Advice please

[PynkEye]

Ok, heres the deal.

I dont have a BHG, and my Supra is Stock (89 Turbo), I was wondering if I should put a MHG and BOLTS or just retorque the head to 72 with ARP Bolts. MHG is a big job..other isnt...MHG is costly (im on a budjet)..other not so.
I was wondering if a stock head gasket that has been retorque could withstand like...300...350hp.

For now..well this summer. Ill be having. DDP, 3inch exhaust, Lexus and 550s, K&N filter, Boost controler (12psi), Hardpipes, dp dump, Turbo timer, and the reason i would like to not buy a MHG is cause I need a new clutch...some stage 2-3 probably $$$ :S

What do you guys think..and how much hp will those mods give me..about..300??

Thanks again guys....oh and I know the BEST thing would be to put MHG...just wanna know if for those mods I REALLY REALLY need it

 

[mkIIIman089]

I would definitly NOT retorque a stock HG thats on there. For those mods I would go with a new OEM HG kit and some ARP studs. Not as expensive as a MHG job and can hold 300 hp.

I think with those mods you should definitly at or over 300 whp.

I know your on a budget but going with all those mods and not having anything on the monitoring/fuel tuning end could be the end of your engine if your not careful. I would suggest before you go with all those mods get a nice wideband 02 kit, and some guages so you know exactly whats going on in there. Should also pick up a piggy back fuel computer IMHO.

my 2 psi...

 

[Rajunz]

Do it now or do it later, that's what you're really asking! Because they ALL fail, and they ALL fail again until done the right way! Also right at about 100,000 miles one by one all of your cooling hoses will start to blow.

Not to rag on you but you're going down the same path as alot of other MKIII owners, the ones that give MKIII owners a bad name. Get caught up in the Horsepower craze and neglect all of the maintenance aspects of the car. Come on man, do it right.

Spend your budget this summer and change the head gasket, all the hoses on the cooling system, clean out the radiator and every other maintenance item. Work on getting mods after the car is proper.

 

[PynkEye]

ya thats what I was going for, I already cleaned out the Rad, changed Differentiel and Tranny oil, oil and filter all the time, put some Hose Technique hoses in there, got a Boost gauge...It was just a question like that..I thought the retorque might do the same job. Ok so look like Ill get me a MHG then (initally planned). But I wont be ressurfacing it..maybe my hand myself..but I have no machine shop..and thats my only car..any Forgiving MHG..remember no bhg so should be clean.

And ya..whats the O2 sensor, hear about it all the time..but what does it accually do..look like... can u play with a/f ratio with that....
Id like more detail on the Mod I am missing...pics links anything.

Thanks guys

ps..how long is a 1rst head gasket swap job?? will I do it in a day ??? 8am till....

 

[mkIIIman089]

The problem with retorqing (I think is probably true reading from others) is that it will smash the gasket from where its been sitting the past 15 or whatever years. This could cause it to distort and actually blow much sooner then it would have other wise.

Cometic seems like they are the most forgiving MHG, but no MHG is very forgiving. Not resurfacing anything is just asking to be doing it again soon, which is why I said go with a new OEM kit.

The wideband kit will tell you your A/F ratio in real time basically. The one I plan to get is at www.zeitronix.com , they cannot tune your A/F ratio, thats what you need the fuel computer for.

I neglected to mention all the maintenance stuff rajunz hit. It starts to get incredibly expensive to do all of this in the end. But done right, you'll have years of trouble free flying IMO.

reserve a weekend at least to do the 1st HG job.