Thinkin' about project T'Chaser JZX100... ur advices?

[Zonda_93Rus]

What I have:
Toyota Chaser JZX100 1998 Tourer S TRD Sport.
1JZ-GE VVTi with auto trans.
Factory quept. with LSD and TRD body kit.

Facts: 0-100 8.25s(according to a G-Tech meter) Odometer over 200 000km.
The body was stressed.
Feeling: still runs strong but bodyflex presents(knoks in front doors locks during bracking and acc.). Not bad in driving, but heavy engine dont allow to forget about it's kilos. Slides 4 wheels in corning.

Ideas:
1. auto to manual conversation. which one to chioce?
2. engine swap: 1JZ-GTE
2JZ-GE
2JZ-GTE
3S-GTE (lightest one. and can be placed in base. as I known - N1 Supra, MRS and Chaser run with it.)
3.reinforce body. WHO!? I can find special tubes which is used safety frames in competition cars.

What I want: car for driving in mountain roads.

GIVE ME YOUR ADVISES!!!

[ProjectSleeper]

First of all, No point powering up the car or even trying to make it handle until you get the body rigidity issues sorted...

I can't beleive it is that "loose" unless it has been give a pretty hard time over the last 200,000km..

As for strengthening the body, a Good quality internal roll cage will make a world of improvement, but possibly make it uncomfortable for rear passengers, and it may be frowned upon by the registration authorities in Russia.

My suggestion would be to perhaps offload it and buy something more suited to the type of driving what you had in mind..

[PlacentaJuan]

a car for driving in mountain road: like southo said you need to stiffen the body (unless the sounds you are hearing is just from loose or noisy trim)

thoe jzx100 comes with a 1jzgte vvti doesnt it? how hard would it be to do that?

either way you will still need suspension upgrades to drive through mountains, maybe a different car?

[Zonda_93Rus]

u r right, guys.
but 220kkm on our roads is really hard. for car with such hard suspetion. plus as 8 already said the car had been crached by previous owner.

I am thinking about another car, but I very like Chaser Tourer TRD Sport Edition. And buy the same one directly from Japan is really Expencive according to our custom rules(will costs me more then 20-25 k USD

Suspetion is ready (TRD Springs And KYB Gasfilled Absorbers)

Breaks works just perfect. Will fit Brembo drilled rotors and supports form Tourer V.

ligalization is not a question.

[ProjectSleeper]

OK, well, if you just "HAVE" to keep this car, then as I mentioned, you will have to make sure the body is rigid, otherwise even the best suspension/tyres/chassis is not going to work...

1. Firstly I would have people who is experienced in panel and mechanical to take a look at the previous crash repairs and make sure that they have been done properly and there is nothing there that shouldn't be and that all the tollerances are within spec ( No point starting with a bent car) Check all the suspension rubbers and bushes etc and repalce ANY that are worn or damaged.. Make sure all nuts and bolts etc are tight.

2. once any 'dodgy repairs" are taken care of, if the car still has more rattles and squeaks than a baby shop, then you need to start bracing the car and making sure the four corners of the car stay exactly where the manufacturer intended. There are a few ways to do this (from mild to extreme)
- (a) - Strut bars front and rear may be enough to keep things right, if they are not availably freely in Russia, then you can have them made up if you are not too concerned about making it look pretty.
- (b) - Seam welding those areas that are needing to provide lots more strength and less flex is another way to help.
- (c) - in addition to the strut bars/seam welding, an internal roll cage can be fabricated up, How elaborate and complicated you make it is up to you, but if the car has serious torsional rigidity problems, then the best way would be to make sure it picks up the 4 suspension points - so it's going to be fairly complex and there will be sacrifies with interior comfort and entry/egress etc.

Now, you can confidently make your changes to the suspension, knowig that there is no problems with unwanted body flex and head for the hills...

Remember, the JZX100 is a big car, and NOTHING will change that fact and you will always "feel" that it is a big car and not some small and lightweight sports car.

A manual transmission will always give you more opprtunity to select the right gear and have more fun in mountain driving, so this would be a definite in my book.. As for the performance upgrades... You don't need a lot of power to have fun in the twisties ( the Mazda MX-5 proved this back in 1989).

But, if you just HAVE to have more power, the easiest engine swap would be the Turbo version of the engine you have - quickest and easiest way would be to source a front cut from a similar turbo version of your car and swap everything over.. That way everything you may need ( Engine, ECU, Loom< intercooler, Pedal set, Transmission, as well as all the other minor bits that are required....(LSD excluded, which you already have anyway))

[1JZ-GE]

pin out for 1JZ-GE VVT-i anyone?