Mkernz22's Progression Thread Options

[jcbass7]

Mike, keep on keeping on. I'm six celica's in since my first one I had in high school. I said I'd never get rid of them, then something changed and I had to for one reason or another.. well I just ended up getting another one.. and another one. Long story short is I am finally building the celica that I had wanted in the beginning. Everyone takes a different path as they go along with their cars, only you will figure out what the right decisions are. In the end, it comes down to enjoying working on a car and being able to fix it, while learning a ton in the process.

Whatever direction you decide to go in with the Celi, we'll be tagging along and offering help where we can.

This post has been edited by jcbass7: Apr 15, 2012 - 8:38 PM

[mkernz22]

Mike, keep on keeping on. I'm six celica's in since my first one I had in high school. I said I'd never get rid of them, then something changed and I had to for one reason or another.. well I just ended up getting another one.. and another one. Long story short is I am finally building the celica that I had wanted in the beginning. Everyone takes a different path as they go along with their cars, only you will figure out what the right decisions are. In the end, it comes down to enjoying working on a car and being able to fix it, while learning a ton in the process.

Whatever direction you decide to go in with the Celi, we'll be tagging along and offering help where we can.

Thanks man! I'll get there eventually with the Celi that I want to build, but it is definitely going to be after college when I have a steady income and I also have the time. I have to decide within the next year if I want to rebuild the 5s in my shed or just go with a beams swap. This summer I am definitely replacing the gas lines and will be checking out the gas tank as well. If nothing else is leaking on it, I'm just going to heavily undercoat it all for now.
As for my engine, I know it's on it's way out because 1) I can't go above 5k rpm's without it making a screeching noise and 2) when I get on it, in any gear, around 4k-5k rpm it makes that screeching noise. Sometimes it does it at lower rpm's as well. It's definitely metal on metal cause a belt couldn't make the noise I hear. I'm leaning toward the beams because I don't have another 94-95 head in good condition, just a 96, and I don't feel like dealing with all that emissions crap and swapping heads, intakes, tb's and etc.

[mkernz22]

Took her off roading today. The trails were pretty harsh, but there were some nice sections to fly down. Got up to about 45-50mph. Being that it was my first, boy can I say it was a f*cking blast! Screw having a car that goes fast, rallying kind of took over in my heart haha

[mkernz22]

Well, probably going to buy that Celica with a blown motor that Limited GT4 just posted in the FS section. Such a clean body. If I get her, definitely going to fix her up and get her running. Hopefully the engine isn't too bad, but I have another bottom end if that's the case...and a top end too haha

[Ted95]

take a good look under the ride too make sure shes not hurting to bad

[mkernz22]

take a good look under the ride too make sure shes not hurting to bad

Talked to the owner via email and it's actually a woman owner. She said it's very clean, barely anything for rust and no rot, and I'll be getting more pictures of it tomorrow. Engine blew cause it had an oil leak and she let the level get too low. I'm definitely guessing that the bottom end went on it, probably a rod or something. Hopefully I can talk her down to $400 cash for it, $500 is my max.

[Ted95]

take a good look under the ride too make sure shes not hurting to bad

Talked to the owner via email and it's actually a woman owner. She said it's very clean, barely anything for rust and no rot, and I'll be getting more pictures of it tomorrow. Engine blew cause it had an oil leak and she let the level get too low. I'm definitely guessing that the bottom end went on it, probably a rod or something. Hopefully I can talk her down to $400 cash for it, $500 is my max.

lol women driver, blown motor..


Nice mike sounds like a good shell to work with, you should be able to get a good deal for it. good luck man!

[mkernz22]

take a good look under the ride too make sure shes not hurting to bad

Talked to the owner via email and it's actually a woman owner. She said it's very clean, barely anything for rust and no rot, and I'll be getting more pictures of it tomorrow. Engine blew cause it had an oil leak and she let the level get too low. I'm definitely guessing that the bottom end went on it, probably a rod or something. Hopefully I can talk her down to $400 cash for it, $500 is my max.

lol women driver, blown motor..


Nice mike sounds like a good shell to work with, you should be able to get a good deal for it. good luck man!

