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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 02:59
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Hi all,
I finally got the poopra back on the road on Friday night with a whole bunch of new stuff installed. Kings springs (lows), KYB shocks, all new Nolathane bushes, and of course my brand new TrueTrac helical LSD centre with 3.5:1 gears from an RA65 Celica. I got a wheel alignment done on Saturday morning and then spent most of the weekend driving around, grinning from ear to ear. 
Well obviously the suspension is a massive improvement over what I had (ie stock worn out 20 year old components) and the car handles better than a barge-arse Supra has any right to. The improvement is most noticeable in high-speed cornering - the car feels well tied down and there's plenty of grip. Amazingly the ride quality hasn't suffered much at all, and you only really notice the difference when driving on really crap roads.
Oh yeah, did I mention it's low? Damn, it's low!
Now for the TrueTrac. Apparently these things are basically a locker, complete with tyre-chirping u-turns and ridiculous dorifto action in the wet. It's possible that it will loosen up a bit as it wears in, but for now it's an absolute hoot. Of course traction is heaps better now that I have a properly functioning LSD, and the car takes off from low speeds with minimal wheelspin - it just gets up and goes at a frightening rate!
The 3.5:1 gears were definitely a wise investment, and they suit the power delivery of the 2JZ much better than the 4.1:1 gears ever did. First gear is now actually useful, and it accelerates much harder because the second turbo has time to kick in before redline! The best part is the much more relaxed highway cruising; the engine is loping along at 2500rpm instead of 3000 at 100km/h. I expect this will result in better fuel economy but I haven't had time to test that yet. Of course it also means the car gets up to silly speeds much easier than it did before! 
Anyway, I'm a happy camper despite being several thousand dollars poorer. Now to tackle that brake upgrade...
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 03:12
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I can't begin to describe how jealous I am......
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 03:12
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Awesome dude! Good to hear it all came together nicely! 
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 03:30
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| Norbie wrote on Mon, 08 December 2003 13:59 |
....Anyway, I'm a happy camper despite being several thousand dollars poorer. Now to tackle that brake upgrade...
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Yes, definitely a good idea. Have you decided which brakes you're going to get? I can recommend the 330mm rotors/Commodore calipers that Pittwater do...(tested in the "extremes" of Wakefield  ).
Otherwise, sounds like the beast is almost where you want it!
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 03:36
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Hi mate,
Is that the detroit true trac? The same kind they use in 4x4s?
I have been considering one of these for my dana diff in my celica.
What have you managed to find out bout how strong they are?
Is there a reason why you chose this over an air locker?
Sounds cool all the same...
Cheers
Stew
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 03:43
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Yes, it is a Detroit TrueTrac, and it's designed for 4WD Hilux's but just happens to fit in Mk2 Supras as well.
As for strength, I haven't been able to get any definite answers on that one, but there are plenty of people in the US using TrueTrac's in their 7M-GTE Mk2's with no problems. Besides, these diffs are designed to hold up to serious offroad use, which is likely to be far more stressful than anything I'd subject it to. A turbodiesel engine with a low first gear AND a low-range transfer case is going to put massive amounts of torque through the diff!
I didn't go with the air locker because (a) it costs upwards of $1500 before it's even installed, (b) I'd have to install some sort of air pump in my already crowded engine bay, and (c) a locker of any description isn't a smart idea on a street car. This is my daily driver, not a drag-strip special!
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Location:
Brisbane, QLD
Registered:
February 2003
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 03:55
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Anyone think he'd notice if i swapped his supra for mine? 
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I supported Toymods
Location:
I renounced punctuation
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 03:57
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Sounds like an awesome upgrade! Excellent news!
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
September 2003
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 04:17
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Sounds like you're having a bit tooooooo much fun there Norbs
Good to see that it has all worked out and that you are happy with the work. I guess you decided against selling the KYB's in favour of Konis.
Apart from the springs etc, it was some Nolathane bushes in the front only, or rear as well ?
