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1987 A/T supra suggestions
i need help on what to do to my 1987 supra..
any suggestions plz.. all is welcome just need to get some ideas on what i can do thanks |
Could you get anymore generic?
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Your thread can be taken in several different directions...
For instance, someone can suggest you fill it with explosives and watch it go BOOM!!! But I'm going to assume your asking what performance mods you should do to your supra, in which case you need to provide more info. Is this turbo or non-turbo? What's been done to the car? Is it mechanically sound? What's your budget? What do you plan on doing with the car? And welcome to the forum. :) |
ooooooooh okay i got you,
well its non turbo automatic. my first plan was to switch my tranny to manual, but seeing how its costly and i mine as well just sell my car and go by a new 5 speed supra, i decided to check here and see what i can do to automatics... basically i wanna put exhaust, cold air intake, aftermarket air filter, lower it without it being costly(IE: coilovers) <-- or cheap ones, strut bars, and anything else suggested.. eventually when i get a new head gasket ima put single or twin turbo on it..but again i know very lil about supras my budget is average..a job soon so it wont matter really..so does this help out? and to clear it up my car is a 1987 toyota supra, automatic, non turbo. car is also stock!! Dx thanks :) |
are you at all mechanically savey?
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AUTO to 5 SPEED
Just get yourself a 5 speed that needs parts and combine the two. Sell the leftover from the auto supra on ebay to pay for mods on your 5 speed.
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@batmmannn
i was thinkin of doing that, but then again, idk if i can find a shell for cheap. if so, would i be able to drop my motor in my auto, to my 5 speed? if i ended up getting a five speed. this was good, now im starting to want to do that lol uhm yeah my car is mechanically good, only thing is my power steering is out and im trying to fix that, no clue how... thanks |
Motor Swap
Yes there are very little to no differences between the motors. Get a 5 speed Turbo that needs work and then you have it. You want a car that looks rough but has great potential. Often the blown head gasket syndrome scares owners into selling often there is no blown head gasket. There are many causes of overheating. People shouted get rid of it too me and I kept going till I have it all fixed, no blown head gasket even though I had white smoke, overheating, boiling out of my overflow, Many shouted BHG! It was a stripped timing belt and then a stuck new thermostat or air pockets in the heater core.
I used my Black auto 87 Supra to swap parts off of to fix my Red 5 Speed. Now my 5 speed is good to go and my auto needs parts, but between the too I now have one good running 5 speed instead of 2 broken down Toyotas. In the long run it is far cheaper to get a 2nd car. Parts are getting very hard to find and expensive for these cars. Ebay is a good source for now, but that will dry up over the next few years as well. |
okay i got a question,
i like stick shift personally, but whats the pros about a stick shift verses an auto and the cons? |
Pros and Cons
Pros for 5 Speed
More fun to drive More responsive More Dependable Better gas mileage Faster off the Line Less cost to repair Less cost to maintain Easier to tow Can be jump started with low battery Pros for Automatic Having a hand free when a hot woman is in the passenger seat! Tough Choice!! lol |
definately hard choice
well i checked craigslist in my area and no 5 speeds for cheap you know roughly how much it would cost to just switch out my tranny to 5 speed? |
Swap out
You would need a parts car to even make it economical. Not sure if the auto has the ability to accept a manual clutch pedal assembly but you could check into it.
I would not even attempt it. I would get a 5 speed if that is what I wanted. I would get the 5 speed and then swap what I could before unloading the auto either as parts or as a project car. I have seen guys get turbos for as little as $500 to $1000 that have reported blown head gaskets or turbos. A 5 speed might be harder to find. N/A Autos seem to sell this way when down and out. I decided I wanted a 5 speed after I had driven my auto for several years. Bought my 5 speed for $1000 7 years ago. It sat for 28 seasons because of a bad starter. Every time I tried to swap it out I got disgusted and put it aside again. It was this forum that taught me how to finally reach it and swap it out in my driveway. I was too stubborn to pay towing and a garage to fix it. When I was finally determined not to look at it sitting in leaves anymore I obsessed myself with it. You have to be determined and not quit on it. These cars are complicated to say the least, but engineered extremely well. Look at mine, dead in the driveway for 7 years through, winter, summer, 3 foot snows, and it's all good now and I did it all myself in my driveway. Only the tires went to the garage for mount and balance, car went once for state inspection, and once for a Blown Head Gasket Test that it passed. |
whats N/A?
