What say the group? $750 SC400 that needs a timing belt for a challenge car?

What do you guys think about an SC400 that needs a timing belt for a challenge car. I have tried to talk them down more but they seem pretty firm there. This is an early car so it isn't interference engine, however, I am still wary of buying a non-functioning car for $750 when that is a solid third of my budget.

Link:

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/5277121115.html

And only picture in the ad

The subwoofers tell me this is kid owned and abused. I question the simplicity of the repair. Offer $1200 if he'll get the belt replaced first. Research if there is a limited slip option, the car could really benefit from it.

Very little head room in SC 400 if you're tall.

If you have the time to muck around with it and the ability to do the timing belt yourself go for it.

Worst case, you throw a timing belt at it, the engine is still trashed, and you can part the car out for what you have into it (assuming it actually looks as good as the picture).

aren't those motors pretty hard to break?

Looks really nice in the pics

Yeah, they are pretty tough engines. Hence my interest

I would think it would need to be perfect otherwise for that to be a reasonable price. They seem to go through craigslist ratty but running for $1k around here.

Edit-I guess you need to consider your challenge and end goal as well. If you are going to gut it buy a ratty one, if you want to build a nice driver an example with a perfect interior needing a timing belt might be the way to go.

You mention $750 being a third of your budget but remember, if you do the work, all you have to budget is the belt itself.

You do not have to budget preventive maint so if replace the water pump while you are there (as long as the current water pump is functioning) then you do not have to budget the fresher pump.
Fluids are not budgeted so the radiator refill is not budgeted either.

You could have this car running for a budget hit of less than $100

meh - there's 3-4 running sc400s for less than $1000 around here. For a non-runner with a salvage title - who knows what the real issues are - unless you just really love the coupe body. I tend to think of them as donors.

JohnRW1621 wrote: The subwoofers tell me this is kid owned and abused. I question the simplicity of the repair. Offer $1200 if he'll get the belt replaced first. Research if there is a limited slip option, the car could really benefit from it. Very little head room in SC 400 if you're tall.

Get in the same boat as me trying to find a limited slip solution.

That gen 1uz is nice. Highly desirable. Replace the belt. Even if you dump another 1k into it you'll definitely come out on top. 170k? That's nothing. I'm running 270k on my '93.

Put it on your possible list but keep shopping.

As far as just a car, as long as the fluids aren't completely neglected I'd go for it. Timing belt/ wp replacement isn't that bad on these cars. Even teenage amounts of full throttle shouldn't break this engine/ trans.
That said, for challenge money, there is probably some money to be tied up in brakes, and suspension bushings. Staying under budget may be....interesting.

Awesome input gang! I think that it is going to sit for a little bit. I don't see it going anywhere in a hurry. I also am looking at a high miles Outback 3.0L for challenge money, waiting to hear back if it is still available.

Edit: nevermind, it must be gone. The add got deleted when I emailed about it.

How much money do you think I can sell out of this before I make it completely unusable?

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/5272883355.html

2001 Outback with 3.0l and 255k miles asking 3100.

There are also these two

http://springfield.craigslist.org/cto/5218837877.html

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/5286271511.html

I suspect the second one wont last

singleslammer wrote: How much money do you think I can sell out of this before I make it completely unusable? http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/5272883355.html 2001 Outback with 3.0l and 255k miles asking 3100.

Careful, the max you can initially pay for a challenge car is the max budget. Meaning you can't buy a $3k vehicle and sell $1k out to make a challenge car.

Make sure you price parts on those... Water pump was ~250 when I had to do mine ~7 years ago, also plan for it to take the weekend to change that thing, you've got to disassemble the entirety of the front of that motor. (it will literally be ~4" shorter when you're down to the belt.) New tensioner is a good idea as well.

In reply to rcutclif:

Ah, thanks for the reminder.

In reply to Spinout007: I thought the the H6 had a chain?

Got a vague yes from my wife on the sc400. She says it is reasonably good looking for a 90s car. Waiting for pictures. I might be able to sell a few hundred dollars worth of stuff off it.

In reply to singleslammer:

Nope, belt...

BTW see the big square opening? that's the water pump, along with the pulley directly below it. FUN job I tell you...

In reply to Spinout007:

That is what I get for putting two cars in one thread. I was talking about the subaru. Yep, belt on the Toyota.