AT200 Complete Resto, Finally Pulling Back Into The Shop Options

[antonioguy]

I am currently driving my '95 ST on a daily basis. I bought it for $500 at 212,000 miles. It runs perfect and has only minor issues as far as driving. The issue mainly is the body, the previous owner (my brother) did not take care of it in any way. I was originally done up in the early 2000's by the first owner. That owner had put an Invader body kit and a Vader wing on it and painted it burnt orange, they also painted some interior panels orange, and lost a few in the process. When my brother bought the car it was beautiful, apart from the fact that it was missing a few interior trim pieces and needed a radio. He put a head unit in, and put a cold air on. He then proceeded to beat the living hell out of it. He even accidentally jumped a tree ripping the front lip off the car.

Since buying it from him I have already done quite a bit, mostly for appearances. I put a much nicer head unit in (Pioneer Premiere) replaced all the speakers, new tweeter, and put 2 10" Alpine Type R's in the back. I put in 8000K HID's. I have found most of the missing interior trim piece and put them where they go. I have also done quite a bit of touching up the crappy burnt orange paint. I have had to change the clutch (which was original). I have also put blue LED's in some places like the gauge cluster. But basically that is all so far.





Enough of the history lesson, on to the plans.

Engine:
Top End Rebuild
Stainless Steel Exhaust Headers
Custom gutted solid bent exhaust
Exhaust Tip
Cold Air Filter
Fix A/C
Strengthen Battery Tiedown
Replace Old Crappy Hoses
Tidy Wiring
Paint HID Ballasts Black (Currently Chrome)
Clean Bay

Transmission:
Full Rebuild (Didn't need to be done, All Hail Pennzoil Synchromesh!!!)
Flush
Better Clutch (After flushing transmission all is well.)
Clean

Exterior:
Front Brake Rotors & Pads
Rear Brake Drums & Shoes
E-Brake Shoe & Hardware
Remove Old Crappy Body Kit
Remove Old Crappy Wing
Remove (Mostly) Old Crappy Orange Paint
Fix various dents, and rust.
Fit Extreme Dimensions C-5 Body Kit
Fit Extreme Dimensions M-1 Fenders
Fit Wings West Super Lighted Spoiler
Prime
Paint Dark Metallic Blue

Interior:
Reupholster and fix foam on Driver Seat
Reupholster Passenger Seat (OEM Leather needs a bit of work)
Sand orange paint from trim, repaint blue
Brighter Blue LED's for gauge cluster
Change Clock to blue
Change climate control to blue
LED Dome Light (Holy brightness!!! See the picture below)
Remove peeling tint
Tint rear 3 windows (Fronts illegal in NY, already have had 2 tickets)
Install Door Handle Shrouds
Install Driver Door Control Panel
More may be added to this list as the money and time comes.

This will be the progress thread, I will also try to get some progress photo. I expect to start major work toward the middle/end of February. However I have many things on this list that I intend to do on my days off.

Should be interesting.

This post has been edited by antonioguy: May 21, 2014 - 11:58 PM

[antonioguy]

Small Step here. Had a spare few hours so I got some upholstery done. Still need to do a bit of repairing on the driver side OE leather but the passenger side is in. Doesnt look too bad considering the fitment isnt perfect.

Out with the old:


In with the new:

[SwissFerdi]

Good luck.

[antonioguy]

Thanks dude, a lot of work ahead, and not a hell of a lot of time to do it in. I need to get it all done by May so I can run it down to Carlisle, PA for the Performance and Style Show

This post has been edited by antonioguy: Dec 29, 2012 - 2:50 PM

[Dennisthe10]

Seat looks good, make sure you keep posting so I can steal your ideas as I go

[antonioguy]

So I had the day off today, so I went ahead and bought some things and got to work.

I decided to just quick change the oil and added a bit of Lucas to the oil to help with lubrication and compression. I also put on some new battery terminals because I had a weak connection.

But the big thing I wanted to get done was a transmission flush. I got it up on stands and I realized that I was leaving gear oil from the axle. So I gave it a couple of taps with a hammer and pry-bar. It was not fully locked in (it looks like I didn't get snapped in when my buddy helped me with the clutch change.

Next can the real issue. I pulled the fill plug and gear oil came pouring out! Clearly this is not normal. I friend must have put the gear oil in through the wrong hole and heavily overfilled it. So I pulled the finished the draining process and filled it back up to the fill hole with Pennzoil Synchromesh. I put everything back together and what do you know... Everything works perfectly.

