If everything goes well, i should be in the market for a mkIII within the next month or 2. I'll be looking for a 89-92 turbo, targa, 5spd. I was also looking at 1jz swapped cars. Is there any common problems or anything i should watch out for when searching for my car? Thanks.
What should i look for?
- Thread starter Ds650rida
- Start date
I know close to nothing about 1jz's compared to others on this forum, but i do know a few common problems with 7m engines that you should think about (dont let it deter your buying one, you just have to find one that has been taken care of)
blown headgasket (BHG) - a search will give you processes to diagnose this, hints can be coolant loss, a bubbly sound from the dash (air running thru heater core, and can be caused by other things besides a BHG), high cooling system pressures, exaust in the coolant, coolant in oil or vice-versa...
rod-knock - caused by insufficient lubrication, different theories on how this comes about, but proper oil changes and never letting the oil run low is important, and one theory as to why it is fairly common in the 7m is the BHG issue...if coolant (water) gets in the oil, it obviously will NOT lube like oil, and can kill the bearings.
aside from that, just look carefully over the car like you would any other automobile...
good luck! and if its not a stock 1jz, look for clean wiring, a well kept engine bay, and no hack-job mods, anywhere... a bad swap will only be a headache down the line....
-------I made various edits since i posted this-------
one of them, is the fact that toyota under-torqued the head bolts on the 7m from the factory, so a BHG is immenent on just about every 7m engine as far as i know. a simple retorque can fix this if the car is BHG free, and possibly has already been done... or if the BHG rebuild has been done, thats good too....
search around on the thread for common problems and there might be a buyer's guide on here somewhere, i forgot. but please dont forget to search. i say that because you have 3 posts.
blown headgasket (BHG) - a search will give you processes to diagnose this, hints can be coolant loss, a bubbly sound from the dash (air running thru heater core, and can be caused by other things besides a BHG), high cooling system pressures, exaust in the coolant, coolant in oil or vice-versa...
rod-knock - caused by insufficient lubrication, different theories on how this comes about, but proper oil changes and never letting the oil run low is important, and one theory as to why it is fairly common in the 7m is the BHG issue...if coolant (water) gets in the oil, it obviously will NOT lube like oil, and can kill the bearings.
aside from that, just look carefully over the car like you would any other automobile...
good luck! and if its not a stock 1jz, look for clean wiring, a well kept engine bay, and no hack-job mods, anywhere... a bad swap will only be a headache down the line....
-------I made various edits since i posted this-------
one of them, is the fact that toyota under-torqued the head bolts on the 7m from the factory, so a BHG is immenent on just about every 7m engine as far as i know. a simple retorque can fix this if the car is BHG free, and possibly has already been done... or if the BHG rebuild has been done, thats good too....
search around on the thread for common problems and there might be a buyer's guide on here somewhere, i forgot. but please dont forget to search. i say that because you have 3 posts.
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yeah i've been searching for some time now...i know that the head gasket is a common problem, i can pretty much tell the difference between a nice supra and a junk one. thanks for the reply i'll keep those things in mind.
Ds650rida said:
Look for rust. Or preferably a lack thereof. since your in jersey stop by here and I'll let you take a look at my parts car so you can see up close what to look out for.If you do get a targa make sure to take the top off and if you can pull back the seals. This is a common place for rust. BHG's and RN's can be fixed but rust in the wrong places takes a so so car and makes it a parts car.
1jz's are destine to blow stock turbos, so don't go crazy on the boost, don't buy people 1jz "projects", it is more than you want to deal with. Other than that, my brother has had no problems on his 1jz sc300, except the stock turbos. Be prepared for no ac in most 1jz swap'd supras though.
Someone should make a sticky on what to look for in getting a Supra unless there is already one and i haven't seen it.
oscolivar1 said:
i second that.
and include the 1jz since its so common.
for one...i wanted a 1jz but had NO IDEA most dont have the AC...is it possible to keep it? i'm hoping people just remove them to save some power...since supras do come stock with 1jz in some countries....
yeah rust is a definite thing...i guess describing spots is kinda key as well...
rear hatch. take up the carpet, and even better if you're dropping a lot and they allow it, pull out some interior trim panels and peer into the rear corner panles. one of mine was full of water, and my antenna hole has minor rust from all the moisture....
the hatch or taillights can leak (common) and that is one place you must check for rust. seals go bad on the lights, and the hatch trim can separate just enough to let water in, and it proceeds down through the trunk, ending in the wheel well.
whatever you do, make sure you carefully pull out the spare tire...that is the lowest point and therefore where a serious leak will end up. look for rust/puddle marks, and you'll have a better idea about how much water has been in there. dont forget a car can leak and have no rust though. like i said, my rear QP was filled with water and...no rust except the top by the antenna...
might check shocks too...these cars are old
look underneath for signs of damage. and i think there's a place by the rear a-arm that can crack...but i'm not sure. i vaguely remember that and it most likely will not be an issue unless the car has been tracked....
check for a fresh paintjob and use a magnet to test and supicious bondo issues. peer in the front corner panel with a flashlight when you open the front door... i havent located anything for sure that can indicate damage but i suppose on some cars a careful eye could locate body work from the inside, or an improperly bolted on fender (i have a fender that is bolted on a bit funky and sticks out a bit...that reminds me...i have to fix that...lol)