corollaTE27Fan

Hi Pete - it was Import Monster you sent me a link to. I have also been looking on the Yahoo Jap Auction site and its so hard to read the adds as even with a translator the majority of the text doesn't get translated and I have found that when you see a picture of 4 wheels the price is often just for a single wheel. Do you use a perticular Jap Auction site? Cheers

Would be interested to hear about Japanese Auction sites, is there any in particular that I should look at?

Nice pics and yes it was the early Celica style wheel I was looking for but as you say little chance of finding any of those now.

Looking good, bet your pleased after all that hard graft!

Hi - Width wise I was looking at 7 inch wide wheels (13" x 7") with a suitable width tyre of a profile to keep the rolling radius of the wheel as close as possible to the original. I know the width will be OK, I just need to understand what offsett I will need so as to avoid hitting the front struts and rear spring mounts. As I mentioned,I don't mind the wheels projecting beyond the body line as I quite like the option to use fender flares and spacers to get the right look.

Will wheels with this PCD and negative offsett fit a stock KE20 if the center bore is suitable or I am able to use spigot rings? I have read about the use of 'wobbly nuts' to accommodate slight differences on PCD's and also about bent wheel hub studs is this wise. Alterrnatively I can go for some hub adapters to convert to a 5x114.3 PCD and get a better choice of wheel but the cost of hub adapters would be an extra $500 Aus dollars. I was thinking of going for 13" x 7" all round like the attached pic, though my main concern is the best offsett to use. I am not fussed about wheels projecting beyond the bodywork as I would quite like to use some fender flares. I am in the UK so my choice of off the shelf wheels is limited and second hand sources of RX7 wheels that are a direct fit are scarce. I have looked at Hayashi Street wheels from Japan which I really like but they are megabucks with shipping to the UK.. What do you guys reckon?

Looks like a nice piece of kit but sadly I am a novice on a budget.

Thanks for the advice chaps. I prefer the idea of the Corolla GT(AE86), just didn't realise that the gearbox from a later series car can be used. Also would the clutch and bellhousing need modification to fit the KE20? Pete - Just out of interest, could I use the engine from the same car as it would be useful to have an option to the Mk1 MR2 engine that is fast becoming a classic in the UK and 'parts cars' are becomming expensive? I just want to keep it simple as I am not looking for mega BHP out of it and this will be my first engine swap project.

Did you find your KE25 Sam? I know of a reasonably good KE20 in Sweden that I nearly bought before I got my KE20 if that's any help, otherwise they are few and far between. I was actually looking for a TE27 Levin but they are as rare as you know what!

I am planning a 4AGE conversion in my KE20 and am looking at gearbox options. Being based in the UK the T50 box is almost impossible to get hold of so I am exploring options. I am aware that the ford Type D 5-speed box is an alternative with the right bellhousing which I can get here in the UK. Do you guys know of any others that can be used that don't require too much trans tunnel mods and that would be available in the UK or Europe?

Hi Pete Yes I did read your response. I have done so much reading on the net over the past couple of weeks I am suffering from information overload at present! I am really looking to give my car a bit of street cred whilst I decide how to upgrade it with the proposed engine swap. Hence my looking at lowering it and putting some nice wheels on it. I take your point about getting the right stuff, trouble is its so hard to find stuff in the UK. I did see some Hayashi Street wheels in Spain in the correct fitting but just missed them as they were a steel at around £600 for a set plus shipping to the UK. I like the TE27 Levin look but appreciate that the real thing would be hard to replicate properly in a lesser model. I have also read that some people who race KE20's in Australia use stock suspension which lead me to wonder if I really need to start swapping out struts and suspension components. Appreciate your advice.

I have recently acquired a 1974 Corolla KE20 Coupe and plan to do a replica J street mod to it (along the lines of the twin cam TE27 Levin). I have read posts on here about similar mods but could do with some tech help regarding the lowering and wheel size. As far as the lowering is concerned i'll be keeping the existing rear cart springs lowering by usng 'lowering' blocks but not sure how far to go. At the front I am going to use lowering springs that give a drop of 1.5 to 2 inches so should I go for similar lowering blocks as the car as it is seems to sit level. Body work wise I am going to add some arch flares as the TE27 Levin has which gives about an extra 2 inch in width all round. For wheels I am going to go with period Ford fitment deep dish type alloys as my 4 x 110 pcd and offset is similar to a Mk1 Escort with 4 x 108 though I will need to use some 'wobbly' wheel bolts and spigot rings. I am keeping existing hubs and brakes for the time being, just need to work out how wide to go on the wheels so would appreciate any tips here on optimum width so as to not put too much stress on the little steering box. I would also be interested to here where the J Retro ride guys get their parts from as I can only seem to find sources in the States, Japan and Australia/New Zealand.