Doctavic's 96 Celica ST Options

[doctavic]

I've been on here for a few months now, but finally getting around to this. Here is my 1996 Celica ST. I bought it from my friend, who was the original owner, in July with 98k. All it needed was a fix to the rear bumper and an AC compressor, which was the first thing I bought and installed. Still haven't gotten to that bumper, but looking. I don't have a pic of that, or very many pictures of when I first got it, but here is the one I have:



Next, I got a set of Scion TC rims with decent tires (~80% thread left) for $300:



Then, I got a Ralco RZ short throw (7gc) from ebay and installed. It took a while, but the thread on installing these was great and I got all my questions answered. I bought a knock off TRD knob off ebay, and installed that but I didn't like the feel...



...so I tried the weighted knob that came with the Ralco short throw and it really made for nice shift feel. I cut the ring off the boot and tied it down, gives a nice look:



Next, I installed a Clarion CD/Ipod player with bluetooth that I got from Crutchfield, came with a remote too. Easy install, really improved sound quality but I still need new speakers all around.




Then side skirts:



JDM Kouki tails:

In process:


installed:


Then there is the K&N 57i Series Performance Intake Kit made for the 7AFE:

(pic shows the TRD 3-point front strut bar I just installed, see below):


and a video for sound: (there is a rattle between 2500-2800 rpm that I can't find... I think its a heat shield)

Link to video:
http://s1267.beta.photobucket.com/user/cel...f9e559.mp4.html

...then came this weekend. This weekend I installed new KYB GR-2 struts all around, TRD lowering springs, a TRD 3-point front strut bar, a GT-Four rear strut bar, and a steering wheel from a '98:

Throwing on a 20" rim from my friends' shop, just for fun:



GT-Four rear strut bar:


TRD 3-point front strut bar:


Steering wheel (I bought the sub-harness adapter so the airbag works and there is no light):



...and the final (lowered) product... for now (oh, with clear side marker lights):



...still need to fix the bumper!


This post has been edited by doctavic: Nov 18, 2012 - 8:58 PM

[doctavic]

...and just installed the LED lights on my cluster from Spree:

[richee3]

Looking great so far! I especially like the Spree LED's. I have white LED's in my gauge cluster but I still had a hint of green until I sanded the backs of my gauge faces.

[Malhar95]

Looking great so far! I especially like the Spree LED's. I have white LED's in my gauge cluster but I still had a hint of green until I sanded the backs of my gauge faces.

what do u mean sanded the back? like what parts the green sheet?

[doctavic]

the picture I took makes it look more white than it is (not done purposely). i have a light green tint too.

next, thinking bumper, speakers, performance muffler, fog lights, maybe a header... but it wont pass smog then...

[mkernz22]

ahh so you're the guy who bought that strut bar. glad to see why he never got back to me after i was the first one to inquire on it.

car looks very nice though

[doctavic]

ahh so you're the guy who bought that strut bar. glad to see why he never got back to me after i was the first one to inquire on it.

car looks very nice though

He had it on craigslist, i found it locally before he put up the posting here. I just hadn't gone to pick it up until after.

[richee3]

what do u mean sanded the back? like what parts the green sheet?

There is a green tint on the back of the gauge faces. This thread is very helpful.

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...41562&st=20

Simply put, I had to open up my gauge cluster, remove the needles, and take the faces off. There's a green tint on the back of each gauge face. I used a light grit sandpaper to gently sand behind the numbers on the gauge faces. I didn't do behind my fuel/temp gauges, only my tach and speedo. They're still a little green but not enough to bother me.

[doctavic]

So... this past weekend I put on new struts, mounts, TRD lowering springs. Finally took it out for a long drive. The front is great, the rear makes a terrible noise over bumps from both sides. Its louder and harsher at speed, but theres no bouncing and it feels tight. Searching 6gc, seems like it could be the rear sway bar bushings. Going to try that first, but I only see sway bar bushing sizes for GTs (16mm). Anyone know if its the same for the ST? Thinking of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/140689722049

EDIT: Checked and it seems it is 16mm. Ordered these today. Hopefully it gets rid of the sound.

This post has been edited by doctavic: Nov 21, 2012 - 7:29 AM

[doctavic]

So... this past weekend I put on new struts, mounts, TRD lowering springs. Finally took it out for a long drive. The front is great, the rear makes a terrible noise over bumps from both sides. Its louder and harsher at speed, but theres no bouncing and it feels tight. Searching 6gc, seems like it could be the rear sway bar bushings. Going to try that first, but I only see sway bar bushing sizes for GTs (16mm). Anyone know if its the same for the ST? Thinking of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/140689722049

EDIT: Checked and it seems it is 16mm. Ordered these today. Hopefully it gets rid of the sound.

I got the Energy Suspension 16mm polyurethane sway bar bushings, and helped calm the noise a little, but there is still some rattling on heavy bumps. End links looked okay, guess its the strut mounts?

Had new Alpine speakers installed, component 2-way in the front. Had a hole cut out of the door panel for the install. Between the receiver and now the speakers, sounds like a new car.
>component speaker system includes two woofers, two tweeters, and two built-in crossovers
>6-3/4" mineral-fortified polypropylene woofer cone with rubber surround
>woofer fits 6-1/2" and 6-3/4" speaker openings
>1" silk dome tweeter
>power range: 2-80 watts RMS (240 watts peak power)
>frequency response: 70-22,000 Hz
>sensitivity: 88 dB





This post has been edited by doctavic: Nov 29, 2012 - 6:47 PM

[SwissFerdi]

Nice speaker, that's quite a good RMS rating. How does that shifter feel exactly with a weighted knob like that?

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 29, 2012 - 9:34 PM

[celica74]

Those alpines are great for the price. Brother has some in his car and sound great. Whatd you do to mount the tweeters?

[doctavic]

Nice speaker, that's quite a good RMS rating. How does that shifter feel exactly with a weighted knob like that?

weighted knob did wonders. solid crisp shifts.

[doctavic]

Those alpines are great for the price. Brother has some in his car and sound great. Whatd you do to mount the tweeters?

2" hole saw, tweeters came with a ring that fit snuggly.

[SwissFerdi]

weighted knob did wonders. solid crisp shifts.

Good to hear. Can't wait to install mine, although it's a Type-R knob (traitorous, I know).

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 30, 2012 - 4:49 PM

[doctavic]

weighted knob did wonders. solid crisp shifts.

Good to hear. Can't wait to install mine, although it's a Type-R knob (traitorous, I know).

Did you install it? How heavy is the one you got ?

This post has been edited by doctavic: Dec 1, 2012 - 10:24 AM

[doctavic]

Got my rear bumper from dkdmonk last week, and got around to installing it...

Took off the old bumper, lights, and license plate bezel...


Then took the write junkyard writing on the bumper off with some brake fluid (water did not work, looked online):


...and the end result: (I also put a TRD emblem on the trunk)





...and got around to installing the SS-III grill and TRD badge:



This post has been edited by doctavic: Dec 16, 2012 - 4:41 PM

[nics]

you just need the foglights

[doctavic]

you just need the foglights

def fog lights, spacers, and a magnaflow exhaust, maybe splitters...

[doctavic]

Xmas gift from the girlfriend, Magnaflow 14814... sounds great.