Modifying The Dream Car: A Toyota Supra MK4

Dan Glasscock 

1993 Toyota Supra Mk4

Instagram: @Ibboosted 

Photographer: Wayne Hunter

Instagram: @Hunterseyephotography

Performance Stats: 600hp on pump gas and 700 on E85

Roots in Automotive Passion: A Family Tradition

I am a 3rd generation mechanic. My Grandfather started off in the 60s building hotrods. My father started me off racing jr dragsters at the age of 5. He was the tech inspector for our local track for many years, He owns a hotrod shop and machine shop specializing in high-performance Mopars. Cars have been in my blood my whole life, It's all I have ever known.

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It's a passion more than a hobby. I started off like most kids into Hondas. I went from stock non-vtec cars all the way to big turbo fully-built Hondas. Me and my father ran a general automotive repair shop for many many years (started by my grandfather) As my father got older he decided he just wanted to work on the high-performance cars at his home shop, This is where I was supposed to take over the general automotive shop but it just didn't scratch the itch I had for cars. The business was sold and still doing well, I went to work for a large salvage yard and started trying to find the niche markets that automotive enthusiasts wanted. 

Finding My Niche: From General Repairs to LS Swaps

Well here came the world of LS engines. I found that there were so many old classic cars that the owners didn't drive or enjoy because of the common problems of no overdrive transmissions, poor fuel mileage,  and downright unreliable older engines. Everyone wanted to go to the modern LS platform in the older vehicles so they could drive and enjoy them how they should be. That's when it hit me, After 4 years of buying and selling LS swaps I knew what I wanted to do. So I opened my own shop specializing in LS swaps and modern performance. 

Since February of 2024, I've swapped several older classic cars with late-model engines and transmissions. The joy it brings to the customers is an unexplainable feeling my calling I would say. Seeing people get to enjoy cars that would otherwise sit in a garage a collect dust brings me indescribable joy. From a simple 5.3 swap with a cam to a radical stroker motor and massive supercharger, I enjoy it all. 

Growing Up in a World of Engines and Speed 

The thing that got me into cars hands down is my father. The whole time I was growing up it was always cool cars in the shop,  He took me to the racetrack every weekend. Being rattled awake in my bed every weekend as a child by racecars firing up and the smell of race gas in the air, Riding in hotrods around town and seeing people stare and stop and take pictures of the cars was incredible.  I knew that one day I would build cool cars for everyone to take pictures of and ask questions about. I still call him almost every day to pick his brain about something.

He is still old school and believes in his carburettors and distributor ignition systems But has a wealth of engine building and chassis knowledge I hope to retain half of in my career.  We live in a small town and if I'm within 100 miles of home and mention his name, someone knows him and tells stories of him street racing and building cars from when they were younger. Big shoes to fill for sure, But undoubtedly he is my encouragement for the hobby. 

Hooked on Wrenches and Speed

Like most 80s and 90s kids. I was into tuner cars and the movie of all movies came out, The Fast and the Furious. When they brought the crumpled, beat and battered supra into the shop and started wrenching on it I was very intrigued.  The moment it pulled up to the stop light beside the Ferrari and completely embarrassed it, I WAS HOOKED! I knew at that moment I had to own a supra. Granted I was 15 at the time but knew that was the car I'd set my eyes on in my future of being a car enthusiast. As I grew older I realized a supra was one car that was respected by all car enthusiasts. You can drive a muscle car, European, Japanese drift, drag race whatever your fancy may be. But if you see a supra pull up you know what it is and what it's capable of. That's hard to find in a vehicle.  

The Unexpected Journey to Supra Ownership

The story of getting my Supra is one for the books, I found an LHD factory TT 6-speed Supra in Ohio, and The engine was blown, pulled and dismantled.  But it was the first somewhat local Supra I'd found that was semi-obtainable budget-wise. I mentioned the deal to my wife assuming the obvious answer of NO but to my surprise, She said I do so much for her and the kids I deserved it and to go and buy it. Well excited is an absolute understatement, I instantly called the owner and after talking for a few minutes he told me that he had decided to keep it and repair the engine so the car would fetch a much better price.

