Question for those who know...

[Grandavi]

I am looking at buying a 89 Supra with a 7MGTE that was fully rebuilt (new block, etc.. ) at RCTS (in Calgary, AB, Canada.. some of you may be familiar with Reg) in 2005.

Two things are holding me back from slapping the cash down.

1. How much mileage can you get out of a PROPERLY built 7MGTE with ARP studs and HKS headgasket (everything built... cost over 10,000.00, the bills are there for it). The car has only been run using a CT26 with 9 lbs boost.

2. Some yoyo rear ended the car hard enough to bend the back plate enough to break the center tail light and cause the hatch to raise about 1/8th of an inch. Is this going to be a terrible difficult thing to repair? The bumper never broke, just is scuffed and has 2 "punch" marks in it from the bumper of the other vehicle.

Wondering if anyone has an idea. The quarters have surface rust that has broke through the paint (just along the lip of the wheel well.. which is odd because usually its higher up) and I am prepared to deal with that. The car also steers very straight, feels solid so I dont think the "frame" is twisted in anyway.. seems to have been a direct line bump. (I think the fact the targa doesnt have to be forced back on speaks a bit about that).

Trying to understand the repair possibilities before I sink cash into the purchase. The parts dont scare me.. only the integrity of the body itself.

I should add, I test drove it and it responded very well, no shakes. Feels very solid on the road. I just know that my other MKIII's all had their little surprised, and I am not sure how difficult it is to repair the back plate as it should only require restraightening (no metal was broke/kinked) and a new taillight section (kouki's would be nice at that point).

Thanks all that respond!

 

[Compton74]

All of this depends on how much the asking price is.

 

[Grandavi]

He will let it go for 4400.00. Thats with what I think is a very sound drivetrain, decent interior (ripped driver seat, but I can fix that myself.. the "myself" fixes dont cause me any pain) (remember.. this is Canada... we dont have quite as many MKIII's as you have.. lol)
Normally, with the rust, I wouldn't consider it at that price, but the interior metal is very clean (no rust at all in the spare tire compartment and there is only the beginnings of rust happening at the crease where the wheel wells join the quarters. Its a 1989, so I think the trim is not rust prone like the pre-89's and its all there and intact. The doors are normal for the car at its age and I dont detect any bondo, etc.. Passenger side fender doesnt match up quite well with the front bumper and looks like it was bumped there some time ago (the fog light trim is bent (I have a new one already for that anyway though). Fenders dont worry me either. Quarters are the expensive fix, usually meaning wheel wells are perforated as well. No water in the quarters (usually I find a lot of water/dirt in there when I check these out). The rear carpet is supposed to be burgandy but is grey (no idea why).

The car doesnt scare me too much, but if its a hard fix, I dont really want it (for the back end part). If it wasn't for the rear bump, I wouldn't be too scared about it.

 

[boostcraver]

If you have the rust visible on the outside of the wheelwell, chances are you are looking at a good amount of perforation on the internal layers of metal beneath it. It may not be that way in your case, but I have found this to be the case in EVERY Supra (or other Toyota vehicle from that era) that has even just started to bubble up under the paint on the outside. They just seem to rust away from the inside out, especially in the more humid environments. As for the other part of your question about the rear hatch and related metal, take a TON of good quality pics of the damage and take it to a body shop for a "virtual estimate". Many of the shops here locally can give a reasonably close estimate if there are enough good pics to look at. I don't see why it would be any different in your neck of the woods. GL!

 

[Grandavi]

I think it would cost 4k (if you look at new parts to do the work, which includes the bumper cover and underneath the bumper. I just found out the engine has 130,000 km on it (which may not be a lot for a properly built 7MGTE). Getting a little leary of it now.

 

[Poodles]

Good news: Properly built, it will be as durable as stock (if not more so since the HG issue was fixed).

Bad news: The bumper cover is covering all the damage.

MKIII's are more common up there since you guys can import JDM ones

 

[boostcraver]

Op, let me know if you need any parts for the repair work. I have a usable (not perfect, but still very good) rear bumper and center section for the tails, and I'm sure if I knew how much to cut out I could help you with the sheet behind the center section as well. I have a 91 shell that I'm parting and it's not doing me any good, so I might as well see if you can use it. Just pm me if you want more details, but I would let you have it for next to nothing.

 

[shipkiller]

it is worth buying it only for the built gte, drive the car and find a good shell (maybe with a BHG, cheap!!!) and swap it

 

[Grandavi]

Boostcraver, I will pm you if I purchase the car tomorrow.

I was concerned about 130,000 km. on the engine. if its good for another 130,000 km then that is good. The turbo was rebuilt about 3000 km ago. (just a CT26)

 

[adampecush]

Don't buy an engine in a shitty shell. It will cost you more than its worth. Import a car from the US on the cheap.

Trust me.

