New guy with an at200 ST, First steps? Options

[wild_hamster]

So i dont know if there is a proper thread for this already (if so, mods, please move it )

I JUST got my hands back on my first car which is a 1996 Celica ST (auto trans, 7a-fe of course). My Mom got a new Subie, so she handed her 98 honda prelude to my sister, who had the celica before me and after me when I got my truck, then i got this car since no one wanted anything that slow, my dad drives a supercharged 03 camaro z28 as his daily driver haha. This was my first car when i didnt really know too much about motors or technical stuff. Then i started getting into cars and bikes and started helping friends with stuff as a helping hand and started learning a crap ton and acquiring another crap ton of tools to work on my own current vehicle, a 2001 Ford Ranger 3.slow, but thats for another forum lol.

So now that i have 2 perfectly working vehicles, I want to turn the celica into a project.

I have a decent job but also have rent and need to eat so i am on a budget, and a g/f watching my money since I'm bad at saving haha.

So i want to know (sorry, inb4 TL:DR) is what should i do to the car? This thing is BONE-stock, not a single mod done to it other than a new stereo and speakers, no subs or custom wiring, just a new deck and better speakers.

I am interested in doing a swap to something (most likely a 4a-ge) unless i can get some power out of the little 7A, to match the stock power of the 4A then i will be a happy man as i dont want to do a swap really, since i dont have the time, know-how or space. I already know maybe some headers+exhaust (but what actually the best parts/brands are) and CAI or RAI, but what else, does anyone do internal upgrades for the 7A platform like cams etc?

Suggestions for a noob?

[Bitter]

1st. manual trans swap!

[playr158]

A) oil change
B) Spark plugs/cap/rotor
C) K&N drop in air filter
D) Brakes (Pads and rotors of good quality, HAWK HPS and brembo blanks recommended)
E) change your coolant and brake fluid
F) Endlinks, bushings in good shape?!

Start with creating a good base and a car that has been mechanically brought up to spec.

[wild_hamster]

HA! thanks for the suggestion Bitter, but that is a bit TOO far outside of my general knowledge.

Playr, good suggestions!

Even though the car was in my sisters hands, when she brought it back into town to see friends or whatever i would steal the car and do oil, tranny, coolant and brake checks. So the car wasn't totally neglected. I DO know that suspension needs to be done, alignment needs to be done, pulls to the right a bunch, but I will be throwing on some Coilovers of some sort soon, not sure which is best but im still researching that.

Mostly I need a break down of parts that i can get for an exhaust system (i might make my own cat-back but my welding skills are lacking)
Also what can i do with teh internals of the 7A? or for the amount of money i would spend on internals for the 7A should i just buy the 4A-GE and get my hands dirty? The car will most definitely stay an auto since there is NO way im figuring that out myself (all of my friends work with muscle cars, my G/F's uncle/best friends dad, long story there, has a 72 nova, 68 camaro true SS, and a 72? El Camino true SS 396 for example) He's the one supplying me with space in his shop and his tools if i need them.

And i want to get extreme with this car, no holds barred, i dont care about it being a DD i have my ranger for that.

[al94st]

There's a "how to", for the manual swap on this site. Plus, a car is a car. Just take your time, use the right tools and learn along the way. GL with your build!