Cardshark525's 1995 GT w/ 3SGTE swap. (from DD to track car), (A continuation if you will of Supershannon77's build) Options

[cardshark525]

Hey guys,

Well it's been a while since I've been active, reason being I sold my old 1995 GT hatch in 2010. I changed locations to a more urban environment and the wife and I decided to get rid of the Celica and the 1999 Civic. We opted to get a 2010 Ford Escape V6 4WD so we can transport friends in comfort, and haul more junk in the trunk. Last year (after racking up 67k miles on the Escape), we traded that in for a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. As with the Escape, it is a V6, but the 4WD option again killed off that third pedal that we both enjoy using. As our financial situation improved through some inheritance, I got the itch for a 3rd pedal daily driver that I could eventually transform into a track car.

After looking around at primarily late 90's BMW's and a few other options, I happened to look back to this forum for nostalgic reasons. Although I wasn't specifically looking for another Celica, sometimes some things are just meant to be.
So as some of you already know, I synced up with Supershannon77, and ended up purchasing her baby.

Over the course of the next few weeks or couple months I will be fixing the car so it is 100% road worthy again. It runs and drives just fine.. it's just a bunch of little things it needs. It would be best characterized as the car needs "adjusting and polishing" more than "fixing". A new sensor here, a bad hose there, tightening up brakes and replacing brake lines, and so on...


The car will be my DD to and from work once all that is complete, and then as time goes on the plan by around next summer is to start tracking it. Start taking out interior pieces as they're no longer needed, adding coilovers and strut supports, getting it fully caged... etc.



Most of these things I can figure out myself or have an uncle who can pretty much work on anything mechanical blindfolded help me. However there were 2 pressing concerns that I couldn't come up with a simple explanation for when I was test driving the car so I would like the guru's here to bounce ideas...

1- We were running very low boost (5-6 PSI) on the test drive. After a little bit of driving around and getting a feel for the car, I needed to see how it would spool up and react to boost at higher RPM's. We were going about 15MPH, had the car in 2nd, and punched it. As soon as we hit 4000 RPM, we hit a brick wall. It felt like hitting redline, no other way to describe it. As soon as I felt it I immediately came off the gas. After that the car still ran just fine, still boosted (but I didn't run it past about 3000 RPM), no difference in engine character or funky noises... nothing.

Anybody have an idea as to what the issue there could be?
The cars knock sensor isn't plugged in, and the check engine light was on (code 54), however after bouncing some ideas off others last night they said it might be a problem in the ECU wiring?

2- Since the knock sensor wasn't hooked up I was closely watching the air/fuel gauge. As we hit boost (even at 5 PSI and I'm not sure that should matter), the car maintained a 14.5-14.7 ratio, as opposed to..... anything below 12. Even as I hit that wall at 4000 RPM it was still 14.5.

Any guesses as to the problem there? I'm guessing its again an electrical issue however I can't diagnose anything right now because the car is in NJ and I'm in Pa and it will remain like that for another two weeks.

I'm trying to get some ideas ahead of time so that when I do go there for the weekend I'll be able to dedicate my time to the car itself, and not necessarily seeking out answers to questions here and waiting for reply's.



Thank you all, I'm happy to be a part of this great group once again, and I will have pictures and updates on this as they come.



I figured I'd link to Shannon's original threads to keep the cars history intact both for myself and others if needed: http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=69018

This post has been edited by cardshark525: Nov 6, 2013 - 7:51 AM

[cardshark525]

So.... I was in the middle of a paragraph on my phone and it decided to take a dump.... I really hate that. Anyway...

Not much has changed. I still have the leak (it's the no. 2 bypass valve right underneath the throttle body/intake.) so I have to rip that apart. The other leak that evolved over the last couple weeks is the hose to my intercooler catch can cracked so that needs to be replaced.

The LARGER issue that I recently diagnosed and came across (and I don't know whether it's always been there or not) is a valve tap.
This is likely due to all the codes being cleared and be actually hitting 5k+ rpm on the engine for the first time in a long time. I figure stuff was plugged up and so on. So I need to dig into that and see what's up there.

It's just been brutal this winter as everyone in the northeast knows. You are kinda near my inlaws as you know Shannon so it's been a LITTLE bit milder where you are, but we recently had some 10 degree lows here in PA overnight where I'm at and I don't have a heated garage to work on the car on.

I also just recently started a new job which is fantastic as far as finances goes but it means some weekend work here and there so there's less time to source parts and work on the car.

Realistically I'm probably looking at taking the head apart this coming weekend (if we don't get some kind of freak snowstorm or frigid weather), and fully figure out not only the valve tap but also if there's a head gasket leak or something else. The hoses themselves shouldn't be a problem I just have to take off the throttle body and possibly intake manifold to get at the primary leak.



The main problem is.... because I've been driving the car recently... when we have nice weather to resist the urge to drive the car and instead spend the time getting it fixed. lol. I went for a drive today right after work and it was so much fun, at the same time looking back on it I could have spent the time draining the fluids and getting the intercooler and intake manifold off so the head is ready for inspection tomorrow.


I'm hoping everything is going well with you Shannon. I figure you're anxious to hear about what's going on with your former car but unfortunately there's not much going on.

Life lesson.... don't buy a project car right before winter if you live in the north lol.

[Tigawoods]

The main problem is.... because I've been driving the car recently... when we have nice weather to resist the urge to drive the car and instead spend the time getting it fixed. lol. I went for a drive today right after work and it was so much fun, at the same time looking back on it I could have spent the time draining the fluids and getting the intercooler and intake manifold off so the head is ready for inspection tomorrow.

this.


But it was nice out yesterday and totally worth it huh?