Sleekcelica's progress thread., Sold, so sad. Options

[SleekCelica]

So I bought this car from a guy in beaufort, who, to be honest, treated her like crap. He fought with trailer hitches, and the whole nine yards. It also had an intermittent stalling issue. She had 4 blistered tires, two bad front wheel bearings, a really bad paint job, two bad cv axles, a badly wired IAC, a disconnected tps to make up for the bad IAC (that's what he said. No litterally, he said that to me), a failing clutch slave and master cylinder, and more stuff... You get the point. This car was definitely not in it's prime years. What's ironic is, there have been three owners, including me. The first lady bought this off the showroom floor, and treated it so well. routine maintenance, Toyota dealership for everything, etc, etc. She got a new engine put in her in 2001, fully rebuilt. And then the second owner bought it from her. That's when things went downhill. Then I bought it from the second guy, he wanted 1000 for her, and I talked him down to 800. He let me test drive her, and that's where I found some problems. But I instantly fell in love with her when I saw her. I signed the title, and was off at about 10 o clock at night, in a 5 speed I've never driven before, that had the worst tires/wheel bearings ever. My brother had taken me there in his teg, and decided he wanted to go like 90 miles and hour. lol.
this is how she looked when i got her :

I began the restoration process. I did a tune up, put some new spark plugs in, did an oil change, etc. I was tired of not having a radio, so I decided to install one:

Then I found out that head unit didn't work so I put in a crappier one:

I decided it was time for a new exhaust, and working in an exhaust shop, I could get one for pretty cheap. At first, I went for the fart can idea, but I didn't like it. So what did I do? I put a cherrybomb on it, dumped it right in the middle of the bottom of the car. I'll get pics of the actual exhaust later:

I saw Tigawood's progress thread, and I loved the white steelies idea, so I did that too. I put in my own aftermarket touch with an A pillar mounted volt gauge.

A more recent interior pic:

I started painting parts of the car, hoping it could cover up the lousy clear coat peeling. I built a strut tower brace, and did some other minor mods to her.

A shot with the other celica in the neighborhood:

Time for paint! Rustoleum deep blue automotive paint, with newly blacked out goodies!



This post has been edited by SleekCelica: Oct 26, 2010 - 5:02 PM

[SwissFerdi]

Use lowercase image tags.

I like the progress so far, keep it clean. Any pics of the installed exhaust? The idea sounds interesting.

[SleekCelica]

Thanks! Yeah, I'll try to take some pictures today. I'm also planning on installing a functional hood scoop later today.

[PolliS_5S-FE]

just dont get one of those universal hood scoops. lol gosh they look tacky

[SleekCelica]

So I installed the hood scoop, and blacked out the turn signals. I'll also post a pic of the exhaust, and how I have it routed.



This post has been edited by SleekCelica: Jul 30, 2010 - 5:57 PM

[SleekCelica]

So no one likes my celica?

[rave2n]

I like the color, but the paint looks a little ruff. Certainly better then the former. I looks like it was rattle canned on, maybe buff it up for a finer finish.

Quite interested in what the exhaust sounds like.

Do like the blacked out tails...still debating doing mine, considering my car is black...that'd be alot of black.

[cheela]

I approve of your DYI. Your car's got real potential. Although, yeah the paint to me looks kinda ruff. looks like you got some runs maybe? maybe sand it down a bit and then clear coat and a buff will make that paint shine. but it definitely came along way. good luck with everything else. keep us updated.

[richee3]

Keep it up! Everything takes time, but you'll have your car lined up and the way you want it in no time if you are persistent.

[njccmd2002]

super sprint had a similar hood scoop. but try to flush it... so it lines up with the car, and it does not look like the sticer.

[HectortheRican]

super sprint had a similar hood scoop. but try to flush it... so it lines up with the car, and it does not look like the sticer.

x2. I hope this car turns out great! Looking forward to following

[njccmd2002]

[Johnnyny]

dat is nice!!! looks like it was meant to be

[SleekCelica]

Wow that's crazy. Yeah, I spray painted it. There are no runs, but for some reason it just turned out wierd. Because I don't have a compressor, I"m going to buy Harbor Freight's Electric spray gun. Anybody had any luck with that?

[96stgreendemon]

the electric pump does not work well at all for automotive paint, spend some money and get a decent compressor a decent gun an inline water filter and do some research on how to paint the car dont just say hmm im gonna paint my car today, a good paint job is 95% prep and 5% painting, take your time and do it right and it will look alot better than the rattlecanned look.

[cheela]

gotta paint in the right weather also. make sure humidity is low.

[njccmd2002]

You are in trouble sir, there is a guy claiming to be a one of a kind celica, at first i tought it was yours, but tags are different. But they are so similar...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nice-one-ki...=US_Cars_Trucks

i was thinking you just put your name down in the celica forever thread, lol,...

[SleekCelica]

eww manual windows Nah, but as an update, I just did my first autocross yesterday; here are some pics and a link to the vid:





http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/vi...4479&ref=mf
hopefully you guys can see the vid. If not, let me know.

[mak5603]

Wow that's crazy. Yeah, I spray painted it. There are no runs, but for some reason it just turned out wierd. Because I don't have a compressor, I"m going to buy Harbor Freight's Electric spray gun. Anybody had any luck with that?

I used a harbor freight gun to spray my front end. Its alright, will hold me over until I get a complete respray. A stupid mosquitoe decided to die in the middle of my GT4 hood on the wet paint.

[RockyMountainCel...]

can't see vid because I gave up on facebook and don't have an account anymore, you should host it with photobucket or something like that.

[SleekCelica]

I'd host it on photobucket, but it just took soooo long to upload. But I suppose I could give it a shot, haha. And as for mak, do you have any closer pictures of your front end? I'd like to see it a little closer if possible, thanks!

