Investment gone wrong, Turning lemons into lemonade with a squeeze of sweat and tears Options

[Yupe7]

Some of you may know some of my celica history already so I try to keep this part short. Bought a 94 celica gt coupe thinking of having a good reliable daily car untill I find something better. After a few days (I mean months) found out it had rod knock so I end up buying a used imported engine with low miles. Also my distributor had failed to so also stalled my time driving her (yes I gave her a girl name for fun) but for the time that had driven her. I had come to enjoy the way she responded to corners.

This post has been edited by Yupe7: Aug 8, 2018 - 8:07 PM

[njccmd2002]

This post has been edited by njccmd2002: Aug 8, 2018 - 11:29 PM

[Yupe7]

I wanted to give a bit more info even though I didn't really plan to. When I pick up the car originally I thought from the ad and what the owner told, that it had a valve tick but after opening the valve cover and checked the lifter they were within spec. So I thought it was ok. But then after that, I kept driving the car around until the distributor pooped out on me while I was going to school.
This is also around the time that I came to find the form 6g and to ask question thanks by the way box and njccmd2002 for the help. I still want to do an engine swap but that more in the future while I save up for it. While I was trying to diagnose my problem a friend that has more experience with cars look at it and told me that It was my distributor and also check my knocking noise. so I had bought my very first lemon car according to my brother but one that I was too stubborn to admit.
I am going to post pictures of her soon but before here some pic who some part look

[Yupe7]

Last post I mention that I was in school(or college for automotive technology baby!!!) almost done just one more term left. I had a chance in my engine class to tear apart my 5sfe to see the damage to on my free days here a picture of some of them. some of the pictures are mainly for me but a wanted to share.



sorry for the big picture still trying to figure how posting picture work.
I don't know if you are able to tell but I will get a picture tomorrow of the piston in all its glory. Now back to the story, as the engine was coming apart you can smell the burnt oil coming out of the block. Now I can't remember what piston was knocking for me but if I am correct it was cylinder number one (possibly 4 but hey doesn't matter now.) Also, I want to mention something pretty interesting that I found when I had all the part clean and separated. As I measured the parts for the engine especially the head assembly and look up the spec in shop key ( if you are familiar with Alldata it pretty much the same just different layout IMP) came to find out everything was still in spec. Almost forgot to mention that the engine had 136k on it and who knows how long with that knock so Shootout to JDM engineering/engines. Most of the part block good to except for cylinders and piston sleeves.

[cheela]

Wish you could've found the forums sooner, then we all could've persuaded you to do an engine swap and throw lots of money at it instead of another 5s.

I'm still gonna say it, forego rebuilding and do a 3sgte or BEAMS swap. lol

[Yupe7]

I know right. Sometimes I think of what I know now it would of help me before along then I am now probably would of had a beans swap or 3sgte engine in by now. I kick myself a bit but its life.

[Yupe7]

So here is the puppy in all its glory
[img]http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q418/Yupe7/20180809_190659_zps7pkpvoyo.jpg[/img


As far as the engine goes most of the part are going to the trash just been lazy to do it, but I am going to keep the block, head, cams, and crankshaft. Who knows what will happen with that engine.
After doing some research and looking at the money factor I decided to buy another 5sfe from a guy that import engines from Japan so they tell me. Pick it up for 850, shipping was 200 so it wasn't that bad for a low mileage engine. (This is not the first engine that I buy from this guy I bought one for my parents 07 honda accord and been daily driving it for 6 monthish with no problems.) So after replacing seals and all the service parts like timing belt and water pump, it was time to put the engine back. ( Sorry didn't take pictures of any of this). Sound smooth right well here where the fun part began or my nightmare.

