My 6GC Build - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Ace2424 · 07-05-2011, 02:22 PM

So I figured I should make a thread about my rescued '94 GT-S Celica ST204. Here goes.

I bought her in November of 2010 to replace my old child, a built 1999 Toyota Camry LE.

She was my baby for 4 years. I put tons of money into her, seeing as I got her for free from my aunt. She came in terrible condition and was not loved when I received her. I rebuilt her, put in eibach pro suspension, a full 2" SS exhaust, bored out the pistons and replaced with larger ones, ect. I absolutely loved her, as did my friends and a few shop guys that race cars that I know through work. She was killed by a guy running a red in September of 2010.

So after accepting her loss, and receiving a $5,300 insurance check... I set off for another under loved child. I don't believe in buying new cars, nor do I believe in buying anything American in relation to cars. I searched the newspaper, I searched the internet... finally I found an app on my iPod that was "Cars.com." After searching on there, I decided I really wanted either a Prelude, a Integra GS-R, a Civic Si/EX, or a Celica. All the cars I went to see were either too expensive or were not as advertised.

Finally I cam across this little white gem. The car was listed for $2,800, power everything, 6 speaker stereo, GT model and best of all, 5 speed. So I went to have a look. There I found her, in a field, next to a house and she looked like she had been sitting for at least a year. Grass was growing into her miss-matched tires, dirt covering her exterior, dust all over her inside.... she was a mess. I asked to have a seat in her and to see if she started. I opened the door and sat down, instantly falling in love with the craftsmanship, the side hugging seats, and the feel of the leather wrapped steering wheel in my hands. I turned the key and instantly (the owner hadn't started her in over 6 months) she shook to life. I was greeted by dust blowing out of the vents as she roared from the hole behind her lower cat converter. I could tell she would be a trouble maker, but still, I was intrigued. I popped the hood to have a look at the 5S-FE, an engine I learned very well in my Camry.

First off, I spotted the normal usage signs. Leaking valve cover, old plug wires, dirty, oily, hairline cracked radiator, and an acid covered 34 series battery (mind you it's not facing the right way, wrong sized battery that had no hold down and didn't sit in the pan flat). She was a tad rusty, but still cleaner than most of the Celica's in Rochester.

I told the owner that I would have to think about it, and we shut her down and closed her up. I left that day to go home and talk to my dad about what he thought of it.

I returned a day after to see that the owner had cleaned her up, vacuumed out her interior and she looked fabulous. I gave the owner an offer of $1,800 cash because I knew the amount of work I would have to put into her. The owner wouldn't have it and I left once more.

That night I had a dream about the car... I awoke in the morning, wanting to take her for a drive and went back once more to talk to the owner. This time I had $2,500 cash with me, in hand, in case I really couldn't leave without her. We opened her up and turned her on. I took off in her, feeling her torque, her bite... I fell in love. I couldn't get out of her and decided to buy her. I told the owner that I won't pay more then $2,500 for her and that I have the cash in hand. The owner agreed and signed her over to me. I then returned home without her one last time to go to the DMV and get everything processed. The next day I went back, picked her up, and drove her home.

On the way home, well thats when she started to complain. At 60 she started to shake, making a weird rattling sound in the rear. I stopped at a gas station to fill her up and inspected my tires. The tires were 3 of one size, 1 of a smaller size and they all were cracked and weathered. I figured the owner put old tires on just to get rid of the car and knew I'd have to get new tires anyway, so it didn't bother me. So I went to fill her up. Half way through filling up, she started to make a really bad smell. The fuel filler neck was cracked and rusted to hell on the bottom. Fuel was dripping out as I filled her. Oy... she started to look like a nightmare.

I had the owner fix the fuel neck, which they agreed to, and footed the $200 bill from Toyota.

This is a picture the day after I got her (pre new fuel filler neck):

Finally started to get things fixed up on her and got some more shots via cellphone:

Then winter hit. I put new tires on her, Hankook Winter iPike 195/55/R15's (best grip in snow I've ever had. This car is a wonderful winter car.) I couldn't do more than that due to the weather so it was a cold long wait until the weather broke. I did manage to get my HID's in before the storm hit, and my yellow 9005 high beams. I managed to snap a pretty cool pic during a heavy winter storm too:

Then I found some smoke Depo lenses on eBay for a good price and popped those in (while freezing my butt off) and fixed my faulty washer pump as well. (Try driving in salty Rochester during the winter with no washer pump)

Finally winter came to an end and I re-did the breaks. I knew she leaked oil, but the leak seemed to get worse after the winter. I looked around and only saw it on the valve cover, so I changed that. I had done it twice before on the Camry, so I knew it would be an easy job. Wrong. I got the cover off and saw this:

What a mess! The engine had so much sludge in it. Even my Camry with 216k miles was cleaner than this! Apparently the owner never changed the oil...
So after a little scraping, I decided I should paint it while it's off too in order to accent the lines.