Devastated and heartbroken I told my wife that it didn't work out. The next day she gets home from work and shows me a red stock RHD TT 6 speed supra for sale and says "What do you think about this one?" I told her that obviously, it was beautiful and great but far out of reach financially,  She said but you do like it? The answer of course was yes I love it. She says to me I'm glad you do I put a deposit in it already and we are going to pick it up this weekend.  I was floored... talk about wife of the year. The only stipulation was that I must leave it stock for a year because of the initial purchase price. Hard as it was how could I say no? Once in my possession, the initial drive was surreal,  I was driving a supra.

However, being a right-hand drive took some getting used to. At first, I found myself putting my seat where I should be on the road. Therefore putting the rest of the car into the other lane of traffic. But not long I got used to it and absolutely loved the RHD spirit of a true Japanese classic car. Performance-wise wise I was very disappointed.  I like everyone else assumed a supra is a rocketship, Well in stock form it's far from it. But I'm as good as my word, The first year I looked through thousands of websites drooling over parts and pieces to add to the supra, Fast forward a few years and we have the car you see today. 

Toyota Supra Mk4 Build List: 

Engine:

• 2JZGTE
• PHR Street Torque Turbo Manifold 
• Precsion 44mm Wastegate 
• Street Torque Dumptube 
• Precision 6766 .96 A/R
• JDM PHR Downpipe (3")
• Polished Compressor Cover
• Greddy 3-Row Intercooler 
• Tial BOV
• Custom charge piping
• FIC 1000cc injectors 
• Walboro 525 fuel pump
• Fuel lab regulator
• Fragola fittings and lines
• PHR polished PS pulley
• Jackspania racing intake manifold
• Jackspania 90mm throttle body
• 14mm Billet fuel rail
• Jackspania billet valve covers
• Custom catch can
• HKS cam gears and belt
• Samco radiator hoses
• PHR radiator 
• PHR throttle cable

Transmission:

• V160 6 speed
• OS Giken twin disk clutch 

Rear Diff:

• OS Giken super lock LSD

Interior:

• Recaro SR3 confetti seats
• Custom gauge pod with GReddy gauges
• Nardi carbon fiber steering wheel
• HKS mats
• Greddy dual-stage boost controller 
• Pioneer double din radio

  

Exterior:

• Full TRD lip kit
• TRD wing
• Viper red paint

Wheels:

• 17x4.5 Weld forged RTS 
• 15x10 Weld forged RTS
• 26x4.0R17 Mickey Thompson SR 
• 275/60r15 Mickey Thompson Pro Radials

Suspension:

• BC Racing coilovers 14k/10k
• PHR Toe Bars
• PHR traction bars

Brakes:

• Induction performance 15" rear conversion kit
• Russell's braided brake lines
• Hawk HPS 5.0 pads

Who did the work?

All of the work on the Supra was done by me. This is the car I've wanted my whole adult life. I wanted to touch every piece personally and know as much as I could about the JZA80 platform. Every nut and bolt or accessory I installed I stand back and smile knowing the car became more personal to myself and my style. The only things I cannot take credit for are the Dyno tuning and paint job.

Future Plans for the Toyota Supra Mk4

My 5-year-old daughter loves the car as much as I do. She claims that it will be hers one day. She never misses a car show or drive in the supra. As wild as I would like to take the build I will probably leave it very streetable because the love and passion we share with the car is irreplaceable.  Later on, it will probably get a carbon rear seat delete, bigger cams and air cups for the front suspension.  But otherwise, it's perfect. 

Shout Outs

First and foremost,  My wife. Not only did she let me own it but she picked the car out. My father and grandfather for putting the passion for cars in my soul and giving me more than a hobby but a true lifestyle.  Last but not least my mechanic Corey, He helps me run my shop Glasscock Motorsports and let's my imagination run wild with builds. Without the help I wouldn't be able to make the awesome cars that I do today. 

Dream Car

I am lucky enough to own my dream car, Sure there are way more technologically advanced supercars out there. Cars that are more rare and faster. But the MK4 Supra has always been the car dearest to my heart.

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