Builders out there?, Testing waters here... Options

[Rook]

OK so I'm obsessed with getting the car of my dreams. I'm in love with the 90's era toyotas. 6gc Celicas and MKIV Supras baby. lol. Anyway I've been trying to buy myself a supra for under $20k but Im sure you all must know how near impossible that is. I've been all over houston trying to find someone to finance it for me but no dice. I'm beginning to give up. So now I'm thinking maybe I'll get myself another Celica and build that for a bit slower. My problem is that i work evenings as a diesel tech and babysit my kid in the morning so i dont have time to do it. Plus Im not confident in myself enough to build it with quality. lol. These sort of things don't come with reference guides from the dealer. So my question is, does anyone know of shops that could take care of it for me? or anyone think they could be up for the task (with experience on it of course. You guys on here do phenomenal work)? I'm sorry i should've specified earlier as well, I would LOVE to have an awd celica. of course. lol. I've heard of guys cutting celicas in half and welding them to gt4 front clips and stuff.... so idk. Input and possible quotes appreciated...

[Xander_X]

I find MKIV Supra's all the time for under $20k ... under $15k for that matter. In fact, I almost bought one the other day. They usually have around 100,000 miles or more and are non-turbo. But the project is most of the fun!

[Rook]

I find MKIV Supra's all the time for under $20k ... under $15k for that matter. In fact, I almost bought one the other day. They usually have around 100,000 miles or more and are non-turbo. But the project is most of the fu

well actually I meant turbo supras. the project would be far more expensive and takes a long time. they are also still very hard to finance.

[Xander_X]

I've never personally built a Supra, but when I was in Toyota tech school, there were two other students who had MKIV Supra's (one also had 2 gen 5 All-Trac's too ... I hated him lol) but both of the Supra's started out as N/A models and both of them only had a single turbo. Apparently, they said, it's very common for MKIV turbo owners to go to a single turbo for more power over all and that it was cheaper for them to turbo an N/A than buy a turbo model. Just sayin.

[presure2]

in texas, ATS racing is gonna be the best place to have any performance work done on a celica, mr2, and the like.
they are VERY experienced with the 3sgte, and alot more.

[richee3]

Xander nailed it on the head- they can be found for cheap, and I've even heard that the NA block is better for boosting. Something about oil squirters or something. Most of the high HP builds go single turbo. And financing a 19 year old Toyota with over 100k miles for over $20k, let me know if you EVER find a place that lends you the money. As far as financial institutions are concerned, the Supra is virtually worthless as collateral. Most places won't even lend on cars overb10 years old, if they even bother with that.

[Xander_X]

^ Agreed, financing is going to be hard. Your options are going to be a personal loan with some kind of collateral and then your interest rate is going to be real fun. I actually decided against the Supra for kinda what Richee was saying that the banks are thinking. I didn't want to spend $12,000 on a car (though it was mint, I will only buy a car if it's near cherry and has NO mods. I don't even want to THINK that someone was beating on it) and then put another $10k or $15k into it. I decided I'd be happier with an MR2 build. You can pick up a clean, well cared for 2nd gen for around $7k and the parts are cheaper. As far as shops in Texas ... hell, I don't think I know of a shop within a 100 mile radius of myself I'd trust with building a car much less Texas.

[Rook]

Well I did read up on n/a supra builds. I read on a few supra forums that the n/a transmission and diff don't hold up too well with too much power. But trust me that is definitely still in consideration although...also true financing even a 14000 supra is also incredibly hard. That's y I'm trying to go this route possibly cus I also love these celicas.

I would consider shipping the car out of state. This is a dream machine we're talking about. Lol. Atleast mine...

[Box]

Would love to have a Supra again. TT is out of the question most likely, will have to look into this N/A build. Seems promising. Coolest part, to me, of the MKIV Supra is how the dash console is set up. The heavily driver oriented set-up is just the coolest thing. What I like about the Celica's interior, just not as dramatic as the Supra's.

[Xander_X]

Well I did read up on n/a supra builds. I read on a few supra forums that the n/a transmission and diff don't hold up too well with too much power. But trust me that is definitely still in consideration although...also true financing even a 14000 supra is also incredibly hard. That's y I'm trying to go this route possibly cus I also love these celicas.

I would consider shipping the car out of state. This is a dream machine we're talking about. Lol. Atleast mine...

Hey man, go with your dream! No one should have the right to tell you different. My 2 dream cars are a 92 Acura NSX (about $30k minimum for a clean one under 100,000 miles) and a 1990 Lamborghini Countach Anniversary (Still over $100,000 for a low mileage clean one) ... so I won't be buying any of those anytime soon.

Shipping is crazy expensive. I was looking into shipping a Scion tC last month from Florida to NY and every quote I got was around $800. If it's far, buy a plane ticket and drive it back.

Would love to have a Supra again. TT is out of the question most likely, will have to look into this N/A build. Seems promising. Coolest part, to me, of the MKIV Supra is how the dash console is set up. The heavily driver oriented set-up is just the coolest thing. What I like about the Celica's interior, just not as dramatic as the Supra's.

Totally agree on the interior buddy, Mitsubi**** Eclipse and Eagle Talon as well (DSM ...YUCK!) but it hugs you like a cockpit, gotta love it!

[Rook]

Yeah 800 dollars is what i got a few months ago when i was trying to buy someone's gt4 on here. Would have it now but...same freaking issue; no one finances it. so i ended up settling with a scion tc. lol. don't get me wrong its a real nice little car and if it weren't so common and getting immense horse power out of it wasn't so hard I would keep it. but i like unique. and i want power. haha. I just find 6gcs and mkIVs so dam sexy.

anyway sucks they're hard to get. thats why they're not as common as tc's. lol. Thank you all for your input I really appreciate it. I'm really pursuing this. My heart is really set on either of these two cars.

continued input appreciated.

