Hello from a new to me 8th Gen owner /w pics

[Super Blue]

Hello all.

I'm a noob to the 8th gen, but no noob when it comes to Corollas. In my family we currently own 2 9th gens and 2 10th gens and have previously owned 6th and 7th gens as well.

After selling my baby, 99 Jeep TJ which I had owned since brand new it was time to get something that was considerably better on gas.

Since the only one we hadn't owned was a 8th gen. So I pretty much decided I wanted a 8th gen for the heck of it.

Saw one posted on Craigslist and went to go check it out.

I was blown away at how well the previous owned had maintained this car. It's only got 164kms on it and it's a LE so it really was a no brainer. I was not the biggest fan of the colour but decided what the heck, since it was a great deal. I'm only gonna be keeping the car for a year or two, and I don't think I'll loose much in the way of resale value.



















As you can see the car is in immaculate condition. The previous owner had just put on brand new tires last fall. I did notice there is a cover missing above the intake manifold, but it doesn't really bother me. I look around the junk yards to see if I can find one or not.

MODS:
I have already wired up my amp and sub which I gotta say was SUPER EASY on this car, especially getting the wire from the engine bay to the cabin.

Amp is bolted to the back of the seat and drilled into the metal frame in the seat.






Sub box is secured to the frame as well so it keeps it from moving around.


The next upcoming mod will be
1) Spoiler
2) E55 Bixenon HID retrofit in the headlights.

Beyond that I won't be doing much else to the car.

C&C welcome

[gaj1967]

That car is in GREAT shape. Looks like 4 speed with tach, power everything, fold down rear seats, etc.

I'd pop in a K&N air filter if it doesn't have one already. If you can find a cover for the manifold I'd replace it, if you can't find it then I wouldn't worry about it. They break easy.

I hope those screws holding the amp onto the seat aren't too long as they might dig into a passengers back.

How big of a spoiler are you going with? Factory or rice?

Gil

[01loadedLE]

Nice finish on the car still. Looks like it was garage kept. The engine cover is so easy to scrape when trying to get those plastic clips out, which also break easily over time because of the heat. I replaced mine a few years back and it was only around $30 at the dealer so it shouldnt be much higher now. Not worth wasting time hunting one down at junkyards to me if its a fairly cheap part. You could always just leave it like it is too. Sure it doesnt look as good with the cover off but youre the only one who will see it, plus there are no rattles from it when driving and its a little easier and faster for you to get at some parts too when time to service it. Its basically just a heat sheild made to prevent dimwits from burning themselves.

[Super Blue]

01LoadedLE - Thanks for the tip on the cover, I'll check out the dealer and find out the price. Who knows maybe I'll just end up leaving it.

Gil - I'm thinking of going with a factory spoiler and the screws that I used are pretty small, so there shouldn't be any problem with them poking people.

I just wired up the sub yesterday and today I'm already iching for more bass. I think the system might get upgraded soon as well.

[huangxin]

nice find. that's a cleaning looking car.

[PhatRoyale]

That looks just like my uncles 98 LE, except his was blue.

Anyways, nice pickup

[JDM_jody]

nice. i have the same sub now =]
but my box is in cornor. Custom cuz dont want it slide around.

[Super Blue]

Thanks for the complements guys.

JDM_jody the previous owner had put plastic on the trunk liner, so no matter where I place the box it would have slid around. For now I just bolted the box to the body, you can see a bracket in the center above the box. In a few weeks I'll be doing a fiberglass enclosure, to minimize trunk intrusion.

I had told myself before I picked this thing up that there will be absolutely no unnecessary mods, but that's out the window for sure, because all the mods seem necessary, hehe

[JDM_jody]

^^
NOBODY in the world leaves there car stock.
my mom even modified her lexus. has HKS exhaust. lol

i Think air freshener only exception?!

[3rdrowrolla]

if you dont mind me asking what did you pay for it? i have a few questions for some people who have had their corollas for awhile. whats better a k&n drop in or a full after market intake? as well as where can i expect to be losing power, i have tried just about everything. i replaced the old worn serpentine belt, changed spark plugs, added an air intake, used chevron 91 with a bottle of chevron fuel injector cleaner, and the next oil change i am going to do a system flush and convert to synthetic. the car still seems slower than it should be. please give me your advice on this? im open for any ideas. im tired of my honda buddies talking $#!T

[Super Blue]

Hey 3rdrowrolla I got this car for $3500 cdn + tax and transfer fee etc.
There was another 98 Red LE with 33k km less, but the owner wouldn't budge past $4500, and getting red and 33k less millage wasn't worth an extra $1k to me.

As for power I can't help you too much there. I bought this thing knowing it's a Corolla, a commuter car with 120 hp. I know from past personal experience doing all the mods, with the exception of turbo/supercharger won't really make much of a difference. Intakes and exhaust do make a lot more noise which we may end up equating to more power, but it's not always the case. Also often the price sent/power gained ratio is just not worth it.

If you really feel you're car doesn't have enough power compared to another corolla of the same year, and you've tried everything you've mentioned. There is a possiblity that you're cat is plugged or getting plugged. You can do all the plug in mods, including full on intake, and exhaust you will still have a bottle neck at the factory cat. The best thing to do is to get a high flow cat/racing cat.

I used to have a full on intake and exhaust on my Jeep TJ, and it was the racing cat that gave the significant improvement in actual noticable performance.

End of the day do keep this in mind, it's a Corolla.

[JDM_jody]

Originally Posted by Super Blue

...
End of the day do keep this in mind, it's a Corolla.

hey Superblue!! we know its a corolla. lol
its the Same thing we all said about SRT-4, still a NEON also quoted by Car & Driver.

3rdrowrolla,
Dont listen to him, tune your car if you want to. If we wanted something fast, bought evo or one thos Sti like everyone else.
But anyways, 91 octane wont help you. actually hurt you motor cuz burn slower, unless you have 11:1 compression pistons like me

and intakes wont really help you, just get K&N filter.
Or try find EL prototype intake.
I know some sites to get performance mods if want them.

BTW my 1ZZ makes 180+whp.

[3rdrowrolla]

JDM JODY, please send me any sites you know of for corolla parts. i have a 2001 S and i have searched high and low for upgrades and cannot find ANYTHING. please help. oh and if you dont mind can you list some of the things youve done for your corolla and roughly what they cost you because at the moment im a little budgeted but in the next coming months i should have a little cash to play with and i would like to put a little into my baby. i dont care what anyone says i love my corolla.

[JDM_jody]

^^ LOL

right on!! love my rolla.

One sites for engine mods is MONKEYWRENCHRACING.com
need engine parts for 1ZZ engines.
click on celica GT parts.


my list:
11:1 pistons (run 91 octane cause of high compression_
New rods
2" pipeing exhaust stock muffler. waiting to buy trd.
TRD air filter
Tein s-tech springs
Koni shocks
Hotchkis Sway bars
upgraded brake pads. forgot make but stop quicker!
205/45/17 kumho tires
17x7 wheels for better cornering and mainly style

next:
Cams
TRD muffler
alum. radiator
new clutch
maybe alum flywheel, more TQ

[liensalebuyer]

nice buy