1986.5 Supra, Just bought this afternoon.

MeatRo · 09-05-2007, 05:32 AM

Hi, this is my first post, but I found this forum and it seems pretty informative.

I have a few questions about my MK3 Supra, 1986.5. Non-turbo, obviously.

1. The engine will not rev above 4,500RPM. Is this due to anything specific? Something with the computer or possibly a mechanical failure? That wouldn't surprise me since this car is in need of a HUGE tune up. It's got 2004 tags and looks like it's been sitting for a while. It made the drive home, but it's so sluggish it was pathetic... I know the Supra is capable of more than that. Any ideas?

2. The speedometer does not work, among other interior electrical failures. No dimmer lights, but the speedo is what gets my attention the most. I haven't really had time to check anything out that much, I checked the oil and checked the coolant before I drove it home. Still blew a hole in the radiator, but no big deal. Anyways, is there any easy fix for the speedo if it's not the cable? Possibly electrical? Fuse or something.

Thanks for any input.

oowee623 · 09-05-2007, 07:42 AM

speedo is all mechanical, no electricals, theres 2 parts short piece about a foot long coming from the tranny and the rest of the length from there to the speedometer is the 2nd peice, much harder to replace

MeatRo · 09-05-2007, 08:09 AM

I'll check all that tomorrow when I start stripping it. Not trying to break any Supra lover hearts, but this thing is getting gutted majorly. The interior is already crap, so that's no big deal and already no headliner... But in the end, nothing, interior's all gotta go, AC, everything the engine doesn't need to start up and drive. This car is gonna be my toy, giving it a tune up this weekend... New plugs, wires, dc, filters, oil change and picking up a Godspeed radiator. Hopefully that will cure whatever's holding back de powaa.

Syris · 09-05-2007, 05:52 PM

check the exhaust for any types of restrictions especially the cat. That may help on the 4500 limit

MeatRo · 09-05-2007, 05:57 PM

That's what I was thinking, the exhaust does sound pretty shady. The lady that sold it to me said something on it rattled loose and now it sounds like a cheap fart can... I swear, the drive home was almost embarassing. A Crossfire jumped me on the freeway and I was helpless, I had to floor the damn thing just to keep up with traffic.

Stupid work. I hate work. I wanna go home, why doesn't my boss understand that I have to go work on my car??

[edit]
It probably is the exhaust, too. Especially if it has an old cat now that I think about it. The lady was really sketchy about making sure I understood that I was responsible for smog & registration. Probably failed a couple smog tests with a crappy cat. Oh well, I will be putting in all new 3" exhaust/headers/cat in a couple weeks, so I hope that will get rid of it. In the meantime I'll get the tune up done and run a test pipe to see if I get the RPMs back.... After I get my new radiator. :P

MeatRo · 09-06-2007, 02:22 AM

Well, it's got to be the exhaust. The muffler/pipes on this thing are just embarassing. Got the radiator replaced temporarily, threw one of my Volvo turbo radiators in there for the time being, until I get a new one next week.

Got the airbox taken off and just open aside from a hepa filter covering it (LoL, one of those little things you keep from your a/c in the house throwing dust around). It's revving up to 5,500RPM at least, but it's kicking crap out the tailpipe and choking damn near to death. Plus the pipe is so undersized, it's maybe a 1 1/2" and still crimped in a bunch of places.

Found a little bit out about the car today, used to be an automatic. Used to have a security system, LoL, needs a few wires replaced... Small stuff and lots of it. Should be fun. Interior is stage 1 gutted. Step 1, tune up/radiator/air filter. Step 2, exhaust/wiring.

Didn't check the speedo cuz the meter maid bitch came along nagging about working on the car outside of the garage, so I just finished up the radiator and parked it.

MeatRo · 09-07-2007, 06:38 AM

Finally got a spot in the garage for it, in the process of gutting it right now.. Whole back is gutted, along with the dash/consoles. Tomorrow I'll get out the seats, carpet and everything. Tune up coming tomorrow also, strange thing, I guess it cleared all the crap that had been blocking the exhaust... Got it up to redline today, sucks having it max out at 4,500. Once I got it up to redline I found out 4,500+ is where all my power is. So it's running pretty much normal aside from a badly needed tune up and the crappy, rattling exhaust. It's got a lot more power today, though. I think it will love the tune up/oil change tomorrow.

Coming tomorrow:
-Plugs
-Wireset
-Thermostat
-Hoses
-Coolant
-Oil/Filter
-Fuel Filter
-Air Filter
-Wiper Blades
-Some shorted wiring from the battery to the fuse box

First Actual Mods:
-Godspeed Aluminum Radiator (Next Week)
-3" Cat + 3" Pipes + 3" Magnaflow Muffler (2 Weeks)
-Wiring Cleanup

Supsension, wheels, chassis bracing, differential, under the hood cleanup/organization/repairs, and eventually 7MGTE swap. Then I'll really start getting into power. Probably about $6,000 and I figure it will be ready for a real power plant. Shooting for 3,000+/- lbs and 350-375 HP.

Decided to rattle can it black and California plates "KNGKUPA" along with a custom Bowser (from Mario World) bumpersticker... Just to be a smartass to a pretty quick little Cooper Mini S in the neighborhood, "MRIOKRT".

