According to the front page, I have been lurking around for 516 days. This added to the fact that I have had my MkIV two years yesterday seems good enough reason to post.
This is copied from SupraWA....
Dave
Started looking for a TT 6M about three years ago. I’ve had my fair share of ‘sports’ cars including: Mini Coopers, VW Scirroco, 246 Dino, Lancia Monte Carlo, Alfa GTV V6 3.0, Porsches (924 and 911), and a Honda NSX. I even owned an Aussie E55 Charger and a 350 Chev powered Torana hatch (with obligatory Supra 5 speed!) …but the prospect of a MkIV lured…
Sadly, there were not that many on the market here in Perth. Checked out everything that came up for sale over about a 9 month period, including a couple of autos, but had my heart set on a 6 speed manual. After 9 months of searching, I had pretty much given up, and went and paid a deposit on an R34 GT-R Skyline, loaded with HKS goodies (including upgraded HKS turbo’s etc). As luck would have it, I spotted the ad for my MkIV the day I paid my deposit.
Went to have a look, and to say it was a bit sad would have been an understatement!
Regardless of cosmetics, decided this was the one and made an offer and a week later she was parked in my driveway…
Specs when bought included:
-1995.5 TT 6m
-custom wide body kit (ex-Japan) and Bomex bar
-Twin blade GT wing (not fitted, but holes in boot lid letting water in!)
-Custom paint
-18” chrome rims
-PowerFC
-GReddy FMIC with GReddy hard pipe kit
-Full Apexi exhaust
-GReddy Profec Spec B EBC
-Hybrid turbos (according to owner)
-OS twin plate clutch (according to owner)
The downsides were:
-lots of cracks in the body kit
-smashed front bar and side skirt
-bare metal boot (absolutely nothing in there except rain!)
-epoxied on drivers mirror
-been keyed down both sides
-Lowered suspension meant tyres scrubbed the arches even with the skinny wheels!
Whilst it was obvious some decent mods had been done, there would be a mission ahead to tidy things up! She was a far cry from her state in 2006 when she was in Autosalon! (Thanks Deb for the old Autosalon pic!)
After doing a service, I drove her pretty much as bought for almost a month before deciding that I needed better tunes than the J-spec head unit. So, a Sony single din was fitted, along with a self made boot install. Now at least I could have some music to drown out the noise the tyres made when they hit the inner arches on Perths wonderful roads!
I built my sub box to match the Sony 12” 1200W subs using 16mm MDF, fully sealed to the boot floor, and carpeted after practicing on a friends Camaro first! The subs and amps are now all that remains for the first stereo install, as the head unit has since been upgraded to a double din Sony DVD (to be upgraded again soon for a GPS capable unit), and all speakers have been replaced with MTX’s..great for SPL but plans to change out for some better sound quality ones…
Next on the agenda was to ditch the GT wing! I bought a stock silver wing from Fetish (who was then in Queensland) drilled the original holes back, and plugged the holes for the GT wing. Immediate improvement in my mind! The GT wing remains hanging in the workshop…
About this time the heater core decided to let go, so a short term bypass was done, and a new heater core purchased. Sadly, the new core remains in its box in the garage until I get motivated to undertake the huge task of fitting it. This is not a winter driver!
Next on the agenda was an eBay copy short shifter. Purchased for the princely sum of about $75 I remain impressed that it actually works really well! Spurred on by my eBay success, I then purchased an ex-eBay ASI ally radiator off another member and some blue silicone radiator hoses, flushed and cleaned the cooling system. To date, no more issues with cooling despite the fat GReddy intercooler. Also purchased a stainless top radiator plate, and then some gas bonnet struts…all from Forum members.
