Hey guys, I am a long time lover of Cressidas. My dad used to drive an '89 Saab 900. When it broke down he went out car shopping with all the money he had ($600). He found a 1981 Cressida with way too many miles, but I had a hockey game that night (I was 12) so he bought it, I got to my game, and the love affair began. We kept that car for two years until too many things started to not quite work right and we sold it..for $800. Just two years later my brother bought his first car. A white 1987 MX73 Cressida with 247,000kms. He bought it for $800, and the body was in terrible shape, but he loved it. The water pump seized, and that was my first chance to help tinker with an engine. We got it fixed, but a year later the engine started having power surges and so he sold it. Soon after that, it was time for me to buy my first car, and I knew what I would be looking for. I bought a 1986 MX73 with 218,000kms in Silver, the car I am still using as my daily driver 4 years and one car accident later (I had to rebuild the front end). This past weekend I bought my dream Cressida: A 1978 MX32. It needs some gasket work done (I suspect rear crank seal) to fix a leak and the transmission is leaking, but the car only has 80,000kms on it and for being all original the body is immaculate. I plan on keeping it for a very long time! I would like to make some tweaks to the car in the next couple of years, new wheels, new suspension, new brakes and up the power a but if possible. Since my 4M has a carburetor I suspect I will be pretty limited in what I can get done on that last point without doing an engine swap, which I'm not interested in doing. Any tips and suggestions are always welcome. Also thrown in, after weeks of fixing my 86 I took it for a triumphant drive to the mountains.


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sweet cressi love i had an mx83 for about 4 years as a daily... i just picked up an 80 mx32 that is gonna be my new project. im finally letting go of my s13 (probably)

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Schassisowner's garage sale 4me parts galore!

http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=18604&p=158903#p158903

mx32 2jz swap in progress

Nice score on the 78.

Me personally, I would fix the current motor and upgrade the carb just to enjoy it, then later swap a 5m if you feel ambitious. I believe those came with EFI.

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Money Pits:
- 1980 Corolla Hatchback - Power project
- 1988 Celica Alltrac - Snow fun project

Thanks guys I talked the lady who sold it to me down to $1500 too, I feel like I stole it. Upgrading the carb is probably going to be in the works. I have been told that Weber makes one that swaps in but I have no idea which one that would be. Redoing the exhaust to get rid of that ridiculously narrow pipe is also a must. Thanks to some recently found extra springs all around I can play with cutting those down as well to lower the ride height. I think this is one of the most classic looking Toyotas so I'm really happy to have found it. I'm somewhat in love in the original Japanese luxury brown too, hopefully is polishes up nicely and I can keep the paint original

So, my electro sensor Panel is lit up like a Christmas tree. When I press the check button it tells me that the brake lights, fluid and battery charge need to be service but everything seems to be fine. I was told that it could mean that the alternator is not working right. So, I did a bit of reading and my 4M engine has a mechanical voltage regulator which i know nothing about. Also, after so poking around there is a little black wire coming out of the back of the alternator which isn't plugged in anywhere and I can't see where it would need to go. Any thoughts?

that is one clean Cressida

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1980 Cressida MX32
Old Series Garage

Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting started on it. Unfortunately that will have to wait until spring though, I have it parked for the winter.

Beautiful car, I have a 79 that was converted to carb that I picked up in Halifax last summer, only 50 thou orig miles

Enjoy!

The weather stripping in the front doors has dried out and I'm getting a lot of wind noise. I don't hold any grand thoughts of finding a vehicle specific set of new stripping, what kind of aftermarket stuff have you guys used? I was looking at this one as a start:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/157-WEATHER-STRIPPING-SEALS-DOOR-SEAL-CAR-NOISE-/260858686311?hash=item3cbc63ab67&item=260858686311&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

Alright, I guess that means it's experiment time. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

That is a real beauty. Nice to see another Alberta member.

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to the warm weather so I can get started

Nice !
best of luck

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All motor or no motor !

Hey guys, new question. So I am considering going with a Megan racing coilover suspension setup for an MX73. toji was nice enough to help me on that question and it should bolt in. As for a panhard bar I read somewhere that an adjustable bar for an AE86 will bolt in on the MX32. Megan happens to make one of those as well.
Measurements:
- Minimum Thread engagement: 3/4"
- Minimum Length: 30 3/8"
- Maximum Length: 31 7/8"
- Small Hole Diameter: 7/16"
- Width: 1 9/16"
- Larger Hole Diameter: 13/16"

Can anyone confirm that this is appropriate for the MX32? Mine is stored right now and it isn't super convenient for me to go and get measurements.

I'm also going to put this out there for people, probably a buy for me this summer. HiTech Headers in Australia will ship international and they make a header for the 4M series engine, they quoted me $440 CAD shipped to Canada which doesn't seem bad to me at all. Here is their website: http://www.hitechheaders.com.au/ Also found out that TechnoToyTuning.com can make an appropriate panhard bar for $135 plus shipping..I feel money quickly leaving my wallet!

hrmm...whats that equate to american dollhairs?

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-Ryan-
1980 mx32 riding on advan a3a's and hachi suspension
1987 k5 rock crawler

CAD and USD are pretty much on par these days, and that 135+ shipping is already in American dollars

that header stainless, ceramic, or hot coated? thats pretty steep

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-Ryan-
1980 mx32 riding on advan a3a's and hachi suspension
1987 k5 rock crawler

From their site: "All hitech Header products listed are either available as standard line in stainless steel or upon request can be tailored to suit your needs."

if you're going coilovers in the rear, I think you might have to reinforce the rear shock towers then...