks). Create a cause to move the agenda....end of story. That above statement is just a thought.... I really do hate politics and conspiracy theories in general, but I just wanted to get some other opinions on some of these compelling facts......

I agree with you 100%, I can't stand these conspiracy things either, and I also think the pentagon crash is the most suspicious...

Thanks DCfish......

I noticed before that there were a few political thread discussions, well this is the King of all Kings as a friend of mine sent me this from google yesterday. I don't much enjoy politics, scandles, etc.. and don't get into them too much, but this caught my attention in a big way. I am a strong supporter of our Country, and love my Country...I am a Republican whom keeps an open mind to things. I support the Bush Administration, and our war efforts to eliminate terrorist activities, but now I am a bit rattled to say the least. However, after viewing these two links, I must now wonder and ask what you guys think? THIS IS PUBLIC information which was found on Google which anyone can view and looks to be very factual, disturbing, and legit. I believe some questions really need to be answered!!!! Keep in mind this gets more interesting as the short documentary continues. Here is the website have a look and comment please, I am saddened to think this theory of his may be possible to some degree- I hope I can link these here, it goes- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid= 2023320890224991194 If that is not enough evidence for you here is some more- http://www.freedomfiles.org/war/pentagon.htm I tried to link these sites but do not know how, maybe someone can help us all view these websites easily..and post the links down below... I really don't know what to think of this? I am just disturbed by this to say the least, and I think if you view it all, you too will be disturbed and will have questions... A saddened American......

It is know that Second gear is the weak link in the transmission. At 450-500hp the second gear on the tranny fails, never first or third. That has been said to me from several Lextremists...These trannies are solid and should go for 300,000 miles if maintained properly.. I know this for a fact....

Well that explains why that Porsche jumped out ahead of me. I thought it gripped really well because the engine and weight sits in the rear of that car. I have fat rear tires with a limited slip differential going on in comination with a vantastic torque converter wound tight. In addition to that I also am lowered an inch with good but not great racing suspension. My traction is very good considering how light the back ends of these SC's are, but I still cannot compete with these 4 wheel drives like that. The new Corvette's with the 400hp is about the only other car that has a greater take off and can get a jump on me but not like that porsche....Wow grip city....it was a full car ahead right from the get go....I was wowed to see it jump out like that..I new right then I was in trouble.....I usually get out in front and stay out in front up til about 70mph then my car drops off a bit....Oh well it was still one of my funnest races I have had to date.

Fella's this was not a Boxter I raced it was a Turbo 911 S, with two exhaust pipes going out towards the rears and not in the center like the boxters do.. I can take a boxter I would think those are the slowest of the Porsche's. I have already beaten a new M3 BMW just barely with this SC...0-60mph. So my car can almost roll with the big boys, and it's fun...I just wish my car had another 100hp that would just about get the job done for me...Oh well...