I fixed the top leak, but for some reason, she still continued to drip oil. So I jacked her up and had a good luck after the winters fury. Man was she wet underneath... The back side of the engine was covered, the oil pan was leaking around the seal, and it seemed like the oil was dripping out of the timing cover too. The owner said that they changed the timing belt not too long ago... so wouldn't they have changed the seals too? Nope. We got the covers off, looked inside and it was a huge mess. Oil was everywhere. It was also gunked up on the camshaft pully, showing how long the thing had been sitting with oil dripping down on it. We then replaced all the seals, the timing belt, the components (the tensioner had the wrong spring on it and the timing belt was flopping around inside) and put her back together. FINALLY the drip stopped.

Then the weather got nicer, so I decided to have a go at resurfacing my rusty, pitted, old rims:
Before:

After:

Then a noise started coming from the rear. I jacked her up again, and it seems that the bushings in the rear adjustable arms are going. You can grab the wheel and clunk it up and down. Dealer wants $300 for the two (and thats wholesale due to my connections through work). So thats a soon to do project of mine.

I had to cut my secondary cat out because of the break. I welded her up once, but she broke again so I just had enough and cut her out and fitted in some pipe as a temporary solution while I save up for that exhaust I've been dreaming about.

Work I want to do to her in the future includes:

Exhaust - Manifold back
Suspension - Eibach Sportline springs, Koni struts, full energy suspension urithane bushings
JDM Projector headlights
JDM Front and rear splitter, sideskirts
Decent JDM style "chunky" rims
3S-GE BEAMS Red Top swap
JDM 94-95 foglights

More pictures of what I have done to date:

So far I have put in:

Injen SRAI w/Spectre open ended filter
NGK Wires and Iridium IX plugs
ST205 rear strut support bar
REAL TRD Carbon fiber shifter knob
Carbon fiber hand break handle
Electric Oil pressure guage by Sunpro
Red LED lighting all over the dash
Normal maintainence items including: Break cables, breaks, dis cap, rotor, seals, battery, starter, waterpump, timing belt, Energy Suspension rear sway bar bushings

I have a long way to go. Money is the largest issue right now.

Ace2424 · 07-05-2011, 02:24 PM

Couldn't get that last bolt out lol.

Finished product. No more yellow water inside the driver side high and from above or the side it looks black. Pretty sick.

Question for everyone, is this normal?

Picked up a Vincent fuel door from Espo:

All paint matched and ready to go. Didn't get a more updated shot with the white fuel cap.

Also, another teaser:

Ace2424 · 07-05-2011, 02:24 PM

Okay, white filler cap:

Decided to do my tail lights today too:

This cleaner works great on anything. Doesn't leave residue!

Fully prepped and then after first coat:

Finished product:

Looks darker in photos than in real life.

Ace2424 · 07-05-2011, 02:25 PM

Out with the old, in with the new(ish):

The rear wheel is angled out funny. How do I correct that on this car since there is no camber adjustment?

Clearance:
Rear:

Front:

And a little retro!

Now, does anyone on here have any experience with the rebuildable Koni Special D shocks? My drive side, both front and rear are rattling like the spanner nut is coming loose. Is that possible? I haven't had day light long enough to get in there and try anything yet. It took me all day to change the rears due to a broken socket, seized bolts, and an irritating sway bar link.

Ace2424 · 07-05-2011, 02:25 PM

Quick shot I took today while on my lunch break at work.
Parked next to my co-workers MK2 Golf:

Another view of the ride height:

I need camber bolts bad. Good thing I can get Moog ones from work.

Ace2424 · 07-05-2011, 02:26 PM

Photoshoot time!
Decided to go out with my Canon 20D DSLR and a tripod and snap some shots. I then realized after returning home that there was a bug on the lens...

Aaanndd... CAMBER!

bumperbozo · 07-15-2011, 11:46 PM

what did you do with the rims? mine look like shit and I need to do the same!

Ace2424 · 10-12-2011, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumperbozo

what did you do with the rims? mine look like shit and I need to do the same!

320 grit sand paper, 500 grit, and then 800 grit. Then I used a primer/sealer that is sandable and primed. I then bought anthracite rim paint from Advance Auto Parts and sprayed each rim with 3 coats. They really needed 4, but it was getting dark.

