My First Celica, 42000 Miles!!! Options

[skull_kid]

Hey 6gc, this is my first post.
Love the site and the people on it, so I just had to finally get on this thing.

I've been a member since I first started looking for my Celica, which is also my first car, as I always dreamed it would be.

She's a 99 Celica GT hatchback with 40906 miles at the time of purchase.
Silver with black leather interior, alloy wheels, 5 speed.
Bone stock, one owner.

The car has been sitting for the better part of 12 years.

Since transporting her home, I've gotten a full 60k service and tune, and installed brand new JDM taillights.

The only major flaws in the interior is a missing cover for the pocket under the CD player and some cracked leather on the shoulder of the driver's seat.
Here she is:










So, do I win some sort of record for this find?

This post has been edited by skull_kid: Jun 19, 2011 - 6:25 PM

[jordisonjr]

looks pretty clean.
You may find the Wheel bearings will go shortly.
My celica was sitting for a while as well and I had to do them

This post has been edited by jordisonjr: Jun 8, 2011 - 9:05 PM

[skull_kid]

You know I have been getting some vibration when braking hard from speeds above 80mph. Could that be it?

This post has been edited by skull_kid: Jun 8, 2011 - 9:27 PM

[mgnt232]

omfg! EPIC WIN! 40,000 miles!? thats crazy man, good find!
and welcome to 6gc

[jordisonjr]

Hmmm I'm not too sure.
I've had quite a bit of experience with wheel baerings, and I've never had that, althought that could be another sign.
Although usually when the wheel bearing is going, you will hear almost a like whirring sound, that speeds up with the speed of the car/wheel rotation.
When they get really bad, sometimes you can almost feel it through the floor with your feet as you drive.

[4-eyed-freek]

if they go bad you can feel it at speed through the steering wheel.. it will vibrate, mine was bad so it made for a very shaky ride hahah

[mkernz22]

the braking vibration could just mean that your pads and rotors are heating up and that the rotor is semi warping, if you get drilled and slotted rotors, then you should be all set with the braking issue

[HaysoosKreesto]

It's amazing to see a ride so CLLLLLLLLLLLLEAN like this.

[cheela]

I'd take the front bra off if I were you. Haven't heard too good of things about them.

[jordisonjr]

x2 with taking off the bra.
Although the damage may already be done.

[skull_kid]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. And thanks mgnt, I already feel welcome here

Yeah, she is clean! Biggest problems were the water pump, belts, and a leaky valve cover gasket.
I looked far and wide, and with a little patience (3 months of constant searching) I came across this gem and 2 weeks later I was a on a plane.
I think the cover in the front has been on there for years... I had no idea it could do damage to the paint.

My rotors were inspected during the 60k tune up I had in March. Plus my wheels were rebalanced. Guess I'll have to keep looking into it. It's very mild vibration though.
I'd feel comfortable about upgrading the rotors myself (thanks for the tip mkernz!), but I'm not sure about messing around with the hub assembly just yet.

On that note, I was thinking of opening a new thread about automotive education.
I was curious about how you all gained your experience.

[alltrac]

By chance did this Celica come from Colorado?

[skull_kid]

Haha I admit nothing
Did you see an old posting somewhere?

Btw good to hear back from you.

[jordisonjr]

To be honest, everything i've ever learned about cars was either through this website, reading stuff online, talking to friends/ car enthusiasts, and just getting at the car and doing the work after reading about it.
I've never had any training whatsoever when it comes to cars, but I'd like to think I know a decent amount.
Experience gives you the best knowledge, and is the best way to learn

[delusionz]

You know I have been getting some vibration when braking hard from speeds above 80mph. Could that be it?

get a wheel alignment done, check your pads, rest should be sweet.

[alltrac]

Haha I admit nothing
Did you see an old posting somewhere?

Btw good to hear back from you.

While shopping for mine I saw a silver 99 a couple months ago on craigslist with around the same mileage.

[richee3]

First things first, welcome to the site! Second, I already respect you because you type with good grammar and proper punctuation. Kudos to you. Third, and most importantly, that's a great find on that Celica! We'll never be able to find another one like it.

[skull_kid]

It looks like I've got a lot more reading to do to get some experience, although I do have to be careful because this is my daily driver.
At least I don't have to drop a couple Gs on classes or something. Thanks for the encouragement jordisonjr.

Props to my main man richee for the shout out. I do love a clean celi, and I love a clean post.
I know she's special, and I will do my best to take care of 'er.

deluzionz & mkernz22, or anyone else, I did have the alignment done a couple months back, but you've caught my interest in the brakes.
I can't afford a whole TRD brake kit, and I don't think I need a big brake kit anyway from what I've read in the forums.

Instead, would it be reasonable, and cheaper, for me to find slotted rotors and slap some TRD calipers on them (you know the sweet red ones)?

[opie_7afe]

id find some nice rotors for your stock system,(i heard slotted rotors slice a thin thin layer off of brake pads to keep the glazing down,and can shorten pad life a little), as far as calipers i wouldnt worry about them right now unless of course one is sticking or piston is leaking, however you can buy some gt-four front brakes(need slight modifications) and put those on and be basicly the same as the trd's without the paint and price tag(your calipers can be painted!), but one good/bad thing about getting gt-four brake calipers is this...you have to upgrade your wheels at the same time..why? because factory gt wheels wont clear the calipers..they also run about 500usd for the fronts...good luck! and welcome to the site

This post has been edited by opie_7afe: Jun 14, 2011 - 2:43 PM

[celicaST]

Haha I admit nothing
Did you see an old posting somewhere?

Btw good to hear back from you.

While shopping for mine I saw a silver 99 a couple months ago on craigslist with around the same mileage.

ya i saw the same listing. im sure its the same one, probably not to many 40k 99 silver gts rolling around any more, plus i see mountains in the background. glad an enthusiast picked it up