Old Man Butters Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 (edited) Hi Everyone. Having had a long standing love affair with the old rotary motor, combined with a love of the early sedans of my time, this is my first project that i actually look like having the money to complete from start to finish. Crazy. Started with seeing an add on g-tree for a ke30 sedan that looked kinda neat. Rang the owner and he was super nice, and being about a 3 hour drive from my place, a mate and i decided to make it into an overnight trip as a bit of a getaway as well. Fell in love with it at first sight, and was convinced there and then that this is the car for me. Completely stock as a rock, with a few little patches of rust, but nothing that sanding and priming won't fix. Automatic gearbox with 3k motor. Started first click and ran quite well. Due to a work injury, i can no longer lift my left leg, so i can only drive an automatic. To me that means 2 things, either turbo or injected modern motor. Picked it up for 1900 dollars with 6 months rego as well, and the owner was a genuine corolla lover. It's great to buy something off an enthusiast sometimes, as even talking about it with me he started to get a bit excited as well hahaha. Got it home, and immediately rang my little bro up in QLD about a motor, and with him being a qualified rotary mechanic, there was no question about what was going into the old girl. A quick bank transfer and he went on the hunt for a 12a turbs, finding one with a mate that did not want to part with it. In excellent condition, the lure of money was too great for him, and it quickly became mine. Best part was, it was already in pieces so my bro could inspect the housings and plates etc.. for wear and condition. Since then, we have snapped up a series 4 rx7 throttle body, along with an adapter plate to fit, s4 crank angle sensor and recently a set of oil control rings. My little bro works at an auto engineering place, so when i make the trip up there < eventually relocating there anyway > the car can be dropped off with the inhouse engineer already worded up about what i need done. Engine is going to get a little porting done, nothing too extreme but just opening up the teensy weensy little inlet ports that come stock on a 12a turbs. Currently getting doweled at the moment, the housings were cleaned up a bit first. That's it so far, next step is to take my little sweetheart down to the bodyshop, to get the rust properly treated, and to re-align a guard. Might be an aftermarket one as it doesn't quite look right. I also wanted to keep the interior mainly stock, and i hate having a big old tacho mounted somewhere in the car. Absolutely horrible looking in a street car in my opinion. Others love them but i guess it takes all types i guess. I located a tacho dash in Thailand, and had it sent over here, and i got a diagram of the pinouts so that i have a tacho in the dash. Only problem is that the dash facia of the ke30 sedan is all one piece reaching over towards the passenger side, whereas the facia i have for the tacho dash ends at the end of the dash. Does anyone know if i can locate the other piece that will fit? Or will i have to cut and modify my original one < something i REALLY don't want to do, but if i have to i will make sure it's done to look stock anyway > That said, here are a few photos of the car, motor and cluster.... to be continued :D By the way, my back is SUPER funted, with little hope of getting much better, so I don't really get to do any of the hands on stuff. I will be assembling the motor in qld with my brother, but that is about it. It may be nice to have a little bit of money now i am older to pay other people to do the work, but there is something about doing it yourself, or in the least attempting to do it. I might never drive a manual again, and even if the taxi driver zooms off from the traffic lights too fast, i end up in pain. This build is going to be one centered on keeping me as comfortable as possible, tricky with old suspension setups < in steps that engineer lol >, not too much power but enough to ease it on while hitting the highway, or even watching as my brother takes it down the strip. I just want it too look sweet and go sweet. Any input is hugely appreciated. Referrals to threads re. suspension setups and braking setups would be awesome. Let me know what you think? **EDIT** Yes that is my walking stick in the photo. His name is Sticky. Also, I will not be lazy and go out and take some more photos of the car and engine bay as it sits now. Cheers! Edited March 13, 2014 by Old Man Butters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breto Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Mate looks like you have a bit ahead of you with this project. I guess if you want one piece of advice my 20c worth is this, plan it very carefully before you start, do loads of detailed research and then try to only do things once. Don't go buying wheels before you work out what you are doing with the suspension/diff/brakes etc. Look forward to following progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clapped out Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) Looks like a fantastic car! Can't wait to see the final product! By the sounds of it you may have to chop your dash facia, cheers! Edited March 14, 2014 by Clapped out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Butters Posted April 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Hi There. Sorry for the slack updates, but they are starting again tomorrow when I can take pics. I picked up a set of 13inch mags for butters for 60 bucks, just some little ones until it is finished. Cheap as so pretty happy with that. Will give a clean and pics tomorrow. Butters is heading to the body works on Tuesday this week, to get a quote on fixing the small patches of rust coming through. Very small but i want to treat it quickly. Motor is coming along, if you want i will post some pics of it and associated parts etc. Gotta go, check back in tomorrow :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Butters Posted August 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 Ok people, I know I have been pretty slack with this, but undergoing workers comp shit with a dodgy back < 2 failed ops > and heaps of painkillers make me a forgetful mother funter. I have relocated up to QLD, and am heading off next week to retrieve the corolla from Tassie and get it's mods underway. So far, the engine looks immaculate. The plates did not need machining, they were near perfect. Everything is cleaning up will, and Dave and I will set about spending moolah on all new seals and what have you in the coming weeks. The turbo has been decided, we are going to run a GT35R. Using a series II RX7 Auto gearbox, one with an auto valve body so that I can drive it normally, and one gearbox strengthened up for when Dave takes