Well since this is the motorsports section I figure I will find the most knowledge here for the modifications I want to do so I'll see what you guys know about suspension and transmission gearing cause I know shit..... One of these days I'm doing an IMSA celica and in order to do that I need bigger rims/tires but new rims/tires would hit the lower mount for the coil springs so I would need to move the whole tire/rim out at least 2" to clear the spring mount. 205 60 R14 width 8.07" diam 23.68" 255 50 R16 width 10.03" diam 26.03" I would like to go with a 255 50 R16 which would make the tire 2" wider and 2.3" higher. So rims with a lower +'ve offset possibly a negative offset would be my first choice over wheel spacers. If I move the whole rim/tire out by 2" with a 205 50 R16 tire I would actually move the outside of the tire out 3" from the stock 205 60 R14 location. Thats my idea for now. Any other options for moving the tires out about 3" on each corner that would be safer or improve handling. The second problem with putting bigger wheels on is that the final output from the transmission should be reduced a bit. Eventually I'll be putting a 205 motor in so I'm not really worried about the engine having enough power to turn the wheels but I will be loosing torque I would assume from a stock transmission but gaining a faster top end. I would rather have more torque, I just don't really see myself doing 220 or 240kph very often(wish I could but...). The 3rd problem would be that its harder to stop bigger heavier rims/tires and more HP so does anybody know about 185 or 205 brake swaps or other options for brake upgrades? The only 1 I know of is Wilwood Big Brake Upgrade Kit.
on that car in specific the brakes should be wilwoods and those tend to have special rims to clear them.
Well do you not think that going from a 14" to 16" rim would clear the wilwood calipers. The whole inner side of the wheel/rim has to be moved out I'm thinking about 2" to clear the bottom mount for the spring. So in all the closest point of the new rim/wheel setup should be 2" farther out and 1" higher that a stock setup. I could go to a 17" rim if 1.5" higher would be better. The bigger the better as far as I'm concerned when it comes to overall wheel size, thats my opinion as far as looks for the car. Of cource the trade of is that it will require alot more torque to get the bigger wheels spinning. I think I read somewhere that a ST205 tranny is geared a bit lower than a 165/185. Can anyone confirm/deny that?
read up on the wilwood nascar calipers. they use 15" wheels that are made to fit. you'd have issues getting a 19" aftermarket wheel to clear those. but to build this car i would start with an alltrac. get a complete 205 drivetrain. roll cage and foam fill the frame and stitch weld the A and B pillars. then stitch the front and rear subframe up. then drive the car around and make sure everything is OK. if you get to that point and want to proceed in the build to the GTO car then we can talk again. but that should get the drivetrain and the frame up to par.
Thanks for the tips. I should mention that I do not plan to race this car. I am only going for the IMSA "LOOK" for my street car. I want to make honda's tremble in fear at the mear sight of my Toyota(like they must do when they see your car). I just posted in the Motorsports section because I figured you guys would have the most knowledge on modifying things like suspension and brakes. I did check out Rocketeer wilwood kit Rocketeer Toyota ST165 Front 325mm Kit 325 mm x 22 mm curved vane vented, cross drilled and slotted 2 piece rotor Rotor Hats (Available in Black, Blue or Red-No extra charge) Wilwood Billet Dynalite 4 piston calipers Your choice of Brake Pads Custom, Steel caliper mounting brackets SS braided Teflon flex hoses All Grade 8 hardware necessary for installation Complete Installation Instructions Minimum rim diameter required is 17" Nice brakes I'll get some of them. What is the purpose of foam filling the frame. Is this like the foam you use around the house to fill gaps and stop drafts? I will probably not be putting a roll cage in it as I would like a custom interior that is nice and comfortable and space inside is allready at a premium but I will probably stitch up all the seams and maybe put a half cage in the back.
It's funny you found that picture, the graphics on that car are identical to the ones I had made for my Celica racecar project. I found them on another TRD backed racer from the early '90s, a GT3 car from the SCCA Run-Offs at Mid-Ohio. racerb 8)
