Project Fulfullment: Little Pig's roadmap

[Buurin]

This is the Little Pig in my sig.

I rang up two shops that I go to for auto service and they both won't touch manual swaps, but would do shocks install for $300. So making my dreams come true with this little piggy will mean a major DIY project.

Car currently does not have plates or insurance, so it's down already and I can take my sweet time to do it right.

So, this is what I'm going to do to it:

1. Tell my dad I'm claiming it.
2. Build up a fund for insurance, plate and gas.
3a. Obtain a factory repair manual. My Haynes doesn't seem to do a good enough job. DONE
3b. Find a manual tranny (C59) and all associated parts, including manual tranny ECU. DONE
3c. If it isn't too costly over OEM fare, get a nice aftermarket clutch set and flywheel.
3d. Since I'll need a manual shifter anyway, get a TRD Shortshifter and shift knob. Shifter bag can be from crappy tire, I don't really care.
3e. Get a set of good quality springs.
4. Buy two more jack stands (I have 2), step drill bit aka unibit, badass 250lb/ft torque wrench and breaker bar. DONE less breaker bar
4b. Write out a highly detailed action procedure, for every tiny little microscopic thing must go according to plan...
5. When all parts are on hand, rent a cherry picker engine hoist, break out electric impact wrench, and start the swap. Note to self: Find something to hang the AC compressor securely out of the way. Didn't drop the engine after all
6. With everything apart at the front end, might as well do a suspension upgrade too. Hello Tokico!
7. When swap is done, do suspension upgrade on rear end.
7a. If I feel like it, take the side window out and try a flawless tint.
8. With all mechanical swaps done, get insurance, 10-day permit, send it out for inspection and smog.
8a. If I can't get it out of the driveway without stalling, take a quick stick course for $60.
9. If all goes well, now I can arrange for the car to be transferred to my name.
10. After all this work, time to get an alarm installed and slap on some nice alloys. Kosei K1 TS in 14" isn't that bad hehe

That's Project Fulfullment. Turning THE Little Pig into MY Little Pig.



Thank you for reading. What do you think?

[Flashmn]

What I think, is get the car first and then start the project, no sense planning so far ahead only to have plans get crashed.

[Buurin]

Originally Posted by Flashmn

What I think, is get the car first and then start the project, no sense planning so far ahead only to have plans get crashed.

Read harder This little piggy is on the market but is in my garage (I'm trying to sell). If it doesn't sell, I still have the car and can start the project right away.

Or do you mean complete ownership transfer first?

And some of the relatively little things that can be done after the hard work:
a. Make the car all LED except for headlights and backup. I have (almost) enough LEDs to do it.
b. Put the K&N drop-in back in
c. Change the engine coolant if it's less than pristine. I think the factory fill has been in there ever since.
d. Load it up with plush piggies!

[REN69]

Originally Posted by Buurin

d. Load it up with plush piggies!

[Buurin]

One of my power window switch broke, and I couldn't sell the car.

That means I am going ahead with the swap!

When all is done it'll be getting H&R Sport springs too to go with my Tokicos.

Today bought a bottle of brake fluid for the clutch system. Next would be to collect all the parts needed for the swap. Within the next week I can buy the clutch cylinders and that repair manual.

Meanwhile I got to figure out how to find the clutch and brake pedals. Those online dealer places are turning up nothing. Anyone got better ideas?

[desired_speeds]

Originally Posted by Buurin

Those online dealer places are turning up nothing. Anyone got better ideas?

local junkyards? Give them a call before you head over there and ask of they have a 5-speed version of your car

[freakinbox]

you'll probably have to roam the junker since sometimes they don't know exactly whats in the yard. then let the desturction begin so you can get to the pedals easier, beat that dash down! lol

You could have fixed the window switch lol it's not that big of a deal :p you were just looking for an excuse eh?

[Buurin]

Originally Posted by freakinbox

you'll probably have to roam the junker since sometimes they don't know exactly whats in the yard. then let the desturction begin so you can get to the pedals easier, beat that dash down! lol

You could have fixed the window switch lol it's not that big of a deal :p you were just looking for an excuse eh?

