Store supra for 3 years or part out?

[blackout_89t]

I have a dilema...

I am 22 years old and am moving to my own condo with my fiance in 17 days. I am a college graduate with a diploma in Mechanical Engineering and have been working in the aerospace field for the past 15 months getting a very nice salary. In May of this year I will be going back to school to obtain my engineering degree so that I can be eligible to be a professional engineer. My studies to get my degree will take approximately 3 years of part time evening classes where I can also work 30-40 hours per week at my current job, hopefully. My fiance is a full time student pursueing a bachelors degree majoring in biology and psychology with 2 years left and then at least 2 years more for a masters degree while also working part time. Money will be tight but we will manage.

The problem...

I have my supra + a daily driver and my fiance has a daily driver. We can only get 2 parking spots for the condo. For the past 3 years my supra has been parked at my parents house and I worked on it when I had spare time. When I move it will remain there, parked outside exposed to the elements. As of May I won't even have spare time for eating and sleeping let alone tinkering with the supra so it will basically sit and do nothing for at least 3 years with many brand new parts installed. It will also be 50 miles away.

The car...

1986.5 targa top with big single and all the supporting mods + standalone EMS. I have hundreds of labour hours into this car and thousands of dollars in parts. I will not be able to afford to maintain the car and pay for insurance and gas while covering all of my other expenses so no money will be put into the car while I am back in school for the next 3 years.

Do I keep it sitting there to rot for 3 years?
Do I part it out? I will NOT sell the car complete, nobody will ever own this car other than me.

I don't need the money from the parts but it wouldn't hurt to have...

 

[Supracentral]

Store it.

This post shows how to store the car properly:

http://www.supramania.com/forums/showpost.php?p=812661&postcount=141

With a little prep work, you can let that car sit for 20 years and it won't hurt it.

 

[KeithH]

I totally agree. Every day it gets harder and harder to find a clean Supra.

I parked my Supra when I got home from SILV05 - yes, that's 2005 - and fired it up just a couple weeks ago for the very first time - ~2.5 years. The amazing part is it fired right up. Now I need rubbers as I sold my rims and good tires.

 

[rs4rush]

Can you not cover the car and ask your dad to start it here and there? It seems you have a lot of work in the car... Ask yourself if you will ever get another supra? Would it be the same thing (86, big single, etc)? If you answer yes then I would tough it out. But hey that's just my .02

 

[blackout_89t]

I forgot to mention the chassis is not perfect.

I needs rust repair in the rear quarters and it needs to be painted. I block sanded the car fixed the dings and then primed it. Right now the car is all grey primer.

The car doesn't start as it sits right now but I have all the parts to be installed including brand new tires/wheels and brakes and a new engine harness.

 

[Supracentral]

Hrm. Existing rust on the body poses a challenge for long term storage. It's going to advance. In three years a lot of damage could occur. Especially if you aren't putting it in a climate controlled space.

Another approach would be yank the motor, ems, etc. Sell the tires. Store the motor and buy a new shell?

You've got a lot into this, so I'd hate to see you lose it all.

 

[rs4rush]

Store it.

This post shows how to store the car properly:

http://www.supramania.com/forums/showpost.php?p=812661&postcount=141

With a little prep work, you can let that car sit for 20 years and it won't hurt it.

Good info I am saving this on my computer! Thanks SupraCentral! I vote save it!

Edit: Just saw the rust issue... Doesn't primer rust really quick... So if that's true then it would be spreading pretty quickly? Atleast I heard it is bad to just have primer on the car and not paint it with clear coats and stuff... But then again I dont know to much about paint.

 

[josh88supra]

Save the car for the love of God save it!!!!! Don't let your blood, sweat and tears go to waste. Think of it as a reward when you get done with your school.

 

[sleepy8602]

Store It. When you get (ME) money comming in, it'll be worth it. Hell you could prob. do a full restore.

 

[Buddafucco]

50 miles isn't that far. 3 guys at my work travel that far one way 5 or 6 days a week + the ride home. If you love the car then you will find time for it.

 

[akito]

I say sell the tires, you dont want those tires to get all cracked up and not be able to use them later on. As for the car, use the method SC had posted and try to work on her when ever u can.

 

[slidebabyslide]

store it

 

[NewWestSupras]

If you have all that time and money into it, and alot of sentimental value as well, I'd store it. Try to find a family friend with a heated garage to leave it in. If not, car covers are cheap. Air it out on the odd hot summer weekend, and dream of cruising!

 

[blackout_89t]

I am still undecisive about this.

