bloodMoney's Project V.3, Third time's a charm... Now with 100% more GT-Four Options

[bloodMoney]

With the first Midwest meet behind us, I can now post this up.

WARNING: ***Storytime with Chris***

Two years ago, one of my fellow mods over on Celicatech made the decision that it was time to sell his car to fund the purchase of a more practical DD. It was suggested that I purchase the car, but I was not in a financial position to do so. I passed on the offer and the car was listed on Ebay. The auction ended below the reserve, and he circled back around to give me one more shot at it. Stacy and I took it as a sign and scraped up the cash to buy it. That was April 2017.

Fast forward to April 2019, two years of pushing this large financial commitment out of my head, and this pulls up in front of my house:


That new new by bloodMoney2012, on Flickr

That new new by bloodMoney2012, on Flickr

That new new by bloodMoney2012, on Flickr

That new new by bloodMoney2012, on Flickr

The trans had a high RPM grind in 3rd, so the PO put in a new trans as part of the sale. All buttoned up:
Untitled by bloodMoney2012, on Flickr

That new new by bloodMoney2012, on Flickr

Let me tell you, it's been a long 2 years...

It's so small compared to the 4Runner!
That new new by bloodMoney2012, on Flickr

History on the car:
It was imported to Canada in 2009 as a Grade 4 car. It was used as a DD for a few years before the mod bug bit and little things started happening. It was taken off DD in 2011 and has been a fun car ever since.

It's not without it's fair share of warts, mostly cosmetic. It needs a complete respray, but there's no rust anywhere on this thing. I've put 300km on it since Friday, and this car is hands-down the BEST driving Celica I've driven.

I've already put my SSRs to use... What a difference a set of wheels can make.
Untitled by bloodMoney2012, on Flickr

Post Meet washdown:
Untitled by bloodMoney2012, on Flickr

I'm stoked to see what the future brings!

[Box]

Wooo!!! Now for the exciting part leading up to the fun part? Sure.

[bloodMoney]

UPDATES!!!

Played hooky from work on Friday to try to get the car together.

Started the day:


The new flywheel had a dowel that was off by a hair, making it impossible to bolt the pressure plate to the motor. I broke a bolt in the attempt to force it on mechanically.

After drilling out the broken bolt, and finding a suitable replacement in the spare parts bins, we were ready to assemble.

Semi-clean trans with the new Toyota release bearing.


With everything together, my helper and I pushed the car onto the lift and removed the E/W crossmember, with the engine impatiently waiting to go home.

I could LITERALLY hear it tapping it's foot in frustration.....

So, we quickly got the crossmember out and the car down over the engine. But first, let me take a selfie:




That's it for pictures.

We did get the engine in, the exhaust up, and the cross-members on, so now it's just buttoning up the little things.

OH, I did crush two of the body side connectors when I put the engine on it's side to assemble the engine set, so I need to find replacements before I can get the car running again.

[enderswift]

Looks awesome Chris.

What a pain in the ass that a clutch job on these is a manadory engine removal..but you're gonna love the southbend when its all wrapped up


Also,

Im still very jealous of the lift

[Bitter]

I see you also use the same low profile engine stand that we use at the shop.

[bloodMoney]

I see you also use the same low profile engine stand that we use at the shop.

My movers dolly with a spare tire? Yea.... I tried just using the dolly when the engine came out, but the lift wouldn't go low enough to get it all the way down. It takes up the extra space I needed.

[Bitter]

We have a particular runflat tire from the rear of a C5 or C6 Corvette we use, super stiff tread and sidewall works a treat to hold almost any engine or transmission.

[Zake]

way to scare me away from ever buying one... can't wait for you to have hew back on the road!

[Bitter]

way to scare me away from ever buying one... can't wait for you to have hew back on the road!

Where the heck have you been hiding? Need to get you to a meet somewhere somehow.

[bloodMoney]

way to scare me away from ever buying one... can't wait for you to have hew back on the road!

Seriously.... Who the hell are you????

Realistically, it's not really any more difficult than any other AWD Celica.

[cheela]

hey Zake,
I see you're new to the forums. Don't worry about bloodmoney, he's been around forever and has killed plenty of celicas. If you're looking for a gt-four don't go based off of anything you see in this thread.

[njccmd2002]

whats the deal with all these gt4s people are buyin? are they really that good? I bet any 7a with a chinese ebay turbo battery supercharger with interfooler can beat the gt4.

are those plugs the ecu plugs? i may have some ecu plugs somewhere.

[bloodMoney]

whats the deal with all these gt4s people are buyin? are they really that good? I bet any 7a with a chinese ebay turbo battery supercharger with interfooler can beat the gt4.

are those plugs the ecu plugs? i may have some ecu plugs somewhere.

Daniel looked and didn't have a 26-pin like the first picture. So if you can take a look and see maybe, it would help a lot.

[njccmd2002]

whats the deal with all these gt4s people are buyin? are they really that good? I bet any 7a with a chinese ebay turbo battery supercharger with interfooler can beat the gt4.

are those plugs the ecu plugs? i may have some ecu plugs somewhere.

Daniel looked and didn't have a 26-pin like the first picture. So if you can take a look and see maybe, it would help a lot.

name of the plug? IJ1, mmmh 26 pin. trying to remember where that goes to.... been a while.

it does look like ecu....

[Zake]

way to scare me away from ever buying one... can't wait for you to have hew back on the road!

Where the heck have you been hiding? Need to get you to a meet somewhere somehow.

I would like to, it's difficult with being 1500 miles away -_- every time I think I have the money and time, something happens..

hey Zake,
I see you're new to the forums. Don't worry about bloodmoney, he's been around forever and has killed plenty of celicas. If you're looking for a gt-four don't go based off of anything you see in this thread.

and bags of charcoal

whats the deal with all these gt4s people are buyin? are they really that good? I bet any 7a with a chinese ebay turbo battery supercharger with interfooler can beat the gt4.

are those plugs the ecu plugs? i may have some ecu plugs somewhere.

Daniel looked and didn't have a 26-pin like the first picture. So if you can take a look and see maybe, it would help a lot.

ooh ok, never did know the procedure on it

This post has been edited by Zake: Nov 27, 2019 - 10:10 PM

[Bitter]

way to scare me away from ever buying one... can't wait for you to have hew back on the road!

Where the heck have you been hiding? Need to get you to a meet somewhere somehow.

I would like to, it's difficult with being 1500 miles away -_- every time I think I have the money and time, something happens..

We're doing a tail of the dragon meet now it seems, had one this past summer and as far as I know will do one again next summer.

[bloodMoney]

Spent an hour on Friday finishing the mounting for the E/W crossmember, got the driveshaft in, and the axles installed.

Just need to tighten down the axle nuts, and the lower mount bolt for the strut to the figure 8. That will complete securing the engine set mechanically.





After this, its just making the connections, installing the radiator, fluids, and we can start her up.

Once I replace the crushed connectors that is.....

[navseal345]

way to scare me away from ever buying one... can't wait for you to have hew back on the road!

I don't why you're complaining... you traded in a 6gc for a v6 Mustang.

[Bitter]

Chris, it looks like your new garage has been a very uplifting experience for you.

[enderswift]

sweet. Might be worth taking it for a cruise if the snow holds out a bit longer. What're you planning next?

[bloodMoney]

Unfortunately, because of the Antique plates, I can only drive her to the gas station, shop, or a show until March.

So, after I get her back together, she'll get a full tank of gas with Stabil, and we'll start talking to the body shop again.