Ben-89

155/70?R13 was standard fitment on the KE30 and KE55 series. When the KE30 was released, there were other imports such as the Gemini, Civic, Galant, etc which ran On "Cross Ply" tires. They were diabolical in the best of conditions, in fact the Corolla was commended for its handling as it had Radial tires fitted.

Late KE55 square headlight through to KE70 had a single outlet exhaust manifold. Models prior (KE30 1974-1978) and early KE55 round headlight had the twin pipes... I have seen it many times over the years, if anyone begs to differ then the car may have had a change over engine put in from a later lower km Corolla. As Littleredspirit pointed, typically parts marked such as the manifold are ones from wreckers who sell over the counter.

Awesome little first car, plenty of parts available that are reasonably cheap! I have a CSi Hatch with the 4afe and 5 speed and it's zippy and fun to drive. These motors are built for economy so modifications don't necessarily improve the performance. They perform well for what they are, regularly servicing will benefit it. As you suggested make it handle, they have a good chassis so a good quality suspension upgrade will compliment the car greatly. You will also understand the cars limits responsibly also. A front spoiler off a MX83 Cressida fits nicely on the front bumper as mine shows.

Love the attention to detail with this build. I was following it on MCM and an SX Sedan would've been awesome! Well done, keep the updates coming :)

Lovely lovley a beautiful example of a XX, even has the update linear graphics on the side! The colour name is Granite :) like the exhaust tip! Glad to see its in good hands :)

Some examples from Hiro are true, they sound appealing but the appearance off the car is completely opposite. It's all marketing... Mechanical Sympathy was getting warmer.... CS stands for "Cloth and Stereo" I'm not making it up as it sounds good but that's what it is. A number of magazines from 1976 stipulate this as this was the newly released trim level across the range. A rank above the SE and two above the L model. Your ke55 is a square headlight 1980/81, I guess you have removed the chunky bumpers? Looks great judging by the photo, made a ride thread yet?

Aaron the car is looking great, glad to hear of the progress! It can be slow, but its better than nothing :) I didnt realise you could get the crystal lenses for the S2 front bar.... I had the frosted type for my S2 however I recently reverted back to my amber ones as it tied with the spoiler for that factory look.. MX73 Lip? can't say ive seen one on a E9, but I did this one to mine... MX83 Cressida Lip.

Ive always admired your ke20, when you told me of the ae93 I couldnt wait to see the pics.... :) If anything its gone to a deserving owner who will maintain it as it is. All the best with them!

I like where this is going! Pity the series two has been nipped and tucked.... Turbo interior is very 80s...... Which is very Cool! Any plans to keep the frowny front from the series two? Keep up the good work!

You've definitely cleaned it up well, those clutch cables have a tendency of spitting off the circlip.... Mums one did it many years ago while entering the city.... Wasn't very nice! Keep up the good work mate!

Console looks great, it should've been there the whole time :)

Looks like a tidy car to start with, much more fn to drive than a VR Commodore! Those pin stripes are cool, that brown interior will grow on you with time :) Atleast its already got extractors on it, saved a few $$ already. These motors are built for economy, so a conservative approach in carburettor may be the solution. Something too big wont do performance any favours or economy. Some people tend to focus on the handling and suspension as a starting point, then move onto the mechanicals and performance aspects later on. Keep the updates coming, I drive one these too. Awesome little cars!

Welcome to the club! There is another member from WA who has one, it had the 4ke nd 5 speed combo... Great little cars which Aus missed out on. It's definitely a head turner :)

Glad ill be seeing the at CJ this year, I remember it at the previous ones. Was always a treat!

Just got some quick photos on the iPad of the brochure... This brochure covers the 1979-81 builds as it doesn't have disc brakes featured. Even the interior lacks the digital clock and other niceties that the 1982 builds had. Can't rotate one of the pics as I'm using the iPad. Cheers Snotty, got some better ones!

Ohh shocker, drums all round! Down in Melbourne wrecker there was a yellow one with drums all round.... Shame the body was so rusty... This was dads one, dated 2004. Learned to master the column shift in this.... fun times! Disks, plenty of carpet inside and even the digital lock and radio cassette. I recall the big banjo diff it had. Freeway driving was very audible to say the least.

High roof cargo van, guessing 1982 build? Doesn't have drum brakes on the front does it, some 1979-1981 builds had that! Looks like its got the L40 transmission and E series diff, I recall the diff centre being larger than the usual banjo or Borg Warner diff. You could probably put in a Corolla diff, whether its leaf sprung or coil... You seem to have the knack to fabricate things so that's a possibility there. I'm almost certain the diff width drum to drum is the same between Corolla and Liteace. The km36 liteace (second generation) 1985-1991 has a 5k and similar transmission. Ideal upgrade down the track ;)

Hi James, The km20 used the same engine as the Corolla but the gearbox and diff ratios were specific to that van. Dad had one until a few years ago, brilliant little van it was! As you said gearing was really low so the majority of take offs were in second gear. High roof, low roof, cargo van or pick up they all shared the same drive train and were four on the tree. Being an imported van it will have coding for the gearbox and diff on the build plate which is riveted below the drivers seat under trans/axle. So is yours a cargo van or people mover. We had a low roof people mover with the chrome bars and bold pin striping. I have the sales pamphlet somewhere with this information on it.

Grandma has a Westinghouse fridge similar to the one pictured, they were an art form to say the least. She has had it atleast 55 years and 15 years ago she had the light bulb replaced. Still has the ice cold gas flowing and has the potential to smash bottles if turned down low enough :)

Could be a section of hose which connects for the water pump around the back side of the head, or its a section of cooling hose from the thermostat housing that runs around to the water pump.

I cannot wait to see the boot spoiler, love the thorough attention to detail this car exudes! Keep it up :)

That's what call progress, I remember the work you did on the wagon before it all halted..... This sedan should come up great! Are the plans to eventually put in a healthier 4a and t-50 and cross member?

There is no available gasket for the k series thermostat housing, so that's what I was told a few years back when replacing my thermostat in my ke70. So I did the next best thing, bought some gasket paper and cut out a rough piece slightly larger than the surface area of the removable piece and with a ball pained hammer I tapped on the gasket paper to stencil out the basis for my gasket. Once that was done, with a blade, scissors or whatever I just tidied up the holes for bolts to fit through etc, etc. Then I make a second gasket for god measure so I could bond the pieces together. I put everything back together and it's god as gold.

That's him alright, a real credit to him too. Te accolades he's received since the build just goes to show! Love the video work :)