Our local junkyard (Standard Auto Wreckers) only put older cars in the free roam section. The newest Corolla I've seen was an AE101. Could be different now but still...

Yeah that window switch is an excuse So is my set of 4 virgin Tokicos.

[Buurin]

Originally Posted by freakinbox

you'll probably have to roam the junker since sometimes they don't know exactly whats in the yard. then let the desturction begin so you can get to the pedals easier, beat that dash down! lol

You could have fixed the window switch lol it's not that big of a deal :p you were just looking for an excuse eh?

I got a bigger of a deal than this now hehe the seat belt retractor switch is loose and will never align itself again. I have hatched a plan to rig the seat belt reminder to the buckle, just like a 01.

I still don't trust the used car dealer enough and just gave up on buying that stick car so I am going head with parts procurement. BTW none of the rollas on market has as low mileage as my own

Little Pig with a Stick... here I come

Here's the shopping list I have drawn up so far. If anyone can tell me where to get the aftermarket stuff locally I'd appreciate it

1. C59 tranny from a junkyard at around $450
2. Fidanza flywheel #130231 from either moneywrenchracing or some ebay store - $355 US
3. TRD short shifter from local dealer $210
4. Clutch master and release cylinder and all plumbing in between from 1sttoyotaparts
5. Flywheel bolt set from monkeywrenchracing (says to be reusable)
6. shift cable from a junkyard, new parts are too expensive -C$593??? no way
7. OEM clutch if none of you have a better recommendation, I don't want a heavy clutch- I'm just starting out with clutches

Not directly related to swap but I'm gonna do anyway:
a. TRD springs from dealer $265
b. Tokico blue bought a year ago US$259
c. Personalized plate $225

[Buurin]

So it has begun.

Little Pig's gender (tranny) change is officially under way.

Ordered a manual tranny off of a 01 listed at $450, told them I need the shifter cable, clutch release cylinder and the two mounts I needed to change, all for $700 including labor plus tax.

Also ordered the TRD short shifter, but NO MORE TRD SPRINGS!!!

Tranny should be in by saturday, shifter perhaps next week.

EDIT: Delivery pushed to Saturday and they found me the clutch master cylinder for $20 and flywheel for $50 Still thinking about getting a Fidanza though.

[Buurin]

My parts are in!

Among the stuff I acquired are C59 (complete with back-up light switch and speed sensor), two shift cables, clutch pedal, start switch, cruise switch, brake pedal, 4 clips for the cables, clutch cylinders, release fork, bearing, and some nice surprises like the stop light switch, a crossmember piece, even the complete shifter assembly! Had I not had my sights set on the TRD...

Now my question is, how do I tell the quality of the tranny, clutch and flywheel with them off the car?

[Buurin]

ECU came yesterday.

Still to do:

Clutch kit: Should be in by Thursday, after $39 brokerage
Tranny gear oil
A set of nice, subtle springs
Get the flywheel resurfaced
TRD Shortshifter - won't be in until mid July, but that can wait
Find out if I need some other parts to mount the clutch pedal - preferably within 2 wks when 94_rolla_guy is coming in to help me

[REN69]

haha.. this will probably turn into a write-up, once you finish the swap, good luck and keep us posted.

[Buurin]

Originally Posted by REN69

haha.. this will probably turn into a write-up, once you finish the swap, good luck and keep us posted.

Writeup? I think I got another thread for this. When I'm done, please do sticky it

Now guess what I picked up for my tranny...



^ $14 each. Not bad considering Castrol Syntec is $13 at PartSource.

The store I picked it up from (Competition Automotive) is also turning my flywheel for $63. And they got my flywheel bolt set for $48. Had I known this before I ordered that from online I'd have saved myself time, hassle, brokerage and whatnot.

[Buurin]

The spring will be a set of used H&R, rust painted over with gloss black rust paint

The process has begun.

I put in the brake pedal and clutch master cylinder today. Now I have a week to get the clutch pedal mounted right before I bring in heavy artillery (aka a TN fellow with engine crane ) Guide says 2 hours for this - it took me that long just to get the template placed right

I have pretty much torn down the interior because I will need to add the clutch start wire into the engine wire harness, plus I want to run all the wires I need for a possible factory theft deterrent retrofit.