1997 Toyota Supra Turbo - Red Light Special

Like a phoenix reincarnated from its own ashes, La began the long and tedious transformation of creating a Supra that would reflect his own personality. Wasting no time, La drove the car from the dealership straight to SP Engineering located in Industry Hills, Calif., for a full engine buildup. After brainstorming with the Toyota specialists at SP, it was agreed that the Toyota 2JZGTE 3.0-liter twin turbos needed to be scrapped in favor of a single turbo GReddy T88h 34d SPL. The T88h came complete with a 24cm exhaust housing-note this is GReddy's largest turbo, also used on the 8-second Titan Supra. Is turbo lag an issue for some out there? La is one step ahead of the game, using a single fogger Nitrous Express system to increase turbo spool. The slow paced, Bonneville type spool up is a thing of the past. The T88h is mated to a GReddy SUS exhaust manifold with oversized runners, only offered in the "H" turbo kit. Spent gases exit via a GReddy 4-in down pipe and finally out the tail section though a rare GReddy TR Power EVO 2 4-in exhaust system. Ensuring the car is running to its full potential, a gaggle of computers were piggybacked into the 2JZ motor. HKS VPC, HKS GCC, and G-Force race ECU (modified timing and fuel curve, removed rev limiter, and speed governor) programmed by SP Engineering were on hand to battle the electrical gremlins. Fuel is the key when producing ungodly horsepower, and La took this into consideration using a set of Blitz 700cc injectors, HKS fuel rail and fuel pressure regulator combo, dual Supra turbo twin turbo fuel pumps, and Earl's braided lines for added insurance. Adding a menacing demeanor to the face of the Supra is a large HKS front-mount intercooler compressing air into the 2JZGTE head equipped with HKS 264 duration exhaust/intake cams matched to pair of HKS cam sprockets. Boost levels are closely monitored at 19.8 PSI with a Blitz SBC iD boost controller and GReddy Type-C wastegate. Keeping in check with the "bling bling-ness" (Hey, is that a word?), La wanted to add some flair to his engine bay with some chrome components, namely the intake pipes, radiator lines, valve cover and a trick carbon fiber radiator panel. To keep this beast running at optimal operating temperatures, a Fluidyne aluminum radiator and dual FAL electric fans heed the call.

By Scott Tsuneishi

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