Comments: 1-15, 16-17
The doors rusted out.
Boot seal rusted out also a common problem.
Starter motor broken at 297000.
Alternator about to pack up.
Tape player packed broken on purchase.
Minor head gasket problem.
The water pump started leaks, I have rebuilt it.
Timing chains don't last.
It has noisy tappets. click click click.
High beam relay has broken and I cannot get to it behind the dash, not a common problem I shorted it out when I was playing around under the hood.
Air-con doesn't work very well anymore, need new gas. (not bad for an old farm car though)
CV and ball joints needed replacement.
Clutch leaks (has taken a thrashing)
Minor engine oil leaks.
Blows a fair amount of steam until it warms up.
Cracked manifold.
Dash speakers are not very good and one doesn't work.
There's something that rattles in my dash air vents.
Very quick, can leave my friends holdens for dead.
Lovely to drive, but a bit heavy to steer.
Get a fuel injected manual or your wasting your time.
Very comfortable inside with lots of buttons to play with (i have the SE model)
Good on fuel.
If looked after will last a very long time with 298000 on the clock it still gets up and boogies better than my best friends holden vk.
Not bad for a first car especially when the plan was to thrash it the ground, but it refused to die and I've grown to like it.
It doesn't handle as well as rear wheel drive so the trip to the shop can easily be mistaken for a rally qualifying session if you're not afraid to put your foot down.
It has a very comfotable and pleasant gear change thanks to the 5 speed sincromesh box that helps to clutter the engine bay.
It came with the original manual with a records of all services up to 140,000 km.
If you put in a CD player buy a good one or a stacker because it must be installed on a 45 degree angle in the console and will skip around town.
Very cluttered engine bay with sensors on everything, but when its all nice and clean it looks pretty impressive.
Pretty funny review! I had a TN Magna with EFI and the 5 speed for a while, and I can vouch for the performance of it. I've since sold it to an 18 year old who was after something of a 'sleeper'. Provided you get one that isn't smoky or an auto, TN Magnas are about as much fun as you can get for around AUD$1,000. :)
Hey I own a TN magna EFI 5pd and I would like to know how to improve the performance on it for example what kind of exhaust I should get and all that kind of stuff? I think its quite a good car, but my friends keep enhancing their old cars and I want to give Magna's a good name by continuing to beat them off the line :)
I have a TP magna with EFI. I have done a few minor enhancements such as 16" alloys, Koni adjustable suspension Extractors, high flow cat and 2.5" exhaust, New Cam, Balance shaft eliminator kit, and 10mm custom spark plug leads. I am now pulling 135kw in a 1150kg Car that handles very well.
In reply to questions on how to beef up your magna, I have looked around and discovered that five spoke mags non chrome are a good deal at about $180 each.
I would not suggest lowering it too much because it looks crap and the guards will rub. you can remove the cat altogether or replace it with a high flow cat, especially if extractors are being fitted.
I would also highly recommend fitting a ram pod and a oil-cooler (engine and trans} but don't remove the air flow sensor just the filter you can attach it between the battery and the front grille behind the headlights it looks kinda groovy, the reason for the ram pod is to keep the engine cool being made of aluminum they are easily cracked when overheated and fairly expensive.
I have experimented and found it is cheaper to run premium fuel all the time the extra 8 points of octane will not only make the car sound like a 6 with a decent exhaust, but give much better economy (10/100).
Camming it up is probably unnecessary as the bores are so close together it will increase the chances of stuffing the weak heads and is not worth the cost.
I read in one review that the person had fitted 10mm leads that is a must have also champion 4 electrode sparks.
GO MAGNAFLOW EXHAUST because they are a decent brand and look good on the car.
Central locking, alarm, 5.25"front splits, 6-9" 2 ways in the parcel shelf, CARTOYS jvc deck. painted calipers, tinted windows.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS GET SOME TOLUENE 25ml per ltr and you will be flying just don't sniff it if you want children.
That should help you to drag your friends, but don't race for slips or you will be walking.
If anyone has any pictures of bodykits turbo cits for magnas, engine bays/mods custom sub boxes can you email them to me. zoosloth@yahoo.com.
Hey I own a tn magna I bought it for $950 but the head was cracked so I replaced it with a nother witch cost $280 all up it cost $1230 not a bad buy it's a 2.6 carb manul I have put five stud wight mags on it and 2.5inch exhast all the way through I have also put 10mm leads on it and a cold air induction on itthe funny thing is my car audio set up is worth more than the car I have a alpine comp deck 6x9s 6inchs two kenwood amps and a clarion 12'' sub luckly I have a alsome security alarm so many people tell me what a wast of time! but I think tn magnas rule
from nathan tabe.
This is the second reply I have posted about my magna.
Thanks to every one that has posted comments I have got a few ideas and things from them this reply is mainly for mattew who wanted to know sone simple ways to beef up his new car.
It has been about six months since I posted the review and I have tested some new ideas and found an amasing secret any tn/tp owner looking for serious power shold check out.
Firstly everyone with a 87 through to 91 magna should (must) replace their thermostat with a lower tempreture one this is the way to prevent your car from overheating, blowing up, plus the cooler the air in the engine the more air molecules the more power will be extracted.
You must replace the manafold these are prone to cracking and a decent set of headders will give any engine about a 10% power incesase.
Replace the air filter with a K and N high flow its not worth putting on an air pod {unless you have an elante'
because they just look good} the air pod replacement will give you about a 5% increase in power and if you service your car every 10000 like you should it will work out cheaper.
