Nostalgia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmAcL1arHtI Filmed in 08, 14 years old. Pretty much a drift king. KE30. It had a LOT of work done to it, Nissan CA18 etc. But he did move onto a Silvia (14 or 15) at some point if I remember correctly. Currently has a V8 AE71. Point is, if you really want to make a KE30 into a decent drift car, go for it. But the amount of work put into this one crossed the roadworthy line way back I would expect, and took a lot of money and know-how. Maybe have two KE30s? One as a neat and tidy daily with a few zippy bits, and a stripped one for drifting?

Again mate, suspension is going to be after I've sorted out everything else; and after I've learn more. I don't plan to be doing the suspension by myself, you shouldn't work under a car by yourself anyway. EDIT: I wouldn't want to be like, "Oh this is so sweet, my van looks amazing," then have the front end fall apart! Found out what the cooling problem was, something so simple. The radiator cap and the part with the thread are damaged, which let all the water evaporate out when it got warm, then overheated. Which may explain why the temp gauge would always show almost 'c' until the last moments of life when it would skyrocket.

Thanks genius..

Mine did have the back seats, but I couldn't get them with the van because the last owner went through a rough divorce and she threw all his stuff out, including the rear seat! I was shattered haha. What's left of the front carpet is very worn and torn, and been replaced with random chunks of 'custom' carpet by the prev owner! I'll make a rides thread once I get some decent photos. I'm not actually sure what KM it is, I can't find the engine plate or any info on the net other than the KM20 and KM36, which it isn't either. It's close to the 20, but with a slightly more modern front. I wish it was a KM20, but they're rare as :( I don't know much about Liteaces compared to Corollas, so I'm hoping for some insight :) Does anyone know where the engine plate is?

Silerra23, If you read back I said I want to do this AFTER I've sorted out the overheating problem. Helps to read the OP. And yes, I know it could be any one of those issues, but I don't know which one so I thought I would ask on here. I haven't had the opportunity to learn this stuff, like how to diagnose and how to fix the problems; I'm 18 and not an apprentice mechanic, though I wish I was! So I came here to learn, is that a crime? I've seen more stupid and/or uninformed people on here than me. Now I'm talking about the suspension so I can make plans for the van AFTER (yes, after) I've fixed the overheating problem, I was planning on making an Overheating thread, but was expecting a few know-it-all's just posting a link that usually caters to my problem but vaguely. Onikage, I was thinking venetians too, and those flappers seem like the way to go. But with the springs, I've now realised that there are no springs, I made this page when I wasn't with the car and after I'd just bought it! Torsion bars on the front, leafs on the back! So cutting springs doesn't seem like the right path :P

Thanks for that! I think I understand, so as you loosen/unscrew the nuts and the bolt, the front lowers (on that side of course)?

Yeah so, got to Dad's and had my first good look under the front end. Yep, torsion bars. I feel like a douche! Is there a way I can lower the ride height at home with basic socket wrenches etc? Or should I get it done somewhere? Seems like a bit of an overkill..

Thanks, will do :) but it doesn't always steam, only when it's fully overheated and broken down with an empty radiator which has only happened once while I've owned it. And the steam coming from the rocker cover etc.. I honestly thought it was just because of the amount of grease and crap that it's covered in getting so hot (the previous owner probably hadn't cleaned it in years). I'll give it a degrease and see if I can find any leaks and post some photos.

Arches covering the tyres low?

My mate who was driving noticed a little smoke coming from the exhaust, then when it broke down a minute later I lifted the seat and the whole thing was steaming. Put water in the radiator and it shot out like a steam engine and filled the cabin. And greenmac, I'm not entirely sure, I'll have a look tomorrow as the van's at my dads. Would lowering it with the torsion bar stiffen the front suspension as well as lower it?

I read in the Cooling Issue Thread it could be the hg, but could it be as simple as the lines? It doesn't leak at all, the water level just drops as the minutes pass. The other day, after 6 hours of driving and one refill of the radiator (I always keep a 20litre water bottle from woolies in the back), it went through it all, overheated and broke down on a highway with nowhere to pull over, not good.

ae824ate, this is what I want to do with my van. You wanted to spend your money on an ae82, you can do that; I don't care. And about the tools bit, there's hardly any Liteace's where I am, especially modded ones; the tools are the ones with little front wheel drive hatchbacks with fart cannons. And the Commy drivers. I need suggestions on interchangeable springs which will lower my car and limit the roll, I said I don't want to cut springs. And 2.5" is hardly dumping it, it looks like it's on stilts as it is! raceflorolla, No pics just yet, have to find the cord for the camera or I'll have to use a sh!tty old one TE278U, When I take out my springs, am I measuring the diameter of the spring and the thickness or what? Thanks for the good words guys :) as I said, I need to work on a cooling(?) issue first, so I don't have to keep topping up the radiator every hour or so!

Sooo I just paid $250 for my first Toyota - an 82 Liteace "WAGON" van. :dance: 4k, 4 spd column. And I love it! I want to go lower with white walls (spray can home job most likely) so it's a nice little cruiser. After I've fixed the gobbling up the water and overheating issue. Now I've found lowering blocks on eBay in 2 - 2.5in which seems the way to go for the back, but I don't know what to do about the front. Does anyone know if there are any interchangeable springs with the Liteace? From any AE or KE? Because then I can get the King Super Lows off eBay, and maybe cut them to match the lowering of the rear. Cutting the stock springs will be a last resort.. Or I can go minitruck style and drag the ass.. Not likely! Any suggestions?? Cheers, Toby :)

Sounds good, though putting a 4k head on a 5k would increase the compression, not decompress it? Edit: I read somewhere that 4k heads don't fit on 5ks anyway But yeah, would boring out the cylinders decompress it enough do you reckon? Or at all?

This sounds so good mate! What are you going to do about your compression? How much boost are you looking at from both chargers? Keen to watch this thread :)

There's a complete 2tg on ebay at the moment, it's at about $120...

Though I like the concept, that thing looks rancid. It reminds me of the Ford Ka's styling - a fail.

Wasn't the 'new ae86' meant to be about 20g USD or something? Toyota is entering an untapped market, the only new small, rwd cars that are out and affordable are.. Well, there are none I don't think! Maybe a Great Wall ute.. Will be interesting to see what the other big names (apart from subaru) will have to offer the young, cashed-up P-plater market!

It's funny how so many p-platers think because they passed a test that they're the best driver out there. I'm 17 and have mates who get their P's, take mummy's like 2003 fwd corolla out and think they're the bee's fcuking knees, I'm like "Dude slow the fcuk down, you're not the stig." Usual response = "Nah man, I'm a hell good driver!"

This should help! http://www.rollaclub.com/faq/index.php?title=Tech:Engine/K_Series/How_to_build_a_tough_K_motor

^^^ 72 is my fave. So you couldn't fit a 72 setup on a late 73/74 ke20? What if you made new mounting points? Wouldn't be too hard surely

Oh wow, that thing's amazing! I love the early 20s too. Is the front on choppies?

Wow, that looks sick! Looks a little like an RA40. Come to think of it, maybe you could use the whole setup from an RA40, with a little shoehorning

Nice Photoshop job :P You're so lucky, I wish my dad was as into helping me with my cars as yours is! I love this thread Toby

That's not an 87 man. Probably a 77