96 Celica 25th Anni. Edition ST #461, A was-to-be clunker's life restoration Options

[NewOrleans]

I have to say this one great thing your doing!! And it really reminds me of what I just finished doing. I bought the same car. Mine is #1312. and was beaten up bad too. And it's great to see another person thts motivated to get a beautiful celica. If you want some ideas or want to see how certain things look on the car check out my build thread. But you have really done a great job so far. And good luck with the rest!!!!!

[whatthe]

Your car is progressing so quick, oh dear i missed so many posts.

[TiGZ461]

Damn I had completely neglected my own thread. Sorry for not keeping you guys up-to-date but I figured (since I misplaced my camera) no pics why bother posting. But meh, might as well let you guys know whats going on, and has happened during this time.

Well I picked up my car from the body shop and I am highly satisfied. Looks as if it was never in an accident, everything looks straight BUT there's a gap between the hood and bumper. Luckily this will be repaired at no extra cost due to them not having all the parts to put the bumper back on. So as of now I'm just waiting on my crash bar bracket so I can have my bumper put on. Once I have that I'll be taking it back to the shop they do their last modifications and I bring it home to finally start putting on all engine department stuff thats been waiting for almost a month now.

Got payed a decent amount this week, so I'm going to go shopping for more mantainace parts. What would you guys recommend, I had this in mind.

-Oil (160k miles which should I use)
-Oil filter
-T-belt
-Thermostat
-Radiator (already bought)
-VC gasket
-Spark plugs
-Battery
-PS airbag and computer

The PS airbag will be held off for just a bit longer, I apologize to those who have sent me offers, but I have to take care of the bigger issues first. Once I have all of the main stuff taken care of I will definably give you guys a shot. If I wasn't paying for school this wouldn't be an issue but sorry for the stall./

BACK ON TOPIC \ Thats all I have in mind, please advise what else I should do since as of right now we have a spare car that I can drive so I can stall this for maybe a good 3 more weeks. Any more liquids I should change? Filters that need to be replaced? It's a 7a just for those that don't feel like going to the first post

Please give any input you could or have, I've here to listen and learn and everything you guys say to me is written down and really taken in.

Thanks ahead of time guys.

[delusionz]

Damn that must be fun to have the cash to buy a wreck and go parts shopping Sounds like a pretty cool restoration job going on.

May I ask why the conversion from facelift to prefacelift?
(Personally I like the prefacelift spoiler and the facelift bumper)

And may I point out you bought facelift fog lights, but I'm guessing it's because the nut they screw into comes from the chassis and not the bumper and that you'll just make it fit. Will look interesting, I wanna see what that turns out like.

+ Show pics of the radiator, is that an all aluminum one? Packaging doesn't look OEM

EDIT: When you're finished the cosmetics, a 4A-GZE dropped in would be badass ... Celica Supercharged Limited #1/1


This post has been edited by delusionz: Sep 19, 2009 - 8:12 AM

[TiGZ461]

Lol, well the prefacelift came to mind cus 1. it was before I knew anything about 6g's , 2. I got it for a pretty good price with a hood, and 3. Idk if it's just me but I have the hardest time finding a 6g at the JY. Plus it's grown on me I actually like it now, just want me some front TRD extensions but that'll wait.

As for the fog's, at first I had it in mind that I could just repair the damage bumper that came with the car, I did it and it didn't come out all that bad, I just needed some paint. Sadly it lasted maybe 3-4hrs before some kids came and jumped on by car and destroyed the bumper way past the fixing point, and on top of that they also took a pair of headlights with the bumper. Wanted to cancel the order, but they ere already on there way via mail.

Lol, you should know that I've annoyed all my buddies pasted the point that they just don't wanna hear me speak anymore due to the 4agze. Lol I just wondered why this swap isn't done as much as the 3s? I know the 3s is instant power but for someone shooting for no more then maybe 250-300whp wouldn't a 4agze be a good alternative? I'm more into circuit racing so I won't need 500whp in my mind if I'm not drag racing. Plus anything beats having a stock 7a.


If anyone wants to trade fog's let me know, your 94-95 for my 96-99.

[turbochloe]

wow nice look... i saw it on craiglist and wanted to buy it for the doors lol gl on it

[TiGZ461]

wow nice look... i saw it on craiglist and wanted to buy it for the doors lol gl on it

Lol I couldn't possibly watch it get parted, I had to buy it lol

[Joe_1985]

guess i aint the only red n black celica

[TiGZ461]

hahaha, brother!

[95CelicaST]

The 4A-GZE isn't done as much mainly because it is harder to find than a 3S, generally about the same price (for the AE101 version with DLI) as a 3S, and expensive aftermarket support. It is nearly impossible to find an SC12 or SC14 pulley to upgrade the supercharger, and I heard wiring is a PITA.

And 94-95 front end is awesome, but the 94-95 fogs are much, much more valuable than the 96-99 fogs. Fortunately for you, you have the foglight wiring already, so the pre-facelift fogs might end up being plug and play.

[delusionz]

4A-GZE is the swap for the 7A as it all bolts up. 3S-GTE is the swap for the 5S.

