Doctavic's 96 Celica ST Options

[doctavic]

I've been on here for a few months now, but finally getting around to this. Here is my 1996 Celica ST. I bought it from my friend, who was the original owner, in July with 98k. All it needed was a fix to the rear bumper and an AC compressor, which was the first thing I bought and installed. Still haven't gotten to that bumper, but looking. I don't have a pic of that, or very many pictures of when I first got it, but here is the one I have:



Next, I got a set of Scion TC rims with decent tires (~80% thread left) for $300:



Then, I got a Ralco RZ short throw (7gc) from ebay and installed. It took a while, but the thread on installing these was great and I got all my questions answered. I bought a knock off TRD knob off ebay, and installed that but I didn't like the feel...



...so I tried the weighted knob that came with the Ralco short throw and it really made for nice shift feel. I cut the ring off the boot and tied it down, gives a nice look:



Next, I installed a Clarion CD/Ipod player with bluetooth that I got from Crutchfield, came with a remote too. Easy install, really improved sound quality but I still need new speakers all around.




Then side skirts:



JDM Kouki tails:

In process:


installed:


Then there is the K&N 57i Series Performance Intake Kit made for the 7AFE:

(pic shows the TRD 3-point front strut bar I just installed, see below):


and a video for sound: (there is a rattle between 2500-2800 rpm that I can't find... I think its a heat shield)

Link to video:
http://s1267.beta.photobucket.com/user/cel...f9e559.mp4.html

...then came this weekend. This weekend I installed new KYB GR-2 struts all around, TRD lowering springs, a TRD 3-point front strut bar, a GT-Four rear strut bar, and a steering wheel from a '98:

Throwing on a 20" rim from my friends' shop, just for fun:



GT-Four rear strut bar:


TRD 3-point front strut bar:


Steering wheel (I bought the sub-harness adapter so the airbag works and there is no light):



...and the final (lowered) product... for now (oh, with clear side marker lights):



...still need to fix the bumper!


This post has been edited by doctavic: Nov 18, 2012 - 8:58 PM

[doctavic]

...and just installed the LED lights on my cluster from Spree:

[richee3]

Looking great so far! I especially like the Spree LED's. I have white LED's in my gauge cluster but I still had a hint of green until I sanded the backs of my gauge faces.

[Malhar95]

Looking great so far! I especially like the Spree LED's. I have white LED's in my gauge cluster but I still had a hint of green until I sanded the backs of my gauge faces.

what do u mean sanded the back? like what parts the green sheet?

[doctavic]

the picture I took makes it look more white than it is (not done purposely). i have a light green tint too.

next, thinking bumper, speakers, performance muffler, fog lights, maybe a header... but it wont pass smog then...

[mkernz22]

ahh so you're the guy who bought that strut bar. glad to see why he never got back to me after i was the first one to inquire on it.

car looks very nice though

[doctavic]

ahh so you're the guy who bought that strut bar. glad to see why he never got back to me after i was the first one to inquire on it.

car looks very nice though

He had it on craigslist, i found it locally before he put up the posting here. I just hadn't gone to pick it up until after.

[richee3]

what do u mean sanded the back? like what parts the green sheet?

There is a green tint on the back of the gauge faces. This thread is very helpful.

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...41562&st=20

Simply put, I had to open up my gauge cluster, remove the needles, and take the faces off. There's a green tint on the back of each gauge face. I used a light grit sandpaper to gently sand behind the numbers on the gauge faces. I didn't do behind my fuel/temp gauges, only my tach and speedo. They're still a little green but not enough to bother me.

[doctavic]

So... this past weekend I put on new struts, mounts, TRD lowering springs. Finally took it out for a long drive. The front is great, the rear makes a terrible noise over bumps from both sides. Its louder and harsher at speed, but theres no bouncing and it feels tight. Searching 6gc, seems like it could be the rear sway bar bushings. Going to try that first, but I only see sway bar bushing sizes for GTs (16mm). Anyone know if its the same for the ST? Thinking of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/140689722049

EDIT: Checked and it seems it is 16mm. Ordered these today. Hopefully it gets rid of the sound.

This post has been edited by doctavic: Nov 21, 2012 - 7:29 AM

[doctavic]

So... this past weekend I put on new struts, mounts, TRD lowering springs. Finally took it out for a long drive. The front is great, the rear makes a terrible noise over bumps from both sides. Its louder and harsher at speed, but theres no bouncing and it feels tight. Searching 6gc, seems like it could be the rear sway bar bushings. Going to try that first, but I only see sway bar bushing sizes for GTs (16mm). Anyone know if its the same for the ST? Thinking of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/140689722049

EDIT: Checked and it seems it is 16mm. Ordered these today. Hopefully it gets rid of the sound.

