Matt G's 1974 Toyota Celica TA22 & Honda F20c Conversion

[Matt G]

Yep, Title says it all... purist's stop here, you have been warned.

The night of initial purchase in QLD 2015, had been sitting in garage for 8 years, originally yellow automatic, had been converted to manual and a few other dicky things:

 

 

[Matt G]

Unloaded back in Emerald QLD, mostly complete but a mechanical bad dream from the last owner.

[Matt G]

And then there was that steering wheel...

[Matt G]

The all too powerful 2TG i think it is... it turned over, ran and then was promptly excommunicated, i think i saw a parakeet living in the bottom right.

 

[Matt G]

A few weeks later... whats in the box!

First thought. Oh its tall, how does this fit into a lil toyota.

I heard a voice that said "rev me". It was all to clear what has to happen.

[Matt G]

First things first, when you have more power, the first thing to pop is the Diff. I need a new one. Especially since my ole' mate's handy work added some rear discs. very poorly. You can see the snapped off damper mount, it might as well have been hot glued on.

That bit wasn't pointed out as a feature at the time of purchase, no idea why, quick release struts are a feature everyone needs.

My excuse was it was dark and I didn't know any better than to look past the sexy celica body.

[Matt G]

So i picked up a borg warner diff from the local wreckers, a common conversion for these,

But then i read all about how the diff is actually setup, and thought fuck that. Its crap, all the shimming, re shimming and cone setup LSD and hand brakes that are always dreadful. and fuck why do i want this cast iron anchor slowing me down? So plan B... which should have been plan A. HILUX DIFF.

I snuck back to the wreckers and left it at the front gate that night... reverse stole it. Don't tell anyone please.

So I bought a 400km diff from a trusty rusty hilux, tossed every component that moves. Bought a brand new Torsen LSD Eaton Diff Center from the US, and new 4.10 ratio ring gear and pinion. Had this professionally built at difflapping in Brisbane.

The hilux diff side by side was a lot lighter even with the 4x4 axles in place and heavy drums than the old skyline diff.

Next came the VERY special diff setup from Race products, 700 series Camber/ Toe kit. Essentially the diff has CVs inside the axle to allow for adjustable camber! Sick!

More info here:

http://www.raceproducts.net/700-series-cambertoe-kit/index.html

My diff been built here, all new HD 4link mounts and shortened diff for the TA22 chassis, at this point i did not have wheels(!) should have bought wheels first, but i knew what i wanted to find to make it all work under the rear without flares:

I just had to tig the shock mounts on at home and set her all up:

Bilstein's are from a comaro, they are perfect size for TA22's with a lower ride height.

Rear springs are from a Mk1 Escort.

 

 

 

[Matt G]

Custom EN26 drive shafts, light and should be more than adequate for peeling the tread.

Ball Bearings fit in the end for the CV.

 

Diff being assembled after painting with por-15. Ended up going with 1.25 negative camber and a fraction toe in on the rear. Adjustable so we can sort later with different blocks.

 

 

[Matt G]

Had a buying spree on Gumtree... found some brand spanking new 3pc +0 offset SSR 16x8 spinny things sitting in someones warehouse, complete with centers.

Oh did i mention - converted to 5 stud to handle a "bit" more power... maybe.

Shod with Yokohamas and sitting in place, a little outer guard rolling required, but the shoe fits.

 

 

[Matt G]

Front end next, AE86 struts with adjustable platforms, Bilsteins, adjustable camber plates was a good start:

[Matt G]

Recovered SW20 seats. Since car did not come with originals. Just needed a tag welded to the back and they fit... so i understand.

[Matt G]

In my haste to find a front duckbill i bought this abomination from grumtree without really looking too close for $80. Bargain... i thought.

It was $80 i will never have again.

Kids said my car looked like a fish slice. Fair enough.

Lesson learnt. I should let my kids decide what looks good as the outcome might be better.

It has since departed this world as ash. RIP Mr Fish Slice. Burn the fucking mold please no celica should have one of these.

