What to do with my money?

InFrnt0fU

Lurking Supra Socialite
I have a bone stock 89 7mgte with the exception of of a cooleze replacement for the accordian and a filtercharger kn intake. I have 2500 dollars to spend. What would be a good first upgrade "package." I was thinking cat back exhaust, downpipe, intercooler kit and lexus afm and 550cc injectors. Any suggestions would be awesome thx.
 

tomjan87

New Member
Apr 18, 2005
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Madison, WI
honestly iwould spend half of it to put a whole new gasket set in, including a head gasket done right, and make your car run flawless before you mod anything, just a good idea. while your doing the maitenence things,, you can learn about your car, and read on here about different mods and other stuff while you fix it up.

good luck
 

GotTurbos?

2J = Here; Swap = Near
Apr 24, 2006
951
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Dallas, TX
tomjan87 said:
honestly iwould spend half of it to put a whole new gasket set in, including a head gasket done right, and make your car run flawless before you mod anything, just a good idea. while your doing the maitenence things,, you can learn about your car, and read on here about different mods and other stuff while you fix it up.

good luck

This is not a bad idea either, spend the money productively. Replace anything that you think is questionable on the car, get it running perfect in stock form, and its going to still be a very fun car.
 

Tire Shredder

New Member
Sep 15, 2005
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Oshawa
metal headgasket with machine work, ARP's, divorced downpipe wit full 3" exhaust that is mandrel bent, intake and crank the boost up to 12psi or so. make sure the brakes and suspension are in good working order and the rest of the car is top notch. more than that is in leaps and bounds (and lots of money). you're turbo runs out of efficiency and your not pushing enough fuel, then you need to tune it, then you need more traction (wheels and tires).....money spending goes up exponentially.

start with that, see how you like it...get used to it.
 

InFrnt0fU

Lurking Supra Socialite
Actually the car only has 96k original miles, just replaced the valve cover gaskets, spark plugs/wires and it runs flawlessly and sounds great, no leaks...am I blessed by the supra god? I'm thinking I'd like to do the head gasket like was before mentioned, get it running very solid, if I do that, should I do engine mods, pistons, cam shafts, that type of thing? I'm new to the whole car scene, but I'm very mechanically inclined. Use to live in NY and now that I'm in north carolina where there is no evil snow and salt, I can have my rwd fun machine.
 

ForcedTorque

Join the 92 Owners Group
Jul 11, 2005
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Satsuma, Alabama, United States
Depending on how easily this $2500 is replaced, I 'd say spend it all and have fun breaking it!

But if you go the route you suggested, remember with the lex/550 set up, you will also want a fuel pressure regulator and something to tune with.....S-AFC or similar........and maybe even a boost controller.

********Edit********

Woot............2000 Posts!...........................and yes, I have my Supramania Postwhore Shirt already.
 

silvergsx623

WIPLSH & HWY KNG
Oct 16, 2005
498
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Alabama
Make sure everything is in perfect order it. Which it sounds like you have a nice supra that has been taken care of.

Then let us powder coat everything under the hood to make it purdy:love: lol jk


The mods you have listed are good, along with something to tune it with.

A good tune is the MOST important part of sodding a car.
 

AaronsSupraMKIII

Supramania Contributor
Jul 27, 2007
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Athens, AL
ForcedTorque said:
In Alabama we'd spend $2498 on Beer, skip the drugs, and get a $2 Hooker
LMAO Go BAMA!!

Get the Metal Headgasket, and upgrade your suspention and brakes. The the rest on Beer if any is left. :) You should be able to pick up a $2 hooker for free just because you drive a Supra!
 

GrimJack

Administrator
Dec 31, 1969
12,377
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Richmond, BC, Canada
idriders.com
Basic maintenance - hoses, gaskets, everything that will age. Especially the stupid little rubber plug on the coolant hardline at the back of the exhaust manifold, that thing is responsible for more warped heads on our car than anything else except the head bolt torque. And it's a $3 part.

Then:
- Replace your entire exhaust, starting from the turbo back, including the elbow. I'd suggest a BIC DDP & exhaust, but pick what you like. Make sure it's all 3 inch.
- Buy a boost controller from Dr. Jonez - it's cheap and works well.

With your money level, I'd stop there. It's going to be plenty fast anyway. The next step I'd do is a MAFT Pro, 550cc injectors, an AFPR, and a wideband O2 sensor. And some tuning.

Then I'd buy a better intercooler and some hardpipes. And tune it again. By now you'll have a really fast car - as in, whip 'vettes, Vipers, and the occasional exotic - but it's likely going to be fragile as hell.

So, then you rebuild the engine for whatever power levels you want to throw at it, take one last shot at tuning it, and you're done.
 

Blackfin

Beach Bum
Jun 16, 2005
205
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John's Pass, Florida
You may not need to settle for an Alabama toothless if your ride looks like you have something going for you.

Accordingly, I suggest making the car like new first. Nothing turns me off more than a hopped up piece of shit. Have a little pride and show that you got your priorities in order (just in case they are not).

Once that is done, begin with basic performance upgrades (intake and exhaust, etc but not yet 550's and lex afm). Hold back about $1,000 because sooner or later the headgasket will go and that is a good time to rebuild the engine properly and it will be very nice to have some of the money already saved up. Once the engine is redone to specs with MHG and forged pistons you should be ready to pursue the bigger goals.