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COB's '94 Supra Turbo
Flashback to 2007.
I was 16 and had my first job at In N Out, across the street from a Circuit City. Every night, there was a white MKIV Supra parked in the Circuit City parking lot. It was my first time seeing one up close. The car was in sorry shape. It had a cracked up carbon fiber hood and beat up Blitz body kit. It looked better from far away. Circuit City closed down and the car was spotted only a few times after that. 8 years later in 2015. My neighborhood is separated by a major thoroughfare, thus, I rarely visit the other side. On a rare occasion of driving through, I spotted a big spoiler poking out from a cul-de-sac. Curiosity came knocking. It was the Supra from Circuit City. Layers of dirt covered the car, and the tires had debris built up around them. The tags had been expired for two years (2013 expiration date) and Google Street View showed it hadn't moved since then. I snapped a photo from the passenger seat of my friend's 1984 300ZX (below). Buying neglected cars has always been a passion of mine, I eventually bought the 300ZX, too. At this point, I had a MK3 at home, but it was not finished. A MK4 would have been way out of my price range, so the intention was to settle with a built MK3 Supra. There were a few other local neglected cars that I wanted, but this one immediately jumped to the top of that list. The next few days were filled with wonder - who leaves a MKIV Supra outside to rot? What's wrong with it? https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7627/...36977a78_b.jpg Google Street View showing the car parked in 2013. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7636/...57ea9fe2_b.jpg There was only one way to get this car - grow a pair and ask to buy it. The gentleman who answered the door was the owner. He said it had been sitting for quite a while and was likely only going to sit for years to come. It seemed like he wanted to see the car get restored and driven. A closer look revealed the following: 1994 Supra twin turbo Automatic TT calipers painted red with Brembo stickers, rusty rotors Blitz bumpers, side skirts, spoiler, trunk logo, BOV, turbo timer Relatively stock and untouched 2JZ-GTE, stock twins Carbon fiber hood, cracked and faded, doesn't fully latch Aluminum radiator, missing fan shroud and condenser Blitz 19" wheels with Michelin tires, 245 front, 295 rear HKS Super Drager catback exhaust 96-98 headlights and tail lights Cracked windshield, rear view broken off Purple tint, bubbling up badly White gauge inlays, aftermarket Pioneer radio Dents all over, scratches in the paint, fading here and there Faded pearl white paint job, jammed and everything To my surprise, he threw out a number that was completely within my available budget. There was no doubt, many thousands would be required to restore this thing. The key was also missing, so there was no indication of mileage. It was unlocked. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7620/...01df2aa4_b.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8696/...63733ee2_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7644/...c8b15db7_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7606/...f3c4f244_b.jpg |
A day went by. My anxiety levels went off the chart. I need this car in my life.
He accepted my offer and we went to the local Toyota dealership to have a new key cut from the VIN. I popped in the battery from my 89 MKIII Supra, which was engineless at the time. The instrument cluster came to life with 63,000 miles even on the ODO. The MKIII battery needed a jump, since it had lost charge sitting idle about 9 months. The transmission was automatic, unfortunately. The 2JZ-GTE's oil was clean and at the proper level. Turned the key and she started right up. I regret not making a video of this event... it was a moment to behold. I was shocked with how well it ran - I had assumed it was not running, hence the sitting. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8699/...108a5a4f_b.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8726/...9b2c8104_b.jpg Immediately, I took the car around the block for a test drive. The first turbo spooled up with minimal pedal effort and the sound had me hooked. I let off the pedal and heard "PSHHHH." The silliest grin came upon my face, I knew this was my lucky day. Here it is back home in my driveway, a mere 1000 feet away from its prior home. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8733/...62a424ef_b.jpg Here it is with the older Supra counterpart residing in the garage, plus a gutted/chopped up 89 Supra parts car in the driveway. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7718/...9c0b30c2_b.jpg I had to go to work - there was absolutely no doubt in my mind what I was driving that day. Note - ugly white gauge inlays and aftermarket radio. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8806/...dea82c93_b.jpg Made it to work without a hiccup! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7721/...957c89b7_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7703/...58e8ee2d_b.jpg My friend Carlos helping me clean it up. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8787/...cd212065_b.jpg Years of dirt washing away... https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7653/...b5ba0645_b.jpg A distinct color difference was uncovered! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7617/...aa4e51c7_b.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8778/...e23c4c0e_b.jpg |
Blitz logo and Toyota logos were painted Gold... ugly if you ask me. Plus this Blitz logo can go in its entirety.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7712/...910f0930_b.jpg Notice the blue in the paint? https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7688/...a8c00e35_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7680/...82b998cc_b.jpg |
That cleaned up very well!!
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What kind of shape is it in mechanically? Motor just looked
Dirty in that picture, but fortunately unadulterated. man what I would give to get my hands on one of these. |
:clap2: Hell yea
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It needs a power steering pump at least. |
The past week of driving this car has been a total blast. I don't understand why this thing was left sitting, it just needs maintenance.
