Quick question prior to ordering parts

[batmmannn]

Flush it, Burp it, swap parts off your running car to get it going and test it. Why would you pull a head gasket before you knew you had to? It's a lot of work and expense.

[Grandavi]

Previous owner said they did a leak down test (I am not really trusting that) and that the BHG was a fer shore thing. Kinda silly for him to sell it as a BHG car if he didnt have one.. so I am fairly certain it has one. Its simply the fact that the guy had no clue about anything that makes me wonder if he's quoting the old "oh yeah.. Supra? BHG!" line..

And they both run. They simply have different warts. The grey blows blue smoke at start up after sitting for longer than 24 hours. The red one wont retain coolant when driven (although its not bad enough that I wouldn't be able to drive it to a shop now). The grey 88 has a stiff 1st/second shift (probably bent forks) and the red one has a 1st gear that you have to keep the shifter held up into first to drive (not that you stay long in first and in fact I could avoid first altogether if I wanted to but it would be hard on the clutch). The grey one has had the rust removed, but I am looking at about 5k to finish it (up to final paint). The red one.. is a mystery.. lol. It has a lot of bondo on the door, etc. Just a touch of rust on the quarter on the driver side at present.

Its a 50/50 thing. Either way, I intend to sink another minimum of 10k into one of them. I originally just bought the 80 to tear off the exhaust and part out (possible use the leather interior as well). The only thing that stops me from turning it into a parts car is the fact that I am fanatical about the MKIII.. lol.

[batmmannn]

Like I said, a lot of people are told BHG in the shops when they aren't or a friend that works on cars says BHG if it overheats. Best to test it yourself. How is that interior? It looks like leather. Mine is red like that to. I like the smoke gray on your car I am thinking of painting mine like that.

[Grandavi]

Here's a link to the pics.. the grey is a "soft leather" reupholstery. Excellent shape except for the passenger side which has a "scuff" on it.

http://www.gdscentral.net/1990_Supra/index.html

[batmmannn]

I like the car, mostly cosmetic needs. It would be a good bit of work to bring up to the level of your other one. I know what you mean though I love these cars too. I am fighting not buying one down the road that is a Turbo with an overheating problem. That top hose looks suspicious. Looks like it blew. That was a lot of pressure in that hose.

[Grandavi]

Yes, although, I cant for the life of me think of what would back the pressure up so high that it would rip the hose apart. The rad cap is too light for that kind of pressure.

Unfortunately, the "magic" answer wont happen right away. I have a mechanic friend that I will have to call and see if I can get him to peek at it.

[Grandavi]

Okay, so I look closer and try new things (still havent done the engine codes cause my father in law has my computer for that.. hehe. Is the 90 OBD1 or 2?)

Anyway, I started the car with the rad cap off. Coolant is in it, but not to the top of the rad. Immediately saw smoke coming out of the rad (I belieive it was exhaust). I think that pretty well signs me up for the BHG course.

I can buy a JDM 7MGTE for about 600-700 bucks with approx. 80k on it (turbo included) that has been leakdown tested, etc, or I can pull the engine apart and hope its just a simple gasket replacement.

Is it cheaper to do the swap? (I would do the labor myself with my 3 boys to teach em how to do it.. or how to screw it up depending.. lol)