Well it was a few month's ago when I decided I needed another car.. Something cheap to run and something relatively nice to drive.
Without having any luck on a decision, I decided it would be a bad idea to just jump into anything so I played the research and wait game.
The missus also needed a car, and one came up. It was my Grandfather's Ae82 hatch, 3 speed auto, 285xxx k's, faded paint with minimal rust. As he can no longer drive and she needed a car more than I needed another car we claimed it.
Only problem is that it was in Mackay....
So Booked our 1 way flight's and headed up there to see some of the family and get her a car. The day before we were scheduled to head back down we took the Corolla for a day trip up to Airlie Beach to visit my sister.. On the way we stopped. Not intentionally. The car had died and had us stranded on the side of the Bruce highway, To make matter's worse. We were broken down outside a sewerage treatment plant (SH%T! Literally)
So did the usual checks. Got fuel? Yep... Got spark? Yep.. Got power? Yep... Hmmmm... Okay crank it over while I look in the oil filler, yep, Timing belt snapped. Thankfully it was now rather than a day later) So got the car back to my old man's and started pulling it apart that night as we had to leave the next day. Got into Repco first thing the next morning for a belt and we were back on the road in no time.
So off we went 1200k's of road ahead of us, Left Mackay at 9:30am and arrived home here on the Gold Coast at about midnight. The poor old Ae82 made it! Not a drama at all, didn't miss a beat sitting at 110 sitting behind trucks. (I was surprised after our little incident a day earlier)
So a couple of weeks of driving the Corolla from time to time I decided "What a great car this is to drive" and started looking into early Corollas for my second car.
I have seen a couple of guy's driving around Ke70's and as I didn't really desire the Ae82 hatch look but really dig the square shape of the Ke70 I made my decision.
After many night's of reading, research, more reading. 4k, 4-ac, 4-age manual, auto, blah blah blah. I knew an Ae71 was my next candidate, I was also really hoping for a CS-X model for the nice bits.
So it started with Carsales, Ebay, Gumtree, and various Forums.. On the hunt for a car. Couple of Ke70's around but not really what I was after...
One night I stumbled across an Ae71. In my price range, 5 speed, aircon, low k's, cs-x!!
So I sent the guy an email, and went and had a look as soon as I got the chance. The car was okay, untidy and in need of some Tlc I left and decided that I'd sleep on it. Realising that some work is what I wanted and that this car would be a great start I bought it. (Without even driving it)
Here are the photos from the ad.
So I hired a trailer and we went and picked her up. All went smooth except it was a hassle moving it around as it needed a new battery and had to be jumped every time.
Sorted that out and gave the interior a clean and vacuum. Only took 1 quick photo of the interior. The seat's are in great condition!
The driver's seat however was stuffed. You sank to the floor.. So I pulled it out and all the foam was still intact so I did some home fixing and it feels brand new out like it come out of the factory! All for the cost of a few Cable ties and some old Venetian blinds.
So I have never worked with rust and never attempted any panel work what so ever. After some Google searches and Youtube videos I gave some of it a go myself. I'm happy with the result considering it was my first time at this kind of repair. It also look's better than the rusty hole.
Up close you can obviously see the imperfections but standing back you can't see it unless you know it's there(Except for the masking lines which I need to polish out)
Before
Half way
Finished (Except for a polish, waiting on it to harden)
If you noticed in the photos from the Ad.. The rear of the car was overly high. Something was all wrong. After a quick inspection it turn's out the springs in the rear were not the right ones for the job, They were too small in diameter to seat on the diff and they were also way to high for the shock absorbers.
So after calling 4390874 wrecker's in the area (not literally) I found one in Brisbane with a couple of Ke70's in the yard and I could take my own tool's and get the springs myself, As this was my first time at a "Pick apart" wreckers I really enjoyed it. Grabbed any nuts and bolt's laying around close at hand and grabbed a couple of little bits and pieces for my pockets.
Also it desperately needed some new bit's in the engine bay so I replaced the top and bottom radiator hoses, Plugs, Leads, dizzy cap and rotor button, fuel filter and gave it a degrease.
So I got the spring's in the same afternoon and am really happy I went to the effort of sourcing them. I gave the black bits on the car some tyre shine and also gave the boot lid a polish for now.
Here is how she sit's now.
You can see the Ae82 we got from Mackay on the right
I got my Roadworthy cert yesterday and will have it on the road on Monday! :D
My plan's are to keep it tidy. I'm planning on making it handle better rather than go fast (I have other toy's for that) After all it is just my daily so it wont have a lot of money spent on it. It still has the standard casette player which I'm going to eventually swap with a head unit of some kind.. I wont be butchering at the interior and painting it stupid colour's and screwing speakings into the door cards, Keeping it tidy and a pleasure to drive is what I want.
I have probably missed a few thing's but that happens, I'll keep this thread updated as I go along. I'm sure I'll get flamed for something or other :P
While I'm here these are my other toy's.
My First car which I have been driving for the last 4 years, Have had lot's of fun in this car and still love driving it. If you have any question's feel free to ask.
El Falcon.
And also my Latest addition (Apart from the Ae71)
My 2011 Wr450F. Straight out of the box with 0km's on it.
I also love getting out and doing some Kayak fishing when I get the chance
Catching my first Bass over the side of the "yak" :P
Anyway I'll leave it there. I'm pretty easy going and I look forward to getting into the Corolla world more and chatting with you all.
Thanks
Nathan