The Toyota Levin coupe is a very nice looking car. It's hard to tell from its proportions that it shares underpinnings with some of the more mundane Toyota's like the corona. The shapely two-door bodywork hides the saloon-car proportions of its ancestors well. It's got a mini Supra feel about it. It's front drive and the times when this could be scorned as a disadvantage have long gone. It boosts five forward gears and a collection of bells and whistles that a symphony would be proud of. Power steer, air con, firm but comfortable seats, CD shuttle changer and all the usuals. Best of all though is the engine.
The
4AGZE twin-cam, four valve per cylinder, injected motor is very similar to
that found in the early MR2. The Levin coupe has copious amounts of air forced
into it by a supercharger. This ups its power output to 145hp at 8psi boots.
Until recently, supercharging was as unfashionable as purple flares. As with
the trousers though, the supercharger has been having resurgence of late and
the nineties have seen it come back from the brink. Better technology has
made the Levin's supercharger smaller, more efficient, quieter and punchier.
Because the blower operates via pulley on the front of the crankshaft, its
boosting response is almost instantaneous. Stomp on the throttle at moderate
revs and where the turbo car would pause to gather its reserves before rocketing
off, the blown Levin merely pitches its nose in the air and buggers off.
The gear change is only ok and feels like the family hatch box that it is. It's a shame because the rest of the car is so entertaining that each time you go to change gear it is a bit of a bubble-bursting exercise. The supercharged Liven is all about hooning. Boom out of bends and stamp on the loud pedal and the front will buck and skip as it scrambles for grip. The supercharger endows the 1600cc motor with more torque enough to seduce you into thinking that you may be driving a car a full pint of beer larger in capacity.
MODIFICATIONS
Because the motor already works well we feel inclined to work more on other areas of the car. The original shock absorbers are valved for old folks to go and get the groceries. These replacement shocks and springs will allow the driver to find the true potential of their car, plus the lower ride height. The original bushes on the car would have deteriorated over time due to mileage, oil, fumes, heat etc. these replacement bushes will tighten up the complete vehicle and most probably remove a lot of the squeaks and rattles. You have to at least do the coil springs and the shocks, as the original ones will not handle the increased spring rate. Check out all of the bushes and replace those that have deteriorated.
SUSPENSION MODS
Autolign in Newmarket suggest
stiffening up the suspension with nolathane bushes and Sabreswaybars.
Their pick for 
shocks
would be adjustable gas Monroe GT coupled with 555 ball joints and rod ends.
This little lot will set you back about $1400 (NZ) and should tighten it up
nicely. George Stocks, the Koni agents, proposed a three-level programme of
development depending on your budget.
1 King Springs all round with front KTFL 33, and rear KTRL 34 progressive design. These remain trapped at full droop, which keeps the law happy. Cost $106.66 each +gst
2 KYB Shocks front 356015 which cost $107.50 each +gst, and rear 343036 which cost $62.5 each + gst.
Add to that Superpro Polyurethane Bushes
Front $105 +gst
Rear $ 230 +gst
SEMI SERIOUS FIX
Replace the shock absorber, with Koni sports units.
Front 861991 Sport $293.33 +gst
Rear 802437 Sport $ 173.33 + gst
BIG WALLET FIX
Front Struts: Koni external re-build adjustable, custom valving, wet build up adjustable coil platforms fitted with Kings single taper progressive race coils ( same as used on Australian Touring Cars). Aluminium front top camber plates fitted with spherical bearings. Bushes: All the polyurethane listed as per "budget fix" Swaybars: Heavy duty front and rear swaybars. Rear Shocks/springs: Koni double adjustable custom built mono tube. Shock Absorbers fitted with coil-over kits and Kings single taper progressive coils $5500 +gst
TAKE OUT A MORTGAGE FIX
Front: 2816 series double adjustable front insets fitted to custom made aluminium strut bodies, camber plates, custom made adjustable blade bar swaybar, Kings single taper progressive coils Rear: 2812 series double adjustable coil over shocks fitted with King race coils custom made adjustable blade bar swaybar. Fit all of the polyurethane bushes. $14,000 +gst
BRAKE MODS
Having got it to handle, the brakes will then need a looking at. Both Hi Tec Brake and Clutch in Newmarket and Les Hunters in Christchurch have brake upgrades to suit. Les makes his own backing plates and callipers to suit the car Lyall at Hi Tec brings in rotors from Australia that will accept a Wilwood calliper. For road use this is, in our opinion, overkill but a set of z Comp metallic pads or QFM competition pads is a must.
ENGINE MODS
As
far as the modifications to the motor go, we'd follow the relatively low-cost
suggestion of Paul Ohlsen. The current restrictive exhaust needs replacing
from the manifold back with a 2.25" system. A sports air filter is a must
and housing it in a cold air box will shield it from heat soak. HKS offer
an oversized crank pulley that will up the boost to 10 psi.
To cope with the extra boost and air a bigger fuel pump and regulator will need to be installed. A larger throttle body from a Nissan GTiR or Holden Commodore would allow better airflow. Brendon at CSL supply adjustable pulley wheels to set the cams up more accurately and Kelford Camtech can supply higher lift cams for better breathing. The ultimate answer would be to top this off with a link or Autronic computer set-up All this would on the outside should see your Levin make about 200hp 220hp