Good Purchase?

drmmr15 · 01-03-2007, 09:48 AM

I am going to look at an '87 Turbo on Friday.
Craigslist Ad Here
I have read the 'buying a surpa' thread and am going to throughly check for any unlisted problems.
My question is, if the turbo is not spooling, but he says the turbo is still good, what could that mean? He installed the engine himself, but cannot get the turbo to spool. Would that be him hooking up the engine wrong? Also, is the car still drivable even if the turbo isn't hooked up correctly? I am looking to buy my first Supra, and any information would be helpful. Thanks.

rnoswal · 01-03-2007, 12:21 PM

Well if the turbo is free then you should be able to take off the bellows that is hooked to the inlet side and reach in and spin it with your fingers. If not then that could be the problem, but if it does spin then the piping might be routed wrong or and end open or busted. The only other thing I can think of is that the wastegate might be stuck open. I am not sure how to check that one, but I bet someone here does.

Also just for grins, make sure the air filter isn't clogged up or the AFM. I noticed the radiator is missing the fan shroud too. Check ebay for one, it will make a difference in the cooling. Also, if the engine isn't losing coolant, ask the owner if the head gasket has been replaced. If not then you might want to retorque the head bolts to a higher setting. The stock torque for stock head bolts is what is causing the notorious bhg. I think most are retorqueing the bolts to around 65 to 70 lbs.

Good luck with it. I bought my 87 turbo for the same price and same faded paint but black. Eventually I will paint it but getting everything else working was my first priority.

Russ

drmmr15 · 01-03-2007, 10:08 PM

Thanks a ton. He said the turbo spins freely. I think it might be a wastegate problem, or maybe just hooked up incorrectly. I'll check the air filter and AFM for sure. And what exactly is the fan shroud and where is it located? Thanks.

rnoswal · 01-04-2007, 03:04 PM

The fan shroud is for the radiator. Usually you can see the top part from the picture you supplied, but yours is missing, so I am guessing the whole piece is gone.

I forgot one other thing that might cause no boost and has been mentioned on the forum before and that is a plugged up catylitic converter or muffler. The car will usually run, but with no power at all. Check that out and let us know.

Russ

drmmr15 · 01-04-2007, 07:00 PM

Ok. Sweet. Thanks.

drmmr15 · 01-06-2007, 05:16 AM

Well, I bought the car for $1250. There is an exhaust leak wich i believe to be the cause of no boost. The boost will go just above zero, but not any higher. The engine feels and sounds good, just no boost. The body is pretty straight, and the tranny is good. I'll let you know how things go once i get it running well. and....I HAVE MY FIRST SUPRA!!!!!!!

Thanks for all the help, Im sure I'll be back for more.

01-03-2007, 09:48 AM	#1
drmmr15 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 73	Good Purchase? I am going to look at an '87 Turbo on Friday. Craigslist Ad Here I have read the 'buying a surpa' thread and am going to throughly check for any unlisted problems. My question is, if the turbo is not spooling, but he says the turbo is still good, what could that mean? He installed the engine himself, but cannot get the turbo to spool. Would that be him hooking up the engine wrong? Also, is the car still drivable even if the turbo isn't hooked up correctly? I am looking to buy my first Supra, and any information would be helpful. Thanks.

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01-03-2007, 12:21 PM	#2
rnoswal Lexus & 550's Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bossier City LA Posts: 556	Well if the turbo is free then you should be able to take off the bellows that is hooked to the inlet side and reach in and spin it with your fingers. If not then that could be the problem, but if it does spin then the piping might be routed wrong or and end open or busted. The only other thing I can think of is that the wastegate might be stuck open. I am not sure how to check that one, but I bet someone here does. Also just for grins, make sure the air filter isn't clogged up or the AFM. I noticed the radiator is missing the fan shroud too. Check ebay for one, it will make a difference in the cooling. Also, if the engine isn't losing coolant, ask the owner if the head gasket has been replaced. If not then you might want to retorque the head bolts to a higher setting. The stock torque for stock head bolts is what is causing the notorious bhg. I think most are retorqueing the bolts to around 65 to 70 lbs. Good luck with it. I bought my 87 turbo for the same price and same faded paint but black. Eventually I will paint it but getting everything else working was my first priority. Russ

01-03-2007, 10:08 PM	#3
drmmr15 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 73	Thanks a ton. He said the turbo spins freely. I think it might be a wastegate problem, or maybe just hooked up incorrectly. I'll check the air filter and AFM for sure. And what exactly is the fan shroud and where is it located? Thanks.

01-04-2007, 03:04 PM	#4
rnoswal Lexus & 550's Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bossier City LA Posts: 556	The fan shroud is for the radiator. Usually you can see the top part from the picture you supplied, but yours is missing, so I am guessing the whole piece is gone. I forgot one other thing that might cause no boost and has been mentioned on the forum before and that is a plugged up catylitic converter or muffler. The car will usually run, but with no power at all. Check that out and let us know. Russ

01-04-2007, 07:00 PM	#5
drmmr15 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 73	Ok. Sweet. Thanks.

01-06-2007, 05:16 AM	#6
drmmr15 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 73	Well, I bought the car for $1250. There is an exhaust leak wich i believe to be the cause of no boost. The boost will go just above zero, but not any higher. The engine feels and sounds good, just no boost. The body is pretty straight, and the tranny is good. I'll let you know how things go once i get it running well. and....I HAVE MY FIRST SUPRA!!!!!!! Thanks for all the help, Im sure I'll be back for more.