and yeah ill just stick to performance upgrades on my auto unless a 5 speed comes my way in the future what do you suggest to do to a auto? performance wise? |
N/a
N/A means Non Turbo. Your basic Supra without the Turbo single or Twin
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N/a
oh ok,
then mines an N/A well still dont know if i should start building up my supra now or wait to get a 5 speed, if i can even find one or afford it at the time |
Most
Most of what you buy for your Auto you can later swap out to your 5 Speed. Fix what you have and then sell it add a grand and pick up a turbo 5 speed.
Depends on how fast you want to get driving. |
thats prolly what ima do,
later on though.. ima keep my automatic, and maybe eventually swap my tranny welll thanks when i do mods to it ill post pics.. lates :DD |
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Remember
If you don't have verification that your trans has been serviced within the last 40000 miles. DO NOT change the transmission fluid. If you do it could cause slippage by removing varnish off the bands. Just add trans fluid as you need it. You think you have access to all parts till you run into one you can't get. Or have to pay $100 for, like the N/A fan relay assembly!
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need guidance and suggestion (ie: performance)
as of right now my car is pretty fast,
it may be average to experienced driviers, but for me, its my first rwd and "fast" car. i wanna get extra hp, i am gonna run a catback with 2 1/2 exhaust, later add intercooler and cold air intake... eventually ima add turbo and almost all new wiring, spark plugs and leads.. i heard its good to have a scoop, so i was thinking when i get enough money after all that above is done, install a carbon fiber hood with a scoop anything else i should do to it? its a 1987 N/A (thanks batmmannn haha) automatic supra, just need alil guidance on whats best for my car. thanks to all who helps. |
n/a means naturally aspirated.. i own an automatic.. I maintain continual boost through my gears... so suck on that !
carefull when you change your exhaust. remember in an NA, a little back pressure is good. |
Boost
I maintain continual boost with Coffee, Doritoes and Pepsi!
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Wow you have so much to learn!!!
My 90 NA auto has more money invested into it then I care to mention and it is by no means fast. The car and driver review put it at 0to60 in 8 seconds, fast for the 80's but slow today. And that car was a 5speed. Your car is 23 years old it needs alot before you worry about things like intake and exhaust, and certainly not a turbo. A turbo on a 7mge is a bad idea. It has been done before and concluded to not be worth the effort or money. You already had a problem with the steering so many more problems are to come. If you want to do it right. Find a 7mgte and rebuild it and then you will have some power worth building on. I'm sure if you look you will find many hoses, leaks, and worn parts to keep you busy for a while. AND WHERE THE HECK DID YOU HEAR A HOOD SCOOP IS A GOOD IDEA, do some research on the principles of cold air intake like not having a big filter sucking hot air. |
Fast car
Yeah, well my car came together pretty fast without a lot of money maybe his will too. I think what 907 is saying is that if you are going to boost this motor it is too old to be reliable. The rings, the valves, headgasket all have too many years. Better off to do total rebuild before adding boost, by todays standards these cars aren't fast but for the money they are, lets face it, I don't have 20K to buy an MK4 and most young drivers don't either so for a car to be fun and fast great handling and sporty and still be under 2K I think the MK3 can't be beat! The MK3 is the perfect car for a young guy that wants to pimp his ride! If you want a turbo best to sell yours and buy a turbo model.
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You don't rebuild a 7mge and put a turbo on it when you can buy a 7mgte that is made for a turbo. Why reinvent the wheel. Its all about power to weight ratios
3600/200 = 18lbs per hp for the 1990 mk3 N/A 2600/180= 14.5lbs per hp for my 2000 celica gts And just wait for the bhg that will come someday like they do for all unless you just redo the top end first. |
hes also saying putting performance parts on an NA is like putting lipstick on a pig. you won't even come close to hitting 300hp even tho your only 60 hp away.. (back in 1991) buying an again sports car and driving it like a brand new sports car is a bad idea. do your maintenance and then if you still have any love for it start saving for a turbo.