I got the Energy Suspension 16mm polyurethane sway bar bushings, and helped calm the noise a little, but there is still some rattling on heavy bumps. End links looked okay, guess its the strut mounts?

Had new Alpine speakers installed, component 2-way in the front. Had a hole cut out of the door panel for the install. Between the receiver and now the speakers, sounds like a new car.
>component speaker system includes two woofers, two tweeters, and two built-in crossovers
>6-3/4" mineral-fortified polypropylene woofer cone with rubber surround
>woofer fits 6-1/2" and 6-3/4" speaker openings
>1" silk dome tweeter
>power range: 2-80 watts RMS (240 watts peak power)
>frequency response: 70-22,000 Hz
>sensitivity: 88 dB





This post has been edited by doctavic: Nov 29, 2012 - 6:47 PM

[SwissFerdi]

Nice speaker, that's quite a good RMS rating. How does that shifter feel exactly with a weighted knob like that?

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 29, 2012 - 9:34 PM

[celica74]

Those alpines are great for the price. Brother has some in his car and sound great. Whatd you do to mount the tweeters?

[doctavic]

Nice speaker, that's quite a good RMS rating. How does that shifter feel exactly with a weighted knob like that?

weighted knob did wonders. solid crisp shifts.

[doctavic]

Those alpines are great for the price. Brother has some in his car and sound great. Whatd you do to mount the tweeters?

2" hole saw, tweeters came with a ring that fit snuggly.

[SwissFerdi]

weighted knob did wonders. solid crisp shifts.

Good to hear. Can't wait to install mine, although it's a Type-R knob (traitorous, I know).

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 30, 2012 - 4:49 PM

[doctavic]

weighted knob did wonders. solid crisp shifts.

Good to hear. Can't wait to install mine, although it's a Type-R knob (traitorous, I know).

Did you install it? How heavy is the one you got ?

This post has been edited by doctavic: Dec 1, 2012 - 10:24 AM

[doctavic]

Got my rear bumper from dkdmonk last week, and got around to installing it...

Took off the old bumper, lights, and license plate bezel...


Then took the write junkyard writing on the bumper off with some brake fluid (water did not work, looked online):


...and the end result: (I also put a TRD emblem on the trunk)





...and got around to installing the SS-III grill and TRD badge:



This post has been edited by doctavic: Dec 16, 2012 - 4:41 PM

[nics]

you just need the foglights

[doctavic]

you just need the foglights

def fog lights, spacers, and a magnaflow exhaust, maybe splitters...

[doctavic]

Xmas gift from the girlfriend, Magnaflow 14814... sounds great.

[doctavic]

I picked up an S2000 conversion kit the other day, and got to installing it today after the rain stopped. It looks pretty good but I still need to attach the rubber hosing and glue the top part down.





I also installed the Celica door sills I got from cww180. They go nicely with the shift knob. ...and I got some TRD front splitters (pictured) and some black TRD rear splitters (not pictured that are on the way, that will all need to be painted).






Things I have (or have ordered) that still need to be installed:
TRD front and rear splitters (need painting, rears will need a slight repair too)
GT spoiler and GT-4 riser blocks:


Fog lights (hoping I have factory wiring, still need to get a switch), NGK wires and Iridium IX plugs (bad pic)



Loving the Magnaflow. Sounds really nice.




I also picked up MOOG rear end links (still tracking the noise in my rear suspension), racing pedals from Autovation (shipping now) and a Meguiar's DA Power System Kit to compound and wax the car...I wish I had a garage, I'd get so much more done on my own... I also need to get those stickers off the inside rear window without affecting the defogger..... any suggestions?

Thats a pretty solid update for now.

This post has been edited by doctavic: Jan 12, 2013 - 10:20 AM

[Box]

For removing stickers you'll need a plastic scraper, hairdryer, WD-40, some paper towels, and some denatured alcohol. Soak the towel with WD-40 and place it on the sticker to let it soak the sticker. Then bring out the hairdryer and heat up the sticker while continuing to rub it with WD-40. After awhile switch out to the scraper. Keep rotating through soaking, heating, and scraping until it's just residue. Then can go between alcohol and WD-40 to remove that. How I removed some that were on mine. Didn't take too long, but it came off without damaging anything.

This post has been edited by Box: Jan 12, 2013 - 1:45 PM

[doctavic]

For removing stickers you'll need a plastic scraper, hairdryer, WD-40, some paper towels, and some denatured alcohol. Soak the towel with WD-40 and place it on the sticker to let it soak the sticker. Then bring out the hairdryer and heat up the sticker while continuing to rub it with WD-40. After awhile switch out to the scraper. Keep rotating through soaking, heating, and scraping until it's just residue. Then can go between alcohol and WD-40 to remove that. How I removed some that were on mine. Didn't take too long, but it came off without damaging anything.

I will give this a try, thanks for the tip Box!

