Thoughts On My Plans

[the_random_hero]

Hey guys, as some of you know I recently bought my girlfriend a 4-speed '81 KE55. Mechanically it's in good condition but body needs a bit of love. Over the next year or so I wish to slowly upgrade bits that need doing without going overkill - no EFI conversions, no major changes, just little bits to make it just that much better to drive. It's only every going to be a daily so there's no need for super everything. I'm also aiming to do all the work myself for as cheap as possible, sure I could pay somebody to do stuff but there's absolutely no fun in that. Once the body has been tidied up (bit of rust to remove + a respray), I was aiming for the following.

 

Front Brakes

*TA22 struts

*2.5" lowered springs

*TA22 steering arms

*New pads + discs

*Stainless brake lines

*Whiteline 20mm swaybar

 

Driveline

*K50 conversion (for now).

*Lightened flywheel

*Slightly upgraded clutch

 

Diff/rear brakes/suspension

*T series conversion

*Inverted leaf eyes

*Leaves reset to match front height.

*Whiteline 16mm swaybar

*Stainless lines

 

Miscellaneous

*15" Superlites (or similar)

*Rebuilt bigger MC (Camry?)

*Complete Superpro bushing kit.

*Eventually going for a warmed 5K conversion, won't be till down the track though.

 

What are your thoughts? There's a bit of stuff I'm not too sure about (mainly front brakes), everything else I think I should be able to tackle myself.

[Evan G]

if your misses is a carefull driver you don't need any of that done, unless shes a hoon and wants it set up for super street/drift then do it all.

 

but for a daily leave it as it is or youll be working on it more than youll be driving it

[the_random_hero]

if your misses is a carefull driver you don't need any of that done, unless shes a hoon and wants it set up for super street/drift then do it all.

 

but for a daily leave it as it is or youll be working on it more than youll be driving it

 

I guess I should have elaborated 'daily' - not just some piece of crap she can flog around while she has another car, she wants it for a nice cruiser (I guess you would call it).

[Evan G]

then lower it 2 inch's, white walls with some jellybeans and chrome it up

 

also personally i wouldnt go through that much effort into a car because its 99.993% gonna get written off, 90% of what you have planned is TOTAL over kill for a gf daily that there ^^ is all you need IMO

Edited January 2, 2010 by Evan G

[RedKE30]

then lower it 2 inch's, white walls with some jellybeans and chrome it up

 

also personally i wouldnt go through that much effort into a car because its 99.993% gonna get written off, 90% of what you have planned is TOTAL over kill for a gf daily that there ^^ is all you need IMO

 

What do you mean that its 99.993% gonna get written off? Not everyone drives like you.

 

To the OP, I say go ahead with your plans, and good luck with it. It sounds like you are going to turn it into a respectable looking, nice to drive cruiser. Good to see you're going to do the work yourself, but be prepared to spend a bit on parts.

 

I would say that the stainless brake lines are overkill though.

Edited January 2, 2010 by RedKE30

[Evan G]

What do you mean that its 99.993% gonna get written off? Not everyone drives like you.

 

To the OP, I say go ahead with your plans, and good luck with it. It sounds like you are going to turn it into a respectable looking, nice to drive cruiser. Good to see you're going to do the work yourself, but be prepared to spend a bit on parts.

 

I would say that the stainless brake lines are overkill though.

 

o0o0o0o0 keyboard warrior :) :( watchout for this kunt

[RedKE30]

How am I a keyboard warrior? Did I threaten you? Did I talk myself up in any way? I was merely asking you to clarify what you said, as it doesn't make much sense.

[Toy-Yoda[RL]]

o0o0o0o0 keyboard warrior ;) :lolcry: watchout for this kunt

Spoken like a true wanker, RedKE30 made a good point, and you did smash your car up after telling everybody how badly you abused it, suck it up and keep it to yourself......

 

Back to the topic at hand; Good luck with the build, will certainly be an interesting daily, begs the question of what you'd build as a track car though?

[ke70dave]

speak for yourself Evan G.

 

how did you come to your 99.999% write off rate? i tend to agree with RedKE30.

 

to the OP:

 

how big are ta22 brakes? i wouldn't bother with the upgraded master cylinder. why do you even need to upgrade brakes?

