MkIII Trouble Spots - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

TheBishop · 07-28-2005, 03:25 AM

Hey guys, i have taken a big interest in the MKIII Supra, and since ill be all over the country for the next month, im on the lookout for one. Im wanting to get my hands on a 5spd turbo, and i would like to know what i should look for, in terms of common rust spots and such.
Thanks.

MkIII_Driver · 07-28-2005, 09:07 AM

biggest problem with these cars is the HG (head gasket) also look for one with under 100,000miles/~130,000km. If its a targa top pull it off and look at the molding on the car and the top itself. Of course i would bring a compression checker and some other tools so i could pull the accordian hose and get to the turbo wheel to make sure that its not messed up. Basicly look at everything that could go wrong (and thats a lot of things on these cars)

Peace

Jeeves · 07-28-2005, 10:01 AM

Good luck finding one w/under 100,000mi for cheap.

TheBishop · 07-28-2005, 03:01 PM

I'm prepared to spend whatever the car is worth.

ahmedootie · 07-29-2005, 12:52 AM

hey...y r u an ex datsun nazi?

i'm a RHD datsun owner! lol but dont worry about tha mileage...ur gonna hav a bad hg no matter what

...just go with one with little rust...and if your planning on spending what its worth...then be prepared 2 spend big... cus these cars grow on ya

peace

TheBishop · 07-29-2005, 01:08 AM

Well, i've been looking around and have already found some reasonable deals, could have my hands on one soon. The first thing i'm going to do is install a metal headgasket, port and polish the head and buy an intake and exhaust system, so i can begin to crank up the boost a little bit.

(Actually Dootie, i'll always be a Datsun nazi, when i was 14 i bought a 78 black pearl 280z, what a find that was.)

ahmedootie · 07-29-2005, 01:55 AM

heheheh...i hav a 78 datsun 280z as well...right hand drive...it was originally gold...but tha guy i bought it off of painted it some gay ass green...but i just got tha whole body redone, and painted in the 350Z gold...sunset lemans sp17....but on2 tha supra...if ur gonna put a metal headgasket...deck tha block and head...and dont shave much off...u don't wanna play with compression on tha boosted cars

TheBishop · 07-29-2005, 03:13 AM

I can just get it done at a machine shop right? i had planned on going to a shop with the head, incase it was warped.

ahmedootie · 07-29-2005, 11:24 AM

ya but u hav 2 do the block 2...cus f its not done, the mhg won't sit right, and in about 3 days u'll have another blown one

TheBishop · 07-29-2005, 05:00 PM

Thanks for the advice.

One last thing, did i hear correctly that the 87 and 88 are not as desireable as later models?

thanks.

ahmedootie · 07-31-2005, 01:42 AM

the 87 and 88 have different tail lights, and a different front bumper...those are the MAIN differences...there are other differences such as the speedometer ending at 150 as opposed to 160 in the later years...the HVAC controls are different, as well as the spoiler...and the steering wheel...but its all personal taste...i have an 87...i like the front end better then the later years, but i like the 89+ spoiler...