Dom's Ae71 Spirit

[DARKMAZE]

Well, I picked up this Blue spirit for the pricely sum of $350 with no rego, two blown tyres, macked brakes all round, a clutch that made driving the car more like an automatic that did a kickdown everytime you touched the throttle and a really bad paintjob.

 

However, all the important points were there. Very little rust, straight panels and a near overrated interior. It even had the original paperwork that came with the car (manuals, etc), and something resembling a service history up to around 50,000km... :y: The engine is strong and doesn't blow even the slightest smoke.

 

Did you know that Toyota recommends a specific part number for the coolant to put into the 4AC... There was even a sticker on the car with the recommendation that's how important the correct coolant is.. :jamie:

 

ANyways... On with the pictures.. As you can see, the paintjob needs a real freshen-up, but 'most' of the rust is just on the surface, and nothing that a little sanding wont cure.. And my partner in crime has already gone about the task of removing the timing belt cover and fitting a white cam wheel and red cam cover.. Bling on a 4ac.. ;)

 

 

As I'm studying mechanical engineering, I'm hoping to use the car to help me develop some of my skills. The plan at the moment for future mods are:

 

Phase 1:

4AGE 20 Valve swap

Monroe Shocks

Whiteline spring lowering kit, swaybar and strut tower brace.

LSD + Disk brake rear

 

Phase 2:

Upgraded brakes (may require suspension replacement?)

 

Phase 3:

Supercharger (maybe swap to a GZE)

Upgraded brakes

IRS setup for rear

 

I know that Phase 3 sounds stupid, but I'm thinking it'll be an 'interesting' customization job.

[7shades]

Cool.... nice find! I'll be interested to see your ideas for the IRS setup... you'll wanna be making some serious ponies to justify the extra weight though...

[Des]

IRS, Id be all ears when you start on that one. :jamie:

[anastasios]

don't waste your money on monroes replacement parts, get suzuki sierra front shocks and put them in the rear and then buy ae86 front struts with a coilover setup and sw20 shocks

[Paul]

MA61's have IRS and LSD...

 

...two birds with one stone.

 

Oh and in my opinion it would not make sense to put in a 20V if you're going to switch to 4AGZE later anyway.

 

 

 

 

But until then, 4A-C's do 70,000 kms with near to no oil, have fun;)

[flat out]

problem would be getting a ma61 i would say

[Des]

My local wreckers has heaps of ma61's one powered by a 302.

[anastasios]

oo take out the parts and sell them on toymods! theres an idea

[LittleRedSpirit]

Nice find, man. Does your spirit have a little black plastic box on the rhs wheel arch (driving light relay)? Mine did, just wondering if they were a standard item, or an option or aftermarket. If you don't have it you may have a pair of threaded holes where it was or could have been. Not an important issue, i know, I'm just curious. Oh and which dealership did yours come from and did it get rust protecion from new? Looks like it will do up sweet.

[DARKMAZE]

Does your spirit have a little black plastic box on the rhs wheel arch (driving light relay)?

 

I didn't happen to notice anything like that. Can you see it in the engine bay pics posted?

 

Oh and which dealership did yours come from and did it get rust protecion from new?

 

I did check, but I've forgotten, so I'll look again tonight, and let you know. Don't know how to tell if it had rust protection though?

 

Well, took it out for it's first run last night, and have decided that my plans need to take a different direction.

 

While the engine upgrade will be great, I had a 'hairy' moment or two that I think I'll need to look at first.

 

Ran out of brakes at out point on a downhill section approaching a 10-20km/h hairpin that I was expecting and so had already slowed for. Foot was at the floor, and then I grabbed the handbrake too. My mate behind me says that there was a tonne of smoke pouring off of the brakes. but she just wasn't wanting to slow.

 

 

Galdly it all ended well (just), and I made it round the corner, however I think that the brakes will definately need to be looked at first. Also the suspension seemed to be a little too floaty for my liking, so I think I'll have to look at that as well. So it looks like I'll be keeping the 4ac in there for a while longer than initially expecting.

 

I think the first point of call might have to be adding some new upgraded pads (the fronts were pulled off the car we got the disks and calipers off at U-Pull-It) to see if that doesn't improve things, and if not then look at something to improve on the abilities. But I'd rather not go through anything dramatic just yet as I don't want too much engineering to be required until I'm getting closer to being able to do it myself..

 

Any suggestions for bolt on upgrades?

 

As for progress, I've managed to almost strip all the paint from the roof, and started on the boot, but the major work from the last while has been to get the clutch changed which required waiting for some new plate bolts when one of them sheared off in the flywheel (luckily it was only in hand tight, so it was easy to get out).

[anastasios]

buy some ae86 struts as they give bigger brakes and without adding too much weight

[LittleRedSpirit]

I didn't happen to notice anything like that. Can you see it in the engine bay pics posted?

I did check, but I've forgotten, so I'll look again tonight, and let you know. Don't know how to tell if it had rust protection though?

 

Any suggestions for bolt on upgrades?

 

I think i can see one of the bolt holes it was in on your pics, it will be in my engine bay photos, but they are low res, lhs as you look at it, in front of the strut tower. i suspect it is just a bolt on aftermarket item. Oh and my dealer was Martin Jonkers @ Morayfield rd Caboolture, if your interested.

 

I have a booklet filled in with the first owners handwriting for waxoyl rust protection, whatever that is. It claims to entitle you to free rust repairs to the value of 2000 us dollars, with a bunch of bullshit fine print...

 

And one thing you can bolt on is a hopper stoppers brake upgrade kit, which the brochure for is on my thread, page 1. A little pricey but i believe it is engineered already, not sure though.

[DARKMAZE]

And one thing you can bolt on is a hopper stoppers brake upgrade kit, which the brochure for is on my thread, page 1. A little pricey but i believe it is engineered already, not sure though.

 

 

Funnily enough, I was just reading your thread this morning... :)