COB's '89 Supra Turbo

For those of you who may have followed my MK4 supra build, there's a friend of mine who is quite good at body work.


It's no secret that this MK3 was wrecked at some point, then reassembled without the best care.


Some things that really bother me:


- Headlamp covers don't line up or sit flush with hood
- Tail lights don't line up with hatch, sit inward
- Interior plastics don't fit in the trunk area
- Tail light gaskets don't seal and a leak occurs




Rear without the tail lamps shows a lot.


47996765496_2771f67d8f_b.jpg



47996722328_fd8290ed9b_b.jpg





The metal is not straight


47996722013_62a9e46e9c_b.jpg







Creases are visible. The right part is pushed in and hasn't been pulled back out.


47996712192_ac648fdf6b_b.jpg







Justin to the rescue!


47996763821_c7ee992796_b.jpg



47996763361_f76ae34545_b.jpg





Spot welding some studs for pulling.


47996762996_b7289823da_b.jpg



47996762366_15bf5a9e9f_b.jpg



47996762151_422cdc35bf_b.jpg





Got the panel far straighter!


47996724747_1da0c8af95_b.jpg


47996724337_33d821739f_b.jpg



47996721497_9874c06f39_b.jpg







The tail lamps fit flush again. It looks much much better.



47996715483_4e0d895039_b.jpg
 
He also straightened both headlamp covers and leveled them to be flush with the hood. It really helped the look of the car, it's harder to see the uneven panels now.


47996715123_55a665fb7b_b.jpg



47996709538_f804f1bf27_b.jpg



47996752871_d38d883e86_b.jpg





Overall, I'm much happier with the car!


- It shifts beautifully
- Clutch is smooth and easy to use
- Motor and trans are well mounted and shifts are crisp
- No more clunks or strange feelings over bumps
- Sway bars are far more effective feeling, corners flatter




Still not happy with:


- Steering rack... new tie rods, boots, and mounting bushings did help, but the rack still feels very lazy and lacks precision.
- Rear control arm bushings - haven't gotten the polyurethane ones in yet due to difficulty separating the axle from the hub.
- The rear subframe moves a lot and it feels scary around corners, perhaps subframe spacers would help as well.

- Going to need front tires and then an alignment.




47996751247_47871c9c61_b.jpg



47996787501_1e6847dcec_b.jpg
 
The very next morning after the above photos were taken, I gathered up my stuff and picked up a friend on the way to the June 1, 2019 All Toyotafest in Long Beach, CA.



48093622716_ce858e00c9_b.jpg





Once we were directed into the show, I was pleasantly surprised to find Ken Henderson pulling up in Crimson Tide. This man has the cleanest Supra builds out there.



47996787426_2b68f59c11_b.jpg



47996960108_6aa6cb1079_b.jpg



47996744578_fd73739f52_b.jpg





It was truly an honor to be able to show my car next to his.



47996744888_6f286e4ae6_b.jpg





I ordered new hood struts, but they didn't make it in time! lol


47996786536_ac05fd926f_b.jpg




47996786086_28c7e1d7fa_b.jpg



47996743618_f311e05f84_b.jpg



47996742128_4a22d7c945_b.jpg



47996741883_ef0b3000c3_b.jpg



47996783491_d077d0cee2_b.jpg





Every Toyotafest event offers awards for some of the notable builds in attendance. Without specifying a particular order (1st, 2nd, 3rd), 3 names are called out for the MK3 Supra section.


Of course, the man Ken was called, and then another guy with a RHD Turbo-A. Last mention, to my surprise, was yours truly!


47996782891_8e893782d6_b.jpg






So now the car has taken its very first award, plus a bling-bling Toyotafest license plate frame
biggrin.gif





48093727507_27c8a629b1_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
More pics as of lately




Just admiring the view!


47996746262_622cf2353b_b.jpg







Gotta have them poly bushings.



48475841902_aa2f53042f_b.jpg



48467839061_5c6406d4f7_b.jpg





:naughty:

48475855287_e6acae7962_b.jpg







Toyota brothers... my latest acquisition. Both vehicles are 1989 white/blue 5 speed with RWD layout :D



48467838606_b752f5575d_b.jpg



48467838496_b0cfda7caa_b.jpg



48467838411_d6d6d7fddb_b.jpg



48467838321_f7ae9c218f_b.jpg









See behind the orange car :second:


48467837881_82a67972d8_b.jpg



48467983482_df2a786f9d_b.jpg







Beside Craig Lieberman's 2015 GT-R


48724471952_9bd1c41b4b_b.jpg
 
Simple and clean...


Gotta get that rear bumper repainted and some more front end straightening.


San Clemente Outlets.



48467822166_2494daece2_b.jpg



48467818081_1cc7a453ca_b.jpg




48724443547_0eab865b5e_b.jpg



48467968567_11440dfeec_b.jpg



48724463072_430292516e_b.jpg



48724460042_db9d9bbb70_b.jpg









Coto de Caza area.


48724284371_5a5df20682_b.jpg



48723953528_0c5cf2ba28_b.jpg







Eibach Toyota Meet 8/17/19


Literally the first car you see!



48723950698_ecfc74e5d2_b.jpg



48724456527_c71dfabf87_b.jpg



48724451897_c9299712e2_b.jpg




48723943403_7df4565872_b.jpg



48724271961_b55b345bb6_b.jpg





Tuesday Bob's Big Boy Meet in Downey, CA


48724271821_2b6c98cfa1_b.jpg



48723941358_e360fa8c4c_b.jpg



48724270601_e51dc83007_b.jpg



48724270011_0c800ddaf9_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
Front tires replaced with 235/45/17 Continental Extreme Contact DW from the MKIV.


48724269866_09b4730d99_b.jpg



48723939498_e82c4a74e8_b.jpg



48724445827_09e3a0bab9_b.jpg





With an alignment, I'm far more satisfied with the driving characteristics.


48723939093_38705fff85_b.jpg





2020 Supra Launch Event

Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA, 9/5/19


Since the MKIV is yet to be finished, I'm finding more opportunities to show the MKIII. It's great for networking with Supra owners. Toyota gave all participants a free wheel stand with information about their Supra.


48724268531_cdfb0df712_b.jpg




48723938373_3d252e890a_b.jpg



48723938333_18614f8ed0_b.jpg



48723938238_bf60f6e598_b.jpg



48723936003_c88d34ecce_b.jpg



48724268216_1864379704_b.jpg



48724268241_84ed1f9589_b.jpg
 
Gorgeous workmanship! I love the MK3 platform and thoroughly enjoyed your build thread on this and your MK4. You've inspired me to post my build here. From one fellow long term MK3 owner to another, I sincerely admire the dedication. Well done!

-Nick
 
I have a 15 year old son who would give his left ***** to have a car like that. He is currently in line to get the 2006 T4R.
 
Wish I had one of these Mercedes also


51309728511_77d21cd390_b.jpg





Time to repaint the wheels!!


After going to town with aircraft remover:


51310728170_b5e21d592c_b.jpg





2600 PSI of water pressure later:


51308983852_446e2b6974_b.jpg



51310449489_cc5779267b_b.jpg



Left: before sanding
Right: after sanding


51309925513_a4559ba120_b.jpg





Masked for a fresh coat of white


51310450009_dfbfdb1e9d_b.jpg



51309728461_feb993408e_b.jpg





Installed and ready to show


51309728461_feb993408e_b.jpg



51308984352_84995a2c91_b.jpg
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,085
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top