Well, its about time i started one of these threads guys. Theres a lot of background to this car that i wont go into on this thread, but the short version is - i ended up being sold a complete lemon, and unfortunately the amount of good condition Turbo Manuals in the UK is almost dried up now - most having succumbed to rotten rear inner arches (thanks to the salt we use on the roads here in winter time).
So, i've decided to strip and rebuild the damn thing. This may not be as good as Stuey's JZA70 GT Limited build, but i'd like to do as much as i can along the lines of; remove everything. Clean Everything. If it looks old, refurbish or replace it. Refit with new parts, and lots of shiny stuff
Currently, theres a MASS of welding that needs to be done on the rear arches - i'll take some scary pictures for you all to see, as a warning to check them and keep them dry!
The engine itself is mechanically sound, with good oil pressure, and no signs of BHG (yet), but i'm going to strip it down, and rebuild with ARP's and a new stock HG. Not going to go for a MHG as the machining costs here are off the wall.
Thee engine harness needs a lot of work doing to it - thankfully i'm a dab hand with a soldering iron!
I'll be swapping out the stock coilpacks for the IS300 COP mod of TooKwik4U fame - and swapping over to N/A cam covers.
I have a Lexus LS400 AFM and a set of RC550's waiting to go on, a Turbosmart AFPR (although still in need of the right lines to fit the bastard thing) and an FSE fuel pump (not the walbro i requested, but w/e). I will however need a SAFC Neo or a GReddy Emanage for fuel trim.
Turbocharger? Thats currently a stock, although freshly rebuilt CT26 with an adjustable actuator. I'm going to be swapping that out for a Fensport Stage 1 Hybrid (think 50 to 54 trim), running 12psi.
I'm not looking for mad power - just a sleeper, really.
Gearbox is the usual R154, but it's going to be fitted with a Helix Stage 1 4-puck cerametallic clutch. Mmmm. Evil.
Suspension setup consists of brand new HSD Coilovers, with a 20mm drop all round, although i'll still need them to be properly setup at a suspension tuning place - have them all corner-weighted.
Brakes are the usual shite affair - but, i'm looking to sourcing previa twin piston calipers for the moment (for more even pad wear), until such time as i can go for a wilwood kit from ARZ. I was planning on going for the Mustang Cobra BBK from Doward, but given the impossibility of sourcing calipers, discs and pads in the UK - the ARZ kit is the better option, eventually.
Bodywork...well, as i said, the inner rear arches require at least 6 hours of TIG welding, which is going to kill my wallet even further - but the rest of the bodywork is physically fine - however, the rear hatch has no lacquer on it at all, and the top of the car may end up turning pink, along with the nosecone, so eventually, i'll be needing to break out the paint booth and the sandblaster...
The trim is all in good condition, but could do with some cleaning and re-clipping on the doors (it wobbles a lot when you close the door).
Carpet in the boot...well...its in okay condition, but it doesn't go up the seat backs - and looks shit, so i'm going to have to figure that one out.
Exhaust will eventually be my HKS LET-16 (same as NickM), as thats on my old red supra thats currently stuck in limbo.
Wheels are the hard to find Mk3 5-spokes, they'll be refurbished though, so don't worry
As i said earlier, i'm going for a factory stock look on the interior, and exterior, so that a) cops won't pull me over b) i can embarrass people in M3's and c) for something slightly different...too many people mod the exterior, when in my opinion, its fine as it is. The most i'll do, would be USDM/JDM rear lights, with the foglamp mod.
Oh, and stereo? Just a single DIN CD Headunit with some Infinity/Kappa 10cm (4") speakers all round, and OFC cable. No bassbins, no amps, just understated GT car.
What d'yall think?
So, i've decided to strip and rebuild the damn thing. This may not be as good as Stuey's JZA70 GT Limited build, but i'd like to do as much as i can along the lines of; remove everything. Clean Everything. If it looks old, refurbish or replace it. Refit with new parts, and lots of shiny stuff
Currently, theres a MASS of welding that needs to be done on the rear arches - i'll take some scary pictures for you all to see, as a warning to check them and keep them dry!
The engine itself is mechanically sound, with good oil pressure, and no signs of BHG (yet), but i'm going to strip it down, and rebuild with ARP's and a new stock HG. Not going to go for a MHG as the machining costs here are off the wall.
Thee engine harness needs a lot of work doing to it - thankfully i'm a dab hand with a soldering iron!
I'll be swapping out the stock coilpacks for the IS300 COP mod of TooKwik4U fame - and swapping over to N/A cam covers.
I have a Lexus LS400 AFM and a set of RC550's waiting to go on, a Turbosmart AFPR (although still in need of the right lines to fit the bastard thing) and an FSE fuel pump (not the walbro i requested, but w/e). I will however need a SAFC Neo or a GReddy Emanage for fuel trim.
Turbocharger? Thats currently a stock, although freshly rebuilt CT26 with an adjustable actuator. I'm going to be swapping that out for a Fensport Stage 1 Hybrid (think 50 to 54 trim), running 12psi.
I'm not looking for mad power - just a sleeper, really.
Gearbox is the usual R154, but it's going to be fitted with a Helix Stage 1 4-puck cerametallic clutch. Mmmm. Evil.
Suspension setup consists of brand new HSD Coilovers, with a 20mm drop all round, although i'll still need them to be properly setup at a suspension tuning place - have them all corner-weighted.
Brakes are the usual shite affair - but, i'm looking to sourcing previa twin piston calipers for the moment (for more even pad wear), until such time as i can go for a wilwood kit from ARZ. I was planning on going for the Mustang Cobra BBK from Doward, but given the impossibility of sourcing calipers, discs and pads in the UK - the ARZ kit is the better option, eventually.
Bodywork...well, as i said, the inner rear arches require at least 6 hours of TIG welding, which is going to kill my wallet even further - but the rest of the bodywork is physically fine - however, the rear hatch has no lacquer on it at all, and the top of the car may end up turning pink, along with the nosecone, so eventually, i'll be needing to break out the paint booth and the sandblaster...
The trim is all in good condition, but could do with some cleaning and re-clipping on the doors (it wobbles a lot when you close the door).
Carpet in the boot...well...its in okay condition, but it doesn't go up the seat backs - and looks shit, so i'm going to have to figure that one out.
Exhaust will eventually be my HKS LET-16 (same as NickM), as thats on my old red supra thats currently stuck in limbo.
Wheels are the hard to find Mk3 5-spokes, they'll be refurbished though, so don't worry
As i said earlier, i'm going for a factory stock look on the interior, and exterior, so that a) cops won't pull me over b) i can embarrass people in M3's and c) for something slightly different...too many people mod the exterior, when in my opinion, its fine as it is. The most i'll do, would be USDM/JDM rear lights, with the foglamp mod.
Oh, and stereo? Just a single DIN CD Headunit with some Infinity/Kappa 10cm (4") speakers all round, and OFC cable. No bassbins, no amps, just understated GT car.
What d'yall think?