it down the strip. We have a mate in NSW that is a Hilux diff guru, so he will be handling that, and as for the general fitment of the engine, that will be up to Dave. He works for an auto engineer shop, and his boss is a racing enthusiast. We will be looking to him for strut/braking combos. As mentioned before, Dave will just be opening up the inlet valves on the 12a, nothing too hardcore. I am debating leaving the brown carpet and beige door trims, but i really want to retrim it all in grey man-made leather with mustard yellow inserts. Not bulky or stitched dash, just a straight retrim of the interior as it sits. I find the car remarkebly comfortable to ride in, and want to be able to maintain some aspect of that. Dave < my little brother > is a qualified rotary mechanic, so we are working on it together. Going to run a haltech engine management system by the looks of it, and series 4 inlet manifold. Have to wait for fitment before deciding on a cooler or radiator combo. I have a few pics of the housing cleaned up but that is it. Engine went off for dowling the other day, should have it back soon. I want to steer away from the yellow/silver engine bay theme. But here lies a dilemma for me. Being unable to polish anything very well because of physical aspects, I wanted to get all the chrome trims on the car, every single one, painted in a light grey 2pac paint. Then every thing else in the engine bay that can't go this colour was going to go a dark gun metal grey colour. Thoughts anyone? I am also wondering if i should switch to a fuel cell instead of the fuel tank??? not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Butters Posted August 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 Oh, I am also picking up our EH Holden Wagon that we have bought of my father in law for my son Jake. He has a special attachment to the car, and there were thoughts circling about selling it. Might sneak a pic of that up here too. He gets it when he is 25, and i want to do a small block engine swap, as well as updating all braking and suspension components etc. She is a beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indelible Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 opening up the inlet valves on the 12a, guessing you meant ports? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clapped out Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 Keen to see update pics, and welcome to queensland! cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Butters Posted August 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 LMAO indelible..... hence why Dave is doing everything mechanical lol. Thank you for the correction though, and you are 100% correct, I meant ports not valves. I will see if Dave can get me a pic of the standard ports vs a na 12a. I believe they are smaller. Just a quick question, i posted pics on here before, how do i do it again? Things seem to have changed a little bit. However, and admin feel free to delete this if I am being naughty, here is a link to my folder on Facey https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153129563803642&type=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Butters Posted August 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 And thanks for the welcome! currently in your neck of the woods, and we like it here so probably settling somewhere close but a little more rural. Elimbah or outer caboolture. Somewhere I can build.....The Shed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clapped out Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Awsome, you can't go wrong if you go out of town a little bit, bigger blocks means bigger shed, ha ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Butters Posted September 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Oh you know it. Currently, my wife is headed down to tassie and she will be using BUTTRS while she is there, then I am flying down to drive it up here. Can't wait! Just picked up a TC Gemini Coupe as my daily driver whilst all the fun things happen with the rolla. Engine is back from being dowled, so now Dave is just ordering some parts and we will be ready to assemble it. Decided on a Silver and Gun Metal Grey colour scheme for the motor / engine bits / suspension bits and thingies. Getting close to engine build time!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Butters Posted October 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2014 Ok so I am back in Tassie, and while I was at the auto trimmers buying some carpet, I decided to book BUTTRS in for a retrim. New door panels and new seats. Dark grey vinyl on the back and sides, light grey vinyl on the top/sides, and currently a cloth insert in the middle. However, the more I think about it, the more I think I would just like a combo of light grey and yellow vinyl on the seats. There just doesn't seem to be much material that I like. Anyway, it goes ahead this wednesday, so I will talk to the trimmer then. I have also ordered some 15inch supalites from bob jane. Now I know that I will likely change wheels when I fit the hilux diff, however I really like supalites and I was feeling spendy. I am sure I could sell them no worries. Woo. On the rotor side of things, Dave is just starting to port it, so we will be putting it together soon. The corolla has taken a little bit of a backseat as of late, as we are fitting an ls3to my wifes lx torana, broom broom!!!! Should go quite nicely!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clapped out Posted October 11, 2014 Report Share Posted October 11, 2014 Can't go wrong with supalites, they look good on just about any old school car! Pics after the trimmers would be awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Butters Posted October 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 Ok so the Supalites arrived a day before BUTTRS went to the trimmers. Other presents also arrived in Brisbane, where the car will end up. Check em out. Never mind the surface rust bubbling on the corner of the bonnet..... the bodywork shall be attacked in due time!!! painted in acrylic, will be repainted in acrylic. I bought 4lts of colour and 4lts of clear just the other day. We shall see how this turns out lol. And as promised, one of the presents that arrived in brisbane,,,, hopefully the haltech gets here soon. Also, we are nearly ready to build so it's a good thing i am up here at the moment. With this combo, we should see a lazy 350hp at the wheels, and are aiming for mid 11's. Dave has to do the strip work, I can't handle the stress on your body. I had an RX-7 S2 12aturbs that ran a flat 12, and when launching that hard, over and over again at a meet or test and tune.,, would spell disaster\. Plus, he is better at such things so it will be up to him :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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