[FrankB2]

Your car is looking great! Is there an actual S2000 conversion "kit" that you can buy? I have satellite radio in my Celica, but it wouldn't hurt to have a functioning antenna (my motor works, but the mast cable is broken).

[doctavic]

Thanks Frank! There is no actual S2000 "conversion kit" you can buy, but the parts you need to buy (and instructions) are listed here:
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=62139

Good luck, its totally worth it!

[FrankB2]

OK.... I saw that tutorial, but wanted a screw on conversion. I like those Scion wheels as well, and my '97 convertible needs some nicer wheels. I like the wheels that they're slapping on Miata's lately as well, but the Scions are fine. Off to ebsy.....LOL

[doctavic]

OK.... I saw that tutorial, but wanted a screw on conversion. I like those Scion wheels as well, and my '97 convertible needs some nicer wheels. I like the wheels that they're slapping on Miata's lately as well, but the Scions are fine. Off to ebsy.....LOL

if buy the few things in that thread, it will literally take you 5 minutes to remove the old antenna and install this one.

[FrankB2]

Sounds good. There's a Honda dealer 2 miles from where I live.

[doctavic]

It was 50 degrees on Sunday so I....

installed my GT-Four raiser blocks and GT spoiler (courtesy of culpable04) got new shore plates too, to do my part to support the rebuilding of the jersey shore...



also repainted the orange doggy cluster cover I got from chucho and installed it. totally changed the feel of the dashboard. really happy with this one.



and lastly installed my new Celica pedals from autovation:


I also got around to painting my TRD front splitters with the advice of Special_Edy... but its too cold today to install them or the rear splitters I got from ebay...

[SwissFerdi]

Love that cluster, it reminds me a bit of 911. Pedals are classy too.

[doctavic]

Love that cluster, it reminds me a bit of 911. Pedals are classy too.

Thanks! It's coming along nicely.

[doctavic]

Finally installed my GT-FOUR rear and TRD front splitters. Fronts were blue from culpabale04, and took Special_Edy's advice to paint. Came out pretty okay for first time painting... considering. Here's that thread: Thread



Also installed new NGK iridium plugs and NGK wires


If its warm-ish this week I'll wash and wax and take some real non iPhone pics
Next up: Install fogs, paint calipers and drums, and new endlinks. Debating an engine swap

This post has been edited by doctavic: Feb 24, 2013 - 11:56 PM

[Legen-dary]

That gauge cluster looks really nice, could you provide more info on it? I tried searching but didn't find anything. Looks like a raised overlay from another cluster?

[doctavic]

That gauge cluster looks really nice, could you provide more info on it? I tried searching but didn't find anything. Looks like a raised overlay from another cluster?

It was made by DCW, http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=36862

I think he still has some for $250 http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...76091&st=20

I got mine from another 6gc-er who was selling his. Definetely nice though the plexiglass has a slight glare.

[doctavic]

Washed, polished, and waxed the Celica today, and took out the real camera to take some pics.



and then did some editing:



This post has been edited by doctavic: Apr 14, 2013 - 7:21 PM

[doctavic]

only a few days left with her...

[Tigawoods]

[undasighted]

Don't worry man. She'll be in good hands and pampered. I can tell how much love you've poured in to her since you got her. I can't wait to meet her (and you) on Wednesday

Now to find some 6gc crew to meet up with when I stop in Pittsburgh on the way back to Ohio. So stoked to be coming back to the 6th gen scene with such a beautiful car

[doctavic]

Don't worry man. She'll be in good hands and pampered. I can tell how much love you've poured in to her since you got her. I can't wait to meet her (and you) on Wednesday

Now to find some 6gc crew to meet up with when I stop in Pittsburgh on the way back to Ohio. So stoked to be coming back to the 6th gen scene with such a beautiful car

[doctavic]

Officially said goodbye and handed the keys off to undasighted. Adios old friend! Glad it's gone to a good home

[undasighted]

The drive home was cake and she was great the whole 9 hours. Waited 6 hours to stop for gas and she was still well over a quarter tank. Was going to wash polish and wax her today but of course my first day back in Ohio and its storming you've already done everything i'd have done to her so I have nothing to start a project thread on... Yet.

One of my ae86 buddies is trying to convince me to go 3sgte but I'm thinking either 4age or 4agze. While I save up and source parts I'm gonna continue to just run the perfect little engine that could till she pops... If I get the money in time maybe I'll boost the 7a for a while.

[MoJelly]

Hello I purchased this car, whoever had it before me wrecked it and gave up on her, turned her over to the insurance? How dare they!! Haha She continues to drive wonderfully today and I'm taking good care of her more mods to come... Just finished the sound system yesterday apparently the wreck fried the head unit(your wiring harness was a bit of a mess but I will admit one of the best I've seen in a vehicle I've owned)