3rd gen. Is it worth it for a project car?

[rites]

I'm seriously thinking about picking up a 85 Celica for a project car, to turn into a track car. I love takeing corners in my current car. But I'd like to do it in a car that isn't my daily driver .

So basicly I'm wanting to know what aftermarket/TRD might offer as far as as the basic fields for cars

Suspension
Engine
Brakes

Links would be a big help, but would I be better off looking at a corolla or maybe a 510 or BMW?

[Hotwheelharmer]

Originally Posted by rites

I'm seriously thinking about picking up a 85 Celica for a project car, to turn into a track car. I love takeing corners in my current car. But I'd like to do it in a car that isn't my daily driver .

So basicly I'm wanting to know what aftermarket/TRD might offer as far as as the basic fields for cars

Suspension
Engine
Brakes

Links would be a big help, but would I be better off looking at a corolla or maybe a 510 or BMW?

Is this Celica a GT or GTS? If it is a GTS then it has a lot better platform for road coarse racing. The GTS has independent rear suspension. Infact it is the same as the 2nd gen supra. If you have a GT then you have a solid rear end. The GT has the same rear end as an AE86 GTS(except the celica has drum brakes and open differential). The 22RE in the celica(both GT and GTS have 22RE) actually have quite a bit for aftermarket parts for it. www.lcengineering.com is your best friend for 22R parts. Whiteline and dobinsion will be your best friend for suspension. If you have a GT then you can use some suspension parts from the AE86 on the celica.

[rites]

Ah thanks, it is a GT.

I really like the look to this car, I've fallen in love with the body... Wanted to make sure the guts of the car were at the same standard.

Speaking of the 86 corolla, is it possible to swap in that engine? I'd assume that would open alot more doors to aftermarket modification.

[Hotwheelharmer]

Originally Posted by rites

Ah thanks, it is a GT.

I really like the look to this car, I've fallen in love with the body... Wanted to make sure the guts of the car were at the same standard.

Speaking of the 86 corolla, is it possible to swap in that engine? I'd assume that would open alot more doors to aftermarket modification.

You can swap in the motor(the 4age was actually available in the 3rd gen celica overseas) but I don't know why you would want to. The 4age has high RPM hp but it has nothing downlow and the 3rd gen celica isn't as light as an AE86. PErsonally I would keep the R motor in the car. If you want road racing try and find an 18RG which came in a lot of cars overseas although it is getting hard to find it is a great motor. DOHC and sidedraft carbs from the factory. Or you coudl build a 20R/22R hybrid that will give you a lot of torque and power. I built a 20R/22R hybrid in my old 81 celica with sidedraft carbs and a pretty big cam and built head and was pulling about 160 hp and 180 ft lbs of torque. With the 20R head and the port job and valve springs I had plus with the sidedrafts I could rev up to 7K no problem. When I was driving the car I could shift into 2nd gear and move the whole rear of the car it had so much torque and that was with 215 wide tires instead of 185 that came factory.

[rites]

Interesting, thanks for the input!

[Tercel GTS]

You can also swap in a 4.3 GM V6.