Car of the Week: Grant Eng’s 1995 Lexus SC400
It’s not often you come across a car you can’t get enough of. Whether it be more pictures of the car or updates in a build thread, something about it just turns you into an addict of some sort. This is one of those cars. Grant’s SC is subtle; subtle in the fact that he just improved on how it came from the factory.
Glancing at the Lexus. one may think it’s simply lowered on coil-overs with big wheels.That couldn’t be further from the truth. Grant changed the look of his SC by doing a full 97+ OEM body upgrade with Origin 30mm front fenders, and K&M missile 55mm rear over fenders, which are completely molded to the rear fenders making it 100% seamless. To complete the body work, Grant built up the side skirts and rear valiances to match the wide body. Rounding out this wide body beauty is the custom one off “storm trooper” white paint with 2000 grit purple pearl, debadged,shaved, origin roof wing and a OEM 95 trunk.
Lying under the hood of the Lexus is the 1uzfe V8 that is nowhere near stock. What brings the SC to life is quite amazing, 91 rods(same as eagle rods), ARP head studs, S&S polished headers as well as a Modified roots blower that has been ported and the silencer ports were welded shut. It doesn’t stop there; along with the blower is a 10psi pulley, and fueling this monster is a Walboro primary and secondary fuel pump.Giving this beast its voice is a full custom true dial 3 inch straight pipe exhaust while a Getrag 6 speed transmission with a custom CNC ring to mat to the 1uzfe as well as custom one piece drive shaft and a 2 way TRD supra LSD fitted to a GS400 differential propel the Lexus down the blacktop.
Grant went above and beyond with the suspension on his Lexus. He strayed away from normalcy and went with airbags. The SC rides on UAS air bags Tein SS dampers and Camber plates,run by 2 obdII compressors fed through solid air lines and filled by a 5 gallon 300psi tank. Something really spectacular are the wheels. Work Equips that are 18×10 -10 out front and a wonderous 18×12 -15 out back.Rounding out the car is the interior; a Nardi steering wheel and NRG quick release hub helps the driver keep the car on the road and 2 psi gauges keep Grant up to date on the air bags. As far as the sound system, it’s simple, JL Audio system with two 12 inch subs, 4 JL 6x9s and a stock head unit with a ipod hook-up.
When I asked Grant what he had to say about the car, it was pretty straight forward. “I have had the car for a little more than 4 years. This car has taken me to the prom, then to graduation, then to my wedding with the same girl I went to prom with and our honeymoon as well!. It’s my daily driver. I drive it everyday. It has over 220,000 miles on it. I chose this car because it was different. Everyone I know who has this car always does a 2j swap. I chose to stay faithful to the 1uzfe.”
“I tried my best to keep the car as OEM looking as I could. The exterior is simple and plain, but it makes a statement. The interior is completely stock with all the aftermarket goodies hidden and stored away, retaining the stock head unit but still having an MP3 hook up with a hidden system for some bump. The switches for the air ride are hidden as well.” For the future, Grant plans on a Full OEM black leather interior with black Supra leather seats.
To say this car hasn’t set the bar for many SC owners would be an understatement,Grant took modifying SC’s to a whole new level. Everything done has been worked in so that the car remains as OEM as possible but still stands out. Grant has put a lot of work into his daily driver. With over 220,000 miles on the clock, it’s safe to say that the SC will live long and keep evolving under Grant’s ownership. Oh, and if you don’t move out of his way, the 290psi train horn will scare you out of the way. Click the links below for videos of Grants SC.Photos taken by justin AKA Dr.gonzo
