Ke70 Sedan Project

[widomski]

I guess i could just trim them back to the silver parts of the surround. The surround seems to be also a little too high, so I was not sure if notching out the beaver panel would mean that they would sit a little lower to allow the hood to close.

Not too sure how I'll fit the the globe holders, probably just drill and fit some bolts after measuring it all out (they were zip tied in for that photo...). Wiring with the relays shouldn't be too tricky. Grille would just be a ordinary one cut to size.

 

I was so annoyed, someone took the freaking rear swaybar out of that RA40. I wanted to fit one as per your instructions altezzaclub - I guess I was too late!

Also missed out on xt130 lca's, but oh well. I got the quads for $38 all up so I guess I shouldn't complain :)

There was also a ra60 celica and I was reminded about your article on fitting up a celica diff into a ke, but I think I'll wait till later for that.

 

Gonna take advantage of the cooler temps. Back to work and 40deg on monday :/

[B.L.Z.BUB]

You have to cut the beaver for normal quads anyway.

[widomski]

a few beers later the lights were flipped and the bumper + hood put on:

 

 

Hurr durr I am rolla. Will take to those surrounds with a dremel sometime...

 

Swapped my multi indicator switch which fixed the lack of highbeams, although I don't like it how on high it only lights one of the filaments and not both.

Guess I'll have to make a workaround for that.

[B.L.Z.BUB]

It'd be interesting to see if someone could test fit these on a slant front.

 

With your lights I'd suggest making or buying a relay kit. I got one from the states pretty cheap but I reckon they'd be easy to make now I know wiring a bit better. The one I got has ceramic plugs so I can run really bright white/blue Xenon bulbs. Best upgrade to headlights without going for HID's.

[altezzaclub]

..and if either Celica had a sway it should fit, I think they are identical widths as I have the RA60 diff with an RA40 sway in a KE70.

 

It'd be interesting to see if someone could test fit these on a slant front.

Tempting isn't it... Maybe the answer has been in front of us all along. Like a Ford Escort RS2000.

[widomski]

Yeah I've already bought a bunch of relays and cable and plugs to improve the wiring for the semi sealed 7x5's that are on the way - just being mega lazy on putting it together... I just kinda expected the high beam to be the same as the beam you get when you flash your lights.

 

I'll look into the ceramic plugs as I only bought the bakelite ones.

 

 

Tempting isn't it... Maybe the answer has been in front of us all along. Like a Ford Escort RS2000.

 

You know, this is actually what I thought of as well!

 

Might pick up a slanty headlight housing and compare them if I can find one cheaply. The globe holders have strange brackets that are designed to go onto the RA40 but without them I reckon they would sit fine on my flat front.

Edited January 19, 2014 by widomski

[widomski]

Have gotten this far with the clutch, using a spacer at the bellhousing.

Tried using one, then two and then three hose clamps at the top with no avail.

I had issues with the hose clamps slipping a lot before giving out. Trying a stock (non repro) clutch cable also didn't help

Can shift fine in gears but reverse still crunches. Might try using a clamp on collar...

 

 

Fixed up my headlights as well with relays and whatnot.

 

 

 

Here is the output now - way, way better than before!

 

 

Bought a cheapie steering wheel, mirrors and painting supplies. Finally fixed my compressor as well

 

 

 

 

Did some rust repairs too. Not exactly great but it'll do for now.

 

 

 

Also found this giant bog hole while poking around. Took a massive chunk of bog out in the process. Urgh. Fiberglass again maybe?

 

 

Uni is finally finished so I can stuck into it while I apply for work :)

 

Respray coming soon, as well as everything else haha. Just want the damn thing on the road -____-

[widomski]

Gave sodablasting a go with a $30 sandblaster. this is 1 kilo of bicarb:

 

 

Compared to the old wheel:

 

 

Pretty cool I think. The wheel is even shinier IRL. Need to get a rear pair of alloys and do the same thing :)

 

Painted both of my bumpers as well:

 

 

Brakes are also finally done. The brake fluid is probably the original stuff too *bleagh*

 

 

Getting ready to paint as well:

 

 

Have a few things to touch up tomorrow before painting commences!

 

 

And I really need to buy a better camera (sorry for the variable photo quality...). Got my eyes on a DSLR once I'm done :D

[widomski]

Car is 98% done at this point (no photos unfortunately)

 

Seats are in, bumpers, lights, thermo and pretty much everything else is hooked up. Tightened up all the bolts etc.

Alignment is done too and the car now has rego.

 

Took the car for a spin. Was interesting, not exactly a powerhouse but handling is awesome

I totally get why people like these cars now, having never driven one before - they are freaking raw as anything.

Steering and brakes all feel great.

 

Car has a few noticeable issues though:

 

- Dies sometimes when i slow down without blipping the throttle. Not often though, but it did die in peak traffic.

- Sometimes the starter won't turn over after this. Not sure if it's something to do with the shims..

- Rattly as heck exhaust. Left one of the clamps undone so will tighten this up.

- Oil leak where the fuel pump meets the block. No sign of a fuel leak though.

