1989 Supra restore and beyond begins!

[Devoted2Supra]

Hey all!

I just joined up and recently posted in the introduction section. If anyone was following I was having trouble finding a half way decent Supra in my area. Usually the price was out of my budget or the car was more bodywork than I care to deal with and finally most were rust buckets.

I've narrowed the search down to 2-3 cars which I'll be going to see in person to determine which would be a better buy. I don't mind doing the work for a restore before I get the upgrades going. Yet I'd rather not have more of a hassle than a project right now. I'll keep everyone posted when I decide and post pictures when time allows and the car is at my home.

~Dave

 

[toy fanatic78]

Hey all! I just joined up and recently posted in the introduction section. If anyone was following I was having trouble finding a half way decent Supra in my area. Usually the price was out of my budget or the car was more bodywork than I care to deal with and finally most were rust buckets.

Thanks to a great idea and something I didn't think of I'll be picking up two 1989 Supras. First one shown is an auto which I'll be taking the head gasket out of for the manual and any other parts I need or might keep just in case for the second one shown after.

http://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/1054362065.html


http://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/1076801612.html

Second one is the one I'll be fixing up and taking the parts from the first one for. Sound like a pretty good idea to anyone? I would save a lot more money this way I.M.H.O. but if anyone thinks other wise please let me know.

I'll be getting pics of the other one sometime tonight with any luck and can post them up here. Now the only other thing is I'm not too mechanically inclined. This would be an ongoing project and I would hope to learn as much as possible and hopefully be able to do some of the work. I've never done something like this but have always wanted to.

If there is anyone within reason to Easton, Pa or close by in New Jersey that could help with this project or knows a really good place that would do a great job please let me know! I'm in great need of good hands and experience to help me with most if not all of the engine restore and upgrades. Exterior and interior I should be alright with. But all that jazz in the engine just gives me a headache and makes me nervous to do it all alone even with all the post I have read up on this site.

Plus it would be great to meet other Supra owners in the area. Have only recently met one on this site so far. Please critic, offer advice, be brutally honest and help me out if you guys can! I'd really appreciate it a lot!

If anyone does help out I would be willing to offer anything off the auto I won't be keeping which is more than likely just the head gasket. Other than that my Fiance's Grandfather owns a junkyard I could have it towed to afterwords. But anything wanted on the car could be payment for the help as well as food, beer and plenty of aspirin if your like me when it comes to under the hood, lol!

Thanks in advance and hopefully I can find someone to help or a good place in the area to help me with it. I'll be updating this as the process goes along and with whatever other upgrades and things I do. Man do I ramble on, sorry!

~Dave

The only way you can reuse a head gasket is if it's a metal one(MLS),and that requires machine work(deck head and block)
Other than that good luck,ditch those tail light covers.
If the one you're gonna scrap is decent,part it out,you would be surprised how much little stuff people need/want for these cars.It will also help fund your build.

 

[JDMMA70]

they look like rare Erebuni covers

 

[Keros]

1. The car has a 7mge engine. I've heard mixed reviews and things about the overall performance and want of this engine. From prior owners or ones who still use it how would you rate it performance wise and what if any problems have you been through with it?

2. This pretty much goes hand in hand with the first question. I wanted to know what would be recommended to swap in place of the 7mge engine and mostly why? I usually see people swaping in a 1jz or 2jz. I'm assuming these produce more power and overall performance?

In terms of cost/performance ratio, a 7M-GTE is your best bet. Some due care and attention, lots of research, and a good machinist is all you need to get a good 7M-GTE built. Oh, and a boatload of money. Keeping the 7M-GE isn't economical if you want to tune it for big power. Also, if the headgasket is gone in the GE, you may as well jump ship to a GTE block and skip the extra work involved in adapting a turbo onto your GE. It can be done, somewhat easily though. A JZ swap is an entirely different debate... just do a search, it's been beaten to death.

3. I might be stupid for asking this but I was brought up that the only stupid question is the one not asked. I'm going to be replacing the head gasket with a M.H.G. but was wondering if a specific one would be better or needs to be used for this model engine?

To do a MHG you need a specific smoothness value for the head/block mating surface, dispite what anyone else will try to convince you of. It's gotta be like a mirror or it will blow again and again. The HKS stopper is regarded as the best, but for $400 it's not cheap. Cometic and Greddy are acceptable as well.

 

[Devoted2Supra]

Thanks! I'll look into a 7m-gte engine. I've found quite a few sites scanning through the forums to look for one. I'll post back when I've set grasp on one.

~Dave

 

[Devoted2Supra]

Well I went and took a look at the car. The guy had told me in several e-mails that was absolutely no rust. I asked to look on the inside of the car, under the hood and of course under the car. It was a rust bucket with gaping holes near the driver's side quarter panel and around the transmission area. Needless to say I was pretty dissappointed to have went that far for nothing.

I got a call today from a guy I e-mailed about a 1991 Supra, targa top, 5 speed manual, with turbo. Best part of all is that it has a 7M-GTE engine already!!!! The body and under carriage are in tip top shape and the interior is pretty decent minus a few scratches here and there. Only problem with the car is that it starts but won't drive. I'm hoping this won't be a problem engine or need ridiculous amounts of repair.

Been looking in the 7M-GTE forum for anything on this but no luck so far. Car is being sold for $1,200.00 and it'll cost me another $200.00 to get it towed to my home. All around I think it's the best I'm going to find right now. I know when I go to have it picked up next week and it's at my home I'll find something afterwards that would have been better, lol!

God willing the 7M-GE & 7M-GTE horror stories I hear don't come true! Finally pics will be soon! Now I just need to change the title of this thread, lol!

~Dave