Hi, I just bought my first supra it's a 1984 5sp runs strong has 213,000 on the 5mge motor. I have only had it for a few weeks and I alredy love this car!!, it had rust so I bought a new rear hatch and stripped the paint and now it's all in primer color. well my question is what quick and not to expensive mods can I do to it to get it ready for a auto cross that is coming up?
my bugget for now is about $500 well thats cause the auto cross is in two weeks, currently I am putting a cold air intake, I have done oil change, tranny fluid flushed, new water pump, radiator flushed, new ngk spark plugs, and will also change the fuel filter this weekend. Any ideas that will help me I will greatly appreciate them, oh before I forget I also stipped most of the interior and took out the ac for less weight. Thanks!!!

if your budget is $500 then it would be very hard to pick and choose. You can either get you some Addco Sway Bars for the front and rear from rabidchimp.com. The front is $159.20 and rear is $138.97, that total comes up to $298.17. You'll probably pay a little more for shipping and handling. Handling is very important in autocrossing. If you can get some coilovers it would be even better. But if you can just get Suspension Techniques lowering spring it would help you a lot. Tires also plays a great roll in autocrossing. You need real good tires that will glue to the track. well, you decide whats most important for you. I personally don't rely on power when I'm either in a time attack or autocrossing. I like my supra to handle well and last long without overheating. I want to be able use at least 90 percent of the car's capability.

IR

thanks alot, yeah I was thinking of getting some slicks also where can I find some lowering springs? Would cutting the stock ones work too? oh I will also take the rear glass and take it out and probably replace it with somnething lighter.

No, if you cut your springs your rear tire will (butterfly) or stick out side ways so bad dude its ugly. Do it right and get some springs. Unfortunately I wasn't so success in finding any coilovers for my MKII when I had it. Just springs are available. You can get Ground controls adjustable for the front and you can just get Suspension Techniques for the rear. You might as well do the shocks and get you front and rear swaybars (addco). believe me you'll love the way it handles! You don't neccessary need to get slicks. Just some tires that will stick to the track. Make sure you upgrade your brakes because that plays a huge roll in it. Not just rotors but pads as well. If you can upgrade to a dual pistons calipers it would be real nice. Lastly if you're serious about this race, gut the car. You don't need all that weight.

IR

thanks for your reply, good thing you told me about the springs, now I wont cut them and ill just save to get it done right. I was not sure about getting the swaybars but since you say they handle really good then for sure ill get them. Curretly my car is gutted I only have a few more things to do and all will be out, well all besides the dash, do you think that should come out to?? did you ever auto cross yours? or has any one here ever auto x there MKII? got any tips on how these cars handle it sharp turns? thanks

You can leave the dash alone. Mine handled ok since it didn't have limited slip differ. so the car did encounter some over and understeer. If you want the car to feel stiff and hug the track, you really need to build up the suspension real well. Believe me the stock won't cut it! the body roll on the MKII is real bad and if feels like a fat elephant trying to make a corner at 45 MPH. what do you get? a fat body roll. so like I said before, those are what you need. I can explain to you how to handle these cars on sharp turns but its better for me to show you. but the key to sharp corners are again: real good tires and a good suspension.

I.R

yeah I agree with you, the car does feel like it wants to flip. I will save and get my self some good suspension, some swaybars too, and from there I will probably move on to tires. Do you have any more ideas or tricks to what I can do to this car or any little tricks you learned from having one of these? I am new to supra's so I am learning as I go. Thanks

To push the 5MGE as a performance N/A would be long and hard to accomplish. If you want decent power and or great power of course I'm sure you're aware of the 7mgte swap. But if you want to stick with the 5MGE it will still make a decent amount of power if you decide to turbo the 5MGE. I struggle a long time trying to power up a N/A 5MGE. Believe me performance parts don't come cheap to that engine. but for now, you can let it breath a little more by elimnating the cats. If you can get some headers, get the pacesetter header from rabidchimp.com and that is about $400. While you're at it you might as will do the complete exhause system. maybe a lighter weight flywheel for a faster REV. the 5mge needs it bad! I'm sure you know what I mean. A performance clutch. Dump your AC if you don't plan on needing it. well, I hope these information helps you out.

IR

yeah I am aware of the 7mgte but thats a turbo motor and I have had a turbo car before and they are fun and fast but they are also alot of hastle with tunning and so many other things that consists with the turbo cars, I would much rather have the 7mge or the 2jzge but that one is most likely out of my price range. what do you think? The turbo car I used to have was a 93 awd talon tsi and it was truly a hastle

yes, they are a hastle but it does deliver good power if car well maintence. but yea, which ever you feel the need for first. Me, I like enough power for me to handle and great handling.

IR