The attention factor is also surprising. People stare and wave when they see it on the road. Intersections are awkward, people blip their horns just to say "NICE CAR!" I was backing out of a spot and had to make sure not to hit a Tacoma parked across the way - the owner joked with me, "Go ahead and hit it, your car is worth more anyway!" It's also been fun taking my friends out with it - It's a total rice rocket in a funny, novelty type of way. As you'll see here, the novelty wore off quickly :) https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7610/...e71d0131_b.jpg Side skirts... screw these things. Screw everything about them. They're riveted and molded into the body with bondo... this is be a ton of work to repair. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7609/...6d309f3b_b.jpg I shouldn't have flipped the hood this far back, it messed up the windshield cowl. It didn't have a hood prop so for some reason this seemed like the thing to do... yeah, no. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7641/...d81e8315_b.jpg The hood off, next were the fenders. Unfortunate that they were molested with the sideskirt, they were numbers matching panels :( There's some evidence of funny business - literally no brackets for the front bumper are OEM. The horn is definitely not the original one. The crash bar is missing. The AC lines dangle - no condenser. Someone had a front end wreck - it could've been far worse. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8738/...c4db12cb_b.jpg Looks better already... As you can see, that stupid riced out truck next to it is only useful as storage, since it's owner won't do anything about it! If it were mine, I'd have parted the ***** out years ago. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8782/...35b48aae_b.jpg Next up was breaking off the massive globs of bondo on the sides of the car. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8704/...2f0cc730_b.jpg |
Time to get this car back on the road to looking right!
OEM parts! They're silver, but whatever, they'll be painted someday :) Front bumper Rear bumper Fenders Hood Side brake ducts https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7714/...e6477d2f_b.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8809/...68432fda_b.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8789/...969de779_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7619/...b3f6336b_b.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8699/...75106e7c_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7649/...faa9d7c1_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...9fb2ac16_b.jpg Wing removed, bondo removed, and hood properly latched! Much better! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7712/...51d8cbf5_b.jpg |
Much better!:thumb:
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FYI....the odometers in the MKVI's are extremely easy to disconnect and/or swap out with another unit. This can be done in less then 5 minutes. Not saying this was done to that particular car but just want you to be aware of the fact it can and has been done on a lot of these cars over the years.
Anyhow, good luck getting her back into shape. Looks like you're well on the way bringing it back to life. Keep the progress pics coming. |
You have a pretty good retirement fund built up
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Wow glad to see life being brought back into that! Yes! Get rid of those ugly things that were on it.
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I always enjoy your threads. Watching a good vehicle getting caught up on maintenance and restored is a good read in my book.
From a previous MKIII owner, I just never fell in love with the looks of the MKIV. The powertrain is awesome though. |
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COB.... beautiful. Your turbo build is more my style, but you have a gift with cars...:art:
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So the transmission is getting to me... already thinking about swaps. Anyway...
Isn't that just the ugliest ass end of a Supra you've ever seen? Body kits are the work of satan. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7640/...ba04707c_b.jpg Rear bumper removed, rear quarter skirts coming off next. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7689/...816d4b95_b.jpg Crash bar fully intact - the rear is undamaged thankfully. The trunk tumbler lock doesn't seem to turn though, gonna try to lubricate it. Bonus goodies - it's got tail lights off a 98, which have gunmetal insides rather than black. Also, there's a stainless rear strut bar, looks like a Cusco. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/...465be0e1_b.jpg Stock bumper installed. Needs a stock wing now. The tint is also pretty terrible, but I can't see it while driving since the rear view mirror is in the back seat. Somehow it was ripped off the windshield and took a heap of glass with it. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8740/...7178c863_b.jpg Dreadful bondo... what the hell kind of person does this to a Supra? https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7601/...85cdf571_b.jpg Bonus! It's got a genuine HKS Super Drager exhaust. Old school. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/...4e067c01_b.jpg Brake ducts fit fine, but I've gotta find a way to get more of this bondo off. Needs new clips too. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8764/...dddcd76e_b.jpg Now there was the matter of a spoiler. The Blitz one was ridiculous, I just couldn't stand to see it. Jumped on craigslist and someone was selling a white spoiler for a steal! $25! Immediately jumped in the car and picked it up. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5460/...84fbb6cb_b.jpg YES! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7717/...040c357d_b.jpg Targa top off is also very nice! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7650/...324c8e01_b.jpg White gauge inlays removed - Factory looks 100x better! Now it needs a 6spd tach to eliminate the mess of PRND2L, O/D off, and MANU lights. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8763/...d4468315_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7708/...693a1436_b.jpg |
I have a friend that has the same luck with guns as you do cars. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
I'm excited for your build. Are you going to sell the mkIV as a shell or part it out? |
Always impressed with how you turn these old Toyotas. I think you'd have a team of helpers if we all lived local.
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The choice has been to return it to stock body panels, manual swap it, and repaint it. Might be a few performance upgrades in there too :) Quote:
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Before and after... less than a month since I bought it
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7718/...9c0b30c2_b.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/...734dde86_b.jpg |
Love it. Do you have plans for painting it eventually? And are you going for a targa top?