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other differnces
There are other differences as well. The Turbo Model has a bolder trans.
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beast
my plan was to swap out the moter in the first place before putting turbo.
im not dumb lol the 7mgte is good but whats a better motor for same or lil different price, i dont plan on selling this one at all! not worth it.. its a classic car and with the right stuff and great maintenance this thing will beast. my goal after swap motor and everything is to hit 290 hp or more.. correct me if im wrong, but my bros car (honda 89) he put a zc motor, new computer, catback on 2 1/2 exhaust and other mods... and this thing smashed on any acura, any civic, and bmw m3.. now this is what i wanna be corrected on.. depending on my motor i swap with, can i reach 290 or more easily with some other performance mods, post turbo? i believe i can.. im not gonna worry about it right now becuz i dont have money but when i do itll be beast.. i understand to make sure my cars in mint condition before doing any serious boost mods, but without doubt itll hit 290 or more hp |
Generally speaking, if you tune your exhaust on your non-turbo automagic you will gain a lot of performance.
http://www.toyota-supra.info/forums/...esearched.html Read that.. If your like me, your going to be woke up to a lot of Supra nightmares if you go in with your eyes closed. 1. The cars rust... check your quarter panels (from the inside) and your wheel wells. Undercoat is NOT an effective rust deterent... its a good hider of rust. 2. Parts wear. Supra parts are expensive if you go OEM. 'nuff said? 3. Proper is not the same as 'working'. You can get a car built properly or do it yourself properly. Or.. you can settle for working.. both are good, however one is very time consuming and expensive, while the other is good if your not going long term and fussy.. which I am. I paid fair coin for my 88, and was happy as a pig in poop. Then I came into here and had my eyes opened. Then.. reality crept in and I found the flaws. 4500.00 later.. I am just getting started.. another 10-15k to go (minimum) Will I get the money back for it? Nope... its a labor of love. Make sure your doing it for the right reasons and dont overextend yourself. Be happy with what you have, maintain it.. and plan. Dont start anything until its all mapped out. That way.. if it's too costly.. you can abort rather than find yourself 3-5k into parts and labor and looking at what the realities may be. The absolute best thing you can do is do it yourself. But.. only if you can actually do it yourself. (or in otherwords.. if you have no clue how to do brakes.. dont do them. I would rather not have you plow into someone when the bolt that you wondered about comes loose) Not putting a damper on things, just want to give you a peek into my personal Supra hell. And I am not an expert.. but I do read : ) I can find a Supra easily.. but I have driven quite a lot to look at them, and the more I do, the more I will just keep what I have. Better the devil I know... |
Scare Tactics
Damn Dude,
What's with the scare tactics? If you want a new car go spend 40K. If you want a great dependable car then work on a Supra. I have 1500 or less invested in mine it sat for 7 years in a driveway, I paid a grand for it 7 years ago and let it sit in leaves, not even started for over 5 years. I put less than $500 in it in parts including the tires and I am all over the place driving it. It's awesome. Don't know where you got your car, but mine is not rusted, and if it is rusted behind the fenders, who freaking cares? Nothing lasts forever and certainly you have no experience with earlier cars cause they rusted off their frames quicker than you could put 100k on them. These cars are platinum compared to earlier cars. To read your post these newcomers would run for the hills or sell their project cars. I think your post is unfair to Toyota and the MK3 You can still buy a low mileage garage kept near mint MK3 for about 6K. So why are you claiming you have spent so much time and money? You could have found a real fine no rust Turbo MK3 from CA for this price. Your post makes little sense to me. If someone doesn't know how to do the brakes then read the manual, watch a youtube video or ask us here, but certainly don't throw up your hands and conclude you will leave a bolt loose then drive off a cliff, actually there is only one bolt you have to take out to change the brake pads anyway. My 7 year old child could do it. Not slamming you, just don't think your post has a lot of validity or is at all fair to the durability or engineering inherent in every Toyota, especially the MK3. If you are spending all this time and money on your MK3 it's cause you want to or choose to not because you have to. The reason we are here is because we want to help each other not scare the begeezers out of people and make them think they will have an additional $5K into their car before they get it on the road after purchasing it. If you look around you'll quickly find that we are driving and fixing our cars for the cost of parts ourselves. That's the intent and magic of this forum! Scott |
No offense Scott, since you have put alot of effort in to your supra. But I don't think you've even broke the surface of the amount of money that can be sunk into an mk3. What is the purpose of driving a car with double wishbone suspension if the struts and bushing are worn out. Or a car that is capable of breaking a 120mph if it leaks oil and antifreeze in many places every time you treat it alittle hard. The point is you can't drive a old car like a new sports car and not expect to not put large amounts of money back into it. Sure you can drive it like you're grandma's buick and be fine for a long time but whats the fine in that.
