Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 04:27 pm, by: Per Kjellgren(Perner)
Hello,
just bought myself a Soarer, more exactly a 1996 VVTI GT-T auto with LSD (A01B), 100k miles, originally from Japan. I was going to do a big service and take care of everything before I start use it, even if some things already may been taking care of its nice to know. Having had a Supra TT before I know a little about these cars and the engines (not the same but...). I have searched and read about every page I could find, mostly about the TT and V8 (not so much about the VVTI) just want to be sure before I begin. Im going to drive the car as an everyday vehicle, not around a track or race it. I need help about the following:
1. oils/fluid (type and capacity of everything): engine (with filter change), autobox (with and without filter change), diff with LSD, PAS, antifreeze, brake. 2. filters: engine oil (does the Supra filter fit?), fuel, Apexi airfilter (how to clean, does it need oil?), autobox (partnumber?), cabin/air condition coupe. 3. ignition: sparkplugs (does the NGK 3330 work? If not, wich ones?), coil pack connectors (Supra needed this, very likely to break, same problem with Soarer? Partnumber?) venthoses (Supra needs those changed when doing the plugs, same here? If so wich partnumber?). 4. Wheels: been thinking of fitting Supra 16" wheels, will they be a direct swap? + do I use the Supra nuts? 5. Headlamps: and other lamps, cant seem to figure out wich bulbs to get? Any sugestions? 6. Performance: SS brake lines (are those worth getting?), lowering springs (were to get, ebay?), is the intercooler on its way or does it hold for a couple of years more (in terms of year and milage? fmic?), O2 sensors (how many and were to get?). 7. Exhaust: I just found info om the TT dump (down?) pipes, where to get a dump pipe for this? If you get like 3" and then to 2x2.5" is the flow going to be a problem with the fuel cut? If so, where to get a restrictor ring or how to fix it? 8. Nuts and bolts: engine oil plug and gasket (does an magnetic to the Supra work?), diff with LSD (fill and drain, gaskets and plugs, partnumbers?), autobox (fill and drain, gaskets and plugs, partnumbers?), PCV valve (does this have to be changed? Partnumber on VVTI?).
I prefer Red Line oils, just dont know the type on this car. All the stuff about Supra things work is because I have lots of those bits at home (brand new filters and so on).
Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 06:27 pm, by: Marc Hoffmann(Rushed)
1. oils = fully sinthetic 15-40 (this will vary due to age etc), gearbox = penrite SIN ATF, cant remember the brands of the rest sorry.
2. filters = engine = denso? the one supercheap has, fuel = same story as engine, air = toyota or hks panel filter both $80 (DO A BFI), trans = toyota, cabin = i just cleaned the one in there or toyota.
3. i use NGK bkr6e coppers (TT, vvti may be different someone will confirm), change when change oil, see link below for part number on the last two.
4. yes direct swap
5. cant help here as my crappy lights are on my to-do list
6. brake lines = yes, im using stock struts with kings see profile pic, front mount kits are aplenty if you want reliable performance fit one, 1x 02 sensor from toyota (from memory there was a cheaper part around search for that one)
7. from memory ebay has vvti dump pipe, and if the exhaust is good enough it may hit boostcut, restriction rings are ghay (why fit an exhaust just to restrict it), fit a boost cut defender.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 04:32 am, by: Per Kjellgren(Perner)
Marc Hoffmann thanks a lot, going to look in to these partnumbers. Is everything in that link for the VVTI, I know the page says ACPVZ but it also says twin turbo when entering the page.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 09:15 am, by: Shane Haverkamp(Havabeer)
my cars on 118,000k's and stock intercooler seems fine. theres a write up on here somewhere about cleaning the inside if your worried about it.
i paid $150 or so for a rear set king spring lowered springs, i'd rather get a proper brand of springs then some dodgy ebay ones.
i've since lost that comfy soarer ride smoothness with lowering.
also search on here for the 100,000k service. is a good write up on the things you should consider doing
head lamp globes are a bastard. i had to replace mine and there's a replacement available but it requires a bit of sanding/filing of the plug to get it to fit in the housing as its slightly differn't.
http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/q.html this site here lets you look up part numbers for all toyota's suggest making it your new best friend. also most autoparts stores will have kits and numbers for replacement parts, gaskets etc
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 06:42 pm, by: Callum Finch(Sigeneat)
Marc Hoffmann wrote on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 06:27 pm:
gearbox = penrite SIN ATF, cant remember the brands of the rest sorry.
Urrrrghhh? I dont know about manual boxes but i hope that Penrite SIN ATF stuff is somehow the same as Dexron II, III or Type IV as otherwise you may end up with some unhappy internals. *Edit* I did a bit of reading and assuming that Penrite SIN = synthetic fluid then it shouldnt cause a problem. But that said i have come across more positive experiences with Toyota Type VI fluid or either suggested Dexron. A Planet Soarer article goes in to more detail and suggests avoiding Dexron all together. http://planetsoarer.com/autotrans/autotrans.htm Planet Soarer is a great resource for DIY Soarer related bits and should be able to help guide you through various processes: http://planetsoarer.com/indexfull.html
A lot of your concerns are things which do go wrong on Soarers but arent likely to happen anytime soon. Things like o2 sensors, coil packs, gaskets etc dont routinely fail but its not always worth trying to pre-empt the failure if things are all rosy. The more you can avoid sticking your hands around the coil packs the better usually. The plastic clips for the wire harness through there usually get quite brittle and will easily break with uneccesary handling.
Keep an eye out for some of the more commonly discussed/experienced faults such as the radiator top tank cracking around the hose, powersteering pump leaking etc.
The resident sheep cuddler and Mercedes driver (Don Bagnall) sent me a very nice list of faults a few years back which you may want to keep in your back pocket for casual searching on these forums. PM me if you would like me to email you a copy.