sleeektoy Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Many moons ago in a place far far away.... I service crewed and co-drove with a fellow celica owner in the Targa Rally NZ - 1999 to 2005 This celica was raced in classic events following that till 2008 when it was put to rest in a garage.. Fast forward 6.5 years I had kept sporadic communication with the owner (used to own my black one too) He offered me the car + parts ... me being me (celicaholic) i couldn't refuse... It being in Wellington, me in Auckland posed a problem as it came with a couple of parts (over 1.5 ton - possibly 2 ton) Logistics of moving the car + all the bits fell to one option only - Big mission to Wellington!! Hired a truck and borrowed a trailer and 3 days later it was in my drive... After sleeping the rest of that week i decided to try and get it going... 1. no spark 2. Very rattly timing chain 3. Flat battery >>replaced with a new one and drove it around the block - engine wasnt happy though So instead i started tidying it up straightened up the front bumper and moved headlights for air intakes. Removed old sponsorship stickers. Changed crazed broken tail lights and added GT. Roll forward a few weeks to labour weekend and i checked the engine thoroughly for what the issue could be. Compression test revealed 30psi in #2&3 and 180 in #1&4 - oil test indicated valves not pistons/rings so ... OFF WITH HER HEAD!!! With bottom end looking really good.. The head was stripped down and the inlet valves were found to be paper thin on the edges and sunk into the head. So new valves were needed. Turns out i have TRD oversize valves a whopping 1.85 inch diameter. Small block chev oversize valves matched so with new guides it was rebuilt and cleaned. The engine had a terrible oil leak too so tracing this was found to be the highly modified sump. Thanks sheepers for welding up the hole in the sump that previously had brazing, JB weld, bog, chewing gum and any other filler to try and stop it leaking. Painted and looking mint here. Turns out this is a very modified engine - H-beam rods, 4mm oversize pistons, high volume oil pump etc etc. Also the engine crossmember was modded so this was changed for an original one (also painted) Finally 1st week of december i got the head back all done so the engine was assembled and thrown back in the hole (after a massive clean and tidy in there) Couple of weeks waiting for other go fast bits and it was all together and ITS ALIIVE!!! I celebrated by rapidly annoying the locals at 8500RPM around the block!! and then washing it for the 1st time since 2008 - what a magic Christmas present for me .. now to get a WOF/REG/Motorsport card etc etc. See you all at the NATS trackday Quote
sleeektoy Posted January 22, 2015 Author Posted January 22, 2015 Small update - MSNZ authority card all signed off and posted away.. WOF time hopefully this weekend Quote
sleeektoy Posted January 29, 2015 Author Posted January 29, 2015 Bent valves from the cam pin being loose and dropping out not a happy chappy at the moment. So... all 8 valves & guides replaced and away we go again... Quote
sleeektoy Posted August 16, 2015 Author Posted August 16, 2015 Lil bit of fun today - Gymkhana (excuse video editing uselessness) Quote
sleeektoy Posted September 16, 2015 Author Posted September 16, 2015 Another motorkhana - outside view this time Quote
sleeektoy Posted March 22, 2018 Author Posted March 22, 2018 Long overdue update So... Drag day Dec 2016 was a great days skids Pic - Thanks DCG photography On the way home - it rained hard - and i ended up with more rain pouring inside the car than outside from a leaking windscreen. The next day I pulled the windscreen and revealed some horrors beneath. It sat in the shed until this February - lack of motivation and lack of a welder !! Sheepers offered his old suspension to me earlier and this prompted more motivation.. Complete strip and rebuild from windscreen forward Quote
sleeektoy Posted March 22, 2018 Author Posted March 22, 2018 Dads TIG welder was sitting idle at his place so one day i got it... watched a few youtube videos and got some instruction from dad. Test pieces all over the show and welding improved quickly Then promptly dove headlong into the dreaded windscreen rust. the base of the A-pillar on the passengers side being the biggest horror. Welding 1.01 well and truly mastered Quote
sleeektoy Posted March 22, 2018 Author Posted March 22, 2018 And some other bits around the windscreen i'm working on now Quote
sleeektoy Posted March 30, 2018 Author Posted March 30, 2018 A little digging on the other side revealed more horrors in the drivers side A-pillar So... Rinse and repeat time Top layer to finish yet - ran out of new steel sheet.. Quote
sleeektoy Posted April 1, 2018 Author Posted April 1, 2018 Top layer started today.. Paper template Hammered, bent, twisted and welded - then checked it against the straight shell I have in the shed.. And fitted/tweaked on the car ready to be welded Quote
sleeektoy Posted April 29, 2018 Author Posted April 29, 2018 Filled and reprimed today - a little more fill and sanding and it should be good to top coat Quote
sleeektoy Posted May 20, 2018 Author Posted May 20, 2018 Wasn't really happy with the paint and I cut through in one spot so the decision was made to repaint and clear coat it. Also repainted the dash top and cage given the easy access with the windscreen out Quote
sleeektoy Posted May 27, 2018 Author Posted May 27, 2018 Dash in, cage painted and headlining in. Quote
sleeektoy Posted July 23, 2018 Author Posted July 23, 2018 The Drivers side roof drip rail was a little bubbly so this was also investigated for rust. BOY oh BOY did I open a can of worms. The drip rail and outer roof has 3/4 been replaced Now for more paint/sand/paint/sand.... Quote
sleeektoy Posted August 13, 2018 Author Posted August 13, 2018 Small update: Floors cleaned and painted, Dash back in, and rewired some horrors behind it. Marine boat carpet is being cut/fitted as I go - Blue to match the seats. Roof still isn't finished yet - gotta get motivation and less distraction from other jobs. I could possibly turn the key and make it go with a charged battery and some fuses Quote
sleeektoy Posted August 19, 2018 Author Posted August 19, 2018 Getting more confident at this metal foldy bendy stuff.. Centre console bracket was missing from this car so i copied the one from my other celica. Carpet all installed Back seat area all cleaned/painted Wheel arch vinyl was tired so i resprayed it And finally stopped procrastination and primed the drivers side roof Quote
sleeektoy Posted July 27, 2019 Author Posted July 27, 2019 With the welder out for SLEEEK's floor repair, i figured also fixing the other quarter window on the racer was probably long overdue. Some BS repairs from the past that were 90% bog. Repair the inner bit and the reinforcement. Fill other rust holes. Measure and make the outer bits. Glue it up. and 200% betterer... Quote
sleeektoy Posted February 16, 2020 Author Posted February 16, 2020 Well I finally found some time and got my ass into gear and finished straightening up the roof today. Came out pretty good i recon. Quote
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