Starting The Project! :D, 1994 Celica ST Options

[NOVAKx17]

Where to start.....

i picked up this celica over the summer from a guy locally for 300 bucks...
it was hit in the front and needed both fenders, a hood, a bumper, all new lights,
((basically a whole new front end)) ..

i've found alot of the stuff i need and i'm starting to get it all ready to have it
painted.

but unfortunately i've ran into some rust issues i'm fixing here and there but all and
all its not too bad.

this will be a continuous thread of my progress throughout the winter and hopefully
finishing in spring if it all goes good

first things first, so far i've collected 2 new hoods, a passenger side fender, passenger
side lo and hi beams, and a driver side hi beam light, and as of today i bought a new
stock bumper on ebay!

So needless to say all i'm in search of now is a driver side fender and driver side lo beam.


All i've really done so far is got it stripped down and started to sand , and just as a little treat to myself i've installed some new white face gauges

here are some pics of the progress so far!



















And More To come, i'll try to update every day !

Enjoy

feel free to drop suggestions anytime

This post has been edited by NOVAKx17: Nov 16, 2009 - 12:48 AM

[njccmd2002]

your rust issue seems to be far more than simple

[NOVAKx17]

your rust issue seems to be far more than simple

ha its not bad at all for pennsylvania... and it looks alot worse than it is.... they only place there is really any rust is on the passenger side door and rocker, but the rocker isn't actually rusted except in one spot, the guy before me hit something and pushed it all up in and ripped the metal... but its all good because by wedsday i plan to pull it out, sand it all down, primer it, and put the new sheet metal in place! and when i'm all done i have some stock Skirts i picked up i'm going to put on and no one would ever know it looked like it does now! haha

[CastrolCelica]

Why did a new speedometer display come before new rotors?

This post has been edited by CastrolCelica: Nov 16, 2009 - 10:54 AM

[NOVAKx17]

Why did a new speedometer display come before new rotors?

because i'm debating on weather or not to do a drum to disc conversion...
and i had already purchased the gauges for my 93 celica, but they sent the wrong
ones and also sent me the right ones free of charge

[nsxtypeR]

your rust issue seems to be far more than simple

ha its not bad at all for pennsylvania... and it looks alot worse than it is.... they only place there is really any rust is on the passenger side door and rocker, but the rocker isn't actually rusted except in one spot, the guy before me hit something and pushed it all up in and ripped the metal... but its all good because by wedsday i plan to pull it out, sand it all down, primer it, and put the new sheet metal in place! and when i'm all done i have some stock Skirts i picked up i'm going to put on and no one would ever know it looked like it does now! haha

Sanding down, primer it and put a new sheet of metal in it, won't resolve the rust issue on the door. Maybe temporarely, but in about 2 years, rust will return because you simply can't remove all the rust. I had the same problem, and the same solution as you have, but I honestly can say it will not work

[NOVAKx17]

your rust issue seems to be far more than simple

ha its not bad at all for pennsylvania... and it looks alot worse than it is.... they only place there is really any rust is on the passenger side door and rocker, but the rocker isn't actually rusted except in one spot, the guy before me hit something and pushed it all up in and ripped the metal... but its all good because by wedsday i plan to pull it out, sand it all down, primer it, and put the new sheet metal in place! and when i'm all done i have some stock Skirts i picked up i'm going to put on and no one would ever know it looked like it does now! haha

Sanding down, primer it and put a new sheet of metal in it, won't resolve the rust issue on the door. Maybe temporarely, but in about 2 years, rust will return because you simply can't remove all the rust. I had the same problem, and the same solution as you have, but I honestly can say it will not work

well as i said on the door it was just surface rust,, i have the bottom down completely to the metal and theres no more rust on the door..
Clean And Smooth

[CastrolCelica]

Why did a new speedometer display come before new rotors?

because i'm debating on weather or not to do a drum to disc conversion...
and i had already purchased the gauges for my 93 celica, but they sent the wrong
ones and also sent me the right ones free of charge

Good luck if you decide to do that. Personally, I think you should be fine the way they are, but that's just my opinion.

