My 1997 Supra Turbo - Other Performance Mods.

I have done many performance modifications that are not related to speed, and this part of my site will tell you all about that . . .

Older Engine Pictures: 1, 2, 3

As far as handling goes, I have a front strut tower bar by Trust (shown in the center of the above picture). I have a rear Cusco strut tower bar, as well (picture below - taken in a hurry, car's dirty).

I am also using KYB AGX 4-Way Adjustable Gas Struts/Shocks all the way around.  I adjust them to 1 for drag racing, 4 for road racing, and somewhere in between all other times. I am using TRD Springs (produced by Eibach) which are much stiffer than stock, but only slightly lower . . . I didn't want to be scraping my car all over, as it is my daily driver, but I still wanted increased handling performance. This seemed to be the perfect setup for my needs. Sometimes I do miss the soft ride of the stock suspension, though.

As far as tires go, I am currently running G-Force KD's in the rear with size 275/40/ZR17.  These tires hook very well, however, they were also very costly.  In the front, I am using Michelin performance tires in size 235/45/ZR17.

I chose to use Redline Power Steering fluid as a replacement for stock when I had it flushed out, as well.

Rotors I Have Tried In The Past

As for my brake setup, I've tried many different things, virtually every combination of braking systems that will fit in the stock size and stock calipers. I have tried drilled/slotted/both rotors by Powerslot, Brembo, and many more with different models of pads made by TRD, Brembo, Hawk, Toyota, etc. I always seemed to warp and crack every combination, so . . . in the end, I ended up going with a set of stock rotors and pads. However, I do use Motul DOT4 Race fluid and TRD Stainless Steel Brake lines for increased pedal response and less brake fade. Perhaps in the future, I will return to trying different setups.

In the differential, I am using Redline Racing Shockproof Heavy fluid, per Andi Baritchi's reccomendation.

I added a GReddy Catch Can with a 15 mm hose to catch any oil I might get from blow-by as opposed to throwing it back into the motor. This is more of a diagnostic tool, but I've heard it can give power by allowing the motor to advance timing more. Picture Of Catch Can In Stock Twin Setup, but you can see the catch can in the engine picture above!

I have upgraded the cooling system for the car, that can be found on the "Speed Performance Page," even if it fits better on this one. =P

Also, I have custom chrome pedal covers on my pedals. Although they provide grip, in the rare occasion you would need to drive the car barefoot . . . it's not very fun. The stock clutch pedal was also not as wide as I would've liked, and this resolves that issue.

I just hope I am never in an accident where this benefits me, but I use these to avoid the seatbelt burn and an injured collar bone. I've seen friends of mine get in accidents where these would've helped. Seat Belt Pads:  Toyota On Rear Seats, TRD on Front Seats

I switched from regular oil to Mobil 1 Synthetic 10W-30 oil complemented by a Mobil 1 Synthetic M1-102 oil filter relatively early on, and just recently I switched to Royal Purple Racing Motor Oil, same weight as the Mobil 1. I had heard good things about this oil, seeing its consistency was surprising and exciting.  So, I tried it. Oil changes are something I will not ever neglect, it's extremely important for the longevity of the motor and turbos . . .

My current clutch setup is an RPS lightened flywheel and an RPS pressure plate coupled with a modified stage 3 disk (made to be a little more aggressive). Prior to this, I had a Toyota Racing Development Twin Disk (Twin Plate) clutch, and then before that . . . had an RPS Turbo Clutch Carbon which would NOT hold the power, even on stock twin turbos.  The TRD Twin Disk clutch has been the best clutch I have had, to date. It will hold the power, most certainly, and the driveability is great (compared to other racing clutches). The noise (chatter) is not very tolerable at idle when the A/C compressor switches on, though . . . but, I loved the power and free revs of the lightened flywheel! The TRD Twin Disk clutch lasted me a VERY long time and performed wonderfully. I will post more about my current clutch when I have more time on it to form a better opinion.

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The TRD Twin Disk Clutch

Picture Of Old Clutch:  Disk & Pressure Plate, New Clutch Disk

I have also added an Optima Red Top Battery with reverse terminals (for better fitment). This used to be orange topped, but it has returned to the standard red top. I hoped for a more reliable and powerful power supply, but this battery has failed me on a number of occasions. I learned that deep-cycle is generally the way to go, to avoid the problems I encountered with this battery. When the battery I purchased drain once, they are pretty much dead . . . so, they are great until they are drained . . . even just once. Warranty coverage is incredible, though . . . when they fail, I go in, and they gave me new ones, no questions asked. I purchased these batteries at Batteries Plus.

This page was last updated February 22, 2004. I welcome any comments, suggestions, or questions which you can send by clicking here.

©Vivek K. G.; 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.
* - Picture Not Owned Or Created By Me.