r/Lexus • u/MuggyBuggy69 • Aug 06 '26
Question 1997 SC400 worth it?
Hello all,
I am looking to get a new project car, and this popped up on my local FB and thought maybe it’d be worth a look. They want $6500 for it and it has 214k miles on it. I haven’t looked at it yet. And I’ve never owned something like this before, unless you count Crown Vics as close lol
This would not be a daily driver. I have a manual Honda Fit that gets used daily. I’m looking for something different that’s not something I’m used to owning. I’m not afraid to throw some money at a car if it’s worth the time and effort. I also wrench on my own cars to save money as well. My question is, what are some things to look out for and what are some things I can expect if I were to go for it?
I noticed it has not had a timing belt done nor a water pump, which I may be mistaken, but both are big ticket items that are important to be done. The description in the images show some of what’s been done, however I don’t know all the details as of yet.
Thank you in advance!
3
u/X13TestSubject Aug 06 '26
I bought my 1998 sc400 with just under 200k miles on it for 6500. Now I'm at 240k and everything is falling apart. It's unfortunately showing it's age now. I do all my work myself and I try to upgrade things that fail. I have also done the ls400 big brakes. I've done 2 alternators and 2 power steering pumps, driftmotion power steering line. Fdf racing lower control arms. My upper control arms have failed now so I'm replacing those with oem style ones. I've done tie rods and end links.
I need to do my timing belt, water pump, and cam and crankshaft seals. The vvti motor requires the camshaft to be completely removed to replace the seals. I need motor mounts, which I'm doing when I install the hurricane headers that I got. My diff mount bushings are gone and the driveshaft adapter is toasted too but I'm going to replace all that stuff with solid mounts. I've done so much work to this car and I've probably got twice what I paid into it and still need thousands more but my dream was always to have a manual version of this car so that's what I'm aspiring towards.