Arnotjie

Bump! Anyone? anyone?

Hi. I'm in the process of doing the 80amp alternator upgrade (from the FAQ section). So I managed to take the VL alt. apart fairly easy, but I'm having trouble with the corolla's one. I was able to separate the front and back part of the housing, So currently I'm sitting with a disassembled back half, and the assembly of the front housing, with the shaft and the rotor. On the front housing, there is a small plate attached with some screws that hold the bearing in place. On the VL alternator, I had to undo those to remove the rotor and shaft. On the corolla alternator however, these screws are in from the opposite side. So the top of the screw is facing to the rotor, leaving about a 5mm gap, making it impossible to undo them. Has anyone on here taken one of these apart? If anyone has any ideas/suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated. I only need the front housing, so I do not mind destroying the rotor and shaft if need be. Thanks in advance

Thanks. I might go with the re sleeve idea :wink: How big can you go with the oversized pistons? (sorry, I'm new at this) Philbey, What pistons did you get? Cheers.

Hi guys. I finally pulled my engine apart the other night, and it looks like I am going to need a rebore. I read on the FAQ for building a tough K motor that the standard repco pistons in 4k's tend to crack, However, aftermarket pistons in the same bore seem to be quite rare and expensive. So since I have to rebore it anyway, I would like to rebore it to a size that I could find better quality pistons for cheaper. So what would be a good size to bore it to, and what pistons should I use in the new size? How much should I expect to pay for a rebore? Cheers

Probably want to try and keep it below 1200 for front and rear. That will be for everything to get it on the road, so struts with brake assembly, steering arms etc etc. Thanks for the help mate.

Thanks for all the replies guys. It has really helped me a lot. After thinking about it, I would probably only set my height once and forget about it, so adjust-ability is probably not such a big deal. I just always thought that you would have to spend a lot on some good gear (which usually includes adjust-ability) to get good suspension. But I'm starting to see that it has a lot more to do with the actual setup than the parts itself (as with most things, haha). I want to improve the handling first and foremost - but it is a daily so I don't want it to shake the fillings out my teeth, and then I want lower the car as well (i'll change the RCA's etc accordingly to keep the geometry in check). I would like to hear what spring and shock options you guys would suggest: such as what spring rates to use, length of the spring, some good short stroke shocks to keep it captive etc. Any other important specs I am missing. Also, I have been looking around, and it seems like xt130 parts are easier to come by that ae86 parts. Is an xt130 strut and LCA upgrade worth it, or should I try and find Ae86 ones instead? What are the differences? Thank you

Thanks Altezzaclub. I've read 'stub axles' in so many posts now I finally know what it means. The ebay ones are for an Ae86 (I think they just use the same picture for all their listings) as well, which is RWD right? and the same seller makes coilovers for silvias, Skylines, supras etc. If the stub axles aren't interchangeable, but they make direct bolt in coilovers for an Ae86, I'm guessing it should come with stub axles fitted. I'll just give them a call this week and find out. However, The sleeves might be a more economical option, with near to the same results right? If I buy sleeves, I still need to find matching shock absorbers though. But I will be looking in to it. I found some corona xt130 struts for sale, fitted with slotted Ae86 rotors, Are they a good option, or is it worth waiting for an ae86 setup?

Thanks a lot Dave, The info is really appreciated. I will go for an ae86 setup then, and just run stock suspension till I have everything I need. I'm going to start reading up on suspension geometry today, and I also want to download optimum K. I'm guessing you are just using the trial version? I really can't afford to pay 1000+ for software as a private user. One quick question. If I look at images of standard ae86 struts, There is a part attached to it that the hubs fit on to (I'm not sure what to call it, a spindle maybe?) This picture shows what I am talking about. Struts Well, the picture on the ebay listing of the coilovers I'm interested in, does not show that part. ...ebay... I'm assuming that it is either the wrong picture (as they make coilovers for a lot of cars), or there is a way of attaching them afterwards? Is that right? or would I have to buy this part (spindle?) aftermarket? Thanks

Hey there. I'm in the process of doing a suspension upgrade on my Ke70. I was planning on converting to ae86 struts with custom coilovers, however, I'm having a lot of trouble finding some of the components in Brisbane. Specifically Hubs and a brake setup in good condition. I check the forum, ebay and boostcruising daily, and thus far I've been unable to find any. What would be some other suspension setups I could consider that are easier to source parts for. How about an S13 conversion? I have heard that it messes up the handling of the Ke70, but I would like to hear some opinions from someone who has done it. I know an Ae86 setup would be better, but how is the handling compared to stock Ke70 suspension? And what are the pro's and cons to this conversion compared to others. Thanks PS. I have done a search on google, and on this forum, but I just keep getting posts telling the poster to do a search haha.