In my defense, I haven't taken my automatic class yet so didn't know about indexing the torque converter. That class will be in this fall, my good sirs. Also the way I see it if you don't break something you ain't going learn from or value it.
To get to the point where you see in the picture there a story to it and here goes. After putting the engine in everything else and wire were plug back in and suspension I got in the car and turn the key after building oil pressure and but in reverse (yeah I am like cheela with an auto trans if you haven't figured it out) and nothing the car just rolled back and when put in drive and gave it gas nothing. After that, I am proud to say that I can probably have this trans out under 2 hours. For after that had it out almost 6 times, not a fun job and that's including after fixing the problem on my driveway- end my rant. For more technical of what was broke was the gears inside of my oil pump for my transmission. While I was in there I decide to brake something else ( sure why not I can wait two more months of not driving my car right?) the part that I broke or rather chewed off was a square cut o ring for my overdrive assembly. Ever order what you think is the right part but then you have to travel about two hours to your local Toyota dealership that actually orders special parts for you to realize its the wrong part. (So if anybody needs square cut o ring for forward clutch assembly let me know I got you I hope.) so I had to wait for the right part to come in and at last, put everything back together.

[cheela]

damn! 6 times huh? you could probably do it blindfolded now. lol

the freelica has been good practice for me in preparation for my swap. Just sucked that I couldn't fix it in time so I could have one driving 6gc while the other one's down. Instead I have 2 6gcs that I cannot drive.

[Yupe7]

Yeah I wish was exaggerating but no unfortunately. I understand were you are at right now I am not driving my celica either waiting for the month to end to put Insurance on it

[Box]

Glad I could be of help at some point. For what it's worth automatics run on black magic and the hopes and dreams of children, so don't feel too bad.

[Yupe7]

yeah, my instruct says that the A140E transmission are bulletproof so probably they have unicorn strength in them. (

[Yupe7]

Back to your daily program of investment gone wrong (with a slight buzz).
so we return to your program with the protagonist failing miserably with his transmission until he finally succeeds
The scream of the joy of a 20-year-old can be heard from the whole block when he finally puts in reverse and in drive and it moves .
I realize that I kinda rush to get to present time but almost there so after Cecilia (get it because it sounds like Celica, not really though) moved it was time to do some cosmetic work that is going to be along while. So here how it looked before and what was made to get to the present time.

You can't really tell but on the left side, there are scratches that bother me every time I come home from work.



also, the front bumper had a crack on the left side headlights and removed the license plate bolt holes
Also the homie with the da sanding away

our second attempt paint the base coat because the first time we didn't wait to let it dry enough so had to redo it.

Now with clear coat and it looks so good

[Box]

I named mine Celeste, so clever and original I'm sure. Just like my (black) Firebird is Raven.

[cheela]

fresh paint looks good. hopefully the rest of the body still matches. but it seems like your paint is still in decent shape after all these years.

[njccmd2002]

watching a fresh bumper paint dry.......

[Yupe7]

Yeah it does, made sure it was the same paint code. The only thing is that we put on a good clear coat/applied three coats because as it was applied the first two we had a wasp get fumigated with the odor and land on my rear bumper and crawl from middle of the bumper to one of the edges. we didn't notice until we were done spraying the front bumper. So now there the most prettiest part her. I'll post a picture later today

[Yupe7]

So here how she is sitting now

[bryanf]

Bumper looks great.

[cheela]

so what's the plan now? aesthetic mods or performance mods?

[Yupe7]

Thanks @bryanf
the picture makes the car looks done but there a few thing left that I need to add. Also I want to do a bit of both but for right now I am saving up ie waiting for the payday!!!!

[Box]

Now you have to buff and polish the rest of the car.

[Yupe7]

So here is what has happened since the picture of Cecilia with the new bumpers were painted. So I just have been getting the car ready for next month when I start to officially daily her.
I have fixed the annoying things that one doesn't want to do, but with nothing else started to fix.
My coolant housing the one that connects to your heater hose and upper radiator hose was leaking from the butt or bottom. My guess it cracked when putting in and taking out the transmission so it would leak from the housing even tho I replaced the 90-degree coolant hose to be safe, but lucky enough I kept a lot of extra part from other engine and swap it so it was an easy/messy fix
Then it was on to my valve cover that I just need to replace because it still had the original and who knows how long it has sat with it on and it was all hard and cracked when I took it off. After that, I made sure that my connections are all connected and vacuum lines. When I was trying to figure how to locate my ox sensor connector so it didn't hang ( I am pretty sure I have the bracket where the exhaust connects to the transmission which as the place for the connector but I couldn't remember and still can't remember how it went on.) So if anybody has a picture and can send it to me or post so I have an idea it would be nice because what I decide to do was tape it to my tranny dip stick. Also, this what happened before the relocation.