No more grinding going in to almost every gear, I thought I was going to have to rebuild the trans and put new synchros in. I wont have to know thanks to the magic of Syncromesh (and putting in the correct amount of oil).

The moral of the story: Never trust your friend to do anything unsupervised, and the people on 6gc.net do know what they are talking about.

[antonioguy]

Just dropped off my shift boot which is ripped and torn at a friends who does upholstery. She is going to use the old as a pattern to make one out of black leather with blue stitching. This should look really good once I get the paint flowing and repaint the interior. I'll throw up a picture once its finished.

[antonioguy]

I was bored earlier so I decided to mess around with the car. Replaced a few bulbs and just cleaned under the center console. I also put in an LED dome light which is bright as hell! More pics to come once I get my shift boot back. Still a few weeks til the heavy work begins. (Please ignore the clutter lol)



This post has been edited by antonioguy: Jan 11, 2013 - 3:45 AM

[njccmd2002]

needs new paint bro

[antonioguy]

Yea, badly. Its on the to do list but its one of the last things I'll be doing. Probably later on toward march.

[antonioguy]

So I've come up with a concept. Forza just so happens to pretty much have all the parts I plan on using for the body except the fenders and the spoiler. So this is a rough idea of where I'm going with this. Just need to wait on the funds to really get started later this month/early next month. I also have to finish putting a new tranny in my '03 Impala so I can get this project off the backburner and onto the front one.

[antonioguy]

So the body kit parts should be getting ordered this week. Very excited to get the ball rolling on this project.

[Legen-dary]

Looks like you have a LONG list ahead of you but it sounds like you are dedicated and planning well so you're off to a good start. That's a really gorgeous color you have in mind, I say go for it!

[antonioguy]

I have officially ordered the parts for the body.

-C-5 Body Kit
-M1 Fenders
-Supra Lighted Spoiler

I have also ordered most of the misc stuff I have been missing. I am only missing the driver door weatherstrip, but I am considering just ordering a whole door if I can find one for a reasonable price shipped.

On a separate note, I have also acquired the trans for my other car, once that's in I can officially begin work on my Celica.

[antonioguy]

Just another quick update. Got a few parts in have had a chance to take a couple pictures. This will give you all an idea of just how bad some of the parts on this car have become, and why it desperatly needs all this work.

My old drivers side control panel:


My new drivers side control panel: (Thanks to Fate in Jersey)


Waiting on parts to get here, but I have alot going on between my 2 cars and it shouldn't be too long before the real work begins on this old beast!

[rm240sx]

I just purchased my 500 dollar build too. I also used forza to get some visualizations. LOL! It looks like your off to a good start! cant wait to see the new kit on there. I also want to see you change the lights on the inside. (photos) I want to do that too! Good luck on the build!!

[njccmd2002]

if you can paint, then u must have air compressor. then get a harbor freight soda blaster and use it for those plastic pieces, then use black paint to paint them...

Its all in my post...





i used satin black, that comes very close to oem...

[antonioguy]

Thanks for the tip, I'll look into it man.

[antonioguy]

Just got body panels in today. Front end, rear end, fenders, and a spoiler!

[cheela]

man, that old control panel was horrible. glad you're doing it right again.

[rave2n]

man, that old control panel was horrible. glad you're doing it right again.

I thought it was a joke post, like he was just holding that ugly thing up over the real one beneath it.

If that was seriously in the car, I tip my hat to you sir, its going to get real interesting!

Your motivation is looking spot on though! And the concept picture looks real good, I'd love to see it come to life.

[antonioguy]

Lol yea it was a real post. That was the panel I pulled out. Finishing up loose ends on my other vehicle then it'll be time to really get down to the good stuff on the celica.

[SwissFerdi]

That's a 5th gen window control.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Mar 29, 2013 - 11:10 AM

[antonioguy]

Really? lol well all good cause it works either way.

[antonioguy]

So just yesterday my cobbed up exhaust from the last owner fell to pieces. It broke in 3 parts. It was already leaking at the headers and I happened to have some headers laying around I had already ordered. I needed to fix it so i got to it.



In the car:


I don't have a cat, so i put some pipe where it used to be, ground off the flange where it used to attach to the resonator pipe, and clamped it up. I want to salvage the resonator and pipe. However I will not be running a fart can on the end. I found a pre-bent pipe from RockAuto that goes from the resonator pipe to a muffler. However, the flange is torn up, so I will be picking up a new flange and welding it to the resonator pipe to bolt up to the pipe from RockAuto. I am then going to throw a cheap muffler on for now, I already bought it, its a Thrush universal.

