My Toyota Supra RZ-S

[jimjam92]

Very quick update for you all. The car has developed a knock from the rear suspension. Sounds like a loose ball joint or worn bush. It's annoying the hell out of me! Have had the car up on a ramp (four post, so suspension was fully compressed) and everything seems tight. Thinking by process of elimination it could be a top mount for one of the coilovers. Will have a good look this weekend.

Other than that, no reliability issues to speak of, despite the cold weather. Go Toyota! Mind you, it has barely moved in the last few weeks due to not wanting to drive it in winter and serves a better purpose as driveway art. #firstworldproblems

Hopefully I'll have the chance to work on it over the Christmas break, I'd like to take out the turbo piping and inlet manifold and get them cleaned up and re-painted, as to my mind they are the only things letting the engine bay down.

For now you'll have to make do with some pictures from a recent photoshoot I did for an article for an unnamed insurer

(PS I'm fully aware I look about 15!)

[jimjam92]

Update time:

Found the source of my suspension knock - the driver's side rear coilover had been leaking and the damper was fapping about doing nothing! Thought about rebuilding but as they are the JDM Teins the car was imported with thought it would just be easier to replace, so went for some nice new BC Racing BR series. To say the car is transformed is an understatement! Not only has the knock gone but the car now glides over bumps, all the harshness I would usually associate with coilover suspension has now gone - I think the decision to choose rubber top mounts rather than pillow-ball style ones like on the Teins helped a lot!

In other news, the Supra has gained a new stablemate - brother's new car!

Edited by jimjam92 on Wednesday 21st March 11:28

[Christmassss]

180sx

[jimjam92]

That's right, factory Midnight Purple 180sx Type X - allegedly the only one in the UK in this colour!

[Christmassss]

Midnight purple..AMAZING!

More pics and spec please

I had various S14's back in the day but a 180sx was always the holy grail to me, best looks with the best engine.

[jimjam92]

Christmassss said:

More pics and spec please

Only other pics I have are from the original ad - picked it up yesterday and was getting dark when we got back, which is why the car looks almost black















Speclist is:

Chassis:
Meister R coilovers
Cusco strut brace
Adjustable suspension arms and tie rods
16" Advan 3 spoke alloy wheels

Engine:
Apexi AX53B70 turbo
Low mount tubular exhaust manifold
HKS turbo actuator
3” turbo-back exhaust system
HKS front mount intercooler
HKS air filter
760cc injectors
Z32 (300zx) air flow meter
HKS EVC6 boost controller
Blitz turbo timer
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
Nistune ECU

Interior:
Nardi steering wheel
Pioneer stereo

333 bhp and 334 lbft torque

Edited by jimjam92 on Monday 19th March 17:00

[Christmassss]

Looks in really good condition in the pics. Decent spec too with use-able power. Like it alot.

Tell me you are keeping the 3 spokes too!

[Its Just Adz]

I absolutely love the Supra, one of my all time favourite cars.

[MX6]

Lovely Supra, loving the 180 too.

I didn't mind the previous front bumper but the OEM bumper with the (TRD style?) splitter does look cleaner and hence better. I was more offended by the headlight brows that you've also removed. Those retro 3 spokes certainly give the 180 some character.

[Mr Tidy]

Wow, that is serious "Japcaritis" OP!

I always fancied a Supra, but I think I've missed the boat price-wise on those now sadly - mind you your other purchase also looks fantastic!

I'm looking forward to updates!

[gareth_r]

jimjam92 said:

...4 speed automatic (with overdrive)...

"Overdrive" is just 4th gear (although it is an overdrive gear - i.e. higher than 1:1 ratio). I've always assumed that the "overdrive" label, and the separate switch on the gearleverstick was for the benefit of Americans who had grown up with 3-speed autos with a bolt-on overdrive 4th gear.

jimjam92 said:

The auto is actually really nice to use, nothing like the 90s slushbox I think people assume it is. I honestly couldn't justify spending an extra £6k to get a manual car in the same condition, mileage etc. It is super smooth and changes extremely fast. A lot of people prefer the auto Supras for drag racing because being a 4 speed, the gears are much longer and it shifts faster than you can in a manual...

...The auto box has its own ecu, meaning it is in sync with the engine, so will go up or down gears according to throttle input as well as rpm. Furthermore, it also has a manual mode, where it will lock the gears until you shift using the selector. 1998 onwards cars also had buttons on the steering wheel for going up and down the gears...

I've always been quite impressed with the Aisin-Warner A340 (in an Aristo TT and a Soarer TT, rather than a Supra), considering that it was first used in the mid-eighties. It does have an ECU, as it's electronically controlled, but it's not a separate unit. Gearbox control is incorporated into the engine control unit, which adds complication if you want to use a non-factory ECU. I believe the earlier versions - Mk3 Supra, for example - had a separate transmission ECU.
(If you turbocharge the naturally aspirated engine, it's possible to create a hybrid 'box by using the n/a ECU and valve body with the stronger gearbox from a TT. The n/a version has line pressure controlled by a cable, but the TT version has electronically controlled line pressure, so the n/a ECU cannot control the extra solenoid in the TT valve body.)

[jimjam92]

gareth_r said:

jimjam92 said:

...4 speed automatic (with overdrive)...

"Overdrive" is just 4th gear (although it is an overdrive gear - i.e. higher than 1:1 ratio). I've always assumed that the "overdrive" label, and the separate switch on the gearleverstick was for the benefit of Americans who had grown up with 3-speed autos with a bolt-on overdrive 4th gear. /quote]

Perhaps I should have explained better, overdrive can be turned on/off via a switch in any gear (when in drive is automatically turned on) in order to raise/lower the ratios. Switching overdrive off in lower gears really does make it scoot!

[jimjam92]

Christmassss said:

Tell me you are keeping the 3 spokes too!

Unfortunately he had already decided that he would change them before he bought the car and has ordered some new wheels, although he admits the Advans 'are growing on him'.

Took both the cars to Snetterton where the local Pistonheads chapter were having a track day yesterday. Didn't manage to get either on the tarmac but good to have a natter and catch up with some familiar faces.

Edited by jimjam92 on Wednesday 21st March 12:25

[gareth_r]

jimjam92 said:

gareth_r said:

jimjam92 said:

...4 speed automatic (with overdrive)...

"Overdrive" is just 4th gear (although it is an overdrive gear - i.e. higher than 1:1 ratio). I've always assumed that the "overdrive" label, and the separate switch on the gearleverstick was for the benefit of Americans who had grown up with 3-speed autos with a bolt-on overdrive 4th gear.

Perhaps I should have explained better, overdrive can be turned on/off via a switch in any gear (when in drive is automatically turned on) in order to raise/lower the ratios. Switching overdrive off in lower gears really does make it scoot!

My point is that it's NOT overdrive as fitted to, for example, an old MG, which gave an extra, slightly higher, ratio when in 3rd or 4th. This was achieved by an electrically switched 2-speed gearbox that was literally bolted on to the end of the normal gearbox. Although this allowed 8 speeds, O/D was locked out in 1st and 2nd because the O/D unit could not take the torque of the lower gears, so you had 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd O/D, 4th, 4th O/D.

When you switch off the Supra's "overdrive" all you do is change from 4th to 3rd (if already in 4th), or prevent the 'box from changing up to 4th (if not yet in 4th). It has no effect on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear ratios.

If you go to mkivsupra.net, there is a post called The Autobox Modes of Operation in Forum > Technical > FAQs and Guides > Technical Reference & FAQs that explains how it works.