"New" car to play with

[OverDrive418]

Just picked this up for $1900 yesterday. 1986 Toyota Corolla, AE86 SR5, 5-spd manual, RWD.

The good:
Strong smooth running engine and trans. Doesn't smoke or make funny noises, idles fine.
Bodywork done, came with lip, skirts and trunk lip wing to attach
Original wheels that I've always loved
All original numbers matching everything
160K on the odo
Interior perfect
and the main selling point...pop-up headlights that actually work!

The bad:
Suspension needs some freshening up, a little too rough for my old ass!
Paint, obviously
Exhaust needs new hangers.
(This list is subject to change as I take it apart)

Will probably need the usual tune-up stuff but over all it seems to be a fairly decent car. I don't know what direction I want to go with it, most likely won't drift it. May auto-x or track it...or restore it to a street cruiser...who knows. For now just getting it to drive smooth and look good is my goal. I need A/C in the Honda first before any of that though!

If anybody has any tuning tips or things I should look for about the car let me know, I'm learning as I go!

[Cholewa]

I think you should put bags on it.

[slowautoxr]

Think rallycross.

[Cholewa]

It's got a pretty nice 710 cap

[zukitek]

I have always wanted to get one of those and go hawg wild . Too bad it doesnt have the 2 cammer motor .

Here is probably what Id do if i got one. This video is all in Japanese but the car speaks for itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUesfZd8sK4&feature=related

[OverDrive418]

I was a little dissapointed that it didn't have the twin cam...but I couldn't resist! I'll find another engine but who knows when I'll find another decent car with this much going for it.
Nice vid Ricky, my "Japanese Car Gods" file just got a new entry!

Well the wife has let me know she loves that I'm digging the car so much but if I want to keep it in the driveway I need to at least make it all one color! I got a bunch of Rustoleum Dark Grey Auto Primer cans and a lot of tape and newspaper ready to go. The wheels need a few curb rashes filed out so I will most likely, for the time being until I get them powdercoated the final color, paint them with some safety orange I have leftover from another project. With the wing and skirts on it should look pretty close to this when I'm done, Thanks Forza 3!

[TouringBubble]

Great deal on it man. I've looked at the AE86s before and people generally want way more than they are worth ... "tuner tax." I gave up.

Ervin may be a good person to talk to as he has experience with the engines, but I think the 4AGE out of the MR2 might swap in, and they aren't very expensive. Toss that in and drop some weight and that will have a nice P:W.

[OverDrive418]

I work out here and there and eat a well balanced diet, but I'm just so busy during the day...oh you mean the CAR needs to drop some weight!

[zukitek]

I was a little dissapointed that it didn't have the twin cam...but I couldn't resist! I'll find another engine but who knows when I'll find another decent car with this much going for it.
Nice vid Ricky, my "Japanese Car Gods" file just got a new entry!

Well the wife has let me know she loves that I'm digging the car so much but if I want to keep it in the driveway I need to at least make it all one color! I got a bunch of Rustoleum Dark Grey Auto Primer cans and a lot of tape and newspaper ready to go. The wheels need a few curb rashes filed out so I will most likely, for the time being until I get them powdercoated the final color, paint them with some safety orange I have leftover from another project. With the wing and skirts on it should look pretty close to this when I'm done, Thanks Forza 3!

I warn you. Rattle can primer is no better than rattle can paint unless it is 10 dollars a can. It will all have to be sanded off the car before you will get a lasting paint job without chemical reactions down the line .

If you gonna rattle can the car temporarily...use flat or semigloss black paint. Trust me ...been down the road. It is just as resistant to rust and looks better.

RR

[Cholewa]

Yes, satin paint will do you much better than primer will. Spend the extra bucks and get decent spray paint.

[OverDrive418]

Too late, whats done is done. So here's a bit of "progress". Jacked up the one side and ground down some welds smooth, removed the side molding and found some more surface rust hiding underneath so hit that with an orbital sander and 150 grit, primed that. Taped everything off and went to town...but ran out of daylight! Hit it again early this morning and hosed it down cleaning the windows and tires so it didn't look like an abandoned car. I took Ken Blocks name off the sticker on the window so now it just says "GYMKHANA PROJECT" on the side, you know, so people may get the idea its a project and not finished yet!






Still looks like a turd but at least its a polished turd.
I got the thumbs up "Thanks sweeteie, that looks SO much better!", from the wife so for now thats mission accomplished for me.
I'm moving next week into a house with a 2-car garage, thats when the real work will start so stay tuned, I plan on tearing it all apart! MWUHAHAHAHA!

[OverDrive418]

I messed around on Forza3 with the idea of having a Japanese Zero paint scheme...but knowing me I'll probably do something simple and one color!

[kilgojr]

I like it. Its much better than the primer grey. Ofcourse the primer grey was much better then the two tone faded-ness the original color was.

I really don't think it would be that hard to do that paint job. Its all very simple features, you'd just have to take your time masking things off and letting the paint dry and doing the second and third colors. My vote is GO FOR IT.

[Cholewa]

You could do that with good spray paint (montana, belton, etc) in about an hour. Minus the rivets...

[TouringBubble]

You could do the rivets with a sharpie and a hole punch in not much longer ...