Cost effective? Need some major advice here!
 

I'd first like to say hello! I'm new to the forums. Been researching a lot through this forum as well as many others. I live in Easton, Pennsylvania and can't find an MKIII to save my life! I would prefer it to be manual, turbo doesn't matter as I'll add that in later anyway or upgrade it.

What is a problem though is the distance between the ones that I eventually do find. Finally after much searching I came upon this one (link provided) http://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/1054362065.html

It's in my area and looks decent enough. I'll be totally fixing this bad boy up (hopefully). What I need to know is for the cost of the car and what needs to be done transmission wise would it be cost effective? I've also seen a shabby (not in depth detail) post about how to swap auto for manual and wanted to know if anyone had a detailed list of parts needed for this swap/model/make and a guess at a price for it all. I would hopefully be doing this myself but need to know what exact tools I would need or if it would be better to take it somewhere else to get it done. Perhaps there is someone on the forums that lives close that would like to help on this project? That would be great!

Now for the fun. It needs a new transmission which I would have upgraded/repaired to my liking anyway. Roughly how much would it cost for this model? Also I would want to do a swap out from auto to manual and would need a cost estimate on that as well. I'm guessing around $1,000 for the swap?

Basically from what I have researched about this make and model hasn't led me to these answers or I wouldn't be asking. Sorry! But if someone could tell me what all would be needed for the swap and if this would be more cost effective for the price of the car and what needs to be done I would be more than greatful for it! Thanks in advance and hope to hear from some of you guys soon!

It'll be nice meeting other Supra freaks!

-Dave

Well I've been looking through a few forums and posted a few things mentioned here already. Still no replies...hope no one thinks I'm kidding? Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Hope to see something in the morning on at least one of the sites.

-Dave

keep looking.

heres one in kutztown...not too far from Allentown...http://reading.craigslist.org/cto/1055336179.html

and heres one for $500 in reading area...http://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/1076801612.html

heres another one...5spd turbo for under $2k but its in baltimore, MD cheaper than buying the other car ive posted up plus fixin them

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/1072473754.html

Well guys thanks for the advice. I got some replies on SupraMania which would work out better for me. I'm going to be buying two 1989 Supras. One is a single turbo and manual but needs a transmission and a little extra to be fixed on the outside but it's alright. The other is in great shape other than it's auto and is not a turbo.

So I found some people in my area to help do a swap from the auto to fix the stuff I need on the manual. Then get whatever else I might need out of it and then junk the rest unless someone would want it.

Saves me money, time and also gets my n00by hands dirty with finally learning some more of what to do. Glad I found some people in my area to help with it. Total cost of both cars combined will be $1800 but with what I'm getting out of it, it will save me probably double that in labor and parts.

-Dave

Can get the molding strip from the right side door before you scrap the parts car?