Potentially buying 1987 Supra Turbo with knocking noise
 

So... Yesterday I went and took a look at an '87 Supra Turbo, that seemed to be running well but it was giving off a knocking/clack sound at 2500+ RPM. About a year ago I scattered a motor that started burning oil over a 3 week period, dropping the oil pressure and causing rod knock, so I'm obviously a little paranoid about that possibility.

The knock persists throughout the powerband after it starts, but doesn't seem to get any worse. It even seems to dissipate at higher revs.

I spoke with the owner of the shop today, who seemed very confident that it wasn't rod knock, but he advised me they needed to do more diagnostic work to determine what might be causing it. I know the valve cover gaskets need to be replaced (it has some seepage there) so I'm not sure if that could possibly cause it. His best guess was a bad bearing in the turbo, which seems like it could also be consistent with the symptoms. However, the turbo is fairly new, having been replaced in 2005.

What do you guys think? The car does have 190,000 miles on it, but I dont mind that if the engine is still in one piece. Any guesses or conjectures as to what might be causing the noise? Perhaps it's something simple that someone here might be familiar with...

He wants $3000 for the car, it has some tasteful mods (intake, exhaust, boost controller, susp but nothing that would drastically increase the value. Sound like a good buy? Am I dreaming to think this isn't rod knock?

3k is more than the car is worth even if it's showroom clean and no knock.


Walk away. You have no idea what you're getting into. And when you buy one of these cars it needs to be the newest one possible with the fewwest problems.

If you pay the guy and it breaks down in the street in front of his drive. Good Luck getting that money back.

Sounds like a textbook case of rod knock to me.

Turbo bearings don't knock, they whine, squeel, or scream.

Yah... more than anything else I think I just didn't want it to be rod knock because I do like the car. Handled great, decent pull, nice sound and very comfortable; but definitely not worth it with rod knock. Thanks for the advice, this is one I'll be passing on.

Cheers