firefighter81

This post isn't going to be much yet. Just some details and a couple pics.

I just purchased this 1985 Toyota Corolla SR-5 hatchback rust free, straight, anc clean title ($400):



I also have purchased this motor/tranny/harness package ($3100 delivered to my parents house):



I'm still in Italy, but I'll be home on leave next month, I'll be doing some minor cleaning up, and then towing it to a shop in Vancouver BC. Say all you want about not doing the work myself, because it doesn't matter to me. I'm not capable to do the swap myself, I don't have the custom fabrication and welding skills. The shop is run by a friend of mine and they are charging me $3500 for all labor, well worth it to me.

I'll be deployed in Honduras for a year, the car will be completed while I'm there, and I'll have a friend go pick it up and take it back to parents garage to wait for me

Things I've ordered for it:
AEM EMS
S2000 Gauge Cluster
Wilwood Front Brakes / AP Racing rears
GT-S rear end with KAAZ LSD
10 Gallon Fuel Cell
Lots of other misc stuff

I'm still deciding on what route I wanna go with suspension, and what size wheels I want, I'm going for the Work Equip 03's, debating between a 15x8 and 15x9.

Although the car will primarily be a weekend driver and AutoX car, I'd like to hit the drag strip every once in a while, and I'm *considering* a small Nitrous shot, either 50 or 75, with a hidden 5lb bottle. I've still gotta do more research on how well the F20C handles nitrous.

As far as motor mods go, right now I'm keeping it pretty basic, intake, exhaust, header, and some mild cams, and possibly the nitrous.

The car will be stripped completely, with all sound deadening removed with dry ice, my goal is 2000lbs without driver. Not sure if I'll be able to do it with the full cage that will also be going in, we'll see how that goes.


I'll post more pics of the car next week, my parents are gonna take more pics for me to hold me over until I get home next month. After I drop the car off the shop is going to e-mail me progress pics as things go along.

Should be a fun car when it's all done!


Modified by firefighter81 at 1:47 PM 3/3/2006

liam821

Neat project, but for as much as you spent you could have gotten a whole s2000.

Good luck, take more pictures.

liam

cmrs2k

awww, half the fun would be doing it yourself!

someday when I have enough spare time I want to do the LS1 into a 3rd gen rx7...

mmmmmm

on AEM, I'm really wanting to find a deal on a used one.

firefighter81

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by liam821 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Neat project, but for as much as you spent you could have gotten a whole s2000.

Good luck, take more pictures.

liam</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, and I'm sure I'll hear that alot, but the fact is, I really don't like the S2000 that much. But I've been in love with the AE86's for the last 10 years. I can appreciate the performance of the S2000 however, and it's a great powerplant. So with some decent mods, I should pull 260hp without the spray. If I can get the car down to 2000lbs, that will be, around 1000lbs lighter than a stock S2000 (correct if me if I'm wrong on that weight).

So yeah, I'm spending alot of money, but it's a car that will be 100% mine, built how I want it, for the same price of an S2000.

cmrs2k

stock weighs in right around 2,800 I believe?

firefighter81

Also, since I've been in Italy, I've been traveling around and deploying so much, that I haven't had time to spend the money on my only hobby, cars. So I've got all this money saved up, and now I wanna spend it. I know I should invest it, but not that worried about it, I've got my 401k and my military retirement plan, so I'm pretty set.

Anyways, I've considered getting an EVO IX, but I just don't wanna spend that much on a car. Even if I end up spending $20k on this Corolla, I'll be much happier in the end. I've got a decent little DD, and the Corolla will be ongoing project.

As much as I would like to do the work myself, it's just not something that I'm currently capable of, it's alot of work. Cutting out and rewelding in a new transmission tunnel, custom driveshaft, motor mounts, etc.

p nut

Yes, S2000's are at 2800 lbs. It'll be a sweet set up, once everything is tuned right. There is a BMI video (battle at 10,000, I believe?) with a segment of an AE86 w/ F20 swap. Looked pretty nice. Good luck.

firefighter81

Thanks alot for the good wishes guys. I really do appreciate it. It'll be torture sitting in Honduras thousands of miles away while the car just sits there waiting to be driven

Anyone got any comments/suggestions on the F20C and nitrous?

p nut

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by firefighter81 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Anyone got any comments/suggestions on the F20C and nitrous?</TD></TR></TABLE>

N2O? Why? Is this going to be a drag car? If so, scrap that F20 idea and get an LS1.

firefighter81

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P Nut &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">N2O? Why? Is this going to be a drag car? If so, scrap that F20 idea and get an LS1.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm just throwing the idea around right now.

It won't primarily be a drag car, it will primarily be an AutoX/Track day weekend street driver. I just figured the nitrous would give me that little added boost when I do take it to the drag strip. That's why I was considering a small shot (50 or 75) and a small bottle, because I would seldom use it.

Like I said, I'm just researching the idea right now.

Aarron_M

AF member here too. Sick project. I wouldn't use N2O, but it's your car. Can't wait to see it.

firefighter81

Yeah, I guess the N20 was just kinda spitballing. I'm probably not gonna do it, once the car is finished, I'll concentrate my time/effort/money into shedding pounds from her. The SR5 Corolla is 2250 stock, I figure the F20C has got to weigh a few more pounds than the 4AC, but with removal of sound deadening crap, interior, and lightweight bucket seats, I'm sure I could get down to sub 2000lbs.

