slide86

Well I have been preparing the car for ID inspection so I can get some SA rego on it. I was worried about a few little things that might get a closer look at the inspection station. The car had no working heater, some things in the engine bay were loose, it still had half the aftermarket A/C fitted poorly. I removed the condensor......look at where it was fitted: While under the back of the car I removed the towbar as well. Lets be honest, this is never going to tow anything again: Probably my biggest worry is that the car had no working heater setup, the pipes had been cut at the firewall and the heater tap removed. I was worried that if they checked the demister, there would be no hot air and would result in a defect. I had to make the heater setup from scratch as there was nothing apart from the heater core. Inspecting the heater I discovered why the plumbing had been removed. The pipes on the core were both cracked. A frantic trip to the local radiator shop, old mate was able to weld and pressure test the core. He did a great job. I went down to Repco and got them to file through the shelves and managed to find a universal heater tap. I also bought a brass 'T' piece and a BSP brass barb for the thermostat housing. I rigged up something to get water flow to the heater core: Heater tap fitted inline. The only annoying thing about this is that the heater tap works in reverse, so in the car you have to have it on "cool" to get the warm air to flow: Whilst I had the coolant drained, I fitted a thermostat as there wasn't one in there. I didn't know why this was, hoping that there wasn't a bigger issue. The car drove fine tho and the temp gauge actually showed the car was warming up unlike before where it was cold all the time. I guess the car had the original exhaust on it because it was split in several places and both mufflers were rusted out. It was loud and fumes were coming in the cab. I trailered the car to a local exhaust shop and left VERY specific instructions for what I wanted fitted to the car. I'm very happy with the results, nice and simple with a stock looking appearance and sound. I quickly dropped the oil and replaced the filter. I used Nulon 20w50 for older engines and it seems to have worked well. Doesnt smoke as much and the engine is still very quiet for its age. Last of all, I just replaced some of the soft fuel lines in the engine bay, and moved the fuel filter from ontop of the engine to the factory location next to the strut tower. Securing a few loose wires and hoses with some cable ties was about all the time I had before I had to leave for inspection. So I fitted my permit in the window and off I set. This was the first time I had driven the car further than 10kms and faster than 60km/h. WOW what an experience. I drove down the freeway at 85km/h, this was at about 3700rpm. That little 3K was singing. I managed to get to 90 once, but backed off. Everyone was passing me but I didnt care, it was great fun. Car drove perfect all day, both on the freeway and through the city. Had no issues at all. Arrived at the inspection depo and passed with no problems. The guy recommended that I fix a few things before driving anymore, I was already aware of it, and was to excited knowing I had passed to really care what he was saying. Next up, my first Classic car meet on the 27th. It just happens to be one of the biggest in the country.

Excellent work. Which trimmer in Adelaide did you use? Is that a Knox carpet?

Looks like I know where Ill be sending my KE17 next year! Fantastic work.

Once I get rego on the KE17, I'd be keen for a meet up. Lets get winter out of the way!

Light in question is marked with yellow line. I can't quite make out what it says in this picture, and the one on my car has the red lense missing or pushed in. Currently it is on constantly in my car. Thanks. (Note: Picture courtesy of Google images).

Interested, as I need one for my KE17.

Yep, this one came up on gumtree, a mate let me know about it and figured I just needed it! haha. Unfortunetly the guy who I got it off had tried to fit a commodore V6 in it, so the bulkhead and trans tunnel have been totally removed. I don't feel to bad about salvaging it for parts now.

Yep, no way this is getting modified to fit another engine or anything silly like that. I have found that one of the most important things you need when restoring an old car, is another car for parts! Found this one on the weekend. Has disc brake front, aftermarket suspension and swaybar, overrated rear bumper and good chrome trims. I also got 6 of those 13 x 5.5 performance wheels in the deal too! Not bad for $500. Not much else to report, have finally tucked the car away in the shed:

Ok cool. So these are no good? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TOYOTA-COROLLA-KE15-KE16-KE17-DOOR-SEALS-L-H-R-H-/120757044203?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item1c1dae43eb

So I gather the seats and dash should be all black without the white inserts? I need to put together a list of things I need.....Finding some of them is going to be interesting. Will be buying heaps of those NOS and reproduction parts on ebay too I think.

