I have just purchased a 1979 Model MX32 Cressida. (Pics at bottom) It has the 4M and a 3-speed auto. It has 127,000 original km's and is stock apart from some (ugly) alloy rims. The interior is mint and the A/C is ice-cold! The 2.6 is smooth as silk and it is a joy to drive.

Since I'm new to the forum just like to say hello. I have ideas about what I want to do with this car, but not sure if they are realistic. If there are any other Cressida drivers out there please don't hesitate to give me some ideas please.

The vinyl roof is interesting, although a few mates and my gf think it's retro and thus cool. Personally I believe it would look sleeker without. Has anyone had experience with vinyl roof removal and rust removal/respraying?

Secondly, the wheels need to be changed to something a good deal wider to fill the arches and it's stance needs to be more aggressive. Any ideas, keeping the period of the car in mind? In addition, the ride is superb but there's too much body roll in corners. Any way to reduce this?

Third, is there a 4 speed auto that would fit into this model fairly easily? The 3speed is mechanically fine but I find that freeway driving has me sitting on 4000rpm for 110km/h. It seems a bit high to me.

Fourth, performance. Anything that will give it a little more poke would be good, and if there's a good exhaust to take advantage of the 4M's lovely sound.

My apologies if this is a little vague, but am keen to turn this into a nice JDM style cruiser.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Luke

PICS IN NEXT POST

PICS
http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g287/ ... da%20MX32/

Possible final look??> http://speedhunters.com/archive/2009/02 ... ssida.aspx

not often you come across vinyl roofs on those; so it should stay there.

as for wheels; were it for me I would go for Jag style wire wheels; it will give a very classy and vip-ish slant to it. It obviously needs to be lowered, say 30-40mm. There are plenty of cressy owners here who would be more than happy to tell you how they did it.

Finally round off the whole thing with chrome wing mirrors.

Enjoy your ride

Thanks for the ideas mate! Now if there are any Cressida owners out there with the know-how regarding lowering please post. Cheers

Sorry, I am not a fan of wire wheels at all. Too British, IMO. Put some old school Japanese deep dish 14's on it, and slam it to hell. Look at some of the other Cressidas on this site and you'll get the idea.

Welcome to JNC!

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Exactly thats my point; that car does seem to bear an uncanny resemblance to a Jag; especially the headlights and grille arrangement.

http://www.seriouswheels.com/jkl/Jaguar ... ries-I.htm

1 - 90% chance the roof would need respraying underneath the vinal as the glue and resin used to stick it down generally fucks up the paint underneath. Once off, depending on how bad it is sand with 800 grit till smooth and dull, then respray. Use the chrome moulds along the pillars as a guide - saves you from having to blend the paint into the rear quarter panels.

2 - firstly check to make sure everything is in good shape. Worn shocks and worn sway bar links will make it spongey as FARK. The sway bar bushes are cheap as chips to replace and make a huge difference. If it still handles like a recliner lounge afterwards, look at stiffer springs and bigger swaybars.

3 - Not too knowledgeable on Toyotas, but im pretty sure the 5M in the later Cressidas was a 4spd. Not sure if it would bolt p, but you would assume so. Personally id go manual.

4 - Should be able to get extractors off the shelf, exhaust however will have to be custom made. 2.5" would work well.

As for wheels, forget all that and go the "australian" route. Either 15" Simmons V5's black with polished outters, or 15" "interceptor" steel wheels off an R31 [used as a spare on Ti and Sillhouette variants] with chrome trim rings.

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[F3ARED] 76 Isuzu Gemini Coupe - forged G180z, EFI, 525hp Turbo, 6years and still building...

Daily 78 Isuzu Gemini Sedan, stock G161z, Rodeo EFI, 500hp roller, 157rwkw. Fun

AS above

I changed my bushes to upgraded items and a adjustable panard rod and it made a huge diff in handerling i will be chaning shocks in mine very soon to

and keep it auto if it a daylie why do you want to be changing gears in peak hour traffic if it a cruiser keep it that way i have even when i go 2jz i will keep it auto

as for rims 14 x 10 -16 equals win with some guard roll love that is on the rear and 15 x 8 -21 will sit pretty nice on the front

It all depends on what you're used to seeing. I don't think it really looks like a Jag. Some people think it looks like a Dodge Aspen:


But I think we all know the proper look is this

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He asked where he could source a 4spd auto.

The x6/x7 Cressida 4spd auto should bolt right up. Get the oldest one you can so it doesn't have any sort of trans computer attached. at most there will be an O/D switch in the dash you might want to grab to turn on the 4th gear/OD.

Should also be able to source one from a MK2 Supra, if those are around where you are.

They are here, but arent common [the MK2 supra that is]. Cressidas should be plentiful though

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[F3ARED] 76 Isuzu Gemini Coupe - forged G180z, EFI, 525hp Turbo, 6years and still building...

Daily 78 Isuzu Gemini Sedan, stock G161z, Rodeo EFI, 500hp roller, 157rwkw. Fun

also i write AS ABOVE and there is a comment in regards to going manual

I always thought it looked like a 4 door version of the Ford Mustang II:
<img src="http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/6/141/25012570164_large.jpg">
<img src="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/10/1028_50_ugliest_cars_of_past_50_years/image/010_mustang_ii.jpg">

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1987 Nissan "Datsun" S12 200sx XE notch
1988 Acura Da3 Integra RS
1981 Toyota Te72 Corolla
1983 Toyota Ae72 Corolla

or even a volvo 164



the front styling at least

I guess we can just chalk it up to a "cars of that era" thing...

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