[SleekCelica]

Okay, so I've done a few more mods, such as new wheels

I put a new supra-style spoiler on. Also, i got a new bumper, a new fender, and a new high beam light!
it's before I painted it, and the bumper didn't quite make it in the pic!


Now I'm faced with a tough decision...
I just sold my brother's car, and in return I'm fairly sure he's going to pay for a paint job for the celi. It's just going to be done at econo paint, and before I get negative criticism, My brother has been going to these guys for years; I know what job they do, etc. So now I'm faced with that decision.... What color should I get her painted?

I'm leaning towards orange; it looks so damn sexy on these cars. On the other hand, blue is softer and easier on the eyes, and also not much of a cop attractor compared to orange. Give me some feedback 6gc!

[cheela]

have u thought about a darker blue? like midnight blue or something? just a thought.

[SleekCelica]

Yeah, I've thought about it, but I'm really looking for something unique.

[easternpiro1]

wow nice progress man! will have to get a closer eyeball... i will be going thru colombia sc soon to go to tweaks, im tryin to talk a couple other 6gc guys on rollin u down?



EDIT: just saw the video... when were you at metrolina expo?!?! (are ya goin to the drift event there this saturday?)

This post has been edited by easternpiro1: Sep 17, 2010 - 8:12 AM

[SleekCelica]

I did metrolina expo about a week before August 19th, so maybe the twelfth or something like that. I'd go to the drift event, but I'm so broke. As for the Columbia thing, I'm totally down man, just give me a shout! 803.834.1144; I have texting and all that goodness.

[350niZmo]

id say go with a copper or burnt orange. I like the color on my 350z but i also like the orange used on the c6 corvettes....

[easternpiro1]

cool. will give ya a yell tomorrow... and i agree with nizmo, that burnt orange is the sex! like this:



i lust over soundsluts car

[SleekCelica]

Just did the headlights mod inspired my mgnt232; put red LED's in the high beams, and it looks rad. Will upload pics tomorrow!

This post has been edited by SleekCelica: Oct 6, 2010 - 7:19 AM

[SleekCelica]

Makin this post at 5 in the morning. About to head out to my 2nd autocross. Will post results later! I can't wait to try out my new 225/50/16 tires!

[njccmd2002]

Desert Sand, like the land cruiser or like the old school celicas

[dudeofchaos]

Black is always a win.

[mgnt232]

ha yay! me FTW lol.
Post up some pics of them

[richee3]

White is always a winrar on our cars, and it would be easy enough to DIY spray the door jambs, under the hood, etc.

[SleekCelica]

So even though I posted that poll, I'm still going with orange. I figured that all along, just wanted opinions. Kia 09 is the paint code. Sunset Orange Pearl?

[mgnt232]

orange ftw

[SleekCelica]

Yeahhhhh haha. It's a toss up between Toyota's Hot lava (4r8) and kia's copperhead metallic (09)

[SleekCelica]

Oh man, I just got her painted... so beautiful

[easternpiro1]

nice!!!

[SleekCelica]

Thanks! Are you still going through Columbia soon?

[mak5603]

nice, that was fast!

[96stgreendemon]

looks 100000000000 times better, but why didnt you mold in the fake hood scoop?

[SleekCelica]

It's not fake, I actually cut the hood to fit it, so it's fully functional.

[mgnt232]

Looks good
I dont think he had anything actually against the "fake" part, more of why did you mold it in, if it was going to be getting painted. Although molding can be a huge! pain in the ass sometimes lol

[SleekCelica]

Yeah I guess I just don't really mind it like it is.

[rave2n]

for the paint!

[HectortheRican]

Looking good!

[mkernz22]

it looks great!

did they really paint the headlight rubbers though?...

[SleekCelica]

yeah but I don't really mind; they painted all of it and it looks decent.

[mkernz22]

in my eyes it looks a little awkward with the rubbers paint, but i honestly think it looks great!

[easternpiro1]

Thanks! Are you still going through Columbia soon?

yeah! at the end of the month! will hit u up a few days b4

[SleekCelica]

Sweet!

[SleekCelica]

Well, I traded my car (straight trade) for a 94 mitsubishi 3000gt. It's a 5 speed non turbo, FWD, and it's fast. I will miss the Celica, but at least it's my brother's now.

[HectortheRican]

Aww man after all that work!

[SleekCelica]

yeah, I know it sucks, but still -.-

[HectortheRican]

Do I smell *sniff, sniff* AWD swap VR4??

[SwissFerdi]

yeah, I know it sucks, but still -.-

Then you're an idiot for trading it.

[richee3]

I support that trade.

[SleekCelica]

yeah I wish, haha. I already am getting attached to this 3kgt; it has way more power potential, and in my opinion, looks sportier. I'm not dissatisfied with this trade at all; my brother got the celica. It will stay in the family, and I can drive it whenever I want. I just have something new to work on, and make into a road beast.

[hatchy_gt-s]

Do I smell *sniff, sniff* AWD swap VR4??

Isnt possible with the sl.

[SleekCelica]

Don't need it anyways; not planning to make anything in excess of maybe 400 or 500 hp.

[HectortheRican]

Do I smell *sniff, sniff* AWD swap VR4??

Isnt possible with the sl.

Ehh, didn't know. Lol thanks.

[SleekCelica]

Actually, it is. A lot of people on 3si.org have done it.

[easternpiro1]

yeah I wish, haha. I already am getting attached to this 3kgt; it has way more power potential, and in my opinion, looks sportier. I'm not dissatisfied with this trade at all; my brother got the celica. It will stay in the family, and I can drive it whenever I want. I just have something new to work on, and make into a road beast.

imma make you want to trade your celica back with your brother when i drive the swap back from tweak lol!