new here and thinking about getting a Supra

[WhisPer]

Originally Posted by pwpanas

Yes and no. For example, the BCC, cam gears, fmic and fuel controller would all be useful, but the downpipe would not be. Aftermarket single turbo kits position the turbo in a very different location than oem, so the connection from the turbo's exhaust housing to the downpipe is in a different spot. As a result, the single turbo downpipe has a different shape.

How much hp does a downpipe add? scince I would not be going single for about a year or more maybe I could just get the DP and sell it when I go single.

Originally Posted by pwpanas

Only about 14psi, safely & reliably. Can't you get 93 in vegas?

I havent seen 93 yet after 5 years of living here, but I know a few places to get 100 from a pump.

Originally Posted by pwpanas

Oh, I forgot to mention in my previous post that you can use a meth+water injection kit (instead of race fuel) to increase the net octane level, and safely raise boost.

I heard meth can be really unstable though, is this true?


Also I was wondering if you knew of any good shops to work on Supras in Vegas. I know Virtual Works is here but im not shure if they work on public cars or not. Thanks.

[pwpanas]

Originally Posted by WhisPer

How much hp does a downpipe add?...

On its own, nothing at all. However, it removes restrictions in the exhaust, which allows your turbos to boost higher. As you probably know, you can only boost higher if you do other modifications, like the clamp mod or a boost controller, that allows you to raise boost. That increased boost level, provides quite a bit more power (I'd estimate up to 50rwhp more, at max boost). Without a downpipe, you'll probably be limited to less than 350rwhp.

Originally Posted by WhisPer

...scince I would not be going single for about a year or more maybe I could just get the DP and sell it when I go single...

Yes, that's a pretty common upgrade path.

Originally Posted by WhisPer

...I heard meth can be really unstable though, is this true?...

No. In fact, methanol is 100% for sure NOT unstable. It's just wood alcohol for goodness sakes!!! Where on earth did you hear that? Maybe they were thinking of nitromethane (or nitrous oxide, ...or trinitrotoluene? ) and not methanol.

Methanol (or any alcohol) is a bit corrosive though (especially to aluminum)...so if you install a meth kit and then boost a lot, it's best to drive your car around for a couple of minutes afterwards to flush all of the meth out of your intake system.

Originally Posted by WhisPer

...Also I was wondering if you knew of any good shops to work on Supras in Vegas. I know Virtual Works is here but im not shure if they work on public cars or not...

I can probably get you some good recommendations. Please post here or PM me after you've purchased your Supra and you're ready to get your upgrades installed, and I'll track down good shop(s) in your area.

Lastly, please note that there's a lot of other great information on the links posted in this thread:
http://www.toyota-supra.info/forums/...ead.php?t=7287
...many of the questions you asked above are addressed in more detail at those links.

[SupraDupra]

I would recomend a manual transmition for any type of racing over automatic any day. Due to the way an automatic works you typicaly suffer a %5 power loss through the drivetrain. There may be a few good examples of automatics at the racetrack ,but the manuals dominate by far for a reason. I would also think the manual preferable for autox as well ,due to the fact that you can keep your transmition in the power band more ,ie. shift down to 3rd when going through a turn so your at the top of your gear when you come out and are in your torque curve. I've seen some pretty unlikely candidates hold their own on the track as well. A good suspension setup goes a long way. I have seen big ol' muscle cars turning rather competetive timeslips ,which I would never expect. Sounds like you have a pretty realistic dream to me and have given this particular car a bit of consideration. I think you would be very happy with it. Good luck and happy motoring.

[pwpanas]

Originally Posted by SupraDupra

I would recomend a manual transmition for any type of racing over automatic any day. Due to the way an automatic works you typicaly suffer a %5 power loss through the drivetrain. There may be a few good examples of automatics at the racetrack ,but the manuals dominate by far for a reason...

For more info on auto vs. manual at the dragstrip, please see this thread:
http://www.toyota-supra.info/forums/...ht=auto+manual
Any given driver in an Mkiv Supra Turbo in the 1/4 will generally be more consistent AND at least a half second quicker with an auto (vs. manual). In other words, in the Mkiv Supra Turbo world, manuals do not dominate in drag racing...they are significantly slower. This is not an opinion, it is a fact, repeatedly proven by the results of hundreds and hundreds of Mkiv Turbos at the dragstrip. Please don't forget that a bone stock mkiv tt does low 13s, and a bpu mkiv easily does 12s - I'm specifically and only referring to results achieved with this particular vehicle (i.e. not drag racing in general). Also, launching any turbo car with a manual tranny is very much an art. You're usually stuck launching at zero boost, depending only on your revs and driveline/flywheel inertia to get out of the hole. Then it instantly becomes a very fine line between spinning and gripping/bogging as boost comes up...modulated by feathering the clutch (since modulating the accelerator would almost surely take you out of boost again). It can take literally hundreds of passes down the dragstrip to get that process perfected...and in general, the 6spd looses so much time getting to the 60' that there's no way on earth to make up that lost time on the back end, even with 5% more power. Without serious drag-specific modifications like a 2-step rev limiter, nitrous, slicks, line-lock, etc. to assist him, an auto tranny would most certainly be a better choice for WhisPer if he wants to get consistently quick times at the drag strip.

