Need your help urgently - New supra problems!!!

Hey guys,

As you may know, I have recently purchased a Toyota Supra off of a fellow member on here, which I had planned to restore.

Now I knew the car had afew issues that needed fixing and was willing to pay out a bit to restore it. I even went through with the previous owner all of the faults with the car prior to purchase and documentation.

After paying for the car and having it sent to Horsham Developments, they have now sent me a very large list of issues with the car and that there are so many, they do not want to take on the project at all

So i wondered what options do I have with this car now?

Its in good condition body wise, but engines and gearbox seals need sorting.

What would you guys advise, as I paid £4000 for this project and am now left with nothing by the sounds of it?

Would a new engine be a way out?

Any help would be appreciated and heres the email list of things found wrong with the car below: -

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.

We’ve had a look at the car and I’m afraid that there are a larger number of things that need to be repaired:

Oil cooler is mounted with cable ties – needs to be fixed properly

Oil cooler pipe work leaking

Front brake disks need replacing

Front brake callipers need a rebuild (leaking)

Front anti roll bar link faulty

Intercooler is damaged (not sure if its leaking or not)

Intercooler pipe work need replacing

Air conditioning hose hanging off

Turbo oil feed pipe fitted incorrectly

Various engine oil leaks

Oil leak on gearbox bell housing

Gearbox oil leak from centre section

Gearbox oil leak from propshaft seal

Rear callipers need a rebuild

Rear brake disks need replacing

All of the interior electrics do not work

Engine has a misfire

Near side front lower arm ball joint needs replacing (split rubber)

I’m sure other faults would become apparent if we investigated further

I’m very sorry but due to the large number of faults and previous work, I don’t want to take on this project. The main reason for this is that I think if we did everything to an acceptable standard it would go over your budget as repairing cars like this is extremely time consuming. Also, we don’t work on Supras frequently which means that getting hold of parts, wiring information etc is going to be difficult as I do not have the same range of contacts as I do for Nissans.

I’m sorry to let you down like this – give me a call if you’d like to discuss further.

Thanks in advance.

Ash

Lot of issues but none of them seem insurmountable to me... It sounds like it's been neglected a bit/worked on by monkeys, but it can probably be saved. What's the spec on the car? NA-T/TT Auto? Manual(Which Gearbox, guessing 5 Speed.)? Mileage?

Also, taking on someone elses crap work will be a worry.. Especially if you want it done cheaply.

Hey buddy,

Its a UK spec Twin turbo 1994. Around 70,000miles. Manual W58 5 speed with stage 3 clutch.

I currently had £3000 to one side to put towards restoration.

Would it be advisable to aquire a refurbished engine instead?

First off I think its fair play of the guy to assess this and advise you he isn't willing to take it on. Better that than having the bills keep rolling in and/or him failing to solve everything.

I think you've been 'brave' taking on a old but expensive car with the intention of getting it back on the road via a garage rather than DIY, I really don't see what you'll save over just getting a loan for a very good car in the first place.

Trawling on here for bits and DIYing could see a lot of those issues fixed reasonably cheaply, the misfire and engine and gearbox seals could be masking a few other gremlins though and even if not they are labour intensive jobs, again ok if evening and weekend diy'ing but will all getting expensive if paying a garage.

You need to step back and take stock and if any sort of DIY is out of the question then I'd seriously think about moving the project on and cutting your losses

Uk spec with a 5 speed put in?

A UK spec with a five-speed 'box? there's something very strange going on here... sounds like £4,000 was WAY over the odds for this car. If you go for another engine then you'll have to pay at least £2k, and you'll still be left with a broken car worth next to nothing since it's got the wrong gearbox. UK cars never came with a W58 manual. I'm not sure quite what your options are here

Agree with James, nothing sounds like a big job(bar possibly the misfire, but this could be a simple fix).

Most of the items are a very easy fix which you could do yourself or ask for a hand off a couple of forum members.

Are the brakes j-spec? Cheap and easy to replace with a second hand set if so.

Edit: just seen the post it's a uk spec, so best just to rebuild current brakes.

Just read your other post,

Its engine came from a crash supra? its not a uk shell? Sounds like a bad install is half the problem trust me i know what happens "when monkeys attack"

I paid £4000 for the car and it came with an uprated stage 3 clutch W58 5 speed manual gear box, aftermarket stainless steel exhaust, clean interior and engine bay and bodywork.

 

However, the engine was transfered from the owners previous supra to this new shell, as his previous supra suffered a crash. No damage to the engine from what I could see, but it definetely needs the wiring loom sorted out and the internal electronics currently do not work

Even with all that you listed i beat alot of it is down to shoddy install of the new engine and box. The brakes if Jspec are cheap and easy. The loom may be a real issue. Is it even running the right ecu?

Do you have a picture of the car? Just out of interest

Looking at pics in your other thread, it looks like an NA-TT, as I can't see an ABS system, but I may be being blind.

Here's the images of the car and its engine.

Sorry for the confusuion guys. The car is a J-Spec shell with brakes and the rest J-Spec. I do believe however that the engine is UK spec, not 100% sure atm. Its running 382bhp.

I have just spoken to whifbitz as well and they said I could email them all the issues and they could then advise on a cost overall.

Otherwise I would have to sell it on as a shell or something?

