i think my car is EMO!

87-POSupra · 01-28-2008, 06:52 AM

i have an 87 NA automatic with 230k miles on it and i have already replaced the head gasket less then 5k ago and it has been running perfect since but within the last month or so it has been trying to die and its performance is sad. i start it up and sometimes it starts up fine other times it starts extremely ruff and attempts to die right away but once i get going its fine, except for somedays the temp will shoot up as im driving then drop back down and my heater will start working or the temp will just keep going up and down and my heater wont be working. im also burning oil and loosing coolant somewhere. i just cant pinpoint the problem so to solve it im just going to a complete rebuild and call it good! let me know if you have any other suggestions before i drop $700 into rebuilding it.

oowee623 · 01-28-2008, 10:46 AM

did you do anything else besides replacing the headgasket such as machining the mating surfaces?

supramacist · 01-28-2008, 08:34 PM

Looks like you cut corners somewhere.
And your hg is going out again.

You may try burping your coolant. Sounds like you have a bubble in there.

87-POSupra · 01-29-2008, 01:08 AM

there isnt any air in the system ive already checked that and the head was newly rebuilt from autozone and the block was still within limits as far as warpage.

supramacist · 01-29-2008, 02:29 AM

STELLAR.

AutoZone was most certainly who I was going to tell you to take it to.
No reason you're wondering why your $hits weak.

It maynot be that your supra is a pos.
Maybe you just lack knowledge regarding such a technologically advanced auto.

suprra_girl · 01-29-2008, 08:56 AM

If you can't determine where you're losing coolant, and your temp is spiking it is likely the hg has gone again.
What did you torque to to? Did you use new headbolts? How is the waterpump? Radiator condition? Clutch fan operation?

87-POSupra · 01-29-2008, 09:46 PM

i used new head bolts and torqued to specification. not too sure on the condition of the water pump, radiator is good and so is the fan.

here is another problem added to the mix... today i went to start up my car and the motor wouldnt turn over, i had to put it in gear and rock it back and forth then it started really rough but then ran at about 1500rpm while it began to warm up but it smelt horrible.

oowee623 · 01-30-2008, 12:43 AM

if you went by tsrm spec which is 58ft/lb thats where you went wrong you should have done 80-90ft/lb and went over it twice

87-POSupra · 01-30-2008, 02:35 AM

why would i go against what a professional repair manual says? i know that they are not always as accurate as we would like but 80-90 as apposed to 58? come on!

btwilson86 · 01-30-2008, 04:11 AM

Read any thread about a bhg and you will know. Factory torque specs (which are the ones in the repair manuals) on the head are way too low...

When you replaced your head gasket did you use an O.E. one with new O.E. head bolts? Or did you use a metal head gasket with ARP head bolts or studs? If you used O.E. bolts/gasket, it should be torqued higher, but not to 80 or 90. Those bolts won't hold up that high. Check bhg threads for what others torqued their head bolts to. If you went with the ARP/metal head gasket then you should take it up to 80-90 ft./lbs

This whole head gasket issue is the most common MKIII issue with the 7M engines, and people are writing about it all the time. Do some browsing around this forum and read bhg threads. This torque issue is in every one of them.

01-28-2008, 06:52 AM	#1
87-POSupra Stock Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: washington Posts: 16	i think my car is EMO! i have an 87 NA automatic with 230k miles on it and i have already replaced the head gasket less then 5k ago and it has been running perfect since but within the last month or so it has been trying to die and its performance is sad. i start it up and sometimes it starts up fine other times it starts extremely ruff and attempts to die right away but once i get going its fine, except for somedays the temp will shoot up as im driving then drop back down and my heater will start working or the temp will just keep going up and down and my heater wont be working. im also burning oil and loosing coolant somewhere. i just cant pinpoint the problem so to solve it im just going to a complete rebuild and call it good! let me know if you have any other suggestions before i drop $700 into rebuilding it.

01-29-2008, 08:56 AM	#6
suprra_girl 7M POWAH! ;) Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 2,312	If you can't determine where you're losing coolant, and your temp is spiking it is likely the hg has gone again. What did you torque to to? Did you use new headbolts? How is the waterpump? Radiator condition? Clutch fan operation? __________________ Please use the forum to ask your questions as they will get replied to much faster than pming me Pics of my build. "Good girls are just bad girls that don't get caught" Do a diagnostic first!

01-30-2008, 04:11 AM	#10
btwilson86 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Billings, Montana Posts: 1,034	Read any thread about a bhg and you will know. Factory torque specs (which are the ones in the repair manuals) on the head are way too low... When you replaced your head gasket did you use an O.E. one with new O.E. head bolts? Or did you use a metal head gasket with ARP head bolts or studs? If you used O.E. bolts/gasket, it should be torqued higher, but not to 80 or 90. Those bolts won't hold up that high. Check bhg threads for what others torqued their head bolts to. If you went with the ARP/metal head gasket then you should take it up to 80-90 ft./lbs This whole head gasket issue is the most common MKIII issue with the 7M engines, and people are writing about it all the time. Do some browsing around this forum and read bhg threads. This torque issue is in every one of them. __________________ 1989 7MGTE R154 Targa Top White Package w/Blue Interior Driftmotion 57trim CT26, Upgraded Intercooler, 2.25" Hard Pipes, 3" Turbo Back Exhaust with Test Pipe, HKS VPC w/GM 3 bar MAP sensor, APEXi S-AFC, Walbro 255lph fuel pump, ProSport EVO Series Boost / Fuel Pressure / AFR gauges, Lotek a Pillar Gauge Pod, HKS Type 0 Turbo Timer, Eibach Lowering Springs, Tokico Illumina II TEMS struts, custom powder coated Motegi Racing TrakLite wheels Last edited by btwilson86; 01-30-2008 at 04:15 AM.

01-28-2008, 08:34 PM	#3
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	Looks like you cut corners somewhere. And your hg is going out again. You may try burping your coolant. Sounds like you have a bubble in there.

01-29-2008, 01:08 AM	#4
87-POSupra Stock Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: washington Posts: 16	there isnt any air in the system ive already checked that and the head was newly rebuilt from autozone and the block was still within limits as far as warpage.

01-29-2008, 02:29 AM	#5
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	STELLAR. AutoZone was most certainly who I was going to tell you to take it to. No reason you're wondering why your $hits weak. It maynot be that your supra is a pos. Maybe you just lack knowledge regarding such a technologically advanced auto.

01-29-2008, 09:46 PM	#7
87-POSupra Stock Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: washington Posts: 16	i used new head bolts and torqued to specification. not too sure on the condition of the water pump, radiator is good and so is the fan. here is another problem added to the mix... today i went to start up my car and the motor wouldnt turn over, i had to put it in gear and rock it back and forth then it started really rough but then ran at about 1500rpm while it began to warm up but it smelt horrible.

01-30-2008, 02:35 AM	#9
87-POSupra Stock Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: washington Posts: 16	why would i go against what a professional repair manual says? i know that they are not always as accurate as we would like but 80-90 as apposed to 58? come on!