1990 supra turbo engine issues help

jespat · 01-23-2008, 01:40 AM

u will have to forgive my inexperience at posting, new to this. I have owned my 1990 supra turbo targa since 1990, 84002 miles on it and the head gasket started leaking coolant. Was told by toyota dealer that i needed a rebuild, head, seal etc about 3k of work. Then I got a call that my engine block was "porous" and could not be machined. So i need a new block/engine for about 8k and that the rest of the car is worth nothing and should just junk it. Does this sound right? Is there no where to get another block? Is there a reputable place close to providence rhode island that could rebuild my engine? I just moved here from chicago and not sure where to go for answers-thanks in advance-

Pretaco · 01-23-2008, 04:20 PM

So the car is currently at the dealer, and torn apart?
Find out from them how much you owe them up to this point, how much to put in a used engine, and how much if you bring them a good block to machine. Also find out what machine shop they use, and go talk to them about what exactly is wrong with the block. If the machine shop is in house, take the block and head to an independent to get another opinion, unless they show you something obvious.

I worked at a dealer for 6+ years, and this kind of thing is way too common. Unless the engine was pinging for years, or you drove on a bad headgasket for 6 months or more, there is no reason the block should be bad. A good machine shop should be able to bore it over, and deck the block which will repair 90% of what makes blocks bad.

This whole situation sounds fishy to me.
They could be trying to get you to trade it in, the mechanic might think he can convince you to sell it to him cheap, or some other agenda is going on.

jespat · 01-23-2008, 11:51 PM

Pretaco- thanks for reply- I thought something was fishy. WHen they called and told me the head gasket was gone they said the engine looked like it had the gasket replaced before; I have owned the car for all 18 years and no work of that magnitude has been done to it. They said the could do the head and gasket etc for about 2500 but that because the block was bad it would not last. ANy ideas on where to get a block? they said the only ones they could find were new blocks for 3700 dollars.

Pretaco · 01-24-2008, 12:54 AM

You can try salvage yards and stuff, but your best bet might be a jdm engine from japan. They have them all over ebay, I don't know what kind of quality to expect, but browse around there and see if you see anything you like. I just got mine running with a jdm, and apart from the wiring harness problems and the heater hoses (both opposite due to right hand drive), it is a very strong running engine, also had the original plugs in it, which means only 40-50,000 miles.
I got mine private party, so had no idea what condition it was in, but for $400 for the whole car and engine, couldn't pass that up.
Did they give you an amount you owe them for the work up to now?

jespat · 01-24-2008, 02:37 AM

about 1000 dollars- they encouraged me to junk it- I love the car so I will likwly bring it home until I can figure out waht to with it-

01-23-2008, 01:40 AM	#1
jespat Stock Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: rhode island Posts: 22	1990 supra turbo engine issues help u will have to forgive my inexperience at posting, new to this. I have owned my 1990 supra turbo targa since 1990, 84002 miles on it and the head gasket started leaking coolant. Was told by toyota dealer that i needed a rebuild, head, seal etc about 3k of work. Then I got a call that my engine block was "porous" and could not be machined. So i need a new block/engine for about 8k and that the rest of the car is worth nothing and should just junk it. Does this sound right? Is there no where to get another block? Is there a reputable place close to providence rhode island that could rebuild my engine? I just moved here from chicago and not sure where to go for answers-thanks in advance-

01-23-2008, 04:20 PM	#2
Pretaco 3" Exhaust Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 126	So the car is currently at the dealer, and torn apart? Find out from them how much you owe them up to this point, how much to put in a used engine, and how much if you bring them a good block to machine. Also find out what machine shop they use, and go talk to them about what exactly is wrong with the block. If the machine shop is in house, take the block and head to an independent to get another opinion, unless they show you something obvious. I worked at a dealer for 6+ years, and this kind of thing is way too common. Unless the engine was pinging for years, or you drove on a bad headgasket for 6 months or more, there is no reason the block should be bad. A good machine shop should be able to bore it over, and deck the block which will repair 90% of what makes blocks bad. This whole situation sounds fishy to me. They could be trying to get you to trade it in, the mechanic might think he can convince you to sell it to him cheap, or some other agenda is going on. __________________ '88 Supra Targa 5 speed w/ '90 7M-GTE Currently Running Good For Sale: Light blue body parts, Blue interior parts all from '90 supra targa turbo manual. Also for sale: R154 trans, brake pedal, master cylinder, booster, abs actuator, sensors, abs ecu, driveshaft, 3.90 lsd rear end, radiator, wiring, speedo cable, 8 saw blade wheels, '88 ecu, relays, cruise control actuator (bad cable), empty fuel tank, etc....

01-24-2008, 12:54 AM	#4
Pretaco 3" Exhaust Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 126	You can try salvage yards and stuff, but your best bet might be a jdm engine from japan. They have them all over ebay, I don't know what kind of quality to expect, but browse around there and see if you see anything you like. I just got mine running with a jdm, and apart from the wiring harness problems and the heater hoses (both opposite due to right hand drive), it is a very strong running engine, also had the original plugs in it, which means only 40-50,000 miles. I got mine private party, so had no idea what condition it was in, but for $400 for the whole car and engine, couldn't pass that up. Did they give you an amount you owe them for the work up to now? __________________ '88 Supra Targa 5 speed w/ '90 7M-GTE Currently Running Good For Sale: Light blue body parts, Blue interior parts all from '90 supra targa turbo manual. Also for sale: R154 trans, brake pedal, master cylinder, booster, abs actuator, sensors, abs ecu, driveshaft, 3.90 lsd rear end, radiator, wiring, speedo cable, 8 saw blade wheels, '88 ecu, relays, cruise control actuator (bad cable), empty fuel tank, etc....

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01-23-2008, 11:51 PM	#3
jespat Stock Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: rhode island Posts: 22	Pretaco- thanks for reply- I thought something was fishy. WHen they called and told me the head gasket was gone they said the engine looked like it had the gasket replaced before; I have owned the car for all 18 years and no work of that magnitude has been done to it. They said the could do the head and gasket etc for about 2500 but that because the block was bad it would not last. ANy ideas on where to get a block? they said the only ones they could find were new blocks for 3700 dollars.

01-24-2008, 02:37 AM	#5
jespat Stock Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: rhode island Posts: 22	about 1000 dollars- they encouraged me to junk it- I love the car so I will likwly bring it home until I can figure out waht to with it-