[NOVAKx17]

i haven't really seen any pros and cons to either one,

does it really make a difference?

if not i'd like to just keep it the same.

[NOVAKx17]

**UPDATE-- 11/16/09**


Today i didn't really have a ton of time to work on my celica, but i still put about 2 hours into it.
I got the entire exhaust unhooked except for the bolts on the o2 sensor on the bottom, not the manifold, but hopefully they'll come off tomorrow night... hmmm lets see, what else did i do??

i took out the tails, i haven't decided weather or not to go JDM or not yet... any oppinions on the jdm tails vs Stock? i've also been wondering if anyone makes the altezza tails for our generation of celicas, if anyone knows if they do or not let me know please.

i took out all of the hatch trim and carpet, its really nasty in there ha... it deserves a good cleaning, and when i'm done i think i'm going to rhino line it for some protection. . .

thats about it for today other than a little misc sanding here and there...

peace out guys, hopefully another update tomorrow

[SwissFerdi]

I say go JDM tails, or you can tint your existing tails. But go for JDM tails...I don't want people copying me.

How did you raise your car to do the exhaust, BTW?

[NOVAKx17]

I say go JDM tails, or you can tint your existing tails. But go for JDM tails...I don't want people copying me.

How did you raise your car to do the exhaust, BTW?

HMMMM.. its funny you should say that... i had some window tint in my one shelf and i was just messing around today and put it on the tails just to see what it would look like... i kinda liked it ha.

but i'm thinking jdm too....


tough decisions! ha

and all i did was jack it up with my floor jack in the front and the back and rolled under the car with my floor creeper....

i'm looking into getting a 2 post rotary lift this winter

[SwissFerdi]

That works. I was just wondering what all I'll need in case I touch my exhaust (which would happen with a swap).

And I'm not sure if window tint will adhere to plastic.

[NOVAKx17]

Yeah, you'd have no problem doing it with just a floor jack and some jackstands, there's plenty of room underneath the car, and i really like working on this car, so far nothing has been too cramped for me to be able to get the right tools into place... actually theres alot of room compared to some of the cars i've owned. .

but anyways, i wasn't really planning on putting window tint on em ha, i was just trying to see if i could get an idea as to what they'd look like tinted, ya know?

[SwissFerdi]

True. It's a good innovative idea though, not bad thinking. If you want to see what it looks like...check out my last profile pic.

[NOVAKx17]

I like it... probably more than jdm tails, because it seems like a ton of people have them..


what did you use to tint them?

[SwissFerdi]

Nite-Shades. Three VERY, VERY (extremely very) thin coats. I recommend a good clear and wetsanding between coats of that because mine are slightly dull. Might do them over.

[NOVAKx17]

this may sound dumb, but what are night-shades? i've never heard of them? and where can you buy it?

[SwissFerdi]

http://www.vhtpaint.com/niteshades.html

I bought it at Advance Auto. It's 12.99 per can.

[NOVAKx17]

Sorry to steal your idea, but i think i'm going to go with night-shades! thanks man! you probably just saved me like 60 bucks. ha.


so you can just go right over the entire lenses and everything?

its fairly easy?

[96stgreendemon]

Sorry to steal your idea, but i think i'm going to go with night-shades! thanks man! you probably just saved me like 60 bucks. ha.


so you can just go right over the entire lenses and everything?

its fairly easy?

ha ha 60 bucks? try 203, yeah.... but they are sick looking and i love my jdm tails

[SwissFerdi]

Sorry to steal your idea, but i think i'm going to go with night-shades! thanks man! you probably just saved me like 60 bucks. ha.


so you can just go right over the entire lenses and everything?

its fairly easy?

Yeah, what he said...it's way more. But wet sand (google it if you don't know what it is) the surface of the tails with 600 grit sandpaper, do it very lightly though. Then do 3 light coats like I described. Let it dry well (at least an hour) and then hit it with clear. And again, I'd recommend wetsanding in between coats of clear.