The suspension was getting on my nerves every time I went down my very steep driveway, so next up was a set of HSD coilovers with slightly softer than track spec spring rates (I have no intention of tracking this car). These were duly fitted and tyre scrub pretty much eliminated. A full alignment revealed camber settings had been set at pretty much maximum negative camber all round, so I had this set back to +0.5 degrees over stock. The HSD’s have performed well, and whilst slightly stiffer than stock are reasonably comfortable. When the aligment was done they noted a worn lower ball joint, so two new genuine arms were bought from Kurt. Delivery was amazing, less than a week! Again, these are still waiting to be fitted…
Next up was to update the dash…with a blue LED conversion. I admit I copped out, and bought a complete set of exchange bits from a guy in the UK. He posted me all the converted parts, I sent mine back, presto! Blue LED’s. Around the same time, got some ally “bling” knobs and stuff for the dash too, group buys FTW! Sadly I got a bit obsessed, and tracked down stainless warning light plates and finally polished stainless heater button plates. I like the end result, but am still searching for the elusive gear shift surround ally trim!
Typical yellow headlights have been replaced with glass ones (love groups buys! Thanks Nic!)
Then I got involved with another UK member in sourcing the ElGlo gauges for J-Spec gauges. I think this was one of the first global group buys! I ended up buying two sets, one white faced (as in pic) and a black face set, both with blue illumination. I bought a complete spare instrument cluster, and fitted one in each, swapping over to see which I preferred. I have settled on the black now…
Over a year down the track, and I was getting annoyed at being pulled over an average of every third time I drove (its not my daily), and finally figured the outlandish paint may be to blame. At the same time, I managed to pick up a TRD copy wing so decided to blend the wing to the tailgate, and respray the blue bits silver, with a view to eventually going purple candy over the silver base. This would mean some off road time, a prospect that didn’t really appeal as I hadn’t missed a SupraWA meet since joining. The solution turned out to be easy: buy a MkIII to drive while the work was being done! So, as of January 2009, a MkIII aero joined the stable.
This gave me time to blend in the TRD wing, fix the rear end wide body cracks and keying and still make it to meets!
The wing took a while…a long while…but looks better. Getting rid of the ‘blue bum’ however is probably the best aesthetic step so far! Better, I haven’t been pulled over by local law enforcement since!
And so, two years on, there remains much to be done. A little more bodywork before the respray in purple candy, some decent rims to fill out the arches, fit the injectors purchased last year (800cc SARD), a tune with some more boost (aiming for better than 500 RWHP…and if the twins die getting there…big single!).
What has made things more complicated recently is a desire now to build a MkIII aero with a supercharged 1UZ…
To be continued….
This is copied from SupraWA....
Dave
Started looking for a TT 6M about three years ago. I’ve had my fair share of ‘sports’ cars including: Mini Coopers, VW Scirroco, 246 Dino, Lancia Monte Carlo, Alfa GTV V6 3.0, Porsches (924 and 911), and a Honda NSX. I even owned an Aussie E55 Charger and a 350 Chev powered Torana hatch (with obligatory Supra 5 speed!) …but the prospect of a MkIV lured…
Sadly, there were not that many on the market here in Perth. Checked out everything that came up for sale over about a 9 month period, including a couple of autos, but had my heart set on a 6 speed manual. After 9 months of searching, I had pretty much given up, and went and paid a deposit on an R34 GT-R Skyline, loaded with HKS goodies (including upgraded HKS turbo’s etc). As luck would have it, I spotted the ad for my MkIV the day I paid my deposit.
Went to have a look, and to say it was a bit sad would have been an understatement!
Regardless of cosmetics, decided this was the one and made an offer and a week later she was parked in my driveway…
Specs when bought included:
-1995.5 TT 6m
-custom wide body kit (ex-Japan) and Bomex bar
-Twin blade GT wing (not fitted, but holes in boot lid letting water in!)
-Custom paint
-18” chrome rims
-PowerFC
-GReddy FMIC with GReddy hard pipe kit
-Full Apexi exhaust
-GReddy Profec Spec B EBC
-Hybrid turbos (according to owner)
-OS twin plate clutch (according to owner)
The downsides were:
-lots of cracks in the body kit
-smashed front bar and side skirt
-bare metal boot (absolutely nothing in there except rain!)
-epoxied on drivers mirror
-been keyed down both sides
-Lowered suspension meant tyres scrubbed the arches even with the skinny wheels!
Whilst it was obvious some decent mods had been done, there would be a mission ahead to tidy things up! She was a far cry from her state in 2006 when she was in Autosalon! (Thanks Deb for the old Autosalon pic!)
