6G Celicas Forums

My Name is Shayne.

I got my 97 Celica GT about 5 years ago with 68k original miles.
This was the first picture taken of it, a couple weeks after I got my license.


The only issues she's had (over time) was a blown clutch, blown heater core, and now a leaking PS boot. The clutch went out after only having the car for a year, I think it was due to previous owner, as when she traded it in she told my dad she was 'tired of shifting'.

Fast forward to about a month before joining here and i installed my first 'performance mod,' an eBay short air intake for $25.


Secondly I painted my stock calipers
Before:

After:


Then came the rims.. I originally wanted 18's but settled with 17's, but I'm satisfied



Not too long after came the JDM's my favorite addition. Thanks to 6gc member ST205WRC.

Installed:


Then I decided on changing up the interior. But wanting to keep the option of going back to stock, i kept the original pieces and painted parts i pulled of a junkyard Celica. And knowing prep work is most important I sanded, primed, sanded, light coat, final coat, and clear coated.


(Looks 10x better in real life..)


And about 2-3 weeks ago I got some new tint, the original tint was the cheap purple kind and filled with bubbles..
..last week i got my 6gc stickers (thanks to LewFX)

And a couple days ago I added the eBay Xentec 10000k HIDs, I think they may be too blue..



..Finally this is how she sits today


Future plans include coilovers (megans ftw), strut bars, header and cat back exhaust, new sound system, and fully renewed interior with Vincent_doggy leather seats.

Exterior wise.. possibly a de-skirt plus mud flaps OR addition of a c-one style bumper and rear spats (unsure though)

A swap was in the plan but seeing as shes my DD and i don't have any other means of transportation it wouldn't be wise to start that project anytime soon..

This post has been edited by smkr3w: Nov 14, 2015 - 1:58 AM

Well 6gc, it's been awhile.. logged on here or there but nothing much.
My car has remained the same for the past year or so..

Then on one fateful day I was driving to work and nailed a big ass rock on the highway, pulled off the road checked the rim and didnt see anything (at the time) no hissing or air leak..

however it did this:



..And it held air with no vibration or issues so i continued on to work.. came home, no issues.. drove to my second job, no issues..

Then on my way home again around 11pm not my tire, but my ENGINE went BOOM



Towed it home, waited a couple days pulled the engine apart and checked out the damage (thats also when i discover the rim damage):

crank


rod and bearings



So after about 2 weeks of sulking and looking for a rep 5s i came up with a 2 local choices at 600k miles and one with 212k and rust in the head..
Tried looking in two nearby cities and found nothing good for a 5s rep.


Eventually went with the swap that I had been talking about for a long time..

Now I am going V6, in the form of a 1mz.

Got the motor home:


On the stand:


Popped the top:


She is CLEAN!
The bottom end is just as clean!

Taking the heads down to get resurfaced tomorrow.

Got all new gaskets, new water pump.
Will be deleting all emmissions crap.
Fidanza Flywheel is on it's way.
As well as the Southbend Clutch Kit.
Got ARP flywheel bolts.

More pics to come.

So excited.

wow your engine boom did some crazy damage!

and the 1mz looks like a very good start. glad you didn't go with those rep 5s.
good luck with the swap!

Thanks man!
Yeah it's crazy to think had my tire failed as it should have my car would probably still be running.. bittersweet really

that is going to be some fun

It should be real fun lol

also, i just got a .GIF reply from tigawoods- I'm honored

Oh man, the true spirit of replacing with better!
I can't wait to follow this.

Crazy about all that damage so close together...

This sounds strangely familiar to me, anyone else having deja vu

I just don't even know... How in the Hell did it grenade like that? Anyway, at least it gave you a good excuse for a 1MZ swap.

Was wondering when I was going to see this update lol

right? lol when i was perusing your thread for info i saw you had pretty much the same senario.
same for kurt's 5s! haha


i literally made a wall of smoke across a 4 lane highway it was so bad.
she could have kept going too but i pulled off to the center lane


haha yeah i've been putting it off and didnt have time upload the pics til this morning.
...and a little overwhelmed watching my credit card skyrocket haha

All these 5S's blowing up for no reason, what gives?

It's just the celicas saying put the right damn engine in that's all box lol

Forgot to post the pretty internals

All cylinders are just as clean.

And some updates......

Got the engine back together and some paint:


(cheaped out and blacked out the engine bay)

New Fidanza flywheel with ARP bolts


Didnt take a pic of the clutch/pressure plate.. its from Southbend, I spoke with Andy- great guy to deal with!

Got it dropped in!


As for the pass. side motor mount- tried thinking out of the box:
Got a Energy Suspension GM Transmission mount-


Mocked up a bracket with but of course dinner's pizza box


Cut and tacked some steel-

will be having a professional welder finish it up..


Coming together slowly but surely

What's up with your headlights, plastic didn't last long in the Sun?

Yea, they're the plastic lenses from the Rayme group buy from a few years back.. i didn't put any UV protection and I park outside- where I live, we get sunshine 90-95% of the year, gonna go back to OEM glass soon

Looks good

Good job on the mount. Now you just need to black out the rest of the car.

With the mount good job. Account for sag. Once you put the rubber under stress engine may not remain leveled. Dont know how to explain. I had to compensate 1 inch in sag in mine.

Got it to turn over after a bit of issues with the tranny, flywheel.

>> Video <<
(straps were there for when we removed the tranny, pass side and driver side motor mounts were installed)



Just a few wires for the fuel pump, grounds and ignition and she should be good to go..
And also the a/c lines, p/s lines and lower radiator hose.

Keep up the good work, it will all be worth it once you're up and running