Edit : I see the post above you may paint it. |
Looks like your brother finally got his pickup running :clap2: lol
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1. Remove bondo from sides of car and door jambs 2. Drill out rivets, weld holes and smooth 3. Rust repair or replace rear hatch if necessary 4. dent removal (targa top, driver's door, a few dings elsewhere) 5. paint match the inner door jambs 6. paint replacement parts from silver to white inside 7. reassemble car, then paint factory white Also somewhere in no particular order: 1. New windshield 2. New marker lamps for the front bumper 3. Find rear trim pieces that fit along the wheel well Quote:
5 years this month since that piece of shit was put to any real use |
The Blitz wheels are gone - Traded them for a set of chrome TT wheels plus $1,000 cash.
The chrome isn't my taste, but sure beats curbed heavy 19's. Might end up painting the chromes or trading them. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7691/...caf32560_b.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8689/...270f08d8_b.jpg The sorry state of the brakes - new rotors and pads will be finding their way onto this car. The silly brembo stickers will be removed from the stock TT calipers. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8856/...a0bb2388_b.jpg Bonus! Stainless steel braided lines! https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8773/...15213e1f_b.jpg Chrome sure is ugly... though nothing on the car matches yet anyway. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/...4ddc0ebd_b.jpg Also on the hunt for some decent tires. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8892/...68c6fcdd_b.jpg Later went down to my friend John's. Using his lift, I was able to check the undercarriage. After finding shit like this, you better believe it's getting straight piped with the correct size tubing. Test pipe for a temporary smog solution. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8809/...1d97c353_b.jpg Alongside: John's latest vehicle, a 98 4Runner 4x4. It's got bumpers, Total Chaos UCA's, coilovers, and KM2's. I've posted pictures of that 4Runner on here a few times and now my friend owns it, lol. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7692/...346db4de_b.jpg Looks a bit janky, since it needs all of the front bumper brackets. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7702/...28af2f6f_b.jpg WILL IT PASS SMOG? https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8878/...6402f20c_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7719/...7b903585_b.jpg YES :) https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7758/...1558074c_b.jpg |
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Supra's looking good BTW. Can't wait for the paint! |
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Yeah the Supra is a bit frankenstein right now, but it'll be nice when it's all painted. |
Tags! :D
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8767/1...f20c422d_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8795/1...384b8d7a_b.jpg The extra car cover fits pretty good, not so much around the spoiler, but it's close. https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7758/1...83b514d4_b.jpg |
Beutiful cars! do you have any pics/detail on the mk3?
My cousins 7m was the very first motor pull I had every done on his 91. and i missed his rebuild since ive been in. |
i see the Fast and Furious paint job in your future:roadkill: and the hks exhausts are killer. good find.:hello:
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Wow many you have really turned this car around for the better. You always do such amazing jobs on your vehicles. Keep up the great work!
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Good Job on bringing it back to stock, looking good man.
No hurry, don't rush it, but I think we are waiting on the paint. Btw Did I miss the post about what color .?. my opinion would be pearlescent white. http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...h_CIMG0915.jpghttp://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...8.jpg~original Looks good during the day and Really good at night. Just seems to fit it since white is the original color. Also, after all this work, I would keep that thing. |
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I just started the motor rebuild on mine, let me say that pulling a 7M-GTE was one confusing mess of hell, lol. Quote:
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The white will likely be a nicer two stage rather than the original single stage, but nothing crazy. I like it simple. |
Sent the tint back to hell from where it came. Faded to purple es muy mexicano. :usa2:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8857/1...0e5dabf1_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8814/1...dc1bc3cb_b.jpg https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7782/1...11d6334c_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8772/1...c56c3a2d_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8803/1...4998ec00_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8823/1...2ebda5c4_b.jpg My friend John had an alternator from a Lexus RX330 he had parted out. The thing shared internals, voltage regulators, brushes, stator... it was the same alternator with the exception of the mounting locations on the housing and the size of the positive terminal. My alternator randomly failed - the trick was switching the piece with the positive terminal. The lexus terminal was too short, so John cut it off, tapped it, then did the same for the longer Supra terminal. Screwed the longer terminal onto the now-threaded Lexus terminal - I've got an alternator. 14.3V of alternating goodness. Shown: alternator with the backing, voltage regulator, brushes, and the terminal piece removed. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/550/17...df3cecbc_b.jpg This thing's really growing on me... https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/376/17...da7553e9_b.jpg Got rid of the Pioneer radio it had. What a piece of junk that thing was. It couldn't even save radio presets. Got a stocker in good working order. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/528/17...6bd5a862_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/428/17...4ec3dfe9_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8865/1...b64a0554_b.jpg |
Can we please manual swap it
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OMG soooooo subscribed!
:usa2: |
COB thread lurker here, LOL
I have to admit, I LOVE seeing stuff like this. Returning her to her former glory (STOCK) is certainly great to watch. I personally can't stand seeing everyone "rice out" their car, but hey, it's their car, who am I to judge. But, when I see an older car in great/perfect and in stock condition, I have mad respect them (over the ricers) b/c they care enough to keep their car in the condition they are in.
@ChildrenOfBodom : You are doing an excellent job on this and your '89 Supra. Keep up the awesome work and thanks for sharing! |
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subbed this is beautiful!
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