It doesn't sound all that bad. Sounds like they're being very picky. The oil leak on the bell housing is probably cam covers - feature not a fault. Oil cooler held on with zip ties - make a bracket, but not essential, drop link's are £16, rubber ball joint boots are £1 each, misfire - probably coil packs, again, a feature...

Don't get too worried about the little bits. They're bits you could do yourself.

I don't think its a uk spec engine, it's missing the air funnel for the turbos.

Should be able to see it in this picture:

Was this StuartW's old UK Spec? Last I heard the guy he sold it to smashed the crap out of it... It was a UK with a 5 Speed Box.

Perhaps it's been badly re-bodied in an N/A Shell just to get rid of it?

Also No resistor pack... UK's run them as they have low impedance injectors.

I was being blind, I see the ABS system now, going to guess it was a TT shell.

It doesn't sound all that bad. Sounds like they're being very picky. The oil leak on the bell housing is probably cam covers - feature not a fault. Oil cooler held on with zip ties - make a bracket, but not essential, drop link's are £16, rubber ball joint boots are £1 each, misfire - probably coil packs, again, a feature...

 

Don't get too worried about the little bits. They're bits you could do yourself.

Exactly, its a 20 year old motor that as Turtleshead said looks like it hasn't been that well maintained. None of the list sounds too horrendous to me and lots of the stuff you could do yourself and maybe learn a bit about your car along the way. Much of that quote will be labour so you could probably make quite a dent in the cost quoted.

Are they 3" intercooler pipes? If so I can probably help you with those if you let me know what parts you need as I have most laying around at home I may be able to let you have.

They guy i got it from was Mark Cartwright, who was a member on here and purchased it from someone on here. It was then involved in an accident where the car was rolled.

The engine was then transffered over to a new shell.

I was aware of this prior to purchasing and did check it over throughly. But evidentally not enough.

Unfortunately I dont really have much experience in mechanics, that was why I was arranging for my garage to help restore it.

What would you advise as the next steps fo this car?

I could ship it over to Whifbits dependant on cost or I could sell it on?

also pm keron (he may have parts you need cheap)

Hold on,

I know what you are feeling i really do, my car was worked on by people that shouldnt have been allowed near it yet there might be a way back for it. Its worth next to nothing in its current state.

Deep breath and wait a while.

Oil cooler is mounted with cable ties – easy fix

Oil cooler pipe work leaking - presumably due to the above?

Front brake disks need replacing - easy job, stock disks not expensive.

Front brake callipers need a rebuild (leaking) - Not sure if you can still get refurb kits from Toyota, but they weren't expensive. Think Chris Wilson can refurb them.

Rear brake disks need replacing - as above

Rear callipers need a rebuild - as above

Front anti roll bar link faulty - in what way?

Intercooler is damaged (not sure if its leaking or not) - probably just badly corroded, hell mine was in a shocking state but still ok.

Intercooler pipe work need replacing - cheap

Air conditioning hose hanging off - So reconnect it?

Turbo oil feed pipe fitted incorrectly - quick fix

Various engine oil leaks

Oil leak on gearbox bell housing - probably just cam covers as someone else mentioned

Gearbox oil leak from centre section - Think Chris Wilson might still have some cheap seals?

Gearbox oil leak from propshaft seal - Think Chris Wilson might still have some cheap seals?

All of the interior electrics do not work - I hate car electrics, but quite possibly a simple fix for someone who knows what they're doing.

Engine has a misfire - Could just be plugs, could be something more serious.

Near side front lower arm ball joint needs replacing (split rubber) - Meh I've never seen it as a must fix​ just because the rubber boots are split.

With the exception of the leaks on the engine and box the rest is easy stuff. Recon calipers, drop link is about £40, discs pads, Ball joint straight forward. The interior electrics could be a fuse (but then I specialize in this stuff so easy to me).

Does it start and run?

What is your budget to restore it?

Lyndon.

I don't think it's the end of the world with this. The brakes you could do yourself, I'm not especially gifted with car work but check the guides section and there is loads of info. A full replacement seal kit for front and back is probably 70 quid, front and rear disks probably £230 ish.

Oil cooler pipework leaking? check pipes and tighten up, oil cooler zip tied? Not ideal initially but for a project definitely something you can look into. All interior electrics not working? Almost certainly fuses, a quick check of those would sort that. Engine missfire? Could be something as simple as a damaged coil pack clip, damaged wire or possibly faulty coil pack.

For the other stuff I would get Whifbitz or another specialist to check it out, after all this is what you put aside the money for in the first place, get a professional opinion. It might be a bit disheartening to begin with but a lot of these sound like fairly simple jobs. Before I joined this forum I could barely change the brakes on my old Celica but with the guides and advice I'll have a go at most stuff outside of the engine itself.

Where abouts are you?

Could come and have a look at the car, or another member maybe thats closer and assess it in person.......

The car starts and runs. So that's one good thing i guess.

My budget at the moment is £3000 as that's what i have put to one side.

I could possibly however increase slightly if need be.

Im gonna now wait for whifbitz to get back to me with an estimate and then go from there

Oh and im based in Bracknell, but the supra is currently with Horsham developments in chievely, 30mins away.

Maybe you should start with a compression test and a leak down test.

(Youtube and guides on here can help)

With this it tells you the condition of the engine.