My AE86 Corolla Part 9 - Spring, Finishing Touches

It started to get nice out, so I already signed up for DD51! I need to prep the car!!

The paint on the car is shit, so I think 'lets wrap the rest of the car in that radical purple sparkly vinyl'!!!! Also the old bars that were on the car were shit, so I fabricated a new one for the front. It looks way better and it will even support me standing on it, perfect!

For the first time, all of the aero is on the car and the car is all one color, its amazing! DD51 can not get here fast enough!

My AE86 Corolla Part 8 - Winter Build/Getting Ready for Spring

With all of the excitement of the car running and driving, I knew that come spring time, I would be ready to take it to the track!

There were a few things that where not working like the tachometer so I added an aftermarket one along with some other gauges and a kill switch for the battery.

The rear of the car in the hatch area has no floor, still, and I wanted to add a floor for the ease of street driving in the future. With some help from a few buddies, we made a cardboard template and cut out the new steel floor and welded it into the rear of the car.

After grinding and adding some sealant, I put on a few coats of paint. Finally, it is starting to become more of a car than a project!

After spending some extra time on the little things, like the idle issue, I had taken the car around the block a few times to be sure things were running well. Now the wait until spring to get signed up for some track time!

My AE86 Corolla Part 7 - Summertime and Issues

Summer finally came and I am giddy with excitement to get behind the wheel of this Corolla!
However some things just did not line up...literately...
- The exhaust manifold I ordered from XS-Power did not fit, the flange was for a 20V motor, so the three bolts I used to test it fit just fine, but the other 2 do not line up, what a pain in the ass (Also they did nothing when I called/emailed, so I highly recommend not doing business with them!)
- My wiring was not connecting like it should, and I ended up trading some parts for a full (Used) harness set from a 1985 GT-S, including the under dash, front chassis and motor harnesses for the swap. The "uncut" harness had a few splices in it that caused most of the gauge cluster to not work, and one of the clips was cut off, however I had an extra kicking around.

Along with these issues and the birth of my son, many hours where spent working on the car, but not much got done until later in the summer.

The car did not have any brakes in the front when I got it. I found a great deal on pads/rotors/calipers on Club4a so I jumped on them. I was missing a tension rod so I ordered a new set of them as well. I also picked up some seat rails and a second hand Sparco 3 point harness.

Well after some initial letdown, the car was looking hopeful for this season! I wasn't giving up, yet! At this point, I decided to ditch the turbo and get it to run using the factory cast exhaust manifold. 

In addition, I picked up a new tool for the garage... a welder! The only thing was that I have never used a welder before and depended on Youtube, as my teacher. Undeterred, I got started right away, and I made a front bumper support as my first weld project.

It fits great! A little flimsy, but it's what I had to work with! And... spoiler alert, this car is starting to change color!!! 

Approaching fall I bought a spot for Club FR DD50, and I was super determined to make it! However there where still setbacks: the car was not idling properly, and the timing was off. In the end it came down to the fact that I was not confident in taking the car to the track and beating the piss out of it with these issues. I ended up selling my spot, but that day was the first day I drove it around the block, it was loud and ugly but FUCKING RAD all at the same time!!! 

After working on the car a ton, over the summer, I let it fall to the back burner for most of the start of the winter. Well, except for this...

My AE86 Corolla Part 6 - Winter Build Time

Early into the winter of 2013/14, I found a great deal on a new (to me) motor from a friend of a friend, one that I have some reliable history on and best of all it's ready to be Turbo'd! Added to that, it is coming with many extra parts!

Motor details
7Rib GZE motor from an AW11 MR2
Large port cams
Blue top head
T25 Garrett turbo from an S13
ST 20V Clutch set
T50 ( Stock GT-S Trans)

I previously had a top-mount manifold kicking around and I test fit it on the motor, but there was no room for it, it must have been for a FWD car, so I ordered a new manifold...but let's get this new motor in the car first.

And here it is with the manifold and turbo installed. It looks great!
Also, at this time is when the car went down to DL Garage to get some welding work done. They cut out the floor in the hatch and made a support for the gas tank, also they fitted the hydraulic handbrake into the cab, and they welded in supports for the FMIC and half size radiator.

After the tank was in the car, I got a Painless Wiring kit for wiring in the pump and hooking up the fuel system. It was a super-easy and straight-forward install! 

Shortly after I got the car back, I received my Aero kit! I was super jazzed to ditch those clunky bumpers for something with a little more style and flair! 

I had very quickly come to realize that all aftermarket bumpers fit like shit and typically ones for Japanese cars do not fit over US bumper beams, this will have to be addressed some summer time.