Jrad

Excellent! thanks for that :)

Hey, just a quick question. Are 5k gasket kits the same as 4k? I'm getting around to doing my engine conversion and will need a few gaskets, namely the exhaust gasket for the extractors etc. I was thinking of just buying something like this and doing it all in one go: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TOYOTA-COROLLA-4K-Engine-Gasket-Kit-/261030901888?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cc6a77880 Would you guys say that's a suitable kit to be using? thanks!

Did this yestreday. Old school! And then I put them on this: Lol, jk. Here they are:

Started to do a few more small things, painted the extractors today with VHT paint. Could've painted them primrose yellow, but thought I'd be a bit more generic! Might start to disassemble the 5k, and get some gaskets etc. Also, I've gotta put some brackets on the coilovers as the brake lines are rubbing on the tyres. Obviously, I haven't been driving it too much because of that.

I hadn't planned to buy this, it was more some information for the owners. And I would agree with you also LittleRedSpirit (funny, because it's a little red spirit we're talking about!) I haven't had a personal experience with the car, but I do know the owners and I would be lead to believe it has been well looked after. As I said, the prices people are asking are pretty damn crazy at the moment. And the problem with selling something like this, is that the cars still aren't quite worth something to collectors, and it would more of a collector's piece. As for paying $4,000 for a rustless example. I guess that was your choice, but I wouldn't have for something stock. I paid $1000 for mine with a pretty bad rust repair in the rear and rusted wheel arches, but fixed them myself (my dad's a panel beater so it was a proper job. Not just bog!) I guess it all boils down to what someone is willing to pay! Thanks for that LittleRed

I've gone to school with a girl and her mum has owned a Ke70/AE71 Spirit from new. This is a genuine 1 owner car, with history and service to the T. They bought it from Toyota in 1984. All the spirit add-ons and original stickers. It's well looked after. Relativity rust free, actually. And untouched in every manner. They're kind of aware of what they have, but aren't. If that makes sense. I know "how long is a piece of string?" and "it's worth what someone will pay for it" But what are the ball-park figures atm for something like this? Would $3,000 to the right person be unreasonable if they were to put it up for sale? The prices some people are asking for dirty old KEs are ridiculous right now!

Pm'd :)

I tell you what, yellow really grows on you after a while. When I got it, I was adamant that it wouldn't stay yellow. But how uncommon is yellow on a car nowadays? I like the uniqueness

Heeeey! That's pretty much exactly what I'm after. But I think I'll just take it to the exhaust shop when I put the extractors on and get it made up. I want it quite close to the under-carriage, for less scraping on stuff. Regardless, I'll keep that in mind in case the bloke says that's too much effort or whatnot. I can supply one of them for him to fit. Thanks!

You may even see me there - I really need to start going to Toyota/JDM meets rather than Pontiac ones! Hahahaa

Mounted Vertically? That's seems strange, but I'm sure you can always make it how you like. And I dunno.. but mine definitely looks like that when I take off at the lights :P

Today:

Wow! Just saw this thread. We do a whole lot of vac forming, etc at uni (currently doing industrial design) using Styrene sheeting. Make sure whatever you're doing hasn't got undercuts and has plenty of draft angle to get it in and out of the vac form. Those blue lines.. I don't think they'll work. You need to either vac form straight over the top (and remove the spoiler so it doesn't get stuck in the mould) or vac form from side on and have the split line down the centre. but then you'll have a join down it. I love vac forming! But have had some annoying experiences with it -_-

Yeah, I want it pretty much exactly like that Soarer :)

Also, I should mention some aesthetic things I'll be doing after the engine conversion. Seeing as I'll have to get the exhaust done to meet up with the extractors, I'm going to get it done all right. Something like this, with twin straight tips. (google High Top Fade blogspot for some old school JDM pr0n) While I'm at it, I'll get the exhaust bloke to get it as close to the under-body as possible, for less things to scrape for the eventual drop. Lowering further, and may space the wheels out a little/get wider rims/widen the rims I have seeing as I love their pattern. It's unique to anyone else. Regardless, current rims will also finally be painted. I only ever cleaned the gold off them, never painted them. Gunmetal grey, with polished spoke faces. I'd also contemplated shaving the engine bay like I've seen on a lot of the VW. It's a super clean look, but does anyone know legalities or anything for this? Maybe I'll just do it all very neatly and cleanly, get a nice battery cover or something, small and personal touches. Have the cleanest and tidiest 5k engine bay going. I'm ready to start sinking dollars into this car I think. But my main goal is to show people what can be built under a tight budget. you know, a sub $3000 clean, nice car. I'm aware I'm already going down the generic quad-light and low "stance" track, but I'm doing things my own way. Some factory vinyl seats would be wicked! Uni finishes up for the semester next week, so from then on, I'll be hooking into this and the Pontiac, whilst juggling work and the girl in-between. Is this the life or what? ;)

