Jonno34 Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Hey everyone, not entirely too sure where to post this, hope this is an appropriate part of the forum. I love cars, but unfortunately I know almost nothing about working on them, I've only ever done basic oil and filter changes, and recently got a friendly mechanic to help me/teach me how to install my coilovers on my skyline. I'm planning on getting a corolla of sorts - I'm considering anything from the AE80 Hatchback, AE90 sedans or "seca" models, and AE100 sedans. The plan is to stick something like the 4AGE in and just do as much as possible and learn in the process. I'm not really aiming for a super performance car, just want to build a fun and somewhat quick car for a few track days here and there (very few - I don't track much), and something I can use as a daily driver also. Being completely new to this, I'm not entirely sure which model would be the best one to work on, in terms of availability of parts and just how easy it is to work on the car in general. Any advice you guys can give me would really help! thanks everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ke70dave Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 hey mate, Any of the FWD 4age n/a corollas are pretty much exactly the same to work on. the 4age engines can be a littel more difficult to find parts for, as there are alot more non 4age ones around. but once you start researching you realise that the 4age came in heaps of different cars, so parts can be got off alot of differnet models (ae86, mr2 etc). if you are really keen, head to the local wreckers and have a look around at them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19914afc Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Toyotas in general seem to be one of if not the easiest cars to work on, especially something like an old ke70. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
altezzaclub Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Nah- Datsun 1200 is much nicer than a 4K, dammed silly tilted-over motor with everything hidden under it. All the FWDs are cramped under the bonnet, that was a major selling point for the factories. The whole drivetrain could be assembled independently and fitted to the body as one big unit, where it took up a lot less of the car volume than the RWD did. I think the Seca models are the nicest looking, although I'm not sure what the big open hatchback hole in the body does for torsional strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TroysRollaSX Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I'm planning on getting a corolla of sorts - I'm considering anything from the AE80 Hatchback, AE90 sedans or "seca" models, and AE100 sedans. The plan is to stick something like the 4AGE in and just do as much as possible and learn in the process. I'm not really aiming for a super performance car, just want to build a fun and somewhat quick car for a few track days here and there (very few - I don't track much), and something I can use as a daily driver also. Being completely new to this, I'm not entirely sure which model would be the best one to work on, in terms of availability of parts and just how easy it is to work on the car in general. Any advice you guys can give me would really help! thanks everyone Hi mate. I got my AE93 (1992 Corolla SECA SX) jusssst over 2 years ago exactly now, and couldn't be happier with it. So I'd say consider something like it. Can get them for a reasonable price now, they're easy to work on, easy yo get parts for, there is still plenty of aftermarket support for them, and as long as it's been looked after fairly well shouldn't give you any real drama, also the paint seems to be of a higher quality then the older models and can still look good (again, as long as it's been looked after) - my car has had a few stone chips repaired on the bonnet, but asides from that still wears it's factory paint, and still looks good, even after all these years. Everything I'd had to do so far hasn't been too hard to do - asides from the timing belt at just over 200,000kms and replacing the distributor when required due to failure, where I cheated and got a mechanic to do, because I didn't have the required tools, knowledge of the 16v small port red top 4A-GE or time... hey mate, Any of the FWD 4age n/a corollas are pretty much exactly the same to work on. the 4age engines can be a littel more difficult to find parts for, as there are alot more non 4age ones around. but once you start researching you realise that the 4age came in heaps of different cars, so parts can be got off alot of differnet models (ae86, mr2 etc). if you are really keen, head to the local wreckers and have a look around at them. ^ Great advice, there is even sometimes a 4A-GE FWD Corolla in the various wreckers, until it's eventually raided for parts, haha. Or you could organise to meet up with one of us that has one and we could show you our cars, take you for a little drive, etc. I'd be happy to meet up with you if that would be any help mate - would give me a good excuse to wash the car ;) Toyotas in general seem to be one of if not the easiest cars to work on, especially something like an old ke70. I'd agree with that to a point. I owned Fords before I saw the light and got my Corolla, and the Mk II Escorts and the XF and XD Falcons I had before that were extremely easy to work on too. Mind you, I wish I'd never wasted my time on the Falcons, the Escorts however I'll always have a soft spot for, and if I had the money and space, I wouldn't hesitate to do up a 2 door Mk II Escort, with a worked 4A-GZE under the hood... *wanders off dreaming* Nah- Datsun 1200 is much nicer than a 4K, dammed silly tilted-over motor with everything hidden under it. All the FWDs are cramped under the bonnet, that was a major selling point for the factories. The whole drivetrain could be assembled independently and fitted to the body as one big unit, where it took up a lot less of the car volume than the RWD did. I think the Seca models are the nicest looking, although I'm not sure what the big open hatchback hole in the body does for torsional strength. Agreed, but as long as your hands aren't the size of dinner plates you shouldn't have too much trouble. You'll just hate changing the damn oil filter (tucked in behind the exhaust manifold). I agree about the SECA models being the best looking, they're also more practical then the hatches because the cargo area is nice and big. They're sorta like a cross between a sedan and a hatchback. And While I know