what should i spend money on

[iwannadie]

ok so i have an 87 n/a auto with 190k miles on it and going strong. im saving the turbo motor/5 speed swap for later(when the rest of the car is ready for it). however i am looking to spend some cash on something now, just not sure what the best bang for the buck would be.

since the car is so old im leaning more towards maintenance upgrades rather than simple performance gain upgrade.

i just put in brembo slotted rotors, porterfield pads, rebuilt calipers, master cyl. and steel pvc lines. so my brakes are pretty awesome right now lol.

my suspension sucks but i was thinking of holding out for coilovers but new springs might be worth it for now. new bushing all around i think might be a good place to start, yet Very pricey in labor i herd.

i know i need hoses all around, i was thinking a engine bay hose kit is pretty cheap.

well any suggestion would be great, i just want to keep the ole supra running strong into and beyond 200k miles. oh i got 500ish USD to spend, maybe more who knows.

 

[87CandyBlueT]

Do you know when the t-belt was replaced last?

 

[IJ.]

Hookers and Drugs

 

[Insidious Surmiser]

Hookers and Drugs

LOL, not my oppinion of a good investment :-/, but i guess we're all entitled to our own oppinions :biglaugh:

 

[bobiseverywhere]

Definatly doing some Maitinence work would be a good idea. Prep your baby for what you want.

Pick an area and start working on it. If you have already done the brakes then Changing out those 19 year old bushings would be a good idea. might cost you more then the $500 if you want someone else to do the work for you though.

Replacing the hoses under the hood well, if they need to be changed then what needs to be done needs to be done. Only you know how long it will be, before swapping over to the 7m-gte if its soon and the hoses you have will hold out then it would just be through your money down the drain. IMO

As far as what i would do. Definatly hold on to the Cash and save a bit more. until i could get the work done that is needed. like the bushing and the coilovers. Maybe some sway bars and strut bars. End Links for the Sway bards as well. instead of those sad little stock ones.

Or if there is any body work that needs to be done to keep your baby alive and cancer free. just my $0.02

ninja edit: 87CandyBlueT has a good point about the timing belt. but if you are getting rid of that engine in the next 10K Miles....

 

[iwannadie]

Do you know when the t-belt was replaced last?

ya forgot about that, it was a few months ago. belt broke on me but got that sorted out so it should be good for a while.

 

[IJ.]

Iwannadie: Interesting choice of username have you owned a Mk3 before?

 

[iwannadie]

Definatly doing some Maitinence work would be a good idea. Prep your baby for what you want.

Pick an area and start working on it. If you have already done the brakes then Changing out those 19 year old bushings would be a good idea. might cost you more then the $500 if you want someone else to do the work for you though.

Replacing the hoses under the hood well, if they need to be changed then what needs to be done needs to be done. Only you know how long it will be, before swapping over to the 7m-gte if its soon and the hoses you have will hold out then it would just be through your money down the drain. IMO

As far as what i would do. Definatly hold on to the Cash and save a bit more. until i could get the work done that is needed. like the bushing and the coilovers. Maybe some sway bars and strut bars. End Links for the Sway bards as well. instead of those sad little stock ones.

Or if there is any body work that needs to be done to keep your baby alive and cancer free. just my $0.02

ninja edit: 87CandyBlueT has a good point about the timing belt. but if you are getting rid of that engine in the next 10K Miles....

bushing is what im leaning towards, again i herd its a pain and you cant do it yourself(without a torch). so id have to pay for that labor which would be to pricey right off.

sway bars have been on my list and in the budget. the body is in great shape no rust anywhere(spare tire well has spots).

guess its just a case of looking and seeing what Needs fixxed or waiting for it to break at this point ha.

 

[iwannadie]

Iwannadie: Interesting choice of username have you owned a Mk3 before?

nope its my first supra, first car too actually ha. im more into motorcycles but had to get a car too after being sick of just a bike lol.

 

[87CandyBlueT]

What is your main goal for your Supra. I think everyone would be able to help you more knowing what you should spend the money on. I know your planning a GTE swap in the future but what about after that? Are you just wanting a stock 7mgte. Like me I want a 400ish rwhp street car for the weekends and whatever. So I'm looking for a good gte block to build on for now. I wouldn't spend your money on anything for the 7mge, the t-belt is changed and no leaks etc. no misses, backfiring etc. The maitenance is good place to start and the suspension definately thats where I'm going to spend my money is building my bottom end and the suspension setup. I would budget your spending on the suspension/maitenance and start putting money back for GTE/r154 swap if thats what you really want. I wish you luck with it all.