I figure pop a tip on it and bam, exhaust.

It already sounds sick, its just too loud, so I figure a cheap muffler will dampen the sound a bit but not change it too dramatically.

Updates coming soon...

[njccmd2002]

that hose is just screaming to be replaced.

[cheela]

that hose is just screaming to be replaced.

yes please! and while you're at it, change out the radiator too.

[antonioguy]

Yea there is a long list of things that I'd like to do. The hoses are coming off, but the radiator is a flight of fancy for later lol. Got alot to get done that needs doing before I can get to the optional stuff.

[antonioguy]

So now the real fun begins. Stripping this sucker down and starting the bodywork.

Started sanding and stripping the rear last night, here are some before pictures you can really see the scale of the project ahead of me.



Someone tried to break into the trunk with a prybar!






Goodbye old spoiler!!


Select Pictures of featheredging:

Where the prybar dents are:


Giant rust hole where Toyota badge used to be! (Will cut and replace)




My brother is an douche

Good progress so far, much, much more to come!

[Legen-dary]

Already looks 1000x better with that fugly wing removed. I hope you went to the patience store and stocked up because you're gonna need a bunch.

[cheela]

Already looks 1000x better with that fugly wing removed. I hope you went to the patience store and stocked up because you're gonna need a bunch.

gawd, i hate that store. Feels like I'm always making a run there to grab some more patience cuz I run out so quick. hahaha.

but OP, glad that you got your hands on this car. You're doing it right. not sure if you said but what color are you planning?

[Tigawoods]

if you get it fixed in time you should come down to the Pagoda Meet!

[antonioguy]

Well I fortunately do have a good amount of patience stored up lol. Just taking a break from sanding now. I'll post more progress pics tomorrow but so far so good. A lot of hidden garbage on this sucker. Just sanded off the freaking gallon of bondo holding the ghetto rigged rear body kit on lol.

The plan is to paint it blue a little later in the summer, for now the goal is to get the body work all done wish the new kit, fenders, and wing on in the next 9 days

Got some custom fiberglass work to do as well, as the rear quarters are more rotted than expected. I'm just going to cut it out, and when the side skirts go on I'm going to glass them on in the back and create a new body line up into the fender.

Should be interesting I'll make sure to keep all updated.

I'll be running the car down to Carlisle Performance and Style mothers day weekend in primer. So I've got to get her ready.

And thanks for the words of encouragement lol.

[antonioguy]

So the car is mostly ready for primer, all panels are off the car. Just waiting for my buddy's garage to be free so we can fit all the new body panels, get some custom fiberglassing on it, and fix the rust. Then its over to my paint bay. Here are some updated pictures of the project:



Got my girlfriend to help me out!!




Removing Panels






Doors off




Apparently my friends are douches too lol


Still much, much more to come for this little baby. Stay Tuned

[antonioguy]

So latest news, the car will be headed over to my buddy's garage this Thursday, and we will be fitting the new body panels, fixing the rough spots, and doing a bit of custom fiberglass work. Taking a 2 day hiatus from this project, since i have been doing nothing but working on this and my friends '99 Cummins to get them both ready for the Performance and Style show down in Carlisle, PA.

[cheela]

any updates?

[antonioguy]

Yes actually. I have been very distracted with other paying projects lately and the Celica has been put on a back burner but I have been working here and there on it. Shooting to have it in primer by mid-july at this point. I will update when I have more exciting news lol. Alot of custom one of a kind stuff planned so stay tuned.

[ClevelandGaint]

Update update update!!!!!

[antonioguy]

For the record, this thread is not dead, it is simply delayed. Very, very delayed. Hopefully starting work again in the upcoming weeks, I would really like to see it back on the road early next year.

[samboo]

For the record, this thread is not dead, it is simply delayed. Very, very delayed. Hopefully starting work again in the upcoming weeks, I would really like to see it back on the road early next year.

I want your leather passenger seat!!!!!

[antonioguy]

SOOOO, I just pulled the car into the shop for the first time in a while. I finally have a little time to begin work on it again. And the first thing we realized is that the body kit is about 3 inches too wide for the car.

Instead of cutting it down I think I will be doing a full custom wide body kit on it in fiberglass, I think it will look great with a little wider stance to it. Once I put my 17's on there with a 32mm spacer on each side it should look right.

Well I guess I'll be posting some more as more becomes available. Hopefully this beast will be back on the road within a couple of months. I wish I had more time to really get down to working on it, I really miss that little car!

This post has been edited by antonioguy: May 22, 2014 - 12:02 AM