OK – new to the supra game - so here is my project… I found a 1987 Supra Turbo Targa Manual Trans about 4 years ago with a bad rod knock… 90K miles, physically in very good condition and mostly stock. It has the ever present front and rear bumper paint fade and a few parking lot dings. Light blue/silver paint with blue velour interior. Other than needing a good cleaning (and a rebuilt motor) everything appears to be in very good condition.
When I was a teenager, my best friends dad always had a turbo supra – and I have always wanted one. So seeing this pretty clean example, I could not pass it up…
So it sat in my garage for 4 years, until approximately Thanksgiving of 2010. A buddy and I disassembled the motor and found that the #4 rod bearing was mostly gone – we pulled a paper thin remainder from the crank as we removed it. There was fine metal filings everywhere – pretty obvious sign of oil starvation. Not pretty.
Looked like the head had been off before – like someone did a quick and dirty head gasket replacement with no evidence of any machine work being done.
I had planned to just do a basic rebuild/jdm engine swap and get it back on the road. But given the amount of machine work that had to be done and my desire to know that everything was 100% the project quickly morphed to include more custom and performance parts.
After reading many many posts on this forum and AZSupraCentral, I set out to do a complete rebuild with solid quality components to have a good base for future performance enhancements. I will also attempt to fix some of the known “issues” with this engine and prevent future catastrophes…
I had the engine machine work done by Chucks Speed Center in Glendale, AZ – was likely a little more expensive than I could have gotten the work done elsewhere, but I am very happy with the results and their professionalism and communication. The level of equipment and technology that they have is amazing – things sure have progressed a lot in the 10 years since I last rebuilt an engine. Chuck’s rebuilt the head and did all the block machine work – then a buddy and I assembled.
In addition to the major engine rebuild related items below, I am doing a lot of other more minor stuff to the car – preventative things like: brake calipers and rotors all the way around, replacing u-joints, rubber hoses replaced, etc… The list never seems to end.
Oiling System
- New Toyota OEM oil pump – relief spring/valve shimmed
- AZ Performance hard line from oil pump to block
- Full flow oil system with Beech remote mount filter
- Stock oil cooler is bypassed for now – I am scared of all the metal filings in there
- New Piston Oil Squirter bolts/valves
- Down the road:
o Full flow system with thermostat and new oil cooler
o Considering an Accumsump system
Cooling System
- New OEM style radiator
- New Radiator and Heater hoses throughout engine bay
- New Fan Clutch
- New Water Pump
- Down the road:
o All aluminum radiator – I am tired of replacing the plastics ones every couple of years since I moved to AZ
Engine Internals
- Probe Forged Pistons
- Stock Rods Shot Peened and Resized
- Clevite bearings
- ARP Main Studs
- ARP Rod Bolts
- ARP Head Bolts
- 2.0mm Titan Motorsports MHG
Turbo/Exhaust
- Stock CT26 rebuilt by Arizona Turbo
- LIPP 3” turbo elbow
- CX Racing intercooler hard pipe kit – from turbo outlet to throttle body
- 3” Downpipe – unknown brand – came with the car
- Stock Cat and Catback Exhaust
- Downpipe (and possibly exhaust manifold and turbo) to be wrapped with DEI thermal wrap
- Driftmotion Braided Stainless Steel Turbo Oil Supply and Return Lines
- Down the Road:
o Full 3” exhaust and high flow cat
o DDP - maybe
Fuel System
- Rebuilt and flow tested stock injectors
- Replacing fuel supply line from firewall to rail with an6 line and appropriate fittings
When I was a teenager, my best friends dad always had a turbo supra – and I have always wanted one. So seeing this pretty clean example, I could not pass it up…
So it sat in my garage for 4 years, until approximately Thanksgiving of 2010. A buddy and I disassembled the motor and found that the #4 rod bearing was mostly gone – we pulled a paper thin remainder from the crank as we removed it. There was fine metal filings everywhere – pretty obvious sign of oil starvation. Not pretty.
Looked like the head had been off before – like someone did a quick and dirty head gasket replacement with no evidence of any machine work being done.
I had planned to just do a basic rebuild/jdm engine swap and get it back on the road. But given the amount of machine work that had to be done and my desire to know that everything was 100% the project quickly morphed to include more custom and performance parts.
After reading many many posts on this forum and AZSupraCentral, I set out to do a complete rebuild with solid quality components to have a good base for future performance enhancements. I will also attempt to fix some of the known “issues” with this engine and prevent future catastrophes…
I had the engine machine work done by Chucks Speed Center in Glendale, AZ – was likely a little more expensive than I could have gotten the work done elsewhere, but I am very happy with the results and their professionalism and communication. The level of equipment and technology that they have is amazing – things sure have progressed a lot in the 10 years since I last rebuilt an engine. Chuck’s rebuilt the head and did all the block machine work – then a buddy and I assembled.
In addition to the major engine rebuild related items below, I am doing a lot of other more minor stuff to the car – preventative things like: brake calipers and rotors all the way around, replacing u-joints, rubber hoses replaced, etc… The list never seems to end.
Oiling System
- New Toyota OEM oil pump – relief spring/valve shimmed
- AZ Performance hard line from oil pump to block
- Full flow oil system with Beech remote mount filter
- Stock oil cooler is bypassed for now – I am scared of all the metal filings in there
- New Piston Oil Squirter bolts/valves
- Down the road:
o Full flow system with thermostat and new oil cooler
o Considering an Accumsump system
Cooling System
- New OEM style radiator
- New Radiator and Heater hoses throughout engine bay
- New Fan Clutch
- New Water Pump
- Down the road:
o All aluminum radiator – I am tired of replacing the plastics ones every couple of years since I moved to AZ
Engine Internals
- Probe Forged Pistons
- Stock Rods Shot Peened and Resized
- Clevite bearings
- ARP Main Studs
- ARP Rod Bolts
- ARP Head Bolts
- 2.0mm Titan Motorsports MHG
Turbo/Exhaust
- Stock CT26 rebuilt by Arizona Turbo
- LIPP 3” turbo elbow
- CX Racing intercooler hard pipe kit – from turbo outlet to throttle body
- 3” Downpipe – unknown brand – came with the car
- Stock Cat and Catback Exhaust
- Downpipe (and possibly exhaust manifold and turbo) to be wrapped with DEI thermal wrap
- Driftmotion Braided Stainless Steel Turbo Oil Supply and Return Lines
- Down the Road:
o Full 3” exhaust and high flow cat
o DDP - maybe
Fuel System
- Rebuilt and flow tested stock injectors
- Replacing fuel supply line from firewall to rail with an6 line and appropriate fittings
Attachments
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