Initial Findings

I found this car posted on Craigslist. I had been looking for this exact model supra for a few months. Seems very hard to find in the Northeast. I would check everyday from New Jersey to New Hampshire. I was looking for a MK3 Supra Turbo with 5 speed transmission and also Targa roof. The one I finally found was in Enfield, CT. The guy used it as his daily driver and I could definitely tell.

The Bad:
Power Steering
Speedometer
Odometer
Gas gauge
Driver's side lock
Steering Wheel
Seats
Paint


The Good:
No Rust
Engine Runs
Manual
Turbo
Super Monitor
TEMS

The car has a clean title and original window sticker from 1987. It was sold at a dealership in Delray Beach Florida for $27880.The first thing on a long list of repairs is probably going to be the power steering and then the speedometer

The bumper is in bad shape cosmetically. I don't think it needs any bodywork.

Seats in the front are torn up and pretty ratty. I need to find a place that can reupholster them and make them new again. The foam is missing on the drivers side. Its too bad because its an electronic seat.

Dash and Cluster Removal

The Speedometer, Odometer, and Gas Gauge no longer function for whatever reason I do not know. To get to the bottom of it and determine if its a problem with the cluster or a problem with the cable or the cluster itself. The 1987 Supra has a cable coming from the manual transmission that leads to the cluster and drives the speedometer, and odometer. I tested this by taking out the cluster, and driving the input to the speedo with a cordless drill. With the drill turning at full speed the speedometer gave a readout of 20 mph and also the odometer advanced. You can tell by looking at the picture of the cluster in the dash, and the cluster after I did the test. While I have it out this would be a good opportunity to check the fuel sending unit. I have a feeling it may be the cluster because all of the gauges rest in the down position and the gas gauge shows as always full. In fact the sending unit may work because the low fuel light will come on if the gas is low in the tank.


I have a feeling changing the speedo cable is going to be a lot of work, but having a working speedometer will be nice. Gas gauge working isn't really that big of a deal to me, but getting everything in working order will be nice. I also got the opportunity to buy a complete 7m-gte engine for $250, it has 86000 miles so it may be worth picking up.

 

OMG original 1987 stereo. I don't like it, but at the same time I've yet to find an aftermarket headunit that I have actually liked. Maybe I will have to work on getting a carputer installed in that double din the stock radio sits in now.

Cluster cover is off and the last 3 screws are in. It wasn't as bad as I thought to get out. Getting it back in will be a big hassle I'm already sure. It is a little tight, and getting all the connections back in won't be fun.

This little knob inside the green cup turns when the car is moving forward. I hooked up a drill to the cluster speedometer to see just how fast it spins. With the drill at full speed I got the speedometer to 20 mph.

 Here the cluster is fully removed and disconnected. It was really dirty back there.

 Gas gauge always displays full. Fuel sender unit works because the empty light comes on when the tank is really low.

Leaky Targa Roof

Since I'm not working Fridays until 2011 I took a ride over to Advance Auto Parts to see about getting new hood struts. They didn't have any and they couldn't be ordered. Looks like I'll just have to pick some up online. They are only about $20 each.

I stopped and filled up my gas can with 5 gallons of 93 octane, and went home. The Supra isn't registered or insured so I shouldn't take it on the road. I tried filling it up from the gas can, spilled some gas, and because it was so cold, the spout snapped and I spilled even more gas everywhere. Crap. Since its 30 degrees outside I couldn't use the hose to get rid of the gasoline, and I was afraid to start it and have it burn in my front yard. I used a few cups of water and waited an hour.

I was so mad that I was already having trouble that I took the plates off my Audi and put them on the Supra and drove to the gas station. Put in 10 gallons of 93, and bought a carwash, and took it through. It turns out that the Targa top does leak, the window doesn't make a great seal, but it could be because of the powerwasher blasting right at that part. Not sure how much it will leak in rainy conditions.

1987 Toyota Supra Turbo

I just bought this 1987 Toyota Supra Turbo. As you can see it needs a fair amount of work. I will use this blog to detail the work I put in so hopefully other people can benefit from my findings.