General Tune Up For A New Guy
 

I bought a Supra about 8 months ago, and have driven it on and off without many issues. It has roughly 171,xxx miles on it. It is a 1990 Turbo 5 speed. I THINK it is stock, but I'm not really sure, because my brother in law told me that they should only make roughly 5 psi boost. Mine pegs the gauge a little over the +8 without a whole lot of effort, especially in 3rd-5th gears :) but I don't have to be going fast to do so (<60 mph). I'm new to the car scene. I've done some research, but haven't had a whole lot of luck finding out what I should do to get it in top condition. I do know that I need a clutch soon. So should I purchase a racing clutch with a lightweight flywheel and all that, or will I be wasting my time. Thanks in advance guys!

From what I hear a lightweight flywheel will greatly improve the revs of the engine, as for the clutch, I would suggest one that has a stiffer engagement but not a full on racing clutch, even for a non-daily drive a full on racing clutch will be a pita to start in first gear all the time. Also don't forget to get new pilot bearing, master and slave cylinder, and throut bearing when you do your clutch.

If you are worried about the extra boost, check on the wastegate actuator on the turbo, it looks like a small can sitting on it's side with a arm out of the bottom of it. Look at where it mounts to the turbo, if you see washers under the two mounting bolts then that's why your are running more psi. When shims are put there it makes it more difficult for the actuator to open so it takes more psi before the actuator opens the wastegate.

Good luck.

Well, I had thought about the flywheel, because of reducing rotational weight and such. I had done some looking around and found some decent parts. Eventually I would like to build up the engine, to make maybe 400 Horses, but I want to produce a lot of torque as well because of all the hills around where I live. Any ideas on how I can attain both, or do I have to go one way or the other?

I'll check on the actuator and see if there are any washers under it. That is something I had not thought of to check and didn't know if there was something wrong with the turbo. I'll keep posted on what all is up with it and try to get up some pics of the Supra :)

Well, I checked the turbo and it doesn't appear to have any visible modifications to it. I think I am going to start laying parts back to give it a good tune up once I get my other car back on the road. Maybe some new spark plugs, oil change, new wires, radiator hose, and an electric fan conversion. As well as a new timing belt and head gasket. I figure that should about cover everything.