 

[honeydew]

$4400? I don't know man a hit, rust car. You could have a mint one imported for that now. The internals sound pretty sweet. The rebuild is only as good as the person doing it, since it's being sold so soon after the rebuild I doubt they treated it like their own. Gouging seals, nicking valves. Pulling that hatch might be a pretty big issue, IDK.

My Supra, I paid for it too, was mint 5 years ago. We tore it down for paint a year ago now and I was shocked at the rust starting where you can't see it.

 

[Turbo Habanero]

all this rust talk makes me worry... I live in Tucson AZ its a desert so we dont have to worry about rust much... BUT my car is from San Diego and thats where it was its whole life until last year .. I know for sure rust has already took advantage of the spare tire well pretty badly i can see the gas tank..

 

[honeydew]

all this rust talk makes me worry... I live in Tucson AZ its a desert so we dont have to worry about rust much... BUT my car is from San Diego and thats where it was its whole life until last year .. I know for sure rust has already took advantage of the spare tire well pretty badly i can see the gas tank..

Ya, it should scare the living shit out of you. I cried for like a week, and my rust was minor.

If you're already seeing gas tank when you go to your hatch?... this may not help but take all the plastic off that holds around the toneau cover behind the back seats, then the carpet, then the sound deadening, then some more pieces of random trim right where the rear wheels would throw dirt at the inner top of the wheel well. That's where it all starts.

 

[Turbo Habanero]

I dont want to lol. I'd Rather not know almost....

---------- Post added at 12:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 PM ----------

Im not really a body work person ethier im sure they charge a arm and a leg for this stuff.

 

[Midwest_Mudder]

im in Nebraska, we have salt, water, and shitty winters, but mine is still pretty solid. touch of rust above the rear quarter, but its surface rust, had my dad take a look elsewhere on the car, nothing else... pretty happy considering how bad my goddamn jeep has the cancer

my opinion, dont spend that kinda money on it. itll cost ya a ton in the long run. even if you touch up the damage there are tiny problems that you'll be left with.

 

[Grandavi]

in Canada, they all (except maybe about 10 - guessing) have shitty shells.. something to do with how people like driving in the winter or something.
but your right, they US has far better shells (with engines, etc) and I am probably better going abroad and bringing it back. I am at 12,000 with my 88 MKIII and it doesnt have paint on it yet. The only thing stopping me is distance really. I have to go crossborder and have all the papers in place a couple weeks PRIOR to buying it and bringing it back (shipping is out.. far too expensive.. and if its modded, I haven't found a company that will carry it if the suspension is too low).

I have a 90 MKIII sitting with a BHG and a fairly decent body (needs one quarter repaired and work on the driver door.. and then fresh paint and its ready to roll.. bodywise) which is why I am considering this. If the body is too far gone, I have a second car to merge to form a single. Either way.. its expensive regardless.. but compared to a new car.. not so much.

there is no such thing as "surface rust" on a MKIII quarter.. lol. If you see the rust.. wire brush the wheel well and check for perforations. 99% of the cars I go check have water in the quarter panels and the spare tire well. figure 2500.00 per quarter if you can't do body work yourself. 5000.00 for a proper paint job isn't steep (expensive.. but to do it properly.. thats what your looking at.) I have seen the warts over 4 years of owning MKIII's.. and I own 3 (sold one today.. lol). They are a drain on the pocketbook, but if you love the car, its well worth it. I have bought a new accord for 24,000 and it is worth approx. 7000.00 in 5 years. If I put 24,000.00 into a MKIII it will be worth 7000.00 in 5 years.. all in what you want I guess

this is what I get for being in love with a 20+ year old car.. I just hate flying blind.

oh.. and to clarify... to properly build a 7MGTE.. its 7,000.00 here.. (thats minimum). This was built properly for between 8 and 10k in 2005. It has 130,000 km on the rebuild and the turbo was just rebuilt. Its the only reason I am considering it. In the end, I cant lose my money.. because I can always part it out if it comes down to that. I was about to spend 2500 min. on having the head redone on the 90.. and if I use this drivetrain in that car.. it almost breaks even..

Its all in how you do the math when you own 4 of them (which I would.. if I buy this)

 

[Turbo Habanero]

i feel ya. this is my 5th mk3. But my first car ive ever had to deal with rust with

 

[JZASeventy]

This the white one for sale on Supraclub??

 

[Grandavi]

yes, that very same one. Took it for a test drive, and it feels really tight.

 

[honeydew]

awww. You sucker, Calgary! F the states, Come to Toronto, Most Ma70's per capita and that includes Tokyo. Get yourself to Tiger or Jap or Jspec or any of the other 100 importers and walk off the lot with a Mint, rust free, only slight japanese teenager-trick-style modification, 90' MA70 for like $5K maybe less. Or get whatever else 1990's dream car you want. Drive it home to CA. Nice 4 day excursion.