Operation: DARKSPYRO, AWD Conversion, Completed. Driven. Sold. Options

[Malek]

Mission: Do it right the first time

Phase 1:
-Gen 3 3sgte swap

Phase 2:
-Complete AWD conversion
-Clean


28 JAN 13
Purchased 1999 Toyota Celica from a private seller in Boulder, CO.
Apparent timing issue and suspected head gasket issue.
Drove it 30 minutes back to Golden, CO with coolant spewing. And when I got back, I beat on it some more.
Back at the shop, wasted no time tearing into it

Had to stop once to let it cool down a little


Ripping into it that night



29 JAN 13
Engine and transmission pulled

Signature Tweak pose


31 JAN 13
Ordered ST205 front clip
-coming with bumper, fenders, hood, lights and a set of projectors
-rear subframe
-rear diff, axles, brakes, drive shaft
-Ton of extra stuff I don't need






1-9 FEB 13
Ordered:
-Berk gen 3 downpipe ceramic coated with wideband bung
-Clutchmasters FX300 assembly for swap
-Triple gauge A pillar (for boost, oil press, wideband)
-Hose for remote oil pressure sender location
-Walbro gss342 + 400-765 kit
Cut a hole in the fire wall for wiring harness

9-15 FEB 13
-Have been collecting parts for the swap
-Installed new Walbro fuel pump

17 FEB 13
-Final decision has been made
FULL AWD Conversion
-I plan on using the GT suspension and GT4 brakes
-Have not decided yet to cut floor pan and weld or make custom brackets


ETA for clip 11 MARCH 13
Until then, I will be researching boost controllers and wheels.

11-18 March 13
PHASE 1: COMPLETE
see page 2
-3rd Gen 3SGTE
-FWD
-OZ Crono

30 April 13
PHASE 2: BEGINS
see page 3 and 4
-Fuel Cell
-AWD
-GT4 Brakes

This post has been edited by Malek: Jan 28, 2018 - 3:53 PM

[Malek]

After quite some time asking around and talking to people about fabricating some rear end mounts, I finally came across someone who was 1) really enthusiastic about the project and 2) actually wanting to do it. Hank at Hanksville Hot Rods. There weren't really all that many hot rods there though..mostly porsches, bmws, an SC 2JZ swap and a twin engine VW they were finishing up..

Anyway, I presented him some pictures I had and some renderings of my ideas and we threw ideas back and forth and came up with something pretty cool. Instead of making a box that spans across the frame rails (front mounts of the rear subframe) we decided to make use of some tubing. The rear mounts we decided to keep the box idea and incorporate it into the frame rails.

I wanted the entire assembly to tuck under the rear of the car. They definitely made it happen. There is about half an inch of clearance between the diff and the body which puts the driveshafts right about parallel with the ground. They're finishing up the boxes on the frame rails now. I also used the GT4 rear trailing bars which brought my wheelbase closer about half an inch. I don't mind it for now. We'll see what happens down the road. Fun fact, the GT4 rear brakes are a lot bigger than the GT front brakes.

Wheel well was cut out, reinforced the area with bars and then 18ga sheet stitch welded and sealed. My fuel cell is going back there.


All this update and no photos?!?! Photobucket is down for site maintenance. Don't worry. I'll be adding them.


POSSIBILITY OF A READY TO WELD-IN KIT?!?!
These guys use an in-house mandrel bender. Cool thing is, it's electronic. This means the entire tube curvature is saved on file. Hank is working this weekend on pricing. And yes, we are talking about FULL kits including the rear sub frame mounts and the driveshaft mounts that come ready to weld on the body/frame of your Celica. I'll keep you updated.

Any questions? Ask away...