Gogo's Tent, Got a motor. Lots of work to do. Options

[H8TRAIN]

Latest Update: Engine bay ready. Looking for an engine.

Update: Got engine out. Must be beginners luck.

Gogo has a tent.





It's not much but I'm lucky Gogo even has a tent. By this stage in my life I probably could have a garage with an S2000 or a restored 300ZX in it. But I don't. Life's not a fairytale and we don't always get what we want. I've never had a garage of my own. One day I will. But I'm tired of waiting for that day to stop talking cars and start doing cars.

As luck would have it, I currently have access to a sideyard! It's not too level but it's paved. And there's a small toolshed. I can put a damn tent up, scatter some tools about and it'll be like a garage. Close enough, anyway.

So all I needed was a car to start on. I chose a Toyota Celica because it was in Sega Rally Championship back in 1995 when things were good. I found one only 100 miles away with a freshly blown motor. I rented a car dolly and towed it home. This the first time I have ever dragged a car behind a truck. I was nervous about every step of it because I had never done it. After learning that is quite impossible to back up a tow dolly, my friends helped me push the Celica up and into the sideyard.







It's a 95 5spd GT. I named it Gogo. And put up a harbor freight portable garage - I like to call it a tent - over Gogo.







I have never changed an axle. I have never changed a clutch. I have never inspected a distributor. Never used a timing lite, or a bearing puller. I am a complete novice mechanic. I hate that. The point of this project is to change that. It's working already. For example: I didn't know what a wiring harness was or what one looked like. That changed quickly on Friday when I ripped the ugly mother****er out with my own two hands. Now I know.




6GC, I'm very impressed with your knowledge and your community. I joined the site because I want help. Me and Gogo both want your help.




This post has been edited by H8TRAIN: Jan 20, 2014 - 10:50 PM

[H8TRAIN]

Thank you, DST. My plan for almost all of the car is simple and set. But I got cold feet about my engine choice sometime last week. I want a 3rd gen 3sge. A strong 5sfe would be fine... but I want the 3sge. I just want it. However living in cali, I started to get unsure about jdm swaps. Stil on the fence. ;p

My planned build is 90% oem style. Pretty tame compared to alot of the Celicas on this board. The main point of this venture is not as much to end up with an outstanding tuner car but to challenge my mechanical skills. My ultimate car goal is to build something really intense. But I've got to start somewhere!

Update Edit:

I've been working on removing the engine carefully so as to become familiar with it. With the help of a chilton manual, this website and a good friend of mine who is a nominally more skilled mechanic, I have removed the following in this order so far:

1. Airbox up to throttle.
2. Strut bar and engine undercovers
3. Radiator
4. Alternator
5. Exhaust manifold/bpipe/precat & main cat
6. Ac Pump unbolter and zipped to front of bay
7. Throttle cable
8. Engine harness seperated from fuse box and pulled from firewall
9. Most engine harness plugs and grounds
10. Axles out
11. PS return line & pressure line
12. Clutch line
13. Heater hoses
14. Shift cables
15. Fuel supply line from top of filter

Cruise control came out at some point. Looks like I forgot to log it!

I'm taking a break now. Lots of gas fumes from the fuel line. Need some fresh air. The engine is not original and the fact that it was replaced (and not very well) is making for easy removal of the various hoses lines and clips.

Next I guess I need to find the fuel return line. And speedo cable maybe. Maybe I'll try the front and rear mounts after I dunno. If I could lift out the motor tomorrow that would be great. In episode 2 of the 6gc podcast, presure2 recalls specifically how to go about lifting the motor out. Very illuminating. Information that I'm sure will save me hours.

Update:

hmm. Need a few things.



This post has been edited by H8TRAIN: Nov 9, 2013 - 8:41 PM