- No speedo. Heh, I think I forgot to put the cable back in right. Thankfully the dash is still semi loose

- Car needs a tune real bad. Might have to invest in a dwell meter.

- Clutch is kinda heavy though - I think if I ever do another 4k I'll fit a standard one in.

 

Fun times ahead - feels good to have a car again (I've done this entire project with no daily driver...)

[widomski]

Day 2 of car being on the road:

 

Sprayed some carby cleaner down the throats and now no stalling.

Removed the rattly clamp, exhaust seems to sit fine. Loud as anything though - I need to get a new exhaust manifold :/

Refitted some missing trim. Still some trim to fit though.

 

Had some slight issues with my brakes:

 

 

Turns out the pads seized in the grooves. A little copper eze sorted that out.

 

Chrome mirrors. Not such a fan of the fender mirror craze :P (though I would like to see if the cheap ones can be modified to be electric... hmm...)

 

 

And some pics.

 

 

 

Need to find out where the hell the rear plate light clips into. Can't find the connector D:

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Chrome mirrors. Not such a fan of the fender mirror craze :P (though I would like to see if the cheap ones can be modified to be electric... hmm...)

 

Was gonna try with mine, the effort probably wouldnt be worth it. I'm deleting mine anyway.

[widomski]

Someone mentioned something about starting an album of people giving their corollas the bird. Here's my contribution:

 

 

Loads of fun when the brakes aren't letting it down.

 

 

Had the brake issue AGAIN tonight after a spirited drive. Lucky for me, I had tools so I was able to fix it to get home (cool off and a quick sand of the pads)

Basically, the brake pedal feels much harder and the car brakes on its own before halting altogether. I've read in another thread that it could be a number of problems.

 

Probably going to strip the calipers down and see whats up.

Not going to rule out the master cylinder either being the problem.

Don't really have the cash to do an ae86 upgrade though I may do this down the track.

[widomski]

Got to work tearing down the calipers:

 

 

Pistons are kinda gross:

 

 

Bore looks OK:

 

 

Clean out the grooves that the seals sit in. Much clean:

 

 

Got some seals, initially these couldn't be found. Thankfully the guy at Sprints (an ex brake mechanic for Girling) called around and found them. Gave me some useful tips on putting the calipers back together too. Apparently has also put more of these together than I've had Sunday dinners...

 

 

Clean up the piston with metho and 800 grit followed by 2000. "Don't use anything but metho", exact words of the Sprints guy :)

 

 

Clean up the caliper real good with metho:

 

 

Fit the inner o-ring with a little bit of rubber grease on the inside/outside surfaces:

 

 

Fit the dust seal with a bit of grease on the lip that sits in the groove on the caliper and the lip that sits in the piston groove:

 

 

Now, the freaking tricky bit. Grease the lip of the piston and place it square into the caliper and apply compressed air (60psi) to the caliper inlet. After about 10 attempts (much easier the second time), the seal pops and the lip goes above the piston:

 

 

Now the piston should go straight into the bore with ease:

 

 

Fit the seals on the carrier:

 

 

Clean and grease up them pins:

 

 

Make sure the carrier slides freely. Done!

 

 

Now that the brakes are done (I hope), ignition needs to be sorted. Kind of got it running again, revs nicely but idles really rough.

[widomski]

3 months later update:

 

Starter motor went kaput and I had to replace it. Took a bus/train to u-pull-it out of desperation to get another.

Had to grease the lobes in the distributor after cleaning it a while back due to screeching, awful noise. Didn't even know they needed grease (apparently, the Internet thinks so).

 

Otherwise, pretty sweet. Roof racks have come in handy numerous times, especially after buying this:

 

 

 

Turns out a slant front fits into an empty KE, minus the bumper. Bought all this just in case, the seller was like "you've already got the good front!"

Indeed.

 

Here's some photos comparing the RA40 lights I have versus the slanty front ones.

I've included a square in case anyone wants to extrapolate dimensions:

 

 

 

 

 

Also fitted RA40 suspension arms as they are exactly the same as the XT130 arms. Really improved steering and feel, totally recommended (although I'm probably preaching to the converted here...)

 

Did some reorganising of the shed(s) as well, these $15 shelves are nastier than cheap PC cases but surprisingly strong if assembled correctly:

 

 

Otherwise, nothing. Planning on getting camber tops and 15x8 steelies as I'm sick of takumi tax on wheels and the lack of traction I get with the stock skinny tyres in the wet. Also so I can use the grimy crusty 15" bald-as-ʞ©$ɟ tyres sitting outside for drift/whatever.

 

Yay for daily:

 

[widomski]

Bought some MA61's the other day as I was getting real tired of how my car handled in the wet with the pizza cutter CSX alloys.

 

 

 

Rear tyres are borked and am looking at options. Seems like theres not much in 195/60/R14. Might give the used tyre place a buzz.

Fronts are 185/60/R14 Pirelli P6's (?) and handle well in the wet.

 

Looks way, way better now. Fog lights were NOS Mazda items I picked up at Cashies for $20.