What to look for in a mkIII supra?

My friend is looking at a '90 turbo supra.

90K miles, show room stock with a BOV. No boost controller no other power mods.

Apparently it flutters during a shift. So Bad/wrong BOV something like that.

It also has a door replacement and a full car respray. Price is 6K, its a CL find.

I said Id look at it with him if he wants, so is there any thing I need to be weary of? 6K sounds high for me, but I dont know them very well...

~Alex

The head gaskets on 7M-GE/7M-GTE engines are notorious for blowing out, due to incorrect torque settings printed in the official FSM and weak head bolts. Get a set of ARP head studs and torque them down to 80ft-lb with the moly grease ARP supplies. If you don't have moly grease, torque them down to 120ft-lb with 30-weight motor oil.

I mean I know that much. I do like the 7m, I know its strong.

I just need to know of the other common failures to look for or if the price is off.

I want to help out my friend, and I don't want to walk into the situation blind

-Alex

6k sounds pretty high to me as well.

If the BOV is fluttering, it's probably too tight, causing compressor surge. CT26s don't like that, so if he gets it, he should already be planning on replacing that turbo. It's days are numbered.

For 6k, it had damn well be PERFECT!

I'd be looking for documentation that the HG was addressed. Respray hurts it. $6k shouldl buy an investment grade example. This sounds like a $4500 car, tops.

Does it have blue or red interior, because that kills it too?

Yeah if the BOV is venting to ATMO then its going to run like E36 M3e. It needs to be recirced.

$6k is way too much!!!!!!! I almost bought a couple different examples in fairly good shape except blown head gaskets for less then $2k.

I don't think 6k is that bad if the paint and interior are near perfect, its a pleasant color combo, its a manual trans, no rust anywhere, etc.... A garaged babied car, with the right kit.

Sooo he bought it.

Its a nice car, fully stock, just has a cone filter and a boost gauge. Pulls nicely.

The flutter sounds like when my RB20 had it vac line disconnected from the stock BOV. The supra just has the stock tiny BPV, and the vac source pulls good vac. Cant tell if the thing actually works though. It all looks right, just flutters.

The head has been retorqued. My friend wants to do a headgasket before he starts really beating on it. I told him to get ARP head studs too.

~Alex

If he needs body, glass or suspension parts have him contact me.

I'm also buying a Mk3 Supra :D $6000 is too much. Every Mk3 Supra purchase should start with retorquing/replacing the head bolts. I've been told it doesn't require removing the cams!

He does need the window molding around the windshield but that's about it. Its a nice car.

~Alex