How Would You Build A Street Sleeper?

R33_Dude · April 21, 2009

Times have changed in the modified car community - even in Tasmania which has to have the most lax laws regarding modification and P plater restrictions in Australia. Generally (in other states anyway) if what you own hasn't been engineer approved its defect bait and even if you keep it stock the local constabulary lean hard on the skyline owner.

Not to mention driving a Skyline is bogan bait - like trying to get to work when every HSV/FPV Falcodore owner with two brain cells tries to race you between the lights (not that I have anything against Ford or Holden, merely I have something against some of their owners).

So I have been giving some serious thought to building a sleeper - a car that looks totally inconspicuous on the outside, but the engine, drivetrain and suspension are the main focus.

I have two cars that I fancy as a base:

A 1991 Toyota Cressida.

Yes its not pretty, but those seats are comfy and its fairly well equiped inside for a car of this age. The exterior is more bland than a similar year Camry - if thats possible. Bonus points go to this car because all the badges on them aare badly chromed from factory, leaving nice dull plastic badging on the exterior.

An engine swap to a VVTi 1JZ-GTE is relatively simple all things considered and while its being done a high flow, low decibel exhaust would be made up along with high flow panel filter (to keep things quiet). Whether its mated to an auto or manual would be totally dependant on cost - autos are much cheaper and as all Cressidas are auto an automatic would probably be easiest.

Note that a 2JZ could be used or even a 1UZ but for all intents and purposes the 1JZ is easiest and certainly more than gets the job done.

The diff will probably need to be changed to cope with this upgrade - and there are plenty of options available from TRD, to Supra diffs.

Electronically adjustable coilovers would find their way onto the car (eighteen year old soft suspension wouldn't be fun...), because lets face it who wants things rock hard all the time and its just plain convenient to have things adjustable in cabin.

With the extra power its would be wise to upgrade the brakes as well, for instance to a set of DBA Gold slotted and vented rotors front and rear. Another bonus is that the factory alloys or steelies won't let prying eyes spot your brake upgrades.

Mags would stay stock, whether that means factory 15" alloys or steelies, but stretch some good rubber over them first - like say Bridgestone Adrenalines, theres no kind of kill quite like overkill.

So you would end up with a family car that should be capable of running 12's.

The other is a (brace yourself) Volvo 740 Diesel Wagon.

Why you may ask? Well firstly it looks like a block of cheese. I know. Thats the purpose. Its diesel and theres a point to that. A) it will have diesel badges and B) the diesel front suspension is much harder than the petrol model to handle the weight of the pig iron block.

This one is simple in comparison to the Cressida and can be summarised in five simple steps.

1) Remove engine

2) Get one 350 Chev plus one 388 eagle stroker kit plus get an awesome exhaust sorted plus sort a powerglide to suit with a B and M shift kit and high stall

3) Make up engine mounts and bolt in

4) May have to upgrade fuel pumps etc plus fit better rubber on all the wheels

5) Terrorise traffic

There may be a step 6) Have a horrible, horrible accident.

Honestly though the Volvo would only be built for the hilarity factor, and the Cressida could be used every day.

My question is how would you go about building a sleeper?

Edited April 21, 2009 by R33_Dude

N1GTR · April 21, 2009

Cresida, 2JZ, GT35R, getrag, supra diff, nice firm suspension, quiet but high flowing exhaust, good flowing FMIC but spray it black so no one sees it unless they're really looking.

That should be quick and not even register on the "bogan radar"

benkoau · April 21, 2009

toyota aristo 2jz standard so no dicking around with costly engine conversions, that way you can spend that money on turbo, fuel pump, new injectors and a free flowing exhaust easy 400 horsepower with known toyota reliability and if their not into jap cars all they'll see is another a to b toyota but you'll know better

Edited April 21, 2009 by benkoau

Crans · April 21, 2009

R31 aussie spec.

Built 26/30 big turbo with water to air cooler.

Nice looking normal rims

and a dodgy paint job who the hell would know

GTR-32U · April 21, 2009

Volvo with an 8 has been done before many times...heavy car.

Cressida ....Now your talking.1JZ is a nice cheap sleeper which will leave the HSV boys crying in shame

R33_Dude · April 21, 2009

Volvo with an 8 has been done before many times...heavy car.
Cressida ....Now your talking.1JZ is a nice cheap sleeper which will leave the HSV boys crying in shame

True volvos are heavy but thats nothing an angle grinder couldn't fix

I have always wanted to do a Cressida - I have been carefully planning a swap for years. I wouldn't use a 2JZ for a couple of reasons. Firstly the swap is more difficult, you need to use a front sump which isn't (to my knowlege) on a 2JZ, the extra torque wouldn't be too healthy on a cressidas chassis and I think the engine mounts are different. That said the incentive to use one is high - easily modified huge stock power potential.

Crans: the R31 has kind of been ruined for a sleeper platform. A hell of a lot of them are getting modified nowadays. That said keep the exterior stock and sort an RB30/25 and you would have a cool car.

R 2 THE J · April 21, 2009

A friend of mine has a Cressida, with 2JZ with vvti, T51R, running 372rwkw....does 11's @ the strip..on the street probably low 12's.

Main problem you'll see is suspension set-up, but he's got a lot of power ie; spins in 4thmid track.

I've seen 200rwkw Silvias and 32's run Low 12's, it's all about suspension and tyre set-ups.

Bee-R limiter will help!

_Ryan_ · April 21, 2009

nissco did a 1UZ cressy, and a VH45 r31 wagon with r33 brakes/wheels

mechanics cars, sleepers, sounded great, and moved rather well!

i would go a cressy, 1UZ and supercharge it... i think the chassis is similar to a similar era supra too

VB- · April 21, 2009

cressida's have been done to death, and cant be a 'true' sleeper any more. it'd have to be something really obscure or pedestrain, that no hoon drives. volvo would be a good candidate. just pick anything that looks homo and cram an injectoed TT big block in there

ones that have alrady been done that come to mind:

VH commo, vacationer, all stocko outside, turbo 1UZ under the bonnet. cant remember what times it ran but bit was quick

2JZ shoved between KE20 strut towers, from the same guy that built the above

some shitbox LH torana, faded green paint, full bogan *on my way to centrelink* look, stock wheels, ran 10's

Edited April 21, 2009 by VB-

(OO)SKYLINE(OO) · April 21, 2009

Toyota Chaser