And the rust thing is true but not for all. So unfair:( |
Grandmas car
Thats my point, sell your car and buy one already done for 6K or less. I drive mine hard, no leaks, no oil leaks. All I had to do was change the front crank seal and valve cover gaskets to stop my leaks. Granted mine is a non Turbo, but still if your car is so far gone unload it and find another.
My car has the same radiator hoses, all of them that it had on it 7 years ago. If they break I will replace them. I have red lined it, spit gravel, burned some runner and gotten dirty looks from people already. Last night I got cussed out at at a local convenience store for making a rocket entry into a parking lot. My opinion is, if you want to make it like new then you are going to pay for it in time and money doing it yourself to an extreme or you can buy a western car with all the mods done for less than your time and money would be worth. If it's a labor of love then you love playing with your car and making it exactly what you want, then the love makes it worth the money and time, though I can understand how a break down or blow up from a Turbos stress on an older car might make someone issue warnings or be regretful they took on the project. I Like my Non Turbo cause it is basic good Toyota engineering and I know little to nothing about Turbos so I concede to you completely as I don't know the costs. However, I will say this. I am having a replica 1966 Batmobile built in CA, It is being built on a stretched 85 C4 Corvette. I purchased the Corvette in CA because of the low rust issues. If I wanted a nice Turbo MK3, I would look in CA or one of the dry states and pay the extra 4K. Toyotaman on this forum has a 89 near MINT garaged MK3 N/A for 3K for sale. A beautiful car. No rust, no damage to speak of, a real sweet ride. I can't imagine there aren't beautiful Turbos out there for twice the price. Now sure if you guys are building boost, horsepower, going beyond factory specs with after market parts, add ons, mixing components from different sources, recalibrating factory settings, your taking chances. It's a gamble is it not? If you are not following manufacturer specs and recommendations then you are in essence tossing the dice. Thats not a reflection on the MK3 or Toyota as I see it. Cre has posted that there have been horror stories from people listening to bad advice when overbuilding beyond factory specs. To my thinking, this hobby or labor of love in getting the most out of your Turbo and being creative with it and pushing it to it's limits is where the money drain comes in. It's like NASA tells us, "space travel" is expensive. Am I wrong? |
So basically, ochowdero, make sure that the car you have is a solid platform before going for more power. Grandavi has some very good points in his post here about issues some owners of twenty-something year old cars have had, but as batmmannn has pointed out these are still Toyota's, and Toyota cars are overall solid, reliable vehicles. There's good engineering behind them.
So MY advice would be to take a good, in depth look at your car. Find out what you like and don't like about it. See what is in need of replacing, get prices for parts that you will likely need now or down the road. Give yourself a good idea of what you're working with, and build your plan off of that. You may find that your car is in great shape overall, or that you may want to keep it as is, enjoy it for what it is, and find another one for your project build. |
my response was based solely on what I was getting from the questions. It was NOT meant as a scare tactic.. it was meant as a reality check.