(However you can get 5S engine mounts to make a 3S work in an ST)

With both swaps, if you want a nice fresh engine (and a late spec with highest available output) your best bet is to find a JDM importer.

Not sure about the US but in New Zealand there are engines with less than 100,000kms (60,000 miles) being imported all the time.

AE101 Toyota Levin (Or Trueno) GT-Z is the donor car you're looking for. Otherwise it's the prehistoric AW11 MR2 Supercharged.

[95CelicaST]

4A-GZE is the swap for the 7A as it all bolts up. 3S-GTE is the swap for the 5S.

(However you can get 5S engine mounts to make a 3S work in an ST)

With both swaps, if you want a nice fresh engine (and a late spec with highest available output) your best bet is to find a JDM importer.

Not sure about the US but in New Zealand there are engines with less than 100,000kms (60,000 miles) being imported all the time.

AE101 Toyota Levin (Or Trueno) GT-Z is the donor car you're looking for. Otherwise it's the prehistoric AW11 MR2 Supercharged.

Levins and Truenos were never brought to the US, so a GZE isn't as easy to find. Even the AW11 GZE is hard to come by.

And even though it "all bolts up" to the 7A, it isn't as easy as a 20V or any other A series motor. I remember asking my tuner (who specializes in the 4AG/AE86 platforms) about swapping a 4AGZE into my first Celica, because he was swapping one into an AE86 at the time. He told me to steer clear of the GZE's, because they're a nightmare to get running properly when you swap. He said your basically better off to buy one, throw a 4AG intake manifold on it and turbo it with a standalone.

[Joe_1985]

im pondering what to do to my st in the later future, partialy cause including it i have 3 rides but 2 are down for restoration

for now its just going to be suspension, stereo intake and a full exaust.

if i keep it long term it will either be 7afte 7age 7agte or 1mzfe, im liking the 1mz option better

This post has been edited by Joe_1985: Sep 22, 2009 - 4:16 AM

[TiGZ461]

Well obtaining the engine isn't all that hard for me I got importers about 15mins away from me so I could always pick up from lets say here
http://www.jdmenginedepot.com/jdm_engines/Toyota

I figured it would be all bolt on, since everyone who's done it saids that the mounts are exactly the same, and the most difficult part is the hardness. On another note a 3s seems very practical and is the best bang for your money and I would love to have instant power but all I want to push is maybe 200-250 to the wheels. I don't know if I've said this before but I'm more into circuit racing, not really into straights so I wouldn't be needing all that power.

But anyway, on the long run is a 4agze worth it if the person is willing to put up with all the work?

[delusionz]

Its a very durable little engine, in standard form has alot of torque (the kind of torque that will pull you out of tight corners where the turbo guys will still be waiting for their turbos to kick in)

As I mentioned, the AE101 GT-Z is the donor car you're looking for. AE92 and AW11 are getting really old.

I think you'll be extremely happy with the drivability (Don't let the meager 170BHP fool you, theres more torque than a 3s-ge at a fraction of the revs) aswell as the rarity of a supercharged Celica.

A 3S-GTE has alot more power sure and as soon as it stops wheel spinning it will fly right past you, But so what, Love to see any FWD 3S-GTE try and put that power into a corner or get a decent launch... It's either wheel spin or turbo lag (and wheel spin).

3S-GTE was built for 4WDs, 4A-GZE was built for a mid-rear but was adapted very well to FWD.

[delusionz]

As for getting it running, I don't see why there should be a problem, If it was working in the Levin / Trueno it came out of, It can work just as good in the Celica.

If you carry out with this make sure you upgrade your brakes and suspension, but that's obvious isn't it?

[TiGZ461]

Thats exactly what I was thinking, the 4agze seems like a very wise candidate for a curvy circuit. The power is always there no need to wait for it to kick in. And like you said its very rare to see the swap so it would be nice to be different. I'm getting more and more into these engines, and I might end up doing this swap since it seems easier for us 7a guys.

But first and foremost I have to get my current engine running lol, can't be making plans without having what I have now stuck in one spot.

Getting the last few parts I need thru mail, and car will be getting back to the bodyshop next week to get its last tweaks. Pretty happy about that being that now I can throw on the rest of the stuff and have it fully running for the first time since I got it.

[TiGZ461]

Update- Rad in, and other items I don't remember right now. Tuff time at work but anyway here are so pics. Oh and the car went back to the body shop this week to have some body lines that weren't flowing fixed. Finally done and now the engine bay work starts.





Extensions were bought and sprayed with a random red just to see how they would look. Gonna respray once I find the 3l2 red can. Also threw on the blocks I bought.

[Hazmat]

Your car is progressing so quick, oh dear i missed so many posts.

Seriously, what he said lol. Nice work man I've missed alot and haven't kept up Btw are those the TRD splitters on the rear? I'm still interested in obtaining some in the future but can never find them. Great work though!

[TiGZ461]

Yessir, TRD extensions. Bought them off a member here, they need a little bit of filler but besides that their in great condition. I'm about to start changing all my liquids and see if I get around to changing my timing belt today.

Might start sanding down the fenders and throwing some bondo onto to it to fill in the small indents that it has.