[NOVAKx17]

Yeah, what he said...it's way more. But wet sand (google it if you don't know what it is) the surface of the tails with 600 grit sandpaper, do it very lightly though. Then do 3 light coats like I described. Let it dry well (at least an hour) and then hit it with clear. And again, I'd recommend wetsanding in between coats of clear.

ha i know what it is.... and alright, sweet... hopefully i can pick it up next time i go to advanced auto... i love the way yours look, hopefully mine turn out just as good!

ha ha 60 bucks? try 203, yeah.... but they are sick looking and i love my jdm tails

i found some jdm tails on ebay today for like 35 bucks and like 30 for shippping, they were in texas!


This post has been edited by NOVAKx17: Nov 17, 2009 - 12:20 AM

[SwissFerdi]

No problem man, sure they will. They could even come out better.

Good luck guy.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 17, 2009 - 12:22 AM

[NOVAKx17]

No problem man, sure they will. They could even come out better.

Good luck guy.

thanks again! be sure to check back in for more updates! i'ma try and update it daily!



This post has been edited by NOVAKx17: Nov 17, 2009 - 12:38 AM

[CastrolCelica]

i haven't really seen any pros and cons to either one,

does it really make a difference?

if not i'd like to just keep it the same.

If you upgrade to newer rotors, and don't bother with the drum to disk conversion, I don't think you'll notice anything drastic. Personally, I can stop very well with my setup, and it doesn't require any handy work .

[NOVAKx17]

If you upgrade to newer rotors, and don't bother with the drum to disk conversion, I don't think you'll notice anything drastic. Personally, I can stop very well with my setup, and it doesn't require any handy work .

hmm... i think i might just keep it the same then..

unfortunately today i have to take my celica out of the garage for an hour or so... i have to change the tie rod end on my truck. BLAH!

[CastrolCelica]

If you upgrade to newer rotors, and don't bother with the drum to disk conversion, I don't think you'll notice anything drastic. Personally, I can stop very well with my setup, and it doesn't require any handy work .

hmm... i think i might just keep it the same then..

unfortunately today i have to take my celica out of the garage for an hour or so... i have to change the tie rod end on my truck. BLAH!

The rotors I got are amazing. Take a look at my pictures in my build thread in the general discussion. They were on sale on ebay for 189 and came with brake pads.

[NOVAKx17]

The rotors I got are amazing. Take a look at my pictures in my build thread in the general discussion. They were on sale on ebay for 189 and came with brake pads.

hmm i just looked... very nice.. i might have to look into that on ebay.. sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

[SwissFerdi]

Castrol, how hard were those bad boys to change out?

[richee3]

and all i did was jack it up with my floor jack in the front and the back and rolled under the car with my floor creeper....

That's pretty dangerous, dude. Put some jack stands under the car next time, and always let somebody know you will be working under your car in case anything happens.

[NOVAKx17]

That's pretty dangerous, dude. Put some jack stands under the car next time, and always let somebody know you will be working under your car in case anything happens.

oh ha. i had 4 jack stands under it, one on each corner, but i was just telling him what i used ha.

[CastrolCelica]

Castrol, how hard were those bad boys to change out?

Honestly? They were a bitch lol.


We had to look up how these were to be taken off on the internet. There are some tutorials out there. The job isn't hard, but figuring out what's supposed to come off and what's supposed to stay on wasn't fun. My rotors were originals, and were rusted to all hell and warped, so they didn't want to come off easy either.

Also, there was a really funny moment. We were trying to take off our first rear rotor. It was stuck on there really good. We used every tool we could and no luck. We seriously were scratching our heads as to what was going on....then we realized the drum brake was on hahahaha.

But yea, it took us a good afternoon. Once you understand what is to come off and how, it's easy.. just takes time.

This post has been edited by CastrolCelica: Nov 17, 2009 - 1:51 PM

[NOVAKx17]

Honestly? They were a bitch lol.


We had to look up how these were to be taken off on the internet. There are some tutorials out there. The job isn't hard, but figuring out what's supposed to come off and what's supposed to stay on wasn't fun. My rotors were originals, and were rusted to all hell and warped, so they didn't want to come off easy either.