I spent the day just tidying a few things up. I hated that radio there, so started to remove it. This led me to the horrible wiring under the dash, next thing I was removing the remains of an immobiliser/alarm and a heap of other random wires that didn't do anything. While I was down there, I removed the centre console to vac the carpets. I found the gearboot had been fitted poorly and wasn't actually fitted over the stick. I cleaned the carpets up and correctly fitted the boot. Refitted the console, then removed the Toyota seat covers that were on there. Seats are vrey dirty and the drivers is cracked. There will be a full retrim in the future, so I can live with that for now. I removed the aircleaner just to see the condition of the filter and have a suss at the carbs. Everything seems good and is quite clean. Lastly check out this grandpa mod sunshade. Pity they drilled into the A pilars to fit it:

Yeah I actually was going to PM you telling the good news! haha I'm a little excited.

Some of you may remember me from my turbo AE86: http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/68849-ae86-4agteall-the-gear-no-idea/page__p__678061#entry678061 I've continued the Sprinter theme and aquired a genuine KE17 SL. I have been on the search for along time for one of these. When this one came up in WA, I had to jump on it. After the deal was done and the car sent over on the train, it landed at my place. I finally came home from work 2 weeks later and have been able to have a good look at it. I'm very happy. It needs work, but what 45 year old car doesn't???

Guess I should update....... Moved house again, back to the big smoke. In a house of our own now, with a overrated shed. Loaded car up, borrowed ute from work and made the 350km journey. Had to prep the workshop before I could move into it: Now that's done, I could move in: Spent some time on the oiling side of things, a turbo feed and drain needed to be made: I'm using a -4 line with Speedflow steel fittings for the feed line. I had to run the line off the block fitting because the oil pressure sender would not fit there. My first attempt at making my own lines, I think it came out pretty well: The GREX adaptor has a 1/8 bspt to -4 fitting in it to run the feed line: I needed a new seal for the GREX housing, I went and bought a Z386 and stole the oring from that: Fitted that up, also had to fit a 1/8 bspt to 1/8 npt fitting in the block for the Autometer electric oil pressure gauge: Got the line fitted up, I made it the perfect length: Next, I started on the drain back. Start with a length of -10 braided hose and some Speedflow fittings: Fitted it up and its just long enough: While under the car i fitted up a modified sump I bought a while ago. I had a -10 Speedflow weld on fitting welded to the sump for the turbo drain. The sump has baffles in it and should almost give me 1 litre extra capacity. Next we need to filter that oil, have a oil filter block and two -10 Speedflow fittings. I have decided to mount it on the chassis rail: Did some other miscellaneous jobs here and there. Removed the cold start from the throttle body, just to neaten things up a little. Installed a new genuine Toyota throttle cable while I was there, along with a JDM accelerator pedal. Got all the steering done, new boots on the rack, using genuine boot clips. The clutch is all done, new master, slave braided hose and all bleed up. Works great. The brakes have been fitted. New wheel bearings were packed, hubs and rotors installed. New pads and rebuilt calipers:

Be aware, that one in SA is a LONG way from anywhere. Its a good 6-7 hour drive from Adelaide.

PM'd you.

Came home for a bit, more parcels await: Had some fun online buying new fasteners: Such good value, all of that stuff was bout $80 delivered to me. I set about doing a few little jobs, I gave the cam covers a scrub and a quick lick of paint: Then fitted them upto the engine, using some of the new stainless bolts from the kit. How much better does it look! I'm happy with that: Parcel from last time, heap of relays and elec stuff to get the ECU squared away: I fitted up the bulkhead connector and made some cables to run from the alternator and starter. Just gotta get a smallport starter now! I also got these, they wont be going in this head. I'm going to build up a smallport head, as I have an aftermarket manifold to go with a smallport head.

Makes my head hurt. Couldnt even get me wipers for the Kluger when I went in there......all to hard apparently.

Yeah I only use Toyodiy and Amayama. Went to my local Toyota dealer once, the woman behind the counter just had a total blank stare when I tried to buy something for this car. Totally useless. Speaking of cams, HKS 264 8.35mm cams purchased last night.

