Wanting some tips on going through my celica st162 89'

Had my st162 for about a year now, and have kept it in very good condition. Its been having different problems lately, with having now 3 new alternators placed in it, a new starter, and CV Joints, engine mount, alternator pulley belt, battery replaced twice, new front wind shield. A lot of people have told me to get rid of it, but the car still drives really nice, and I want to move on to going right through the car, and tweaking out all the possible problems that the car currently has..

Will be uploading some pictures of the car soon, to show you what I'm working with.

Basically want to get it up to what it might have been like coming from the show room those 22 years ago. I'm also pretty young and don't have too much experience in the mechanical side of things but am willing to take a shot. However I'm good with the electronics which has come pretty handy so far with the small things I have done.

Wanting to also get some custom stuff made up like custom callipers, and maybe a body kit, something that is very neat if possible. Probably rims, or just keep the white stock alloys that are on it at the moment not sure yet.

The main points I want to focus on are:

• Interior - Seats, steering wheel, crack in dash, general paint fade on vinyl (dark blue colour), interior light etc.

• Exterior - Removing old sticker on side panels and back hatch, possible get them re-made as they are very faded, or have pieces missing. Full body re-spray. Help with managing rust in a coastal area, sun roof (Currently has been replaced with a fiber-glass one) but is a pain opening and closing due to the fibre glass warping in hot and cold temps.

• Motor - There are a lot of rattles around the motor bay, and rear end. I am in the progress of getting some work done on little bits and pieces, but will probably add a little more detail when I go through it in more depth. Cruize control isn't working, and apparently the original owner decided to chop the wires between the cruize module and something else, but its really a big mess. The only thing I have tried is swapping the module with a known working one from my brother celica (exact same model) and it still didn't work, so I would assume that there is wiring chopped up somewhere along the line, or maybe a sensor not functioning properly. But I'm not an expert in that. There's also another rattle noise which only get herd when the car get up through gears, happens only for the first few seconds of the gear change, while going up in revs, than when it gets up, its usually fine, until you put the foot down, than it is herd again. Car uses a fare bit of oil, given since its age its probably fine, however I would like to know if there's something out there, or something I can do to the motor which makes it not use so much oil. Also, what would be the best oil to use, currently I am using Penrite 20/60 oil, usually go through that every couple of months. The oil filter gets replaced every 9-12 months, along with the fuel filter.

Any help from you guys would be GREATLY appreciated, as this car is amazing to drive, still handles well and I think its time now to do something with it. I would also like to post up pics of the progress of the car from start to finish, and make this a project car for myself.

 

hahaha, I know. I would have them uploaded, but still waiting on getting my SLR Camera back from a friend..

So with the cruize control, that sucks.

 

Yer, the cruize lights up. There was this diagnostics book I found ages back, which I tried doing, and got the led in the button to flash, and that was about all it did..

Working on pics now. Will get some better shots with my SLR camera. These are from my phone so apologies for the quality. I'll also get some shots of the interior.

 

Thanks, I love this car.. I have driven a lot of different cars from 2000's up and I have had a car that feels like this one yet..

Here are some pics I took today of the car, interior, outside and motor bay. Is a little dirty as it does about 60km a day.

 

I did, how ever every time I went through a low drive way or alike, I was always scrapping it. SO I have just taken it off to prevent it from being wrecked. But I do agree that it would look a lot better.

 

Thanks everyone for the warm welcomes!!

When I first bought the car, I wasn't completely sure if it was a White Lighting, hahaha, but as you were saying the seats/ and grafix are a pretty good give away. Would of been a good buy if it was a white lighting, still very very nice car..

SO with the stickers if I apply enough heat it should peel right off.. I was actually considering doing it. haha
What's the difference between the white lighting and the sticker I currently have? My email address is kieren@non-stop-tech.com if you wanna get in touch about the stickers. I'm really interested as they are so, so hard to find...

I'll have to check the exhaust alu covers and see for anything loose etc, give a couple of pics of it.. Sorta sounds like it could be coming from the front driver area, maybe something loose around the general front drivers wheel area. Its really weird how it happens, as your changing through gears its usually heard and than as it gets to the comfy amount of revs, it disappears.. Maybe a vid or sound clip may be of help as well if I cant find anything with the exhaust.

Looking at a motor recon as well, but also maybe another motor possibly. Wanting to maybe turbo it give it a little bit more performance of the mark. However as it goes now, probably doesn't need it. hahaha

I'll also look into getting the oil.

Thanks heaps for you advice!!

 

Looking into getting Custom Dash Gauges as well.. Not sure how its going to effect the look inside, if it makes it look too customised. Also still working out a design for it, still playing with it in photoshop alot. But I'm hoping I can find someone to make it.

What I have come up with so-far. (Pics for an advertisement in eBay)

 

Yer, I thought they looked a bit busy too.. I'll see what the dragon logo with the TRD looks like.. Maybe a 40-50% fadeout of the dragon over the hole gauge and than the TRD logo on the bottom or top maybe?? I'll keep playing.. Thinking I will definitely go with a white gauge but..

With the gauages, I have been looking at something like this.. I'm not sure what the go is with the gauges but. I have never gone that deep into the dash yet. So I'm not sure if its like a thin plastic, or some sort of paper that you just take off? or you stick down on it? Also gonna get the chrome rings to go on the dials as well.. Make it stand out a bit more. I have also seen where people have put the sticky carbon fibre in there as well.. But I would say that would wreck the look.. Here's the ebay link anyways;
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI...438427&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2665wt_905

That white lighting is really nice, see I could even respray the trims white on mine to match the original look?? But it would be good to see what the black and white looks like. haha I love the ad!! haha How much would a brand new WL cost back than??

 

So here's the list of the current repairs to get a road worthy for Queensland:

• RHF Door Hinge

• Front Engine Mount cracked

• Front Lower Control Arm Bushes worn

• Distibutor O Ring and Rocket cover gasket leaking

• LH Rack End worn

• Front Swaybar bushes worn

So comfortably the engine mount is pretty easy if I can find where I can buy one from. Door hinge, should be sorted after I go to the recka's today and source from the scrap one down there (if the door does move up and down like mine does at the moment). I'll say that I probably will leave the rest for them mech to do, so that it properly can get registered.. All up to get that done including parts, I'm looking around about $800..

 

Another possible design in photoshop.. Think it would probably be a little to fancy..

 

Yer.. With any car I think the goal (well with me, and how I see it) is to get really a tiny bit of customization and keep it as stock as possible.. Makes a very unique car in the end..