Also, there was a really funny moment. We were trying to take off our first rear rotor. It was stuck on there really good. We used every tool we could and no luck. We seriously were scratching our heads as to what was going on....then we realized the drum brake was on hahahaha.

But yea, it took us a good afternoon. Once you understand what is to come off and how, it's easy.. just takes time.

HAHAHAHHAHAH wow i forgot i had my e-brake on too whenever i first tried taking them off. . but i had to beat the hell out of mine to get em off.

[NOVAKx17]

UPDATE*** 11/19/2009


Well I just got my truck finished, and pulled my celica back into the garage... during the two days it was out, i paid for my new bumper and i'm waiting for it to get hear, and i went and picked up some little things i needed for some body work, rivets, bondo, and some new drill bits...

But anyways, i'm about to head out to the garage now and fix the rocker on the passenger side, shouldn't be more than an hour or so to have it pulled out, rivet on the new metal, and putty over it and sand it down! i'll try to take some pics tonight, but no guarantees i'll feel like posting them when i'm all done ha...

[NOVAKx17]

Sorry about being so long between posts, where to start....
well i haven't really done anything but more sanding lately as i'm waiting for all my
new parts to arrive... i've bought a new bumper, rear brakes, new brake lines, and i'm
picking up my new fender and headlight next monday and hopefully i can start preparing
it for paint, going to be candy apple red. i've decided to just go ahead and make the st my
daily driver and put the majority of my money into the 6gc gt i'm picking up in ohio next week!

very excited

[NOVAKx17]

12/1/09 UPDATE!

wellllllllll my new bumper came in the mail today, was pretty exited about that, i took it out to the garage and started to fill in the couple little dings that were on it, and i'm waiting for it all to set up and dry now, should be ready for some sanding tomorrow.


but other than that not a whole lots new... monday i'm going to make the trip to ohio to pick up the gt, can't wait for that...

HMMMMMMMMM.... 24 days until christmassssss

[NOVAKx17]

UPDATE! ** 12/03/09 **


tonight i went out did some more sanding, about 2 hours worth, getting it nice and smooth, all i have to do is go over it one or two more times with some higher grit sand paper and wet sand it and it will be ready for paint.. i got the bumper pretty much ready for wet sanding, and all i'm waiting for now is to go get the driver side fender and lo beam on monday, and i can start getting serious about being ready to paint it.... i'm thinking about going candy apple red, should be pretty original on a celica, ha but who knows, either way i love candy apple red.

so hopefully, if all goes well, this car should be ready to be on the road by christmas




some pictures from tonight


********^^^^^ at the bottom those aren't rust holes, its dented up in from hitting something^^^^^********






This post has been edited by NOVAKx17: Dec 3, 2009 - 10:26 PM

[trdproven]

your rust issue seems to be far more than simple

ha its not bad at all for pennsylvania... and it looks alot worse than it is.... they only place there is really any rust is on the passenger side door and rocker, but the rocker isn't actually rusted except in one spot, the guy before me hit something and pushed it all up in and ripped the metal... but its all good because by wedsday i plan to pull it out, sand it all down, primer it, and put the new sheet metal in place! and when i'm all done i have some stock Skirts i picked up i'm going to put on and no one would ever know it looked like it does now! haha

Sanding down, primer it and put a new sheet of metal in it, won't resolve the rust issue on the door. Maybe temporarely, but in about 2 years, rust will return because you simply can't remove all the rust. I had the same problem, and the same solution as you have, but I honestly can say it will not work

if you grind it all off as much as you can, then treat the backside with undercoat or grease, and on top of that run anticorrosion control system, you will have a very good chance of keeping rust at bay if you do it right.

[NOVAKx17]

if you grind it all off as much as you can, then treat the backside with undercoat or grease, and on top of that run anticorrosion control system, you will have a very good chance of keeping rust at bay if you do it right.

i'm got it all off pretty much, 99.9 % of it is down to bare metal, it looked way worse than what it was, and i planned on spraying rhino liner on the underside, so hopefully it should be good to go after that and it gets a fresh coat of paint