Igpx12s' 1997 Celica Options

[igpx12]

After almost a year of being on this site, thought it was about time to start up a thread.


So here's my celicas story so far.

Purchased in October 2013 and stored to keep out of the elements.


After a winter and spring in storage finally started work on her in July with the original plan to do a thorough cleaning and engine swap to a Silvertop 4AGE out of an AE101 out of japan.

Stock 7A was pulled along with its tranny so engine bay could be cleaned and the interior was stripped to help with process of harness work.




Second part of the project was the 4AGE, so order it however found that I wouldn't be able to use it as NY is OBDII compliant with inspections and it would fail, so put to the side for a later swap into a 94 or 95.


When I bought her, the engine had a lot of exhaust noise so ordered in an OBX exhaust for a GT4, however had to have it reworked to go onto an ST chassis as you can see the bends are a lot different.



The main reason for exhaust noise was this


Then I started to piece her back together, first to go back in was the 7A


Then sprayed the carpet from factory beige to black and to help keep an eye on things, bought some X-Tune gauges, not the most accurate things ever but they do the job.



Also upgraded to a key light ring and Lexus ES300 door strikers, very simple installs



Then made up some bezel pods for the gauge cluster


That was it for the interior currently, next was the engine bay and remedying the exhaust issues. Bought an OBX header and front pipe and had it ceramic coated. Also to easily adapt for oil pressure and temp gauges, ordered in an Upgr8 Oil Sandwich plate.


Then made up an air intake for it, simple one bend pipe with a drilled hole for the MAF sensor.


More things to come for sure but for now this is as far as she has gotten for now. Plans are to get it out after winter when I take my DD off the road for good as its basically done for.

[cheela]

awesome. another green one! lol.
you look like you know what you're doing and what you want.
can't wait to see more.

[Anoroc]

I don't envy you gents with such vicious restrictions on what you can/can't do to your cars. Since a silvertop is out of the question, I presume a Gen3 or 4 3S-GE would be too?

[igpx12]

I don't envy you gents with such vicious restrictions on what you can/can't do to your cars. Since a silvertop is out of the question, I presume a Gen3 or 4 3S-GE would be too?

State restrictions like that do suck, can't use anything from japan cause they aren't setup for OBDII. However the restriction is limited to any 1996 and newer vehicle, so there are ways around it with an older model car.

[Smaay]

install a V6. you wont be disappointed

[Bourne6Gen]

Where or how did you make up the bezell dials . Love the look , looks amzing

[igpx12]

Where or how did you make up the bezell dials . Love the look , looks amzing

For the amount of work required for making them, I would say to view buying selling thread by The_enD

here:
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=90053

As far as my process in making them:

4" PVC couplers
12"x12" Plexiglass sheets
Heatgun
Dremel

The rest as you can probably guess was a lot of cutting and heat warping to get the shape of the pods.

[igpx12]

Decided enough with the stock plain valve cover and intake plenum, hello color. Also tracked down a strut tower brace, gotta clean it up some time soon.

[igpx12]

Hey everyone, been awhile since I've listed anything on my build. Well couple of issues lately it seems, first there is an oil leak coming from one of the seals on the timing side of the motor and second the master cylinder for the clutch is starting to fail and letting the slightest amounts of air into the line. All on the to do list and parts ordered in. Did fix one issue already, my oil pan gasket that was originally a cork aftermarket one that was installed when I bought it, that started to leak out finally. Lets say that I've learned that FIPG is really the only solution that gives you results, tried RTV and allowed it the 24 hours it calls for to cure and gotta say probably would have been better off using window caulk.

In the meantime til things come in and I tear down the motor a little, here's how she looks now under the hood.

As you can see, added in a catch can and cleaned up that strut brace.

Also finished my GT front brake conversion, bolts for the calipers were M12 x 1.25, couldn't find em anywhere so went to advance auto and cut down some that they had.



Gotta love those Avalon Twin Piston Calipers

[LtSolid]

i have a 1.8 too. in red. liking the building so far. whats the purpose to the oil sandwich plate? Also was the obx header listed as the 1.8 corolla? i wanna do a 7age conversion to mine. keep us posted bro.

[Celica_MKVI]

Nice!
Do you still have he 4AGE 20v motor? You could swap back and forth between heads. Which would be a good half days work if you get good at it. Here in Cali we have to get smog and inspection every other year, not sure how it is in NY.

[jesse09]

That front brake conversion and engine bay in yellow looks damn good. Can't wait to do it myself.

[igpx12]

i have a 1.8 too. in red. liking the building so far. whats the purpose to the oil sandwich plate? Also was the obx header listed as the 1.8 corolla? i wanna do a 7age conversion to mine. keep us posted bro.

The point of the oil sandwich plate is to place sensors for gauges, I have an oil temp and pressure gauge that are set up and run from there. The header is simply that corolla header, the OBX exhaust was mainly catbac but for an ST205 which sadly had to be hacked up and fabricated to work with the AT200s setup.

Nice!
Do you still have he 4AGE 20v motor? You could swap back and forth between heads. Which would be a good half days work if you get good at it. Here in Cali we have to get smog and inspection every other year, not sure how it is in NY.

Sadly I don't have it any longer, was thinking about getting a 94 or 95 celi and putting it in that at one point, but for now just seeing what mods I want to stick with then at a later point maybe do that. NY is now carb compliant so the most we have to do is use carb compliant converters and make sure to have an OBDII motor in an OBDII equipped vehicle.

That front brake conversion and engine bay in yellow looks damn good. Can't wait to do it myself.

Let me say that the brake upgrade is worth it, my stopping distance is better and the appearance is better looking with the 17s.

[jesse09]

Thanks for confirming this, I just picked up a set of the Avalon calipers too. Now I just need the front GT rotors and will be ready for a full front and rear brake upgrade.

[LtSolid]

I don't envy you gents with such vicious restrictions on what you can/can't do to your cars. Since a silvertop is out of the question, I presume a Gen3 or 4 3S-GE would be too?

that wouldnt pass NY inspection either. its such a bummer.

btw, those are the short pods on your cluster right? i was gonna get the long ones but i changed my mind.

This post has been edited by LtSolid: Sep 6, 2015 - 1:08 PM

[igpx12]

I don't envy you gents with such vicious restrictions on what you can/can't do to your cars. Since a silvertop is out of the question, I presume a Gen3 or 4 3S-GE would be too?

that wouldnt pass NY inspection either. its such a bummer.

btw, those are the short pods on your cluster right? i was gonna get the long ones but i changed my mind.

They are the short pod design, the side pods are 1", the center is 2" top to 1" bottom. One of my more favorite subtle mods that just makes it feel more modernized.

[LtSolid]

I don't envy you gents with such vicious restrictions on what you can/can't do to your cars. Since a silvertop is out of the question, I presume a Gen3 or 4 3S-GE would be too?

that wouldnt pass NY inspection either. its such a bummer.

btw, those are the short pods on your cluster right? i was gonna get the long ones but i changed my mind.

They are the short pod design, the side pods are 1", the center is 2" top to 1" bottom. One of my more favorite subtle mods that just makes it feel more modernized.

yea it def gives the interior a better look. the short pods look so clean in the cluster. id imagine the long pods have to much length to look that good in our interior.