what you're saying about torsional strength in the SECAs, in the 2 years that I have owned mine I have found that it handles very well, sure you can get it to understeer if you push way too hard when cornering (but you have to be going stupidly fast), and you can get it to oversteer with the old FWD lift-off power mid-corner trick (once again, you have to be going quite quickly), but asides from those two situations they have VERY neutral handling. Anyway, if you want to have a better look at my car, let me know mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parrot Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Any RWD Corolla would be a good choice, but non mechanical parts are getting harder to find now, for anything older than a KE70. I would seriously look at an AE82 or AE93 with a 4AGE. The wreckers are full of AE82's and AE93's will supplant them soon enough. You can pick them up pretty cheaply, especially AE82's, and they go pretty quick and make the right noises. Everything is front wheel drive these days, so may as well get used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJM85 Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 The easiest and best car to work would be that car you don't have to work on.... :rolls: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonno34 Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 hey everyone thanks so much for all the replies! glad to hear that the corolla is an easy car to work with. I don't mind the FWD at all :) not fussed about that really. Troy thanks so much for the offer, I'd love to come see your car, the colour looks great! Unfortunately I'm in perth :( I'm choosing a corolla cos I thought there would be alot of aftermarket parts and support for the 4AGE with cars like the AE86 and MR2 around. How is the 4AGE to rebuild? I've always dreamt of taking apart an engine and redoing it with better pistons and cams etc. However while researching on it, i saw on wikipedia that the blacktop can be quite difficult and expensive to extract any more power out of since its pretty much at its max already? as for looks, i really can't pick out of the AE82 hatches, AE93 sedans/seca liftback, and E100 sedans! they all look great to me really. I'll probably just go see a few cars and when I find one in really good condition thats been well looked after ill just go for it! But perhaps I'll lean towards the 82 or 93 since there would be more parts available at wreckers? again thanks for all the help everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parrot Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I remember when 4AGE's first came out, they were touted as a non rebuildable motor. Laughable now, but back in 1985, there were a few worried car club people around! Anyway, 16V are very easy. Only hard bit is the engine management if you exceed the limits of the factory ECU, which you don't need to do. 20V in a FWD configuration isn't hard to fit, but a bit of mucking about adapting looms to an earlier generation chassis. Don't underestimate how complex this is to get right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonno34 Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 ahh i see thanks mate! ill probably just stick to a 16V in that case can't wait to find my corolla :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazydingo Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Hi all, I'm new to cars and corollas too. I was checking out this forum because I saw a 1987 Toyota Corolla Twincam AE82 5-door hatch for sale on the side of the road (owner looking for $2500 ono) and I wanted to get more details about it. Can someone tell me if there are any superficial aspects that could identify this as a real twincam and not a CS? I ask this because according to NRMA, the car was previously registered with them as a CS. I think the car has around 240,000km on it and someone along the line has switche out the front seats for bucket seats and put in a racing steering wheel. That is a little concerning because I immediately presume that it has had the guts knocked out of it by a boy-racer type. Any advice on things I should look out for if I go to inspect this car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hiro Protagonist Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Hi all, I'm new to cars and corollas too. I was checking out this forum because I saw a 1987 Toyota Corolla Twincam AE82 5-door hatch for sale on the side of the road (owner looking for $2500 ono) and I wanted to get more details about it. Can someone tell me if there are any superficial aspects that could identify this as a real twincam and not a CS? I ask this because according to NRMA, the car was previously registered with them as a CS. I think the car has around 240,000km on it and someone along the line has switche out the front seats for bucket seats and put in a racing steering wheel. That is a little concerning because I immediately presume that it has had the guts knocked out of it by a boy-racer type. Any advice on things I should look out for if I go to inspect this car? A genuine Twincam will have 4-bolt front strut tops, strut brace, disc rear brakes, front and rear swaybars (I think) the 4AGE and C52 (obviously), orange dash clock and tacho cluster (with a 9000rpm tacho), since it's an '87 it should also have a body-colour front grille. If it is still original paint then it will either be red or white, the TCs weren't offered in any other colour. Then again just about all of that can be swapped over into a non-TC shell.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazydingo Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Thanks for the info, I'll go check it out now and see if those details correspond this car! What's a C52 though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styler Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 I'm going to recommend a ke70/ae71, as you can take that as far as you like, from a reliable daily to all out race car if you wanted. Parts are cheap and readily avaliable, also they are popular and have had many conversions, everything from motor/suspension/gearbox/brakes/diff etc has been done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazydingo Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 A quick google says transmission. Cool. I came across a 1992 SX Seca AE93 with 192,000km for $1500. Are the differences between these cars just superficial? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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