 

and yeah whats with stainless brake lines? wouldn't bother. i would get new soft rubber bits if they are damaged, if not leave it alone.

 

what do you want to do a T series conversion for? whats the advantage? just overhaul the current one? you haven't mentioned anything engine wise besides a possible 5k, you arent gonna need a diff upgrade for that.

 

just be careful you don't go fixing things that aren't broken. easy to waste money doing that.

[RedKE30]

speak for yourself Evan G.

 

how did you come to your 99.999% write off rate? i tend to agree with RedKE30.

 

to the OP:

 

how big are ta22 brakes? i wouldn't bother with the upgraded master cylinder. why do you even need to upgrade brakes?

 

and yeah whats with stainless brake lines? wouldn't bother. i would get new soft rubber bits if they are damaged, if not leave it alone.

 

what do you want to do a T series conversion for? whats the advantage? just overhaul the current one? you haven't mentioned anything engine wise besides a possible 5k, you arent gonna need a diff upgrade for that.

 

just be careful you don't go fixing things that aren't broken. easy to waste money doing that.

 

Well said about the mods. Brakes are probably not worth it with the 4k, might be useful with the 5k. Probably best just to get some new rotors and pads, new brake fluid and a good bleed. Didn't see the part about the diff there, wouldn't bother with it.

 

I think the most useful things you could do would be to lower it, swaybars, bushes, get it sitting on some bigger, fatter, sexy superlites, new shocks if it needs it and any new steering components if it needs it.

[the_random_hero]

Spoken like a true wanker, RedKE30 made a good point, and you did smash your car up after telling everybody how badly you abused it, suck it up and keep it to yourself......

 

Back to the topic at hand; Good luck with the build, will certainly be an interesting daily, begs the question of what you'd build as a track car though?

 

I have a 250rwkw+ twin-screw supercharged AW11 in the makes ;)

 

I can get stainless brake lines made for cheaper than I can get rubber ones done due to knowing the right people :lolcry: I was looking to upgrade the brakes as I am not happy with how they currently perform (even though they have new pads) and wanted something better. TA22 brakes are slightly bigger and still should weigh around the same, and should be fairly cheap. Suspension is currently hard as shite due to cut 'coon springs and 3" lowering blocks in the rear.

I wanted the T series diff conversion in preparation for the 5K + also the fact you get bigger drums. I am not looking for all out power, just something that handles/brakes well and has a bit of go to it.

[Toy-Yoda[RL]]

I have a 250rwkw+ twin-screw supercharged AW11 in the makes :lolcry:

I like the sound of this, please feel free to post up a thread on it at your leisure....... ;)

[RedKE30]

I have a 250rwkw+ twin-screw supercharged AW11 in the makes ;)

 

I can get stainless brake lines made for cheaper than I can get rubber ones done due to knowing the right people :lolcry: I was looking to upgrade the brakes as I am not happy with how they currently perform (even though they have new pads) and wanted something better. TA22 brakes are slightly bigger and still should weigh around the same, and should be fairly cheap. Suspension is currently hard as shite due to cut 'coon springs and 3" lowering blocks in the rear.

I wanted the T series diff conversion in preparation for the 5K + also the fact you get bigger drums. I am not looking for all out power, just something that handles/brakes well and has a bit of go to it.

 

You sound like you know what you want and why, good to see. I say if you want it, go for it.

 

+1 for thread of said 250rwkw AW11!!!

[seabiscuit]

I like the plans, but as for the diff conversion, I don't see the need... The gearbox is probably the weaker of the two.

If you do the master cylinder, I'd do it after the TA22 items go in to see if you still need it.

Otherwise, do the rest ;)

[the_random_hero]

I like the sound of this, please feel free to post up a thread on it at your leisure....... ;)

 

It's a while to go yet, funds permitting. A guy in the states is currently has 170rwkw on a stock engine with 17psi of boost, should be very interesting to see what a built engine + E85 + more boost will lead to :lolcry:

Just so you guys know I'm not talking shit, here's an exhaust system I made up for the stock engine - once it's back on the road I'm just going to take it to every track day and race her till she dies. Tuned length headers, mandrel system, custom made muffler, etc - the perks of being a fabricator.