Update:

Since my last post, I've installed Polk Audio speakers (tweeters and rear woofers):

Bought Euro fogs and made my own switch and plugs for them:

Bought a second strut bar to go across to make it a 3 point strut bar like the TRD one for only $75:

Went to a 6th gen meet at the Delaware Water Gap (Jersey side) and met with other Celica owners:

Picked up quality gauge bezels and custom fit them. Much happier with these than the brushed, stamped steel I had before:

Fixed a spark plug tube leak:

Representing!

I also got an allignment, so no more redicilous camber in the rear. I happened to score Tanabe Medallion G-Power JASMA certified long tube headers too. So after I can get a 2.25" downpipe custom made, I'll be putting the whole, 2.25" header back exhaust on. CAN'T FREAKING WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN!

I also scored some 17" 05 Scion TC rims with brand new tires for $450. I'm slowly paying those off right now. I installed a Spree LED red kit on the inside too, so all my dash lights, cigarette lights, and everything are red. I love having a red clock too.

I moved into my new house and payments are spanking me pretty hard, so progress will probably hault on the 6GC until winters over.

Ace2424 · 11-06-2011, 06:18 PM

Ok! I've been really busy working all the time recently, and the weather has been ****ty up until this week. So I finally had some money and decided to do some maintenance.

First off, I couldn't figure out why my rear window kept fogging up on cold days, or wet days... and there was this weird rattle coming from the rear. Well... I crawled under the car because I had a sneaking suspicion...

...yeah fears were real:

That was after I cleaned and cut out the rust. And for the other side:

Found that after pressing against the metal. Oy vey.
So the work begins (sparks are good for ratings right?):

The tool used to do the cutting and grinding of the rust:

And what I look like while working on my car:

(Lmao, idk why, I just felt like taking a pic)

Also decided to zinc primer some rust under the car before doing some undercoating:

Picked up some replacement odds and ends that are broken here and there:

Rear caliper bracket bolts
Wiper arm nut covers
Distributor o-ring (will take measurements and get an aftermarket equivilant part number for customers with Camry's and Celica's because I hate not having something like this at my store)
Parcel shelf clip for the passanger side (they gave me the wrong side!)
Body drain plugs/drains (old ones are cracked and painted over)

Also got a new storage DIN (old one is broken on the spring side) from black93hardtop! (Thanks again for the super fast shipping!)

More items to come and updates to follow. Doing this one thing at a time.

Ace2424 · 11-06-2011, 06:19 PM

This is what I do when I have no money to work on my car and I'm bored:

This was also the result of too much "adult beverage"

Ace2424 · 12-07-2011, 11:10 AM

Updates:
Finished the brakes! I'll get some fresh pics in the morning when it stops raining of the car down with wheels on, but for now... this is the progress:
Fronts started like this:

Ended like this:

Rear:

Hover car!!!

I finally have a garage to work in

This primer works great on the calipers or anything rusty (undercar chassis parts)

Also paint matched the new alt's heat shield to my valve cover:

Finished the Spree LED install:

More pictures as I find them. I took them on 3 different cameras including my phone rofl.

Ace2424 · 12-07-2011, 11:11 AM

Here is how the calipers look:

I changed my dizzy o-ring yesterday... it was def leaking from it and when I pulled it off, the thing cracked and fell in half in my fingers.

(Always make a mark so you know where it should be when re-installing it so you don't have to re-time)

Because Toyota is smart, the make a notch to show you the placement of the rotor on re-install.

The car made a mark for me lmao:

Last but not least, a video showing a bit of what I've done to it:

(Has mostly exhaust noise and intake noise. I love how this thing sounds with an intake. I removed the second cat, otherwise it's stock exhaust)

Ace2424 · 12-07-2011, 11:13 AM

Also, will be picking these up: http://www.discounttiredirect.com/pr...onfea.g.xl.jpg with Yokohama S.Drive tires when I get my tax return.

That is, unless I find BBS LM's in gold for less than $2k lmao.

RobMilkshakes · 12-09-2011, 12:07 AM

I could have swore we had a listing for a distributor o ring a while back....
(honestly can't check anymore, I work for a dealer now)

Good choice on the wheels by the way, I've always thought gold or bronze wheels on a white car was one of the best combos

bumperbozo · 12-09-2011, 12:29 AM

i got a metric o ring kit from harbor freight and the oem fit ring i got from napa didn't match the size of any of them. anyway, i scratched up my hole's mating surface trying to get the dizzy back in, so use some lube.