So I had to start to solder the wire back together. I also need a coolant temp sensor connector if anybody knows where I can get connectors other than a junkyard. I haven't looked really but will soon for extra parts but celicas of the 6 gen are hard to find in this part of the north-west.
Also, I almost forgot I broke my vacuum switch valve when I was swapping part from one housing to the other Got a replacement already so it's all good. but here what I tried to do to fix it.

[Yupe7]

Now you have to buff and polish the rest of the car.

For sure but I want to paint the rest of the car so not sure what comes first the polish or the paint job.

[njccmd2002]

Any Toyota should have that pigtail.

[Yupe7]

Any Toyota should have that pigtail.

Pigtail???
Blonde moment but not sure what you mean by that.
Also, I have been saving this for last for this is where I am currently at with my Cecilia I want on a trip in July and before I left I took off my dash to get it to reupholster. Long story short I am still waiting for it to be done. I am not sure that I want to tell you guys how it going to be but it's going to be really good I hope. here is a few pictures of the dash for edumacational purposes.

[NgoFcukinWay]

pigtail = the connector with leading wires. There should be a tiny ass 5-digit number somewhere on the plug. Take that number and the plug to the dealership and they should be able to order you a new one.

This post has been edited by NgoFcukinWay: Aug 18, 2018 - 9:20 AM

[Yupe7]

pigtail = the connector with leading wires. There should be a tiny ass 5-digit number somewhere on the plug. Take that number and the plug to the dealership and they should be able to order you a new one.

Ok will do, its beats having to go to the junkyard and maybe find a good connector

[Yupe7]

So update have been dringi the car for a week and some days. Pretty good just weird driving with out a dashboard but you kinda get use it. Have ran into an issue that right waiting to see if i can make it act up again where the rpm will drop at idle when hot. I did some cleaning of the egr valve/swap it with a cleaner part from my parts stache (always good to have extra parts just in case). Before i do anything else i need to do the timing on her to rule that out. Also the reason i played with the egr was because i had code 71 now correct me if i am wrong but its for the egr system and following some of the diagnostic was to inspect and clean the egr valve if neccessary which i found a blockage so since then still have the issue but seems to almost not happen as often as before so i am not so worry about that at the moment.

Also have some news that i am pretty excited about went to the only junkyard that i know about near me to get parts my next project.

Before i forget i have some sneak peeks of the dash which is almos done.


Ill upload more later on pictures

[cheela]

oh yeah... that dash looks pretty sexy. Hope you cut a hole for the passenger side airbag?
and does the red stitching only go around the driver's side?

[Yupe7]

oh yeah... that dash looks pretty sexy. Hope you cut a hole for the passenger side airbag?
and does the red stitching only go around the driver's side?

Thanks
Hahaha yeah.....
No the red stitching is going to go on the passenger side too
i think the airbag is not coming out any more having some one do it for me so will find out but i dont think it will be an issue since i took the dash off with that airbag on so yeah....
I am thinking of getting endworks cluster upgrade to match.

[TimeslideZ]

Is that alcantara or leather?

[Yupe7]

Is that alcantara or leather?

No its vinyl was thinking of alcantara but didnt feel like spending the money. But I like it how it turing out should pick it up today i hope so i am excited. I am thinking that maybe later going a bit more crazier on the seats

[Yupe7]

Update time
Good news for me but really bad news for a normal person.
I have been driving the celi for a month now have found some issue:
here goes egr was clogged
cam seal was replaced
exhaust was fix

still, need to solve and fix these things
Oil light comes on when the car is warm at idle - I am thinking of replacing the oil pump on her and rechecking my idle before that.
burning oil so will be replacing valve seal guides and hopefully, that takes care of it as well will try to buy a Toyota PCV valve
Also, need new tires because the ones I have on suck when it comes to grip in the rain.

[Yupe7]

Quick small update
So earlier on the thread, I mention that need some clips on my car replaced and went to Toyota, for the celi in the jy had those exact clips broken or missing. So I ask the part guy and