supra2

The standard x member is now replaced with a ra65 celica x member. Its got wider pick up points for the lower control arms and mounts for the steering rack conversion. A point of interest is both the corolla and celica use the same lower control arms. Just the mounts on the x member are different.

Finished the rust repairs. Only the sills to do. Still waiting on the new sill panels to show up.

I still want to use the corolla tank, I had a look inside and its still in perfect condition. No rust after all these years Ill still need a surge tank for the efi maybe, Ill look at that when the time comes. The diff has 2 vertical bolts holding a bracket on top of the diff. These will be right under the fuel tank. To remove the diff I can still get to the 2 horizontal bolts holding the cross member to the bracket from under the car. As well as the 8 bolts on the front x member.

The cross member is in place but still needs finishing to close the cut in the rails and box in the ends. It will become a part of the shell. I know what you mean with the diff mounts. But they will only go onto the thin floor metal. I will make a new box section cross member that will reach and weld to the rails and slot the centre to take the diff mount bolts. It can also be taged to the floor for extra braceing. I have to be a little careful here as its very close to upsetting the fuel tank position.

The diff is now bolted in place, just have to fabricate some mounts. Still thinking about those, so Ive moved on to the front end for now.

Rob, I think you might be right. I had the same thought when I was neck deep in sanding dust making the Group B Celica body kit. How quickly we forget. lol.. Hi Teddy. I have the sub frame tacked in its final position.

Most of the rear floor mods are finished including the sub frame mounts.

Thanks Mick and Stuart. Most of this stuff is straight forward except the fill in piece for the wheel arch tub. Its quite a strange shape, even though it looks straight on one edge and half mooned as it follows the quarter panel. Its impossible to get the right shape useing card as a template because the steel wont bend in two directions on the same plane. To keep the arch flat as it meets the quarter panel, I had to cut and fit the plate from scratch. Once one side is done, you can use it as a template for the other side. Laid out flat, Its the shape of a banana. Bizzar.

Thanks Carlos, Flipping it over makes these jobs much more pleasant and easy. Just a few "small mods" on the floor to make the IRS fit.

Got one of the wheel arches tubbed. Sometimes you just can't get any thing done when you have to work for a living.

Started the mock up before final welding to ensure correct angles at ride height and clearance.

All the junk has been removed, a few more rust repairs and seam stiching. The sub frame has some mods. I should have the mounts made and fitted this weekend.

Ive found seating position makes a big differance to getting your legs in and out of the door opening, even with a double cross and carlos bar. The rwd Celicas have a low roof line and a high floor pan which makes thing a bit harder. Sitting in a celica is like sitting on the floor with your legs out in front. In contrast, sitting in a Datsun 1600 or Escort is a bit like sitting at the dinning table and are easy to get in and out of even with the smaller door opening.

Thanks Justin, The body shells on the Celica and Supra really are quite complicated to work on and modify. This Corolla really is easy. Cheers Chris, Everything looks heavy to you. When am I getting the KE70 to try out my new motorsport scales.

I spend so much time in it, It could be my home. The floor pan on the corolla is wider than the celica. Making fitting the celica IRS subframe very easy. Once the spring hanger is removed, Its the prefect spot for the subframe mounts

New grill has arrived and the shell is on the spit. These cars are so easy to work on. There is no hidden sheet metal brackets under 3 layers of metal. What you see is what you get,

Thats awful, and very sad to witness the death of any one, be it in motorsport or not. I totally agree, being trapped in a crashed car would be a nightmare for whatever reason. We all try to make our sport as safe as possible, but as much as we love it. Its still dangerous.

This will be the 6th cage that Ive built, and the last Andy. But that was what I said about the last one. I build them to CAMS specs, plus extra braceing because I hate fully seam welding a shell. This car wont be able to compete at cams events, but a cams cage keeps every one happy.

Hi Justin, Only the new sills left to go on and the rust is done. Got the cage mounts in as well.

Some more rust repairs today. Also going cheap ke30 diff and leaf springs. Make an offer if anyone can use it. Pinion gear turns easy and smooth, but condition unknown as its just come from the wrecker.

Hi Chris, These motors have quite a low comp ratio, 8.7 or 9.1. as standard. Most of the forgies that are on the market are made for low comp turbo use for the 3rz. The bores are huge for a 4 cyl engine, so trying to find 96mm flat tops or dome tops to raise comp was not easy. To get a set custom made would cost over $1000, I found these by JE Pistons to suit a 1400 V twin Suzuki. 10.5 comp with a higher pin to suit the longer 2jz rods. $500 for a set of 4 forgies . 96mm and much lighter than standard. Brendan, Toyota made a 2rz with the twin cam head, but we did,nt get it here in aus, so the 3rz head will bolt straight on with the correct timing cover. Turbos are allowed in the 2wd Amsag series. There are allready a couple of turbo Datsun 1600s Just keep the same number of cylinders and the same manufacturer. In rally, a turbo engine and a na motor just require different driving styles. There are good and bad reasons for both.

This will be the race motor for the new car. Photo is showing a complete 2.7 3rz motor, but just using the head. This is going on a 2.4 2rz bottom end. The 2.4 has a 86mm stroke "same as a 3sge that Mr Bates is using in his RA40 Celica" which will rev better than the 96mm stroke in the 3rz. I was still not happy with the standard stroke ratio in the 2.4. This is fixed by using 2jz Supra rods a Suzuki 1400 pistons.

Got some seam welding and rust repairs done today before the storm knocked out the power for 7 hours.

RRR Auto Parts in Sydney. They have them on ebay. Only took a few days to arrive. Also Rare Spares still have a listing for KE30 door sill panels. Ive ordered a pair, but they will take over a week to get here.

Iam amazed at the new aftermarket parts you can get for these old Corollas. The new guards and bonnet turned up today, as well as the Tilton pedal box. Iam building the car to run in AMSAG and the 2wd rallymaster series. Not really building to any class regs. As long as the engine has the same number of cylinders and same make, everything else is free for the rallymaster. more or less. The car is being built to win events outright.