I know right?
But if I decide to part with it, everything is coming off, and then I'm saving the shell for that project I'm hoping to start by the time college is done haha

[mkernz22]

Just a picture I took and edited the other day. She's a little dirty.


This post has been edited by mkernz22: May 22, 2012 - 11:36 AM

[mkernz22]

Not a huge update, but I relocated my front turn signals.
Originally I had blacked the stock housings out (really dark) so they were only visible at night.
My h3 LED bulbs came in the mail today and I was going to put them in my aftermarket fog lights, but they were too long and wouldn't fit. I test fitted them in the OEM foglights, and they fit perfect. Only problem is, they were too dark. Being that I took the orange out of both of my front and rear turn signals, I took a try at removing that piece that goes around the H3 bulb in the fog lights. It was a success. They still were bright enough to be foglights so I wised up and made them into turn signals because it's stupid not to have them. I'll have pictures up in a little bit.

[dudeofchaos]

^ love the picture!

[mkernz22]

So I've got some plans in my head for what I want to do with the exhaust. Possibly getting rid of the muffler altogether since I'm going to be putting a resonator on this time around. Keeping the ebay header, getting a stock flex pipe or I'll have one made if I can't find a stock one in good condition; 2 inch piping. Going to run 2" piping from the flex section to a Vibrant bottle resonator which will step it up to a 2.25". From there I might get a second resonator, the Vibrant Ultra Quiet, and then from there back still remains a mystery. I might get a rear diffuser and change the way the exhaust routes, but it's something to still think about.
I'm just getting sick of the low drone from my exhaust during regular driving conditions, but it's horrible on the highway. I just want something that's quiet when I'm driving, but sounds nice (with no rasp), when I get on it a little bit.

[rave2n]

^ love the picture!

I with him on that

[mkernz22]

Hit 239,000 miles today. Only 11,000 more until quarter of a million!

And I've been slowly making a list of things I need to get to replace next summer.
Just to list a few...
Calipers all around
Brake pads
Front to rear hard brake lines
Soft brake lines
Fuel lines
Fuel filter
Coolant hoses
Misc gaskets on the engine to stop my oil leak
Axle seals
Spark plugs & wires (upgraded wires)
Gas tank straps
Sway bar bushings
Front end links

It's going to be quite the expensive tuneup, but I'm actually looking forward more than worrying how much it is going to cost. Yes I'm a little worried about the price, but it's well worth it

This post has been edited by mkernz22: Aug 21, 2012 - 10:18 PM

[enderswift]

thats a good list. An oz of maintanance is worth a pound of repairs IMO

[cheela]

thats a good list. An oz of maintanance is worth a pound of repairs IMO

especially doing it yourself.

[mkernz22]

It's everything that needs to be done and I probably forgot a few things as well lol
I'm doing it right in my driveway next summer, right where I did my transmission conversion.
Just need to buy myself an engine hoist too!

[Box]

eBay and RockAuto will be your best friend. Can't begin to tell you how much money I've saved buying online versus parts houses.

[mkernz22]

eBay and RockAuto will be your best friend. Can't begin to tell you how much money I've saved buying online versus parts houses.

I'm going to the dealer for the hard brake lines and fuel lines, as well as the engine gaskets / seals. As for the brakes, I'm going to drop a bit on them. I looked at iRotor (it's on the parts list) for calipers because I want drilled and slotted rotors. I know it's no race car, but I have them now and I like the look and performance they give me. I believe the current ones are ebay brand, from the PO, but they need replacing. The front and rear rotors alone are about $300 and then I'm getting Kevlar & Ceramic pads on the front and rear and that's about another $125 right there. I'd like to stop, rather than not stop, and plus I'm a spirited back road driver (not speeding, but having fun in the curves). Upgrading to Dot4 brake fluid too. Ebay isn't my thing unless I'm looking for good deals on rare parts or exhaust stuff or lowering springs and etc.

[mkernz22]

Basically my parts list right now.
This doesn't include the extra $250 on the hard brake lines and fuel lines that run from the front to the back of the car.
And doesn't include the front end links I forgot about or the front and rear sway bar bushings.
And anything else I think of.

This post has been edited by mkernz22: Aug 30, 2012 - 11:10 PM