So I have had my MK3 parked since August 2009. Since then I have just been assessing the good the bad and the disastrous. The good new is the we started up the car in Toronto Canada, and filled up the tank, checked the oil level and we made it to NYC without any hiccups. Driving on dry rotted tires is not the greatest move, but we got here in once piece.
A week later, I got the car cleared through JFK Port Customs, and received all my paperwork to get the car a US title and registration.
The bad news.... Strong smell and smoke of burning oil pointed to a leaking CPS gasket. Not to mention the spark plug valley over flowing with engine oil
Although I am the third owner, and having had my cousin own the car since 1991 (2nd owner), it was still in rough shape since it was just a once in a while toronto summer car. nevertheless it stayed parked probably for decaded of canadian winters until rescued.
Bad things that I noticed right away...
Engine Oil leaks
Power Steering Oil leaks
Tranny has slight leak from front seal
Brakes sucks - warped, scored, rusted, etc
OEM Toyota Suspension sucks TEMS on firm felt floaty boaty
Wheels grimey and stained sawblades
Tires are dry rotted.
Dome light was busted
car smelled like 20+ yrs old
Exhaust was a hodgepodge of pipes welded together.
Paint was faded and flaking
hood wont stay up
Rust here and there
The Good things...
Car drove like a champ, boost kicked in hard and steady
no vibrations no weird sounds
Most electronics work in the car
No windshield leaks or targa leaks
FALL 2009...
So I started by cleaning up the engine bay and giving the 7MGTE a cleaning and tune up. I pulled off the no.3 valley cover and tossed it and cleaned and dried all the oil outta the valley. I dropped in some new NGK plugs and New Wires, and a new air filter. I sealed the big hex nuts with toyota FIPG after a thorough degreasing.
I decided to do a manual swap so I opted for a W58 since this was gonna be a daily driver and not a dyno queen. I found Mr Shaeff semi local to me in NY and picked up a nice complete W58 swap from him. I also reached out to honestabe to gather some misc parts for the swap. After having dome similar work on my MK4, this seems like a walk in the park. Let me tell you I much rather pull an engine than do the tranny swap with motor in place! :cry:
I completed that particular task and test drove the crap outta the car for a week. So far so good.
Next I decided to Fix the brakes.... So I picked up new rotors, calipers, pads and lines from the local parts authority store and completed the 4 hub disc overhaul. It took some time to bleed the brakes but I finally got the correct order and most if not all of the air out but using my homeamade pressure bleeder attach to my compressor.
Once the brakes were done I decided to Pull out that nasty gunk covered steering Rack. After cursing and beating the car with some extensions at one point or another, I got that grimey thing out. I tossed it in the box for my core refund as quick as I could. I dropped in a rebuilt rack and new tie rod ends and bolted up all the lines to still find a drippy drip from my PS pump. During this overhaul I already removed and flushed with gasoline, and compressed air, my PS Reservoir. So the only remaining culprit was the damn PS pump and Hi-PSI line. (Both of which I am replacing next week - used pump from SM, and Driftmotion line)
WINTER 2009/2010
Ordered my Summer wheels - Work Euroline DH for that old school hammer look I remember from the late 80's/early 90's
Junked the sawblades and picked up a nice set of 16" Lexus IS300 wheels with Yoko All-Season tires from a local tuner friend. At least now I have my non summer wheels. YAY! :naughty:
(pauses for a few months to freeze my arse off and watch snow pile up)
SPRING 2010
Now that the hard work is getting accomplished, I can focus on a little tuning now. The CT26 seems OK so Im not gonna touch it (for now) Im going to install a spare Blitz DD BOV on a custom made hard pipe. I also picked up a used BIC DDP and ST Swaybars from a local guy to begin the resurrection. I also ordered a new Tanabe Super Medallion for slightly less than the current Hyper Medallion. (I hope they have what I ordered) Should be here soon. This setup should rid me of the crusty exhaust on there now with the damn NOPI styled 5" tip RACTIVE exhaust I found hangin on there! Picked up a new CPS cover and gasket from Driftmotion to swap in to stop the CPS oil leak. Just waiting on a few more warm 60*F days
Things that are planned: When I have some hobby $$$ after paying the bills, a set of Megan Track coilovers. Im gonna also start trying to clean up the interior and possibly do a burgundy to black conversion if possible.
I will begin to snap more pics as the daylight is now on my side.
Here is the car last fall sitting on my spare VOLK time attacks.
As of March 2010, and the cleanup begins...
Works getting mounted this week.... cant wait for coilovers and a little neg camber
Once I start the wrenching more pics will come..... Its just hard to concentrate oon working and snap pics when ur greasy under an MK3.
