Another noob with a question

[CBurgs'88]

Hey guys, whats up? I'm new to the site, although I've been reading alot on it for a few weeks now. The information is really helpful. Here's my story... I just bought three supras for a great deal the other week. One is a gutted bosy with a running engine and some body panels, and is also a targa top. There is also a red 1987 hardtop which is in pretty good condition, and has a JDM gauge panel (in Km/h). It doesn't run due to a BHG. The third is a white 1988 targa top that runs and has a few HKS mods done to it. Also, all three cars are turbo 5spd's. I can't wait to get them on the road, but had a few questions first...

First off, I was curious if the JDM gauges are rare or just not talked about too much, since I could only find info on the RHD ones. My next question is this, and while I realize everyone has different opinions, I am curious as whether or not to fix up the hardtop or targa top car. The problem I'm having is that the white targa car has a lot of rust in the rear quarters, eating through the wheel wells. The red body is in a pretty decent condition, basically only needing a new right front quarter panel (which I have one in good condition). I was just curious if having a targa is really worth the extra work, or if I should just work on the hardtop and swap over the good engine parts.

Any help would be appreciated

Here are some pics of my cars...

 

[Hayamate]

i'm new, too, but i might be able to help you on one thing. you have a km/h gauge cluster in a lhd car? would that be a canadian market cluster do you think? since i'm pretty sure the cluster sweeps over the console, i don't think it could have come from a rhd car, hence not jdm.

nice cars you have there, btw. well, two of 'em. i'd just take the windows and hood off the stripped one and junk the chassis.

the choice is yours whether or not you want targa. an open top would provide slightly more body flex with the top out, and may be slightly heavier (correct me if i'm wrong anybody), so i'd go with the red one - i'd get to prep everything from the ground up before i place in the engine anyway, plus i'd use it for road racing so a targa wouldn't be practical.

also consider your resources. can you weld? do you have a way to transfer the engine?

just $.02 from another noob.

*edit* or you could just replace the head gasket. it's much more straight forward in my opinion.

 

[GotBoost?]

First off, let me commend you on your love for the Supra, and welcome to the forum. And here I respectfully offer my opinion: These three Supras are going to need lots of work, time and cash, even if you can do all the labor yourself. If i was you, i'd strip them all and sell the parts. As you know, rust is a major pain. And I know there is a clean Supra in your future somewhere. Check this forum's "for sale" sections, and I'm sure you'll come across a great buy. And then you'll either say:
a) "I'm glad i got some cash out of those three Supras and am in a position to buy this" or
b) I wish i hadn't sunk so much cash on these beaters, and wish i could buy it".
It's your call. I've sorta been there.

 

[CBurgs'88]

Thanks for the info and compliments. I am going to try to get everything off the shell and junk it before doing anything else. Also, I would be doing a new headgasket anyways on the red one, and maybe swapping the upgraded intercooler, exhaust, PFC F-CON, and HKS Valve Controller over to that bay. I want to try to avoid swapping the two engines. The only thing about the targa is that someone I know has one and says its so much better driving around with the top off in the summer.
As for the bodywork/welding new body sections in, I have access to the equipment and know some people that can help. I just don't want to get myself in over my head since this is my first real project car, my other just being a DD with an upgraded sound system.

As for stripping them, I plan to do that with the shell and other car I don't use. The red one really wouldn't be hard to fix up. The interior is actually in great condition and I can get a paint job for pretty cheap. I kind of wanted a project to work on even if it takes a while so I can know the car inside and out by the time its ready for driving.

I'll also post some pics up of the gauges in case it helps, and another of the computer in the white targa...