Hey There. I'm in the process of taking out my 4k for a rebuild with bigger cams, machined flywheel etc. The motor should be out by tomorrow, then I can start opening it up to see what would need replacing. But for now, I want to start getting quotes so I have a rough estimate of cost before I start. I read on the FAQ about building a tough 4K that 4k's have cheap repco pistons that tend to crack (especially on a worked engine). So I was just wondering what are my options for better pistons? I am unsure whether or not the motor will have to be re bored at this stage. So for the time being, I just want some info on pistons that'll fit a standard 4k (if there are some that raise the compression to 9.5, that's an added bonus). I would like to spend less than $300 if that is at all possible, but if not, I'll up the budget. Cheers

Thanks. Okay. So for the front I need Ae86 coilovers ae86 steering arms ae86 hubs ae86 rotors ae86 calipers and possibly caliper mounts. I might need to replace the ke70's steering rack too cause i'm guessing it'll be stuffed. Is an Ae86 power steering rack a straight fit in a Ke70? because I have seen one for sale. And then for the rear: Just coilovers made for a ke70 right? If there is anything else I am missing please let me know. Cheers

Well thanks again for all the help. It really is appreciated. Okay, so what I've learnt since last: 1. Captive springs are self-retaining in their seats at full extension. 2. The difference between mono and dual shock tubes. 3. ae86 struts are 51mm OD vs 45mm OD for Ke70 4. to fit ae86 struts in a Ke70 you need new steering arms, and swap the ke70 strut tops over. (I think that's all?) http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/37906-ae86-struts-into-ke70/ 5. I'm struggling to find an exact definition of short stroke shocks, but I assume it means the shocks have a shorter actual stroke, which would also lead to a shorter physical length. Is that right? Okay. so heres a link for the coilovers I'm interested in getting: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/110622173178?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_10106wt_1037 You can order them in both mono and dual tube. I'll probably go for dual tube as it will be a street car. Although it doesn't say anything, I assume they are captive (I'll confirm that when I order them) Since they are custom built to your specifications, I assume you can specify the length of the stroke. You can custom order for your preferred spring rates and ride heights. Questions I still have: 1. Can you bolt ae86 brakes directly to ke70 struts? They are both 114.3x4 aren't they? 2. Would the OD of the struts even matter if I order these? Won't they all be the same OD from the company? Basically: Do I just order coilovers for an ae86 from them and get a new steering arm? Or do I just get ones kor a Ke70? All of that is for the front. What do i do for the rear? Thanks Arno

Okay, I found coilovers at a pretty decent price, and since I have to replace the shocks in any case, I reckon I will just do the upgrade. What I want to find out is: What exactly is the difference between ae86 struts and ke70 struts? I'm asking because the coilovers are custom made, So I can order them to be a straight fit. But are there any other advantages to the ae86 struts except that they are already coilovers? Like maybe brake modifications etc? I basically want to know what to order. Straight up ke70 coilovers, ae86 coilovers, or a cross between the two? Cheers

The brakes definitely did not lock up, no matter how hard I pushed. But I guess its just the rotors or pads. I hope it's just the pads though, will be able to check it out once I get it on Saturday. I wasn't planning on going too low, as I want to fit 15x8 wheels front and rear, and I've never been a big fan of "slammed" rides anyway. But, I don't want the car to sit like a 4wd, as it currently is, either. My intention when I bought the car was to have it as a project car, mainly so I can learn about working on cars and find my way around them better. So I will definitely be working on it, and modifying it. But I'm not a bogan who is going to ruin the car with crappy modifications. The whole Idea is to improve the corolla, and I intend to do all of it properly. That's why I came here, to try and get as much advice as possible so I don't stuff it up. And I know i could probably go out and buy a faster car for the same cash and a lot less effort, But where's the fun in that? Anyway, Thanks for all the input so far, it has really helped. I would still like to know what you guys think of going with custom coilovers front and rear? Is it worth it or not?

Thanks For all the replies, I really appreciate it. I bought the car off an old lady who has owned it since new, so I don't think the car has had a very hard life. But that being said, it has done almost 300 thousand k's, so I know a lot of parts will need replacing. I am picking the car up on the weekend, so I will be able to start looking for any damaged parts. How do you identify worn out ball joints, bushes and wheel bearings? I have started reading up on suspension, and I'm slowly starting to get a better understanding of it. I can find my way around engines alright, but when it comes to suspension, especially setup, I'm clueless. This will be my daily drive, so it will have to be legal, but I will definitely be taking it on the track every other weekend so I still want a decent setup. Luckily QLD's laws on suspension doesn't look too harsh so I should be able to get something decent. Here's what I found on Queensland transport Ground clearance of vehicle The ground clearance of the fully laden vehicle must continue to comply with the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Regulation 1995 at all times. The following requirements must be meet: · The ground clearance must not be less than 100 mm within 1 m of an axle and the vehicle must clear a peak with a gradient of 1:15 on each side; · The suspension travel in the bump or rebound mode must not be altered by more than one third of that specified by the original vehicle manufacturer; · The original manufacturer’s bump stops must not be altered; · The fitting of drop spindles or similar devices to lower the ground clearance of the vehicle on the axle assembly is not permitted. I will be doing everything in phases, I don't have the funds to try and do everything at once unfortunately. So after driving the car, I definitely have to replace the shocks, and do something about the brakes. I will put in a sway bar etc, but at a later date. I figured while I'm at replacing the shocks, I might as well put in a set of coilovers. I found a company that custom make them for you, either to your exact specs, or if you are unsure, like me, you can tell them what you will be using the car for, and they can design them for you. Is this a good idea? Also, is it worth it to get coilovers front and rear? will there be a big improvement over a normal spring and damper setup in the rear? I might start a new thread for the brakes, but I'll see if I get any replies first. When I drove the car on the weekend, the brakes were shocking. So much so that I really was worried about stopping in time. Is that just how the ke's brakes are, or does it just need new pads/rotors? Just want to know if I should start looking at brake upgrades now, or if I can do it later. cheers