 

[Matt G]

So next out came the old engine, and setting up for the new transplant.

 

At that point i realized im going to have to ditch the steering box and convert to rack and pinion due to space.

I found a KE70 cross member. and hacked that up to make it into something that would work for the F20.

 

I picked up a KE70 column setup and married the TA22 column to lower KE70. This gave me a collapsible column ready for rack and pinion.

 

Made up a gearbox mount, good enough to hold in place, more to come later:

After lots of measuring i made something work for the front cross member, note distance we had to drop compared to factory, with AE86 conversion its typical to stick a multi inch block in to achieve the height:

We have clearance Clarence!

 

Not alot...

I setup the new front disc setup and a full set of Heim/ T3 control arms. Unfortunately due to iPhone backup overwrite I lost all the build process for the control arms at that stage.

 

Front brake kit is the "Big brake kit" from hopper stopper in Aus, all new components including 5 stud hubs and bolts up to the AE86 strut. Calipers are ford.

Main reason for this is that it was one of the only things i could do as the calipers had to have rubber seals in AU as intent was to register there, most Wilwoods didn't. but that might change once ive run this in if i feel it matters now we are back in NZ. I would prefer same calipers front and rear.

Brake master cylinder is from a Mitsubishi L200, New Bosch Part. Had the right piston size for my calculations, will see when she rolls, also fitting bias adjustment for rear.

 

 

[Matt G]

At this point we moved back to NZ, packed up the kids and houselot and shipped her all back including the celica and our other car.

Wifey said she wants a rabbit, i said fair enough, rabbits are expensive and I have a celica, that can only be fair, right?

Welcome to the family "Winchester":

So when car arrived I dropped it off to Evan at Speedfactor.

They built a new set of cross members for us that looks and work much better . Evans team has completed a whole lot of work for us, SS exhaust, finished the tunnel, radiator mounted etc. Some updated pics of where she is at now below.

 

 

[Matt G]

Stage 1: new engine mounts, bit softer so should be less vibrations, E36 BMW mounts attached to the original alloy brackets:

Tunnel welded up:

Vintage Air, mini for cool and hot air in the cabin, mounting under dash.

 

Had a new rack bar made that was +100mm which solved alot of issues. Used the new Quaife rack as the base for this. Replaced all bearings in steering column and lower UJ.

Now has rack and pinion steering all working and geometry well setup at the front.

Engine area starting to head towards completion.

 

Rear end tidied up, SS Exhaust:

State of the outside currently:

 

[Matt G]

Planned electrics:

Racepak Smartwire Power Control Module, this will be my fuse box and PLC all in one. It will do everything, switching timing and become the heart of my electronics.

 

Also have chosen a Haltech S2000 engine management, digital dash, this is ready to bolt on, not too far from getting the celica to the auto lecy to wire it all up, sort the Aircon out and then some dyno time.

O2 sensor kit for the Haltech in my jank somewhere.

4500RPM VTEC and flat change will be in order.

[Matt G]

Have sent my front driver side seatbelt setup to www.seatbeltsales.co.nz today for re manufacturing or replacement whatever works for both sides. Original is old and ciggy damaged in one place so not going to pass cert.

 

[Matt G]

Decent pic of the backend setup. Found rubbers for the Heim Joints to keep out as much dust as possible out of the US. Have one end Heim other end Nolothane to try and keep the noise down.

Brakeline on right caliper has been moved as it was snagging the body, also breather on diff has been shifted to other side to ensure clearance to the pops and bangs pipe.

Advantech Industrial PC I found best use of - wheel chock... everyone should have one.

 

[Matt G]

Fuel filter mounted under car, bash plate to come. Can see new gearbox cross member, fit for purpose.

Also had 1 piece tail shaft made up to marrying the 6 speed to the hilux diff. Safety loop is on the list.

[Matt G]

re-chromed rear bumper when in Aus, and also picked up a rechromed bumper for the front while there too. Both ends as new and have 1 spare front for that inadvertent fender bender.