 

[aye mate]

First and Foremost- LSD. Unless you already have one from a junk car or your NA is a sport package, get a limited slip differential, you're gonna need it with the turbo drivetrain.



I would also suggest some Suspension Techniques swaybars, Cusco front and rear strut tower braces or some A-1 traction arms. Since you are gonna end up swapping in a turbo drivetrain those 190k-mile-traction-arms ain't gonna stay straight for long (provided they are even straight now).

 

[iwannadie]

What is your main goal for your Supra. I think everyone would be able to help you more knowing what you should spend the money on. I know your planning a GTE swap in the future but what about after that? Are you just wanting a stock 7mgte. Like me I want a 400ish rwhp street car for the weekends and whatever. So I'm looking for a good gte block to build on for now. I wouldn't spend your money on anything for the 7mge, the t-belt is changed and no leaks etc. no misses, backfiring etc. The maitenance is good place to start and the suspension definately thats where I'm going to spend my money is building my bottom end and the suspension setup. I would budget your spending on the suspension/maitenance and start putting money back for GTE/r154 swap if thats what you really want. I wish you luck with it all.

ok, i want to set up the supra more as a road race/daily driver. straight line speed doesnt do much for me im more about handling/stopping. not that i wont say no to more speed, but im not looking to make 400+ hp in the long run.

since im all about handling are the coilovers the way to go for sure? after reading up a bit i see new springs/struts are pretty cheap and would do alot for me now. i dont want to burn money on them now and later wish i held out for coilovers. ive herd alot of mixxed opinions on the coils vs springs issue though.

not sure if my supra is sport package.... how would i check ha. from what i saw though LSD cost like a grand though ;\

 

[aye mate]

Sport package NAs have a targa top, TEMS suspension and LSD (probably more I just don't remember) You can find a used LSD and have it rebuilt for WAY under a grand.

 

[87CandyBlueT]

Hop under the rear and look at the back of the rear Diff. It will say LSD (might say LSD Only, can't remember) on it. If not then yea like aye mate said definately get a LSD.

 

[iwannadie]

Sport package NAs have a targa top, TEMS suspension and LSD (probably more I just don't remember) You can find a used LSD and have it rebuilt for WAY under a grand.

well i got a hardtop with tems. the guy i bought it from i think said it had the sport package, but really i didnt believe a word he said so i dunno lol. ill have to crawl under there and see i guess....

 

[aye mate]

http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58&highlight=sport+package

Head light washers, LSD and TEMS is what the sport package has. My mistake.

 

[born2drv]

I'd say intake and exhaust... but that would be different for an NA, correct?

So I would do maintenence first, if u need a new battery or its iffy, get a nice optima and relocate it in the back...

If you're going to a 5spd turbo, maybe start gathering up parts you'll need... maybe a new engine harness, ECU, etc?

I'd also do suspension too since it's unrelated to engine.

 

[iwannadie]

I'd say intake and exhaust... but that would be different for an NA, correct?

So I would do maintenence first, if u need a new battery or its iffy, get a nice optima and relocate it in the back...

If you're going to a 5spd turbo, maybe start gathering up parts you'll need... maybe a new engine harness, ECU, etc?

I'd also do suspension too since it's unrelated to engine.

i was looking at the batt relocation but is it Really worth it. i mean isnt that more of a track issue having the batt in the rear? seems to me moving the batt isnt really worth any gains performance wise.


by the way i do appreciate all the info and suggestions, got me thinking about stuff more now

 

[born2drv]

before i put my upgraded turbo in, my larger intercooler, my maftpro, etc, etc.... i just relocated everthing (oil filter, battery, power steering resevoir, etc...) and i installed stuff which really had no immediate performance benefit (like the tranny cooler, MHG, wideband, boost gauge, oil catch can, etc) because i planned on dumping a lot more money into my car and i wanted to get all those important things in place. i guess it depends what your bigger picture is and how patient you can be before you get to go any faster

 

[iwannadie]

before i put my upgraded turbo in, my larger intercooler, my maftpro, etc, etc.... i just relocated everthing (oil filter, battery, power steering resevoir, etc...) and i installed stuff which really had no immediate performance benefit (like the tranny cooler, MHG, wideband, boost gauge, oil catch can, etc) because i planned on dumping a lot more money into my car and i wanted to get all those important things in place. i guess it depends what your bigger picture is and how patient you can be before you get to go any faster

well i cant upgrade turbo stuff since i have no turbo lol. also cant upgrade tranny/motor when its getting swapped. i see what your saying though but i guess im looking for suggestions more specific to my car setup.

i did just check and sure enough i have LSD.