After doing a service, I drove her pretty much as bought for almost a month before deciding that I needed better tunes than the J-spec head unit. So, a Sony single din was fitted, along with a self made boot install. Now at least I could have some music to drown out the noise the tyres made when they hit the inner arches on Perths wonderful roads!
I built my sub box to match the Sony 12” 1200W subs using 16mm MDF, fully sealed to the boot floor, and carpeted after practicing on a friends Camaro first! The subs and amps are now all that remains for the first stereo install, as the head unit has since been upgraded to a double din Sony DVD (to be upgraded again soon for a GPS capable unit), and all speakers have been replaced with MTX’s..great for SPL but plans to change out for some better sound quality ones…
Next on the agenda was to ditch the GT wing! I bought a stock silver wing from Fetish (who was then in Queensland) drilled the original holes back, and plugged the holes for the GT wing. Immediate improvement in my mind! The GT wing remains hanging in the workshop…
About this time the heater core decided to let go, so a short term bypass was done, and a new heater core purchased. Sadly, the new core remains in its box in the garage until I get motivated to undertake the huge task of fitting it. This is not a winter driver!
Next on the agenda was an eBay copy short shifter. Purchased for the princely sum of about $75 I remain impressed that it actually works really well! Spurred on by my eBay success, I then purchased an ex-eBay ASI ally radiator off another member and some blue silicone radiator hoses, flushed and cleaned the cooling system. To date, no more issues with cooling despite the fat GReddy intercooler. Also purchased a stainless top radiator plate, and then some gas bonnet struts…all from Forum members.
The suspension was getting on my nerves every time I went down my very steep driveway, so next up was a set of HSD coilovers with slightly softer than track spec spring rates (I have no intention of tracking this car). These were duly fitted and tyre scrub pretty much eliminated. A full alignment revealed camber settings had been set at pretty much maximum negative camber all round, so I had this set back to +0.5 degrees over stock. The HSD’s have performed well, and whilst slightly stiffer than stock are reasonably comfortable. When the aligment was done they noted a worn lower ball joint, so two new genuine arms were bought from Kurt. Delivery was amazing, less than a week! Again, these are still waiting to be fitted…
Next up was to update the dash…with a blue LED conversion. I admit I copped out, and bought a complete set of exchange bits from a guy in the UK. He posted me all the converted parts, I sent mine back, presto! Blue LED’s. Around the same time, got some ally “bling” knobs and stuff for the dash too, group buys FTW! Sadly I got a bit obsessed, and tracked down stainless warning light plates and finally polished stainless heater button plates. I like the end result, but am still searching for the elusive gear shift surround ally trim!
Typical yellow headlights have been replaced with glass ones (love groups buys! Thanks Nic!)
Then I got involved with another UK member in sourcing the ElGlo gauges for J-Spec gauges. I think this was one of the first global group buys! I ended up buying two sets, one white faced (as in pic) and a black face set, both with blue illumination. I bought a complete spare instrument cluster, and fitted one in each, swapping over to see which I preferred. I have settled on the black now…
Over a year down the track, and I was getting annoyed at being pulled over an average of every third time I drove (its not my daily), and finally figured the outlandish paint may be to blame. At the same time, I managed to pick up a TRD copy wing so decided to blend the wing to the tailgate, and respray the blue bits silver, with a view to eventually going purple candy over the silver base. This would mean some off road time, a prospect that didn’t really appeal as I hadn’t missed a SupraWA meet since joining. The solution turned out to be easy: buy a MkIII to drive while the work was being done! So, as of January 2009, a MkIII aero joined the stable.
This gave me time to blend in the TRD wing, fix the rear end wide body cracks and keying and still make it to meets!
The wing took a while…a long while…but looks better. Getting rid of the ‘blue bum’ however is probably the best aesthetic step so far! Better, I haven’t been pulled over by local law enforcement since!
And so, two years on, there remains much to be done. A little more bodywork before the respray in purple candy, some decent rims to fill out the arches, fit the injectors purchased last year (800cc SARD), a tune with some more boost (aiming for better than 500 RWHP…and if the twins die getting there…big single!).
What has made things more complicated recently is a desire now to build a MkIII aero with a supercharged 1UZ…
To be continued….