Wow, haven't been updated in a looong time! Which meet Ben? The Mitcham kebabs/knox or MCM? Plans atm, still haven't put the 5K in... dad and I have been to busy with this bad-boy: it's a 1963 Pontiac Laurentian. It's almost complete after 6 long years of a ground up restoration. Just the interior and exhaust to go! Also needs some nice wheels.... and as you can see - it's f*cking huge! and low. 95mm ground clearance atm. Sorry for the average pics. Other than that.. still chasing a set of front coilovers/struts to convert to get it sorted it. Also looking for a new daily driver. Buuuuuuttt. I have no idea what I want. Nothing modern is cool. haha

Both of you guys, but especially Ke70 Dave: You are fantastic. Everything I wanted to know there. And that makes perfect sense to me. Yeah, I do understand the reason for short stroke, I have them in the rear already. They're from a VL wagon actually, and I'm NOT running AU springs hahaha. I will need to determine the shock inserts appropriate as my ride height is going to very low. Hence the need for a coilover conversion that I can control for myself. I'll be sure to do a write up afterwards for others like myself. Thanks guys!

That does help a bit. By cut... Where? Just the whole thing or just do you can slip the spring over it? I've had a look on some places but I can never find it! Maybe when I do it I'll chuck up a guide on it.

Wow! Sweet find!

Hey guys, I'm finally going to get around to doing something about my teeth-rattling front suspension. After working all over easter, and will be Anzac day, I have a little cash to splash. I've searched and gained some knowledge and I'm thinking the xt130 front struts will be the go for me. BUT, how exactly does the sleeve kit work? I've never had a direct answer. How much adjustment will I have with on of these kits? (in other words, can I get it gut-scrapingly low) What is involved in modifcation of the standard strut when adapting them to a coilover strut? Apparently the only reason xt130 struts are used is because they're easier to change inserts or something, I don't know what the go is with that either. Black and white answers would be great, in layman terms. Not afraid to get my hands dirty. ...unless of course someone wants to offload a set that's already been done? :D Thanks in advance guys!

I haven't been on here in a while but the final piece of the puzzle is sorted - I have extractors! Also, I'm now going to actually do something about the front suspension. It's a laugh to drive but I should probably get a bit more serious once this engine is in. Going to keep an eye out for some XT130 struts and put them in and hope it'll work out in terms of keeping it nice and low whilst still having some travel.

It's hard to get a KE to scrape... You'll need to cut/remove bump stops and the front set-up will need a LOT of work. Bottomed out front end still won't be scrape-worthy... I know this first hand haha.

VL Wagon. I've got them. They're short stroke from the factory. Fit perfect, no mods needed. Ride fine as well. Here's them fitted in my KE. $45 for the pair at the wreckers. In good condition - plenty of gas in them and are quite stiff. http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/53182-84-ke70-converted/page__st__45

Ah okay, thanks :)

I'm not advising you do what I've done in regards to suspension, but I'll tell you my setup. Rear: Short stroke shocks out of a VL Commodore wagon. They're short stroke from factory and bolt straight in, no mods needed. But make sure they're WAGON. They'll work from stock height and squash down to about a foot long. They work perfect - although mine are sports ones so they're stiffer. I have stock springs in the rear, cut about 2.5 - 3 coils off. I'm about 10mm off the bump stops, but the shocks don't bottom out and are pretty hard. I don't often get bump steer. BUUUTTT, in regards to holding springs captive, I've got two cable ties per spring so that they don't fall out. Many people say AU Falcon springs.. but they're rock hard. Terrible ride. At least the stock springs give some movement. You can also use Suzuki sierra front shocks in the rear. They're short stroke. Front: Cut springs... I've probably cut too much off. You can get away with 1.5-2 coils and it still rides okay. Once you take any more off, the stock suspension bottoms out. Mine's stuffed at the moment and rides rock hard. I may as well not even have springs. I'll definitely look at putting in different struts, as it doesn't handle that well in the front. As I said, mine isn't set up for racing, and mine isn't a daily driver. But if all you care about is getting it low for dirt cheap... that's what I did. I suggest to cut off coils in .5 increments until you're happy. You can always take away, but not add. As I said, not advising you to do this, it's 100% illegal but I don't drive mine daily. Obviously, once I add a bit more power I'll look at coilovers/AE86 front struts and some proper springs for the rear. It's just good to have perspective from both ends of the spectrum.