Here it is... The new ride - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Curry · 01-25-2008, 05:15 PM

I was going to just spring the car on you guys when it was complete but I figured it would be nice to watch it "Evolve"

Gonna do some before pics and after pics.

I picked up an SC300 with 135k on the clock. Its one hell of a project... Like nothing I've ever owned before.

Problems:

Horrible nasty interior
Possible blown head gasket
Broken driver side window
Blown fuses
Dirty engine bay
Torn up seats
100 rpm idle could be due to the gasket
2 small dents, no big deal
Badly cut key
Keyless entry is out, need a new chip
Leaking distributor O-ring
Leaking valve cover gasket
Coolant went to hell
Giant puddle on driver side due to the broken window

Plan of action:

Clean interior (Done)
Replace driver side glass (Waiting on glass to come in)
Fix regulators (Done)
Swap out climate control (Done)
Swap out headunit (Done)
Dry out puddle (Almost done)
Order Springs (Done)
All new gaskets (On Order)
All new seals (On Order)
Head gasket (1.3mm steel for turbo) (On Order)
ARP head Studs (On Order)
Springs (On Order)
New leather for interior (2-3 weeks before completion of car)
Turbo (2-3 weeks before completion of car)
Wheels (On Hold)

Cleaned up the TB

Check out my coolant

***RningOnFumes*** · 01-25-2008, 05:29 PM

And it begins... (modding of the next car).

Good Choice.

Venom_5 · 01-25-2008, 05:54 PM

keep us posted

RedPhoenix · 01-25-2008, 05:59 PM

baby is going to shiiineee

***DAMON*** · 01-25-2008, 06:34 PM

looks like a lot of work, but Im sure it will be awesome in the end

a94autoCamry · 01-25-2008, 07:02 PM

gl with the car

Curry · 01-25-2008, 07:26 PM

Thanks guys,

We put everything on hold, over the next week we're going to concentrate on getting the head gasket done, the other gaskets, seals. Going to delete the EGR, bypass the coolant to the TB and finish up with the routine tune up. Spark plugs, wires, waterpump, cap and rotor, timing belt etc etc.

WhiteRabbit · 01-25-2008, 09:03 PM

how come you got such a poor condition car? the $????

Curry · 01-25-2008, 09:28 PM

Well at first we didn't realize the car had so many deep problems. The guy I got it from is a great guy, he's a parts dealer for CL. I normally go through him for all parts and cars.

While I did pay a little more than you would normally pay for a project car, he offered me all the parts I need at no extra cost to get the car looking fresh again, so no worries there.

Either way the car was going to get the Headgasket done since i'm going turbo, it just happened a little sooner than I expected.

But this guy has never steered me or anyone else wrong and this just happens to be a rare case where we BOTH found that car wasn't top notch. We were under the impression that it just needed some interior work.

I still have yet to determine if it really is the head gasket. Tomorrow after I drain the oil we will know for sure.

It could just be a bad valve seals, plugs, wires, cap and rotor. As those things can also cause low idle.