09-05-2007, 05:32 AM	#1
MeatRo Stock Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 805, California Posts: 17	1986.5 Supra, Just bought this afternoon. Hi, this is my first post, but I found this forum and it seems pretty informative. I have a few questions about my MK3 Supra, 1986.5. Non-turbo, obviously. 1. The engine will not rev above 4,500RPM. Is this due to anything specific? Something with the computer or possibly a mechanical failure? That wouldn't surprise me since this car is in need of a HUGE tune up. It's got 2004 tags and looks like it's been sitting for a while. It made the drive home, but it's so sluggish it was pathetic... I know the Supra is capable of more than that. Any ideas? 2. The speedometer does not work, among other interior electrical failures. No dimmer lights, but the speedo is what gets my attention the most. I haven't really had time to check anything out that much, I checked the oil and checked the coolant before I drove it home. Still blew a hole in the radiator, but no big deal. Anyways, is there any easy fix for the speedo if it's not the cable? Possibly electrical? Fuse or something. Thanks for any input.

09-05-2007, 05:57 PM	#5
MeatRo Stock Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 805, California Posts: 17	That's what I was thinking, the exhaust does sound pretty shady. The lady that sold it to me said something on it rattled loose and now it sounds like a cheap fart can... I swear, the drive home was almost embarassing. A Crossfire jumped me on the freeway and I was helpless, I had to floor the damn thing just to keep up with traffic. Stupid work. I hate work. I wanna go home, why doesn't my boss understand that I have to go work on my car?? [edit] It probably is the exhaust, too. Especially if it has an old cat now that I think about it. The lady was really sketchy about making sure I understood that I was responsible for smog & registration. Probably failed a couple smog tests with a crappy cat. Oh well, I will be putting in all new 3" exhaust/headers/cat in a couple weeks, so I hope that will get rid of it. In the meantime I'll get the tune up done and run a test pipe to see if I get the RPMs back.... After I get my new radiator. :P Last edited by MeatRo; 09-05-2007 at 06:15 PM.

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09-05-2007, 08:09 AM	#3
MeatRo Stock Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 805, California Posts: 17	I'll check all that tomorrow when I start stripping it. Not trying to break any Supra lover hearts, but this thing is getting gutted majorly. The interior is already crap, so that's no big deal and already no headliner... But in the end, nothing, interior's all gotta go, AC, everything the engine doesn't need to start up and drive. This car is gonna be my toy, giving it a tune up this weekend... New plugs, wires, dc, filters, oil change and picking up a Godspeed radiator. Hopefully that will cure whatever's holding back de powaa.

09-05-2007, 05:52 PM	#4
Syris 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: OH Posts: 67	check the exhaust for any types of restrictions especially the cat. That may help on the 4500 limit

09-06-2007, 02:22 AM	#6
MeatRo Stock Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 805, California Posts: 17	Well, it's got to be the exhaust. The muffler/pipes on this thing are just embarassing. Got the radiator replaced temporarily, threw one of my Volvo turbo radiators in there for the time being, until I get a new one next week. Got the airbox taken off and just open aside from a hepa filter covering it (LoL, one of those little things you keep from your a/c in the house throwing dust around). It's revving up to 5,500RPM at least, but it's kicking crap out the tailpipe and choking damn near to death. Plus the pipe is so undersized, it's maybe a 1 1/2" and still crimped in a bunch of places. Found a little bit out about the car today, used to be an automatic. Used to have a security system, LoL, needs a few wires replaced... Small stuff and lots of it. Should be fun. Interior is stage 1 gutted. Step 1, tune up/radiator/air filter. Step 2, exhaust/wiring. Didn't check the speedo cuz the meter maid bitch came along nagging about working on the car outside of the garage, so I just finished up the radiator and parked it.

09-07-2007, 06:38 AM	#7
MeatRo Stock Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 805, California Posts: 17	Finally got a spot in the garage for it, in the process of gutting it right now.. Whole back is gutted, along with the dash/consoles. Tomorrow I'll get out the seats, carpet and everything. Tune up coming tomorrow also, strange thing, I guess it cleared all the crap that had been blocking the exhaust... Got it up to redline today, sucks having it max out at 4,500. Once I got it up to redline I found out 4,500+ is where all my power is. So it's running pretty much normal aside from a badly needed tune up and the crappy, rattling exhaust. It's got a lot more power today, though. I think it will love the tune up/oil change tomorrow. Coming tomorrow: -Plugs -Wireset -Thermostat -Hoses -Coolant -Oil/Filter -Fuel Filter -Air Filter -Wiper Blades -Some shorted wiring from the battery to the fuse box First Actual Mods: -Godspeed Aluminum Radiator (Next Week) -3" Cat + 3" Pipes + 3" Magnaflow Muffler (2 Weeks) -Wiring Cleanup Supsension, wheels, chassis bracing, differential, under the hood cleanup/organization/repairs, and eventually 7MGTE swap. Then I'll really start getting into power. Probably about $6,000 and I figure it will be ready for a real power plant. Shooting for 3,000+/- lbs and 350-375 HP. Decided to rattle can it black and California plates "KNGKUPA" along with a custom Bowser (from Mario World) bumpersticker... Just to be a smartass to a pretty quick little Cooper Mini S in the neighborhood, "MRIOKRT".