My 88 convertible

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking a fair bit around here lately so I figured its time to sign up and show off my new toy:




The car has been sitting for a while so I'm going to need to learn how to do some body work/rust removal/painting - you can't really tell how crap the paint is in that pic. So far I've just been working on the engine - new spark plugs, new thermostat (old one was rusted shut), air filter etc. I managed to get the electric roof working too.

The car is having a strange problem that when i turn hard right the left tyre will rub against the inner guard - anyone know if its possible to adjust the range of motion for the steering rack? Stock sized tyres / mags too.

 

Yeah it was on tardme. It got transported to up here in aucks

 

Yeah - i suppose i should have said splash guard. I took off the wheel today and its rubbed a little hole in it and has put a nice little black mark on the transmission case.

 

Yeah looks like it

Maybe one day I'll put a 3SGTE from a caldina in there or maybe a 3SGE w/ VVTi from a later model celica.

 

do you have anymore pics?

 

Not at the mo.. I've been pulling off the lights, bootlid etc to assess the rust so she doesn't look too pretty.


I picked up some cheapo front tires today (175/65/14 as apposed to the 185/70/14s currently on there). Hopefully that will keep the wheel rubbing at bay until I decide to splash out and get some 16/17 inch wheels.

 

Well things haven't been going too well - I keep finding more and more rust. Still nothing on some of the rust repair jobs i've seen on here but because the car is deregistered all the repairs need to be certified when getting reregistered (expensive). The Windsheild cracked also because of the rust behind it.

So - allow me to introduce plan B


Its a 1986 Toyota Corona GTR (3sge yay!). I picked it up for NZ$370 which is about US$290. Its quite strange that they don't sell couple celica's here - but the headlights, bonnet and grill can be swapped over onto the corona. I plan to transfer over all the convertible components (B pillar braces, roof, seals etc) and chop the top off.

Should be picking it up this weekend

 

Interesting plan! Gona swap the Celica front onto the coupe too?

 

yeah its an auto and has a red guard - I'm not to concerned because I'll probably convert it to manual and paint it at a later stage.

You're more than welcome to have the ugly bar lights and bonnet - but you'll be paying millions of dollars just for the shipping. I prefer pop up lights - gives it that retro 80's sports car look