In three years alot will change in terms of what parts are available for this car, every day there are new vendors offering parts. Currently alot of the parts I have are custom made so I can easily re-create what I have now at a later date. I do love the car and everything to do about supras but 3 years is a long time to have a car sit and rot and have brand new or hardly used parts depreciate.

The chassis I am not to concerned about since it is not in perfect condition. What I am concerned about is seals and hoses drying out (engine, turbo, oil/fuel lines, ect.)

There is sentimental value to the car and then there isn't at the same time. I have owned two supras, an 89 targa and this 86.5 targa. I started out modding the 89 with basic upgrades on the stock turbo, that car was so fun to drive with no lag...Then I bought a big single and it all went down hill from there. I was in school the whole time I owned that car so I could never really put much money into it so it took awhile to collect all the parts to use the big single. After about 1.5 years I got the car running again with a maf-translator setup but she never really ran propperly. I quickly got bored of that setup and tore it all apart again. At that point I came accross the 86.5 shell to replace the 89 shell which had a crooked frame, that was in Spring of 2005. Alot of the parts from the 89 went into the 86.5 (body and interior) but all the power adders were replaced with a new setup, again. I worked on this car very slowly. I had the car started for the first time spring but I have never taken this car out for a cruise. I think any sentimental feelings I have are from the re-used 89 parts from the other shell, I am just bored with the car at this point.

I will wait for my confirmed acceptance to university before making any decisions. If I don't get accepted then I will keep the car for sure but if I do get accepted then I think I will be leaning more towards parting it out.

 

[RyDeFly]

I'd say sell it. Life can change quite a bit in 3 years span; if something major happens, being baggage-less can be invaluable.

I agree with what you said about the new vendors. As the MKIII moves closer to classic status, the "mod path" gets simpler, easier, and cheaper. I'm sure things like my $700 bushing set will see $200 in the coming years...

Once out of school and into the money again, you could simply pick up a super clean MKIII, order all of your parts at once, and have the car completely done in a couple months.
But good luck whatever you choose.

 

[Boosted Supra]

Let me be the first to say congrats Mark, I'm happy for you bro. Last time I met you, you had the black 89, I didn't know you had a 86.5.

My suggestion, since your car already has rust on it, it's only going to get worse sitting for 3yrs. Do what SupraCentral said, keep the motor and goodies and use a better shell when finish school.

My question to you is:

Are you really gonna want to dig into that Supra after finishing school? In 3yrs, you could be getting married or even after having a kid on the way (thinking over your 3yr course as anything can happen).

This is a big decision, take your time Mark. Picture yourself 3yrs from now, what do you see?

 

[Kangae]

I vote save it. My reason being that regardless of how many parts are made in the future and how much cheaper they will be, the car will not be cheaper. I had a hell of a time finding a mk3 that was good enough for me to buy (that also wasnt a dealer, they like to rip you off some). And I can imagine that in 3 years it would be even more expensive for a lesser one.

I mean the way I see it, you have a nice supra, maybe with a little rust, but it seems to be nice none the less. And if you store it properly and make sure not to just let it sit around doing nothing the whole time, it should be fine when you get back to it.

Personally I could never see myself selling my supra, I've put so much of my money into it and went through hell to get the car itself that I would sooner sleep in my car for lack of a house before I sold it. (but thats a little extreme I guess...maybe I better rethink that...)

 

[ZoomZoomZoom]

I had to sell both of my 87 NAs. Blue I sold because I owed $$ on it. Second one, Red, sat in my barn as a project. Sold it for $1000 because I got pregnant, didn't have $$ or time. It was running, so I refused to part it out. Thought I would never own a Supra again. Fast forward two years, I'm divorced and I own a turbo supra now. Suddenly, without the husband, I can afford it. Funny how things work out...Whats the commercial, "Life comes at you fast.."

If its running, I say sell it. If not, part it out. Just don't neglect it.

There will always be another supra out there looking for a home.

Ironically, I saw old Red today. New owner didn't do any work on it, except the brakes. He's asking $1000 for it. Imagine that !

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

sell it... it's not the cleanest shell there is, so maybe just keep the motor, tranny and etc. I got a free set of blades if you want.

 

[rodel]

Here's quick, simple, and wise advice:

Part everything out. Free yourself from the potential distraction by the Supra. Focus your time, effort, and money on schooling which will set up much more important things in your life: career and family; then spend your spare time with your fiance.

The Supra is only a toy car that could be replaced. 3 years from now, if you're still interested, you could return to your Supra hobby.