I'd love to make a MK3 sibling of my clean MK4.
The MK3 is still a supra and should be treated as such..... Stay Tuned.
A week later, I got the car cleared through JFK Port Customs, and received all my paperwork to get the car a US title and registration.
The bad news.... Strong smell and smoke of burning oil pointed to a leaking CPS gasket. Not to mention the spark plug valley over flowing with engine oil
Although I am the third owner, and having had my cousin own the car since 1991 (2nd owner), it was still in rough shape since it was just a once in a while toronto summer car. nevertheless it stayed parked probably for decaded of canadian winters until rescued.Bad things that I noticed right away...
Engine Oil leaks
Power Steering Oil leaks
Tranny has slight leak from front seal
Brakes sucks - warped, scored, rusted, etc
OEM Toyota Suspension sucks TEMS on firm felt floaty boaty
Wheels grimey and stained sawblades
Tires are dry rotted.
Dome light was busted
car smelled like 20+ yrs old
Exhaust was a hodgepodge of pipes welded together.
Paint was faded and flaking
hood wont stay up
Rust here and there
The Good things...
Car drove like a champ, boost kicked in hard and steady
no vibrations no weird sounds
Most electronics work in the car
No windshield leaks or targa leaks
FALL 2009...
So I started by cleaning up the engine bay and giving the 7MGTE a cleaning and tune up. I pulled off the no.3 valley cover and tossed it and cleaned and dried all the oil outta the valley. I dropped in some new NGK plugs and New Wires, and a new air filter. I sealed the big hex nuts with toyota FIPG after a thorough degreasing.
I decided to do a manual swap so I opted for a W58 since this was gonna be a daily driver and not a dyno queen. I found Mr Shaeff semi local to me in NY and picked up a nice complete W58 swap from him. I also reached out to honestabe to gather some misc parts for the swap. After having dome similar work on my MK4, this seems like a walk in the park. Let me tell you I much rather pull an engine than do the tranny swap with motor in place! :cry:
I completed that particular task and test drove the crap outta the car for a week. So far so good.
Next I decided to Fix the brakes.... So I picked up new rotors, calipers, pads and lines from the local parts authority store and completed the 4 hub disc overhaul. It took some time to bleed the brakes but I finally got the correct order and most if not all of the air out but using my homeamade pressure bleeder attach to my compressor.
Once the brakes were done I decided to Pull out that nasty gunk covered steering Rack. After cursing and beating the car with some extensions at one point or another, I got that grimey thing out. I tossed it in the box for my core refund as quick as I could. I dropped in a rebuilt rack and new tie rod ends and bolted up all the lines to still find a drippy drip from my PS pump. During this overhaul I already removed and flushed with gasoline, and compressed air, my PS Reservoir. So the only remaining culprit was the damn PS pump and Hi-PSI line. (Both of which I am replacing next week - used pump from SM, and Driftmotion line)
WINTER 2009/2010
Ordered my Summer wheels - Work Euroline DH for that old school hammer look I remember from the late 80's/early 90's
Junked the sawblades and picked up a nice set of 16" Lexus IS300 wheels with Yoko All-Season tires from a local tuner friend. At least now I have my non summer wheels. YAY! :naughty:
(pauses for a few months to freeze my arse off and watch snow pile up)
SPRING 2010
Now that the hard work is getting accomplished, I can focus on a little tuning now. The CT26 seems OK so Im not gonna touch it (for now) Im going to install a spare Blitz DD BOV on a custom made hard pipe. I also picked up a used BIC DDP and ST Swaybars from a local guy to begin the resurrection. I also ordered a new Tanabe Super Medallion for slightly less than the current Hyper Medallion. (I hope they have what I ordered) Should be here soon. This setup should rid me of the crusty exhaust on there now with the damn NOPI styled 5" tip RACTIVE exhaust I found hangin on there! Picked up a new CPS cover and gasket from Driftmotion to swap in to stop the CPS oil leak. Just waiting on a few more warm 60*F days
Things that are planned: When I have some hobby $$$ after paying the bills, a set of Megan Track coilovers. Im gonna also start trying to clean up the interior and possibly do a burgundy to black conversion if possible.
I will begin to snap more pics as the daylight is now on my side.
Here is the car last fall sitting on my spare VOLK time attacks.
As of March 2010, and the cleanup begins...
Works getting mounted this week.... cant wait for coilovers and a little neg camber
Once I start the wrenching more pics will come..... Its just hard to concentrate oon working and snap pics when ur greasy under an MK3.
I'd love to make a MK3 sibling of my clean MK4.
The MK3 is still a supra and should be treated as such..... Stay Tuned.