[Xander_X]

Yeah 800 dollars is what i got a few months ago when i was trying to buy someone's gt4 on here. Would have it now but...same freaking issue; no one finances it. so i ended up settling with a scion tc. lol. don't get me wrong its a real nice little car and if it weren't so common and getting immense horse power out of it wasn't so hard I would keep it. but i like unique. and i want power. haha. I just find 6gcs and mkIVs so dam sexy.

anyway sucks they're hard to get. thats why they're not as common as tc's. lol. Thank you all for your input I really appreciate it. I'm really pursuing this. My heart is really set on either of these two cars.

continued input appreciated.

I'd throw a TRD supercharger in it if I were you, but that's me. I remember when they were about to come out, I was working at Toyota at the time as a tech and they were talking about how they (toyota) had purposely lowered the compression in the tC engine because they were counting on people wanting to boost it. I hear you on the commonality of it though, after I decided not to get it, I started noticing them EVERYWHERE on campus (I go to a large University, got tired of turnin wrenches for only $18/hour and not wanting to work on my own cars in my free time) but I bet there are at least 12 of them just in this small town I'm in ... and not one 6gc. I rarely see them around central NY.

Have you tried joining a credit union? They're usually better at giving loans, also if you have any collateral to put against the loan it would help. I had to do that a while ago to buy my Porche 944 S1 ... it was technically worth the money, but the bank didn't want to give an "auto" loan for a car that old, had to get a personal loan with collateral against it.

[Smaay]

I've never personally built a Supra, but when I was in Toyota tech school, there were two other students who had MKIV Supra's (one also had 2 gen 5 All-Trac's too ... I hated him lol) but both of the Supra's started out as N/A models and both of them only had a single turbo. Apparently, they said, it's very common for MKIV turbo owners to go to a single turbo for more power over all and that it was cheaper for them to turbo an N/A than buy a turbo model. Just sayin.

thats 100% correct. twins are not always better. the stock twins are smaller than a CT26 and upgrading to a single turbo thats larger will make a world of difference. I gained 100HP when i went single at the same boost level.

[Syaoran]

Yeah 800 dollars is what i got a few months ago when i was trying to buy someone's gt4 on here. Would have it now but...same freaking issue; no one finances it. so i ended up settling with a scion tc. lol. don't get me wrong its a real nice little car and if it weren't so common and getting immense horse power out of it wasn't so hard I would keep it. but i like unique. and i want power. haha. I just find 6gcs and mkIVs so dam sexy.

anyway sucks they're hard to get. thats why they're not as common as tc's. lol. Thank you all for your input I really appreciate it. I'm really pursuing this. My heart is really set on either of these two cars.

continued input appreciated.

I'd throw a TRD supercharger in it if I were you, but that's me. I remember when they were about to come out, I was working at Toyota at the time as a tech and they were talking about how they (toyota) had purposely lowered the compression in the tC engine because they were counting on people wanting to boost it. I hear you on the commonality of it though, after I decided not to get it, I started noticing them EVERYWHERE on campus (I go to a large University, got tired of turnin wrenches for only $18/hour and not wanting to work on my own cars in my free time) but I bet there are at least 12 of them just in this small town I'm in ... and not one 6gc. I rarely see them around central NY.

Have you tried joining a credit union? They're usually better at giving loans, also if you have any collateral to put against the loan it would help. I had to do that a while ago to buy my Porche 944 S1 ... it was technically worth the money, but the bank didn't want to give an "auto" loan for a car that old, had to get a personal loan with collateral against it.

Personal input:

2az-fe LOVE boost just like the 5s-fe does. 2az-fe is the successor of the 5s-fe. .2L with intake VVT. 10PSI on them puts them right around 280wheel with proper supporting mods, and is safe on stock internals.

14psi is the highest you should go on stock internals with a pretty damn good tune, but the most I'd go is 12psi for about 320wheel with proper supporting mods.

[Rook]

Yeah i worked at Toyota too for a year and a half as a tech. i moved to diesels and got an 8 dollar an hour increase. lol. I feel the same way man i'll be going back to school next semester. anyway i did too hear of the lower compression in tc's when they first came out. after the 2006 model they raised the compression and stopped producing superchargers. i have a 2008. I would have to do a TON to see 400hp.

Im also aware of tt supras better off as single turbos. Those tend to cost the same as tt supras. id take either or for now then build later. hence y na supra is still on my list. lol. As would be an awd 6gc.

[Syaoran]

Yeah i worked at Toyota too for a year and a half as a tech. i moved to diesels and got an 8 dollar an hour increase. lol. I feel the same way man i'll be going back to school next semester. anyway i did too hear of the lower compression in tc's when they first came out. after the 2006 model they raised the compression and stopped producing superchargers. i have a 2008. I would have to do a TON to see 400hp.

Im also aware of tt supras better off as single turbos. Those tend to cost the same as tt supras. id take either or for now then build later. hence y na supra is still on my list. lol. As would be an awd 6gc.

14PSI from a 16G will get you 320whp, on stock internals. With a proper tune it's a safe-enough number. Even a little bit past that you're asking for diminishing returns. I'd do a 20G turbo setup with water-meth and something like an AEM standalone (something that can control VVT-i, moreso) and I'm sure you can obtain at least 350 whpl on a Dynojet.

2007-2009 tCs have a better oiling system than the previous revision (2004-2006) too. There's a ton of stuff for the 2AZ, from Eagle H-beam econo-rods and Wiseco or CP pistons, etc. which won't run you more than $1000 granted you do the installation work yourself.