Broad Pallet
Once the incoming air reaches the intake ports, ensuring adequate fuel supply for combustion became the next priority. Starting inside the fuel tank, a pair of Walbro GSS342 fuel pumps push VP Racing C16 race fuel to a Hypertune billet aluminum fuel rail. Once the fuel enters the rail, it distributes to a six-pack of PT&E 1,200 cc/min injectors. To regulate the injector duty cycle and coordinate spark timing for combustion, an AEM engine management system replaced the factory ECU under the dash. Now ready to put the 2JZ to the test, the Supra took a trip to a local shop to be tuned on a DynoJet dynamometer. With Alpha from Induction Performance making adjustments to the fuel and ignition tables, the Supra spun the rollers to the tune of 900.95 horsepower and 658 lb-ft of torque.
Streetcar Masterpiece
Getting the power down effectively to the asphalt required reinforcement of the driveline. An ACT Xtreme pressure plate and a Horse Power Freaks ceramic clutch disc transfer power generated at the crankshaft to the input shaft of the factory Supra Turbo’s Getrag V160 transmission. The improved driveline puts power to the pavement by way of CCW Classics mounted with sticky BFGoodrich KDW2 street radials up front and Mickey Thompson ET Street drag radials in the rear. To bridge the gap between the massive tires and the fender arches, Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs and KYB AGX adjustable dampers work together to give the Supra a more aggressive stance while maintaining streetcar compliance and comfort.
No Barriers
Polio, spina bifida and scoliosis. This cocktail of physical hardship does little to slow Gonzalo “Gonzy” Ramirez down. Ramirez got into cars in 1998 with the purchase of his 1987 Toyota Supra. He began learning about cars by helping friends at their homes and at shops. Soon he was performing maintenance, followed by modification. But pursuing a career working on cars proved challenging, as he was unable to secure a mechanic’s position due to his disabilities. Thus, this self-taught tuner started building clean and powerful cars out of his garage. Ramirez recalled, “At first I was discouraged, but my passion for cars kept me motivated. When I could not get hired to work on cars, I decided to work out of my garage.” While Ramirez relies on social media, word of mouth and car meets to gain customers, clients like Randy Posada are fiercely loyal and impressed with his knowledge and skills. Posada commented, “Gonzy really impressed me with his knowledge and ability, despite his handicaps. I wouldn’t take my car to anyone else to have work performed on it.”
The Next Lesson
This build far exceeded Posada’s expectations as he notes, “I drive my car on the street which was the goal of the project from the start. The Supra drove like a totally different car after final tuning. Gonzy’s experience and advice put me on the right path with this build. Despite his physical disabilities, he works on cars and delivers outstanding results in a timely fashion. He has since become a really close friend and the only person that I trust to work on my car.” Posada concludes, “At some point in the future, I plan to invest in the bottom end, upgrading the pistons and rods and maybe crankshaft to stroke the engine to 3.4 liters. My plan is to generate over 1,000 horsepower at the wheels with the next set up. I will also make changes to the suspension to further improve handling and hooking up when the boost kicks in.” With trustworthy guidance, this masterpiece should reach acclaim in short order.