If you have an EFI MANUAL in good condition run it on 98octane for a while you will find better econimy and it will work out cheaper, a fair power increase and smoother ride. (run the tank out and then put it in)
if you don't have a manual you should kick youself in the nuts for thinking it will ever go fast at the lights without spending atleast a 100grand in mods.
For serious rev heads like yours truily investigate the mitshibishi scorpion turbo and you will find it has exactly the same motor as your magna. you could buy the whole car for less than the price of an aftermarket system and just get a new manafold made up.
I am going to keep trying to get one at the autions and will post the final result when I'm done.
Unfoutunately the AUTOTRANS that came out with this series is SH*IT and I have heard bad things about the carby versions too.
The must have upgrade for this luxury car must be a bomming sterio and I have found a way to put speakers in you doors that looks good and won't require you to remove the book holders, I simply moved them back about 6" when I fitted my central locking whitch by the way cost $20 from marlows (rocca brothers) it looks sweetand sounds great. I will post a photo on the net if anyone want to see how I did it.
If you own a magna go outside right now and clean all the drainage holes in the doors, that's if you don't want rust of course. that's all for now I have some other things, but I have to get the photos developed check back soon.
I have 87 TN magna (Carby) which I bought for $1800 since having it I replaced the mainifold (cracked it) and carby (automatic chok was stuffed) and I have also stuck 50 x 4 Clarion sound system in it. I am going to replace the 14" standard Globe mag wheels with a set of 16" ROH 5 spokes and I am also going to put a 2.5" canon on the back so it sound like a hot japanese 4.
I have a 1986 SE, TM series Magna, and I was wondering how you put the speakers in the doors? I'd love to see the pictures. dumpedweed@hotmail.com is my email.
Also, I'd like to know about getting more performance out of the car. Does the above comments about the TN and the TP series have any relevance to the TM series? Very curious.
Thanks in advance, Brendan.
I own a Tp Magna Carb the current mods are 2.5inch exhaust, removed cat, 32,36 downdraft webber, cold air induction straight through the bonnet scoop and big jets in the carb.
I can just beat my friends turbo Exa if he runs stock boost, but when he winds it up he flogs me. I am currently in the process of fiting sigmma turbo parts to my motor I am finding it difficult to find a Balance shaft eliminator kit
if any one can tell me where to get one it would be great.
UP THE DRAGNA. Thanks Ryan Email:mangamanml@ozemail.com.au.
Hello there. I own 2 magna's, a tp carby GLX with the only mods being a sound system, the other one is a tp EFI Elite and is currently being modified. mods include: T04 turbo, Wolf 3D computer, intercooler, hypeructectic decompression pistons, Crow street\strip cam, double valve springs, 3" exhaust, supplementary electric waterpump, etc...
Here's a few tips: if you want to upgrade your clutch, don't go to a brass button one! If you walk into a clutch re con place and specefy the sort of clutch you want, they will make it for you for a price that is less than a brass one. and you get to keep your smooth take offs! What is not possible with a brass clutch.
If you want to turbo charge your astron motor, don't use thicker headgaskets as they intend to blow very easy on astron motors. Use decompression pistons! They are even available from Repco!! then use a standard head gasket with copper spra (product from Loctite available in a spray can) use this stuff on both sides of the gasket an it will hold a lot longer and more boost!
When the Elite is finished i'll send some photo's (app. 7 moths to go)
Hello! Last Year I purchased a TP GLX, it was manufactured in 1990 and released in '91 as the very last of the old shape, I thought that was a pretty schmick little detail. It doesn't have all the bells & whistles of the SE or Elite, but that suits me down to the ground. At first, I was thinking of it as a go-between before I upgrade to the second vehicle, but now its characteristics are starting to grow on me. It is fed by the carburetor and has the 5-speed manual. I've encountered no mechanical problem whatsoever with it and it fires up every turn of the key. I always take great pride in keeping it tidy and with the badges removed and mud-guards, I've got the low-profile edge happening. I'm thinking about a magna flow exsaust at the moment, and then extractors later down the track, but all in good time I say.
Hi, I have just bought an 87' Magna and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what model it is. It has electric windows, electric mirrors, air-con, and its engine is an ECI 2.6L fuel injected 4 - cylinder.
I was also wondering if anybody could advise me of the website or where I could purchase a MagnaFlo exhaust and if possible, Where I could purchase a body kit for it.
My E-mail address is mat_schulz@hotmail.com and any information would be greatly appreciated.
THANKS.
Hey people, I have just bought an 87 magna and want to know what troubles you can come accross with them. Also how can I improve the look and performance of it. It's a 2.6 4 cylinder and it is auto. any helpful comments will be greatly apprieciated. my email address is bradenporch01@hotmaiil.com cheers.
I Received a 88 Carburetor fed auto TN magna for a graduation present and I just have a question or two. how do I get the most bang for my buck performance wise and my other question was how much would it cost (approx) to get it converted to a manual gear box?
My email address is ndyksman@bigpond.net.au
Sorry if this is the wrong forum to ask this.
I have a TN carb 5spd man, SE wagon.
I have spent so much time on those carbs i feel sick lookin at them!
If i had a choice- i would get efi.
Secondly converting auto to man is neva worth the trouble n effort. live with it, it wont kill you. you just can't beat a 5spd magna in a drag ;-)