Fwiw, I do agree with WhisPer that a 6spd is more fun to drive, and if you're only going to the dragstrip to have fun, then a 6spd is a fine choice. However, pretty much everyone I know that goes to the dragstrip actually does care about the times that they get. Since WhisPer hasn't purchased his Supra yet, I'd suggest he should at least understand that he'll very likely be slower in the 1/4 with a 6spd (despite the additional driveline power loss).

Originally Posted by SupraDupra

...I would also think the manual preferable for autox as well ,due to the fact that you can keep your transmition in the power band more ,ie. shift down to 3rd when going through a turn so your at the top of your gear when you come out and are in your torque curve...

Agreed, a 6spd is a much better choice than an auto for roadracing or autox. Another reason is that the auto tranny fluid will overheat if driven aggressively on a road course or autox with a high horsepower mkiv.

Originally Posted by SupraDupra

...A good suspension setup goes a long way...

Agreed. Fortunately, the oem mkiv tt suspension, along with the oem mkiv tt brakes, are very suitable for roadracing.

[WhisPer]

Originally Posted by SupraDupra

I would recomend a manual transmition for any type of racing over automatic any day. Due to the way an automatic works you typicaly suffer a %5 power loss through the drivetrain. There may be a few good examples of automatics at the racetrack ,but the manuals dominate by far for a reason. I would also think the manual preferable for autox as well ,due to the fact that you can keep your transmition in the power band more ,ie. shift down to 3rd when going through a turn so your at the top of your gear when you come out and are in your torque curve. I've seen some pretty unlikely candidates hold their own on the track as well. A good suspension setup goes a long way. I have seen big ol' muscle cars turning rather competetive timeslips ,which I would never expect. Sounds like you have a pretty realistic dream to me and have given this particular car a bit of consideration. I think you would be very happy with it. Good luck and happy motoring.

Thanks, these are all things I considered but even if I did'nt want to autox or road race or even drift I would still buy a manuel simply because it's more fun to daily drive until you hit some stop and go . Yes I agree suspension is very imprtant. Do you think some adj. shocks with a lowering spring would be sufficient or just a full adj. coilover system? I also might get a front and rear sway bar and a few strut bars.

Also I was wondering how the clutch is on a mkiv does it hold power well? I hope so because now I'm driving on an aftermarket ceramic 6-puck with a lightweight flywheel and my 1st gear is next to impossible for daily drivng.

[pwpanas]

Originally Posted by WhisPer

...Yes I agree suspension is very imprtant. Do you think some adj. shocks with a lowering spring would be sufficient or just a full adj. coilover system? I also might get a front and rear sway bar and a few strut bars..

For the applications you're describing, the oem mkiv tt suspension would do just fine. If you simply must lower the car for looks, sure a full set of coilovers and sway bars would be nice, but until you're extremely experienced driving your Supra, you probably won't be able to take advantage of those suspension components.

Originally Posted by WhisPer

...Also I was wondering how the clutch is on a mkiv does it hold power well?...

No, the oem clutch holds only about 375rwhp or so, reliably, depending on how hard you drive it...fwiw mine failed about 5K miles after I went bpu, and I'd put over 40k miles on it with oem boost.

[WhisPer]

Originally Posted by pwpanas

No. In fact, methanol is 100% for sure NOT unstable. It's just wood alcohol for goodness sakes!!! Where on earth did you hear that? Maybe they were thinking of nitromethane (or nitrous oxide, ...or trinitrotoluene? ) and not methanol.

no actually in the meth system failing while you are on highboost or something along those lines I have heard about quite a bit.

[pwpanas]

Originally Posted by WhisPer

no actually in the meth system failing while you are on highboost or something along those lines I have heard about quite a bit.

I agree that if you get a meth+water injection system, you shouldn't get the cheapest one out there. It's like almost everything else - you pretty much get what you pay for. A good system with electronic safeguards, properly installed & maintaintained, won't fail in a pinch. The best system I'm aware of is by alkycontrol.

[WhisPer]

Originally Posted by pwpanas

I agree that if you get a meth+water injection system, you shouldn't get the cheapest one out there. It's like almost everything else - you pretty much get what you pay for. A good system with electronic safeguards, properly installed & maintaintained, won't fail in a pinch. The best system I'm aware of is by alkycontrol.

cool, so what do most people do run race fuel or alky? and about how much boost is alky good for?

[WhisPer]

Also I just wanted to clarify a few things
I will be using it as a daily driver and a weekend racer.
I want it mostly for autox, road racing, street driving and the occasional street racing ( highway pulls / 1/4 from a dig and rolling start etc.) the only palce I really want it to strive is for road racing or any type of course racing, but still have the option too do any of the other things I listed. Also I just recently blew an engine on a car and I do not EVER want this too happen again so I will be extra careful whenever I get a supra for example, If the stock fuel system can handle 500rwhp I will only take it up to 450rwp just to be extra careful. I do not ever want to deal with any blown parts again my current car has had enough for a life time, blowen wastegate gaskets, valve cover gasket and cracked piston sleeve . So maybe this can help you too help me to ultimetly determine what upgrade path I need to go for. Also would a 75 or 100shot of nitrous be a good idea? because nitrous kits are so freaking cheap for the amount of hp you get, thanks.