Car build thread - 1991 Toyota Cressida - More watts than can compute

[mmoore]

Jorn asked for it in the Automobiles thread... I do document most of what I do to the car so it should be an easy transition into posting here.

I picked up this Toyota Cressida off of a friend in 2016. The friend and I used to be a part of a car club/discussion board for the last 10 or 12 years which has had this car build going for that long. The car itself has been through many revisions from a basic street car with upgraded early 1jz to a big turbo track car with full roll cage (that was never tracked) to what I bought off of him which had a more modern 1jz with variable cam timing and full interior.

The previous owner was really into trinkets and Japanese car culture and the car shows it. There are many little parts that get overlooked that are from Japanese cars so the fit is very good but not normal for our market. These things are generally aesthetic like the bumper cover, fenders with indicator lights, headlights and hood.

Here are some photos of how it was picked up...

Cressida by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr
Cressida by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr
Cressida by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr
Cressida by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr
Cressida by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr
Cressida by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr

[j44ke]

Not what I expected to see after the photos of the engine only!

This might end up going into the Handmade gallery alongside the Porsche thread.

[mmoore]

Not what I expected to see after the photos of the engine only!

This might end up going into the Handmade gallery alongside the Porsche thread.

Its pretty unconventional. You don't see many of these cars and even less with the aesthetic stuff this one has. Now the engine will match the car

[mmoore]

I drove the car for a summer making sure that nothing would rear its ugly head before I start to build it into something of my own. The plans initially were very minor. I do automotive based fabrication as a hobby and I wanted a few of my own parts on the car. With that said, I sold the intercooler and exhaust system.

That's when I noticed the oem replacement turbocharger was nearing its life cycle and needed replacement and everything went downhill. As well, the rear fenders had been pulled and bondo coated and there wasn't much in the way of inner fender bump clearance, so I cut them off to build some nice fenders with full bump clearance.

Here are some photos of what I have done so far.
BuddyClub in Cressida by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr
Low Cressida in snow. by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr
Cressida fender work by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr
Cressida fender work by HellaFab Fabrication, on Flickr









This is a street car and is being built as such. I am adding a/c back into the car, building a new engine loom to go with a programmable engine computer, finishing the manifolds and then finishing the cooling system before heading to the dyno. The goals are phased. Right now the engine and the drivetrain can only hold 500-600wheel horsepower and that's what the current turbo will put out. So that's what I will run for now but im planning for more. All other supporting modifications are being sized for an efficient 750-850hp. That means a 4" exhaust, large intake manifold, stepped runner exhaust manifold, engine sensors, etc. When I get the inevitable itch for more, the next phase is upgrading to the legendary 2jz bottom end for the displacement increase with some upgraded components in the rotating assembly, clutch, transmission and driveshaft. I believe the differential in these cars can hold the power but I may want to upgrade the internals to an aftermarket differential unit with extra discs and a solid pinion spacer.

I will keep this thread updated as I build it... but its slow because I like to enjoy my family time too.

[j44ke]

What I like more than anything is the willingness to pull things apart completely. Of course, one probably gains confidence with that approach when one knows how to put everything back together! But for the viewer it is in a way encouraging.

[mmoore]

What I like more than anything is the willingness to pull things apart completely. Of course, one probably gains confidence with that approach when one knows how to put everything back together! But for the viewer it is in a way encouraging.

I've done this before. Gives me more confidence than I should have maybe.

[Tom]

Honestly, I think you can fit some more motor in there. Tons of room.

[bironi]

I'm certainly not a motor head, but I do take note of cars with good driver visibility. This car appears to have it. Nice work.