Need Info on Purchasing/Researching Supra

[slowhondaowner]

Ok, right now im currently driving a old honda prelude. Ive been looking into buying a 240...(too slow.... 3k+ for sr20!) ... h22 2k+ for my prelude and i would still only be doing mid 15s. I know for sure i dont want a FWD, it costs wayyyy to much to make them fast. I checked out DSM's but it seems like everyone is going to dsm's and i hear all about trannys dieing, differential's dieing....breakdowns ect. ect.... It seems to me headgaskets are the thing to watch out with this generation of supra. I read that the 1990 has more hp than the 86.6-89, is this true... how does it develope more? Another thing, i reallllly want a car with a drivers side airbag... with a car so fast i want some security if thats possible, im not sure but did the airbags come standard on the 90+? One last thing when looking at a supra (this generation) what should i look for....common problems, things that can pose a major issue, major maitence required ect. Thankyou. I hope this forum builds up in people! Im planing on becoming a Toyota Tech soon...

[suprra_girl]

hey welcome to our quiet little forum
right now you have my condolences on the honda hehe but they can go quick but the supra is easier and comes with a lot of power standard
now head gaskets are the thing to watch on 7MGTE (3 litre turbo) supras so if you find one of these that you like start saving from day 1 for it as you will eventually have to do it
yes the 1989 + 7MGTE's come with more hp than the earlier ones.. 2hp in fact so nothing really to worry about haha.. the upgrades as far as i'm aware in the later model engine is the wastegate has been altered, fully balanced crank (but lowers redline due to the fully balanced one)... i can't remember the other thing they did
supras did come with airbags, but very rare... you are better off getting a normal one as i would hate to think how much it would cost to rebag or whatever they call it for airbag systems
the supra is a very very safe car as it sits without airbags... there have been major incidents with supras and little damage really caused.. the supras have huge iron bars in the front & rear bumpers so not alot is gonna happen there

the supra comes with 6 different engines
1geu - single cam 2 litre non turbo
1ggeu - twin cam 2 litre non turbo
1ggte - twin cam 2 litre twin turbo roundabout 200hp @ the crank
7mgeu - twin cam 3 litre non turbo
7mgte - twin cam 3 litre single turbo 230hp @ the crank... 232hp on 89 +
1jzgte - twin cam 2.5 litre twin turbo 280hp @ the crank

1jz supras are quite hard to come by and if you find one people generally want $5k and up
7mgte's usually you can find them for anywhere between 3k and 5kish depending on condition

also..... there are many variants in the mk3 supra
widebody vs narrowbody (guards are pumped from the factory on widebody)
aeroroof vs hard top (completely removable roof = aeroroof)
facelift vs prefacelift (bumper and taillight upgrades)
some have tems (toyota electronically modulated suspension, adjustable suspension inside the cabin)
some have abs
your best bet to get the best one is to get a GT Ltd series, generally badging will show this on the rear of the car

87 7MGTE's come with al the options including widebody guards... check out my site and have a look at my 87 http://www.supra.co.nz

common problems:
rear hatch leak, pull out the spare wheel and check for rust under it

intake pipe (accordian hose) to the turbo cracked or brittle... if this goes thru ur turbo u have one expensive repair to do... usually $1200 nzd or more retail... if your turbo does go my suggestion would be to upgrade to the to4e conversion for the ct26 (high flows factory turbo basically) at the same time you get your turbo rebuilt

as you go with time start replacing all water hoses as they tend to split etc

and last but very much not least
when you first get your car, change your waterpump get a brand new one... change your cambelt... do an oil change and oil filter, change spark plugs for new platinums... make sure coolant is in the system and make sure it isn't low... if you're unsure on the coolant, get a new lot and some radiator flush, flush out your system and then retop her up with the new coolant... reason for radiator flush is that some coolants react and can cause extremely bad corrosion

also the biggie... when you go to look at the car check the oil level as i've noticed in the US it is common for the big ends/rod knock to start... when you take her for a test drive check the oil pressure... i'm not absolutely sure on analog and manual transmission 7m's but the digital automatic transmission generally when cold startup oil pressure runs to almost the top then as it warms slowly drops to about quarter... once she's fully warm at idle on my digital dash it usually reads 2 lit bars of pressure... on acceleration she should shoot up nicely and drop on deceleration... i think cruising (under acceleration) is about 3 lit bars
this should give you a good indication of how the oil system and pick up is working...


other than head gaskets nothing else goes majorly mechanicly wrong... just wear and tear

SO hopefully with all this to help you the supra you get won't be a lemon

Good luck on your search and would love another toyota tech here

Cheers

Suze