Yeah specially cold in Pt Augusta where I am. Down at the storage shed the wind whips through there.......nice 8-10 degrees when I'm working :(

First job of the day was getting some brake lines to fit up to the new master. Interestingly the LHF brake line will fit up to the s13 master. I made several sample pipes out of an old fuel line and took them to the local brake shop. They worked their magic and for a reasonable price I got replicas of the templates and fitted them up. I supplied them with the bulkhead grommet before they flared the lines so they could refit it. Here is the finished line on the car, with new brake line clips and AJPS braided soft line. I need to mock the engine up so I can run the wiring and work out loom lengths, I had to test fit the inlet manifold. RWD manifold with T3 TVIS deletion plate and two oval inlet gaskets, new OEM studs: Engine mocked and harness ready to go. Note the lack of heater pipes and tap ;)

Christmas comes everytime I come home from work these days, fortnightly delights: In these we have: Overflow tank with the bracket: A heap of OEM stuff, including throttle gasket, shifter gasket, tail light gaskets, injector orings, fuel rail spacers, brake line retaining clips, clutch fork clips, inlet manifold studs: So I test fitted the coolant bottle, cause well, I got excited: I have gone and done something drastic. Ive removed the heater and associated lines. To fit this problem I hit up old mate Sam Q, and ended up with this: Fitted up like a glove. Pics tomorrow. I had to check something today, all those years ago when I built this engine I can't remember fitting a spigot bearing. I wanted to make sure there was one there, and if not, I have one here I can knock in. So I got too it, not to hard when I already had no exhaust, tailshaft out and no starter. I just sat the gearbox on the jack cause it was a 2 minute job to inspect and fit if required. Turns out there was one in there. HAHA just my luck. All up it only took 45 mins to take out and put back in.

Nothing new. Gave rear calipers a quick look with some new seals and dust boots. Also fitted this gear up, hopefully the clutch works as it should now. Once again www.ajps.com.au supplied at an amazing price. Literally saved me over $100....... Also fitted the S13 booster and master, was a bit tight but will do a good job. Need to source another RHF brake line and make a new one to join master to rear brake line. No pics at the minute. Fitted up those calipers, discs and pads: Got some new pins and clips for the handbrake cables: The ongoing saga to findout what brakes I had on the car when I got it has come up again, here is the difference between an s13 rotor and the rotor removed from the car, there is only a bees dick in it. They must be larger than the OEM 230mm ones: I was always going to need something to make these brakes work, and what with the upgraded fronts, I wanted a master that I knew I could rely on. After a few minutes on ebay I found what I was after, the booster and master from an s13. A BM44 15/16 master will work well, and the booster bolts into an AE86 chassis. Note the new clutch master, it has a new slave too with an AJPS braided clutch line. How about the state of that bulkhead, will be fixed once the engine comes out again. Next thing is to finally get the ECU wired up and ready to go, I dug out my electrical tools and started on making the harness: I have decided to make the injector loom seperate, incase I change injectors and need new plugs later down the track. I just need to source new plugs and I can finish this part up:

Hi Guys, I need the help of the brains trust here. I am looking at buying a KE15, its advertised as an SL and has all the SL gear from the look. I have been supplied with a chassis number. I want to know if this car is infact a genuine SL. The engine has been replaced at some point, as far as I can tell thats the only modification. Apparently there are a few guys here that can help me. My local Toyota dealer is useless and havent found anything on the net so far. Can PM chassis number if required. Cheers, Huw

Spent 10 hours in the shed while I had some time off work, and got almost nothing achieved. The more I looked at things the more compounding jobs I found. Have come to the realisation that with my current work roster, this will be 6 months away from being driven. But anyways.......... Went to see an IPRA champion of the world and autosport and picked up this stuff, have no idea what any of it is but apparently it will get fuel from one end of the car to the other: Got one of those new tanks from the states, gave it a clean up and a few coats of paint: I purchased a new OEM efi pump bracket to sit the pump in. I was surprised that these were available and not really that expensive. I have modified this one by cutting the original threaded fitting off the fuel feed line and fitting a 5/16 to -6 fitting so I can fit the fuel line onto it. The pump also fits almost perfectly too, with only minor adjustment to the lower bracket to get the pump inlet to sit in there. I think it works well: Something thats always bugged me is the rear end and how the springs are compressed just to get the shocks on the diff. I also noticed that the ride high was about an inch higher than i wanted. So with that in mind, you know what comes next: I have removed 1 coil off these. The difference in the heights is almost exactly 20mm. The springs are still captive in the car, but there is not as much preload on them now when the shocks are fitted up. Have yet to put it on the ground to see the ride height. While I was in the rear, I started to put some stuff back together. The diff centre, axles, brake caliper brackets and braided lines were all fitted up. Just need the correct calipers and discs and we are set. Diff was refitted with new OEM gaskets care of this cheap kit: Braided line set sourced from AJPS. Brakes will be finished when I get home and so will the fuel setup.