RAT_SECA

Been a few years now, still going strong, not alot has changed exterior wise. Switched to a longer flat rack roof rack, mounted my recovery tracks up there as well as a 2x3m awning and 32 inch lightbar. On my latest trip into the bush I ripped the factory rear bumper off and broke the mounts so currently in the works with designing and fabricating a custom rear bar with a tyre carrier on the back. Other than that I have perfected the suspension setup. Kept the same springs but rebuilt the front struts and fitted up longer 616mm Rav4 rear shocks which opened up even more flex for the rear. Inside I have removed the rear seats and made a false floor from the boot to the front seats. Where the back seat was I have storage for recovery gear and tools underneath the floor. There is a lot of space there so wanted to use it! Other than that just been enjoying it, getting out and using it on the harder tracks! Actually did a black trail last weekend and there was only 1 obstacle I didn't try cause it was very steep.

Now on BMW E30 Bottlecap wheels wrapped in 27" Kumho KL71 M/T's! Love getting out and really testing it's limits! Surprises me more and more on each trip!

Well BIG update, long story short she is finished and now registered! Here's some photos from it's shake down trip! Started off at a spot out of town for sunrise. Then went down onto the beach! Here's a shot of the finished engine bay! Also fitted up a D21 Navara/Pathfinder snorkel! Fits really well and gives the factory look I was going for! Fitted up some flush mount LED reverse lights in the rear bumper. Really enjoying exploring in the old girl, a few more trips coming up soon!

Big update on the old girl! She is 95% finished, just a few small things to do. Had some dramas when I first started it, started, ran for 30 seconds and then died. The engine had the same drama in the donor car which the previous owner of that thought it was fuel pump. I did end up doing fuel pump in this one any way as well as distributor. Ended up finding the culprit being the ECU had shorted out in the injectors circuit. All fixed now and running great! Front end started going back together. Wanted to fit up a snorkel but wanted to go something that looked as OEM as possible. Found that it was common to use a D21 Navara/Pathfinder snorkel overseas so ended up buying one from Malaysia and having it shipped over to Aus! Obviously because it's for a different car the template was pretty useless so I test fitted it a few different ways on a spare guard first to get the final measurements. Obviously not perfect but I love it! Set out to start on the interior, JRP gauges in and I decided to delete the ash tray and the cigarette lighter and instead fitting up a USB charger and mounted my UHF in the ash tray slot using a bracket I made up. Not much longer to go now!

Another update! She's back on the ground for the first time in over a year! Also sound deadened/underbody sprayed the lower radiator support and inner guards. Colour matched the upper radiator support (weirdly from factory they are black in the centre.) And motor is almost completely back together! Big thanks to forum member Kebin for doing the wiring harness! Have done all new front wheel bearings, bushes, ball joints and brakes. Once I have it running I will be doing the same to the rear! Will be like a brand new car when I'm done! Also scored a parts car for free. She has a blown clutch, water in the motor and the radiator support has been pushed upwards. She will donate a few pieces to the build! Check out the height difference from stock to lifted! Roughly 4.5" higher taking lift and tyres into account.

Just another post regarding the mods by not the bloke I bought it from but the bloke before him. Actually got in contact with him shortly after buying the car and got some photos and more info off him. So it's got Dobinsons springs front and rear. Front are TN Magna springs (C43-038) which give roughly 1" lift and it has a 2" strut top spacer. Rear is what I believe to be EL Falcon springs with stock gen 1 Rav4 shocks which are 3" longer than standard AE95 shocks. Rear end also has custom adjustable upper control arms and panhard rod. For those that don't know, the rear end on these are live axle coil sprung. Future plans will be to get some more flex out of the rear end. I will be removing both front and rear sway bars. (car won't be daily driven so shouldn't need them.) I actually live in the town where the Dobinsons Springs production warehouse is so will be making a visit to them to try and find a slightly longer rear shock. I also plan on going 27x8.5 R14 Kumho MT tyres in the future. Current tyres are 185r14 Maxxis MT753's. I'll throw in a couple pics from the previous owner and the journeys he took it on. I'm up in Central Queensland Australia so pretty cool that it has been so far south as Coffs Harbour NSW

Story time! This is my 1988 Toyota Corolla SR5 AE95 4WD. I went on the hunt for one of these in July 2021. Looked for about 6 months and only found 3 in that time. 2 were full of rust which I wasn't interested in taking on. This one popped up with a issue where it wouldn't go into gear. (manual) Owner wasn't sure if it was a gearbox or clutch issue. The car had a lot of work done by the previous owner so I decided to jump on it. Ended up paying $1400aud site unseen as the car was 700km away from me. Paid another 700 to get the car to me. Car arrived in my possession October 2nd 2021. Overall very happy with the purchase! Diagnosed it as being the clutch due to being able to start the car it in gear. The old 4AFE didn't run the best, after swapping heaps of parts over trying to diagnose the issue I gave up on it and started looking at engine conversions. Actually came across Kevins build thread on here with his 7AFE AE95 and with me actually having a spare 7AFE here it was obviously meant to be! Was nothing wrong with the 7AFE but ended up stripping it down, chucking a full gasket kit through it, new water pump, Gates timing belt kit, Exedy HD clutch, rear main, crank and cam seal, etc. Had some personal things come up and lost interest in it for a while there, but back in full swing now, been really getting into it over the past few months. It's so close to being done and so keen to hit the beaches and trails in the old girl! So here is a few pics of the progress so far! The day she arrived! The 4AFE Coming out! The 7AFE Coming along nicely. And ready to go in! Clutch on! Gearbox on, was such a tedious job but we got it done! While the 7AFE is a notched block like the stock 4AFE it still required some grinding to clear the 4WD transfer case. And now shes bolted up in the bay! Still got a fair ways to go but loving the journey! Have all new bushes, wheel bearings and ball joints for the front end. And did the inner and outer rack ends and rack bushes while the engine was out. Also repainted the bay! Cheers for reading! Will update with more as I go!

Well I haven't posted here for a while. Fair amount of work gone into it since last post. Now on some 16x8 +15 Work Seeker CX wheels! Fitted front strut brace and inner fender braces. And fitted Series 1 SX front bumper with factory lip.

Long story short, sold this one to move onto other projects.

Hi mate I used this one!

Few mods over the past few weeks! JDM Wagon face front end conversion! And now sitting pretty on some BC coilovers! Missed the low life so much! And black slimline weather shields! And wheels have been ordered but have a 4-6 month wait!

Photos should be working now!

Big update on this car, bit of a change of plans. It has now become my daily driver. In saying that the mods have not stopped and mods are still incoming as well including some goodies from japan! Chucked in the AE93 SX cluster while keeping the original low km odometer. Cleaned up the engine bay and polished the valve cover. And just a few shots of the old girl!

Bit of an update. Have decided to go with my original plan and build a 7AGE. So will be ordering most of the parts I need in the next few months from MRP. But for now this is where I am at. Have just completed the brake swap. Out with the 238mm solid front end and drum rear end, in with the 258mm vented front end with swaybar and 242mm disc brake rear end. After the motor is done I will be pulling it back apart to replace all the bushes and brakes. But for now I need to get the parts cars out of here hence swapping it over now. Old New Will have to give her a wash soon, starting to look a bit like a barn find.

Decided to give the T04S7R some love from my tax back so moved the headunit down to the lower hole and got a Kenwood DMX5020s double din, love it! Made a gauge holder out of plexiglass and have a oil pressure gauge to go in the centre hole just have to sort out the sensor. Also been really enjoying this thing lately! Love driving it every day!