Then I'll add a rollcage which will probably add back another 60lbs. At that point if I'm not happy with the power of the car (I'm sure I'll be perfectly happy) I'll look into power adders for the future.

silver j

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P Nut &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes, S2000's are at 2800 lbs. It'll be a sweet set up, once everything is tuned right. There is a BMI video (battle at 10,000, I believe?) with a segment of an AE86 w/ F20 swap. Looked pretty nice. Good luck.</TD></TR></TABLE>

if i remember correctly they said it was like 4 million yen to complete the swap.

so i'll go ahead and do the math...$35,000

i think their labor estimate may be a little low?

firefighter81

That's ridiculous. The shop in Sacramento California that has done several F20C swaps charges ~$3500 labor as well. One such car was in the BMI video "American Togue" that belongs to Gabe Tyler of Techno Toy Tuning. I've spoken with him and the shop that did the swap personally, and they do the entire swap for $10k out the door, that includes parts/labor/fabbing/AEM EMS..... EVERYTHING for $10k.

There's more work involved in the swap if you have a RHD car, you have to custom fab up a new header and motor mounts that tilt the motor differently. But even then, $35k is absolutely ridiculous. Perhaps they said 400,000yen and not 4 million.


When the initial swap is done, the car should be somewhere around 250-260 flywheel hp, and weigh in at just under 1800lbs. Once I get into a little more modding and tuning the EMS, I should be around 270 or so. Sounds like fun to me

silver j

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by firefighter81 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That's ridiculous. The shop in Sacramento California that has done several F20C swaps charges ~$3500 labor as well. One such car was in the BMI video "American Togue" that belongs to Gabe Tyler of Techno Toy Tuning. I've spoken with him and the shop that did the swap personally, and they do the entire swap for $10k out the door, that includes parts/labor/fabbing/AEM EMS..... EVERYTHING for $10k.

There's more work involved in the swap if you have a RHD car, you have to custom fab up a new header and motor mounts that tilt the motor differently. But even then, $35k is absolutely ridiculous. Perhaps they said 400,000yen and not 4 million.


When the initial swap is done, the car should be somewhere around 250-260 flywheel hp, and weigh in at just under 1800lbs. Once I get into a little more modding and tuning the EMS, I should be around 270 or so. Sounds like fun to me </TD></TR></TABLE>

i thought it was a lot of money when i had heard it too...maybe it was the fact that it hadn't been done before and so it was all basically trial and error...who knows...i'll watch it again tonight and see if i was off...but i'm pretty certain it was 4million.

Ian.G

Hey man.

Best of luck with your project - I am currently performing the same op on my Japanese Levin. Blew up my 4age and couldn't be spending silly money on another 180-200bhp engine that will just go pop again from constant abuse.



Hopefully it will be back doing this come summer time


best of luck with your conversion man!

fkneh

i would have gone with an sr20det swap. Here in hawaii someone did an f20 swap into an FC but he crashed it drifting.

firefighter81

I considered the SR20 swap, but it would end up costing more due to some differences, and also, I've been a turbo freak for so long, I figured I'd try N/A. I might go forced induction later on down the road, but the first priorities are getting the swap and stitch welding done and shedding some pounds.

The car was delivered to my parents house, it's in real decent shape for $400 with a clean title. Here's some pics.






The condition of the interior didn't matter much to me, the only thing not being replaced or ripped out is the dashboard, which is in great shape. All carpet, seats, and sound deadening are being removed. A Sparco Ultra seat (maybe two) will find a new home inside. I chose the Ultra because it's the lightest seat for the money, 12lbs, $450. Lighter Sparcos are CF and $1000+.

I've ordered alot of stuff for it over the last few days:

Headlights
Corner lights
Driver's side tail light
Front grill
Upper windshield trim piece
Momo 330mm suede steering wheel w/ hub and quick release
Sparco Ultra black seat
Autometer fuel level and engine temp gauges
Konig Rewind 15x7 wheels

I still won't be home for another 4 weeks, but once I'm home I'll really get cracking on it. Gonna rent a high pressure steam cleaner and remove every panel on the car and clean the **** out of it. Entire interior except dashboard will be removed, and sound deadening will be removed with the assistance of dry ice. I can't wait to get started.

firefighter81

Now I need some ideas for a muffler for the car. I don't mind loud, but I'm trying to keep away from a fart can. Should I just get a basic Flowmaster muffler? Anyone have reccomendations on another brand?

Mr. Projekt

HKS Carbon Ti 60mm.

cmrs2k

t1r 70

or

j's racing 70

*shrug*

firefighter81

Wow, I didn't know mufflers could be so expensive. I don't wanna spend $1000 on a muffler

That HKS Ti is a possibility, but I'm gonna have to convince myself to spend $400 on a muffler first.

Mr. Projekt

Its more like $300. My entire exhaust for an S2000 ran about $750 for a 3" single catback/testpiped setup with a 3" straight through presilencer.

firefighter81

First site I checked said $389, but now found a few sites at $279, so that's not too bad. Sounds pretty good? 3" seems kinda big for an N/A, or are you FI?

Mr. Projekt

It was supposed to be a turbo exhaust, but I don't mind it on an N/A car at all. No booming, low drone, deep and throaty. I recommended the 60mm for you because I've ran that setup before, and it doesn't sacrifice low end.