Owner of a 6th gen looking to mod!, Starting slow and then more Options

[Raige]

I have a 1994 Celica ST, and like it so much I looked at newer celicas and happened upon a Like new, fully optioned 1997 Toyota Celica GT.

No pictures yet but even the pain is flawless. Only 60,000 miles. *grins*.

I'm looking to do some modifications mainly to the power at first and some body but lets start slow.

Cold Air Induction im told is a great way to start. It already has allow wheels, though they are stock and not too fancy. I might go that way but that can get pretty expensive to get "nice" looking.

My mindset is keeping it sleek and quiet. It's Jet black, very glossy.

Things I'd like to see with the car are:

1) More Horsepower (currently has stock. Want to up that a bit without damaging engine).
2) Nice Sound. The Tkssss sound a GOOD Cold Air Intake system makes is definitely what I'm looking for.
3) I'd prefer a hum... not a mexican fiesta party in my muffler.

My goal with this car is to be a head turner and a fun ride without it being labeled a rice mobile. Here's my car.

Raige's 1997 Toyota Celica GT

Tell me what you think I should do!

Thanks a bunch! I'm gonna look at some of the cars here and get ideas!

[Consynx]

could have bought my car for less since my price is obo

but that black on black is hott...
congrats on a beautiful car.

1) someone else will touch this.
2) have to go custom...injen make a short-air RAM
3) most likely will have to go custom here to. if you want to sound good make sure you don't cheap on step 1

[jgreening]

Here is my $.02: Forget the h.p. modifications unless you plan to turbo or swap engines. Anything else that you do will result in minimal gains and more noise. Your best bet is to work on your suspension and some tasteful exterior modifications. Good luck and welcome to the site.

[StreetRacing10PS...]

Here is my $.02:  Forget the h.p. modifications unless you plan to turbo or swap engines.  Anything else that you do will result in minimal gains and more noise.  Your best bet is to work on your suspension and some tasteful exterior modifications.  Good luck and welcome to the site.
[right][snapback]338936[/snapback][/right]

well put. if i were u i would get a body kit possible gt-4 conversion?? some nice rims, lower it about 2 inches and replace the struts, get a greddy catback exhaust for a lil power and noise and a gt-4 wing.

[boosted_K2]

my basic list to meet "My goal with this car is to be a head turner and a fun ride without it being labeled a rice mobile."

1) dont base ANYTHING on HP numbers, mods will not gain you a standardized number (in example: so and so exhaust will net you 15 HP... its all bull****. your car as it sits is lucky to be putting 100-105 HP to the wheels, dumping money on bolt-ons in the effort to gain HP is useless)
2)with that in mind the car should already be "fun" so to enhance this effect adding grippier tires (id recommend Falken GR-Betas) and a decent set of 16-17" wheels will suit you fine. Eibach Sportline/Prokit springs and a set of KYB shocks will enhance your handling further and a basic E-bay strut tower bar (modified, its not hard) will help to make the frame more rigid giving it a crisper feel, going from there you can also possibly find a suspension techniques or TRD front sway bar.
3)i am not sure about your local laws, but FWIW i would suggest getting a de-cat pipe and keeping your factory muffler, this will allow you to get a better tone from your exhaust, but will also leave it stock looking (less haggle from authorities) and you wont get that 'Ricer' exhaust note
4)personally i wouldnt touch the motor, my two cents is the car can be enjoyed how it is, why change it.

[Insanity-74]

For the exhaust a Sweedish (i Think) company called Jetex do some nice exhausts that arnt loud at all, very subtle even when thrashing the engine, onky slightly louder than standard but a nice deep note, they do a nice SS range aswell.
As mentioned I wouldnt bother upping the BHP, you'd just be throwing your money away for very little gain, consentrate on handling mods, like I have mentioned in another thread, a well set up car can often out perform a higher BHP car. Good luck and Nice motor BTW

[Raige]

Let's be serious here. It's an automatic. Talking about performance with it is mainly based on the power i can get from stepping on the gas. I'm already happy with that, but a little more would be fun hehe. Whatever power I have now is significantly higher than my 1994 Celica ST i also have.

This is my first *project* car in the sense that I want to try things out and see if this is something I really want to get into. Aka buying a manual trasmission GT or GTS model. Doing body kits is a little more than I want to get into.

I'm already happy with how it looks body wise. I'm looking at lighting (fog lights, undercarriage lights than i can turn on and off etc). Stuff under $300 per upgrade.

For instance a CIA. That's not really for the power, it's more for the sound it does. Sure that is a bit ricey but it sure sounds good.

I'm also still getting used to the tighter steering that the 1997 has over the 94. Is there a way of changing that without a ton of trouble? I turn the wheel an inch and I'm twice the distance over I would be with the 94. That's not too big a deal.

[madmods]

Here is my $.02:  Forget the h.p. modifications unless you plan to turbo or swap engines.  Anything else that you do will result in minimal gains and more noise.  Your best bet is to work on your suspension and some tasteful exterior modifications.  Good luck and welcome to the site.
[right][snapback]338936[/snapback][/right]

AMEN! You need a 150 shot of nitrous and your set. Your probably good for 1 or 2 shots before the rebuild.

[Raige]

Hahaha. I'm not going that far guys. Some of you are probably as hardcore as they come. Full body mod kits, lamb doors etc.

I'm just a modest guy who wants a headturner. Make it sounds nice toss in a few well chosen parts (darker tint, tasteful neon lights you get the idea).

Think modding with a budget.

Eventually i might buy another celica, not sure if ill stick to 6th or a future gen, and it will definitely get the works done and of course be manual transmission. But i thought I'd start small.

[Cutrara]

Sounds good...

Raige, where are you from?

[Raige]

Raleigh, NC. You?

[Cutrara]

Near Pittsburgh, PA

[Raige]

Pittsburge is hilly as all. Thus must be fun to drive.

[Consynx]

cept all the damn potholes.

[Agent21]

Try downtown Charlotte. Will give you a concusion on the bumps.

[Cutrara]

I'm in a suburb near Pittsburgh, and yeah it's fun... Lots of hills and windy roads.

Sucked when I was learning to drive a stick though, but now I prefer it way more than an auto.

[celi_gt_racer]

I hate to be the one to burst your bubble... but the idea of "tasteful neon lights" is absolutely ridiculous. "Tasteful neon lights" - Don't exist.
My opinion - spend the money for you "tasteful undercarriage neon lights" on something useful... such as swaybars.. or wheel spacers... suspension mods = much more fun

[Raige]

haha i don't know about that. I'm not talking neons under the car but inside. So instead of having bright yellow lamp we have blue or something that looks good with black. That's just a personal preference and of course I'm not going to remove the normal lights.

[CoSo]

To get you started on changing interior lights: http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=22296

There's also a thread about basic & cheap mods that you can do, but I don't have the link on me at the moment.

Consider maybe getting some springs for a drop, that's a pretty cheap but visually effective mod.

Maybe get a basic audio system or new speakers, etc.

I agree with celi_gt_racer, in that suspension mods are a nice place to start in terms of technical performance.