Cheers
Michael B
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 04:39
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Rear as well. The entire suspension is brand new!
I couldn't find a buyer for the KYB's so I decided to keep them. It's probably a good thing though - I've spent enough money as it is!
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Location:
Colac, Victoria
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 06:55
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that spendng money stuff sucks .. Ive spent close to 5 grand on the celica so far and still more to go in three months !
Got to have it right for dubbo you know 
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 22:06
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Have you tried it in the wet yet? Get some mini doriftos happening on roundabouts and small corners! I can get my back to sway in traffic (bumper to bumper).
I took Robbie (from the forums) and some of his mates for a drive in my car and got some drifts happening, just put the back out to the desired angle and hold it there through the corner. I love LSD and low RPM torque 
Are you going to take it to the drag strip again or start hitting race tracks??
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 22:44
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Actually it was raining most of the weekend here in Brisbane, so yes I had plenty of opportunity to try it out and the wet. "Drift" is just a twitch of the right foot away now!
Yeah I'd like to take it the the drags again soon and see if I can't crack an 11. I'd also love to take it circuit racing but that will have to wait for the brake upgrade.
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Location:
Brisbane, QLD
Registered:
February 2003
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 22:59
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be sure to let everyone know when you are planning on hitting willowbank again...i'd be there for sure(i had my first experience there a few weeks ago...strangely satisfying in a mullet kind of way)
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 23:30
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thnaks Norbie...
i have been thinkin bout this for bout 6 mths and have had the same prob finding info on strenth - didn't want to pay for it then smash it....
How much did you get yours for?
Cheers
Stew
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Registered:
June 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Mon, 08 December 2003 23:45
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| Quote: |
Of course it also means the car gets up to silly speeds much easier than it did before!
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I hear what you are saying Norbie.
My BMW has a 3.46 diff, I'm running the same gearbox as you but only a 1JZ. I imagine the extra torque of the 2JZ will get you into even more trouble quicker.
I'm use to driving my EVO around which has real short gears and I took the BMW for a cruise on the open road, came up on a line of traffic and gave it the 3rd & 4th thrash past them, seemed to rev out like the EVO but when I pulled back in and looked at the speedo and it was around by 220kph, that put the shits up me!!
But crusing at 100 doing 2400rpm is great, so quiet
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Tue, 09 December 2003 01:11
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The TrueTrac cost me about $1k after paying import duties etc, but that includes new carrier bearings from Toyota which I think cost $100 or so. Installation was $400 but I got everything replaced at the same time (ie bearings and seals).
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Location:
Colac, Victoria
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Tue, 09 December 2003 05:51
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thats pretty cheap norbie - to rebuild a 9 inch ford rear end was over $1200 to do the same sort of work 
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Location:
Perth
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Thu, 11 December 2003 04:08
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Awesome, Norbie!
I think I'll just chew-up old F series diffs for a while before I can affors a Trutrak!
I've also got KYB's and slightly lower springs. My next mission is to tame some of the body roll. I'm ordering a Whiteline front swaybar next week. Yay!
What's your rear camber like with the lower arse? I got K-Mac adjustable caps on front - but they don't make 'em for the rear, where we really need them.
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TrueTrac installed!
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Thu, 11 December 2003 05:27
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The rear suspension is trailing arm IRS, with nary a strut to be seen, so adjustable strut-tops aren't going to help you much! Adjustable rear camber requires a bit of lateral thinking, but luckily for us Paul Pyyvaara is looking into this as we speak. Hopefully within the next few weeks we'll have some idea what's possible.
My rear camber has increased quite noticeable since installing the new springs, but lateral grip has increased phenomenally. I expect I will also see an increase in tyre wear though. 
Be careful with that Whiteline sway bar - Paul P said he had to make a few mods to his because it didn't fit his car at all. He suspects it's actually designed for a Celica, but as I'm sure you know the Supra front end is different.
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