(and.. by the way.. my car is NOT far gone.. it is normal. I just have Supra envy when I see what some of the people here have done. I want a straight body, no rust, a tight drive train and a car I trust. I own it now.. but if I drive it as is.. I wont own it in another 3-5 years.. it will be too far gone for that) Everyone gives me a thumbs up when I drive by and young people ESPECIALLY love the car! Warts and all! However.. the reality is.. this is not a cheap car unless you want it to be. (and if you look on the roads.. how many do you actually see driving??) Its a speed demon, thats why people want it, plus I personally think the body is sexy.. however.. its also almost 30 years old. I have 2 friends that are no longer with us due to high speed and failed components. I am just pointing out that if you are talking about "whacking" other cars (as the OP mentioned), make sure you do it smartly. Sure.. you can pep up the motor.. but dont ignore the fact that you need to look closely at your suspension/steering/brakes to ensure you dont end up wrapped around a car/pedestrian/tree. That, my friend, is reality. Like I said.. dont rush into upgrades.. map it out.. get educated.. then do it or dont. But dont end up with hundreds or thousands of dollars sunk into a bucket of tin that in the end you cant afford to finish. Simply attempting to be sage about it. Personally, I will dump 10-20k into my 88 without crying or whining. The car is worth it. I have had many new Hondas prior to this Supra, (mostly Accords and Odysseys) but I have NO car payments (it was fairly cheap to buy), I can upgrade as i get cash as long as I do the proper maintenance so that it doesn't degrade while I enjoy it, and my insurance is dirt cheap (6.00 per month for FULL insurance as a collectible providing I do not do more than 5k mileage per month, which I dont). The car is worth it.. but not to everyone. Oh, and in regards to buying one for 6k that is mint... umm.. I have been looking for almost a year. Maybe I am too fussy, but every car I see is far far from perfect. They look great in the pictures, then you feel around.. find the rust that is about to bubble through in 1-2 years or maybe a bit longer. Keep in mind.. I am in Canada and they use salt on the roads along with other chemicals which are deadly to the metal/paint. I am NOT in California.. lol I have been so disappointed as I go to see the 6000.00 127,000 miler that has fiberglass repair done poorly on the fenders, 1/4" of bondo on the door skins and brackets, etc underneath that are disappearing. I would gladly pay 10-15k for a pristine Supra that was well done. I just cant find one. So, no, I shouldn't scare our fellow Supra lovers, and I dont mean to, but I have went through the disappointment of buying the "car of my dreams" and ending up with the car that I was trying to avoid. If I had the time.. it would be a lot cheaper and a helluva lot more fun to tear it apart and do it myself.. but not all of us do. But I believe that anyone who thinks they can pick up a 3000.00 Supra and go whack around Mustangs, etc.. is treading a dangerous line. I am an old fart.. so I am just pointing it out. If anyone thinks that my post is fear mongering.. by all means, remove it (and this one too if you like). I just try to put in my 2 cents where I can. I am FAR from a Supra expert.. but with everyone's help.. I keep getting closer. *now that i think of it.. I should have kept my mouth shut and started a thread called.. "why would I recommend you really think hard on why you want your Supra" - although.. all the information is within the threads. Look at my links in my sig.. that was made when I bought the car. Its all irrelevant now.. because I have learned that I personally can not build the car in that manner. I have to do it in 4 stages and each one will cost me a bit of coin. Now.. I will shut-up and let the OP get his information properly rather than having an old hound dog lecture.. lol. If you find a 90-92 pristine Supra Turbo Targa 5 speed.. let me know.. I will go pick it up. |
my supra now is my project car lol
and not scared or anything, all have good points just keep civil lol forums are to give opinions and help right? thats what were all doing thanks guys, i want blue headlights dammit!!! |
I saw a Supra with the flip up lights that had some kind of a kit with a blue light below the regular light (inside the light). Something to do with daytime running... but who would run with the lights flipped up in the daytime : )
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you should cam it :)
if you havnt done anything yet i suggest you remove stock airbox, and feed air filter under right headlight, and set it up with a good air inductionfilter! also a great idea for you to heat wrap your intake it gets warm! you could always set yourself up with a good clutch and lieght weight flywheel if your planning on going 5speed! and dont worry about your hg it will blow one day... nothin you can do to stop it :( so ride it harder until you can put in the MHG |
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your driving a 25 year old sports car, somthing WILL GO WRONG so do not be surprised when it does!!! if you like to not be stranded on the highway i suggest replacing all your heater hoses!!!! first week of driving my mk2 i blew a rad hose, someone i knew actually had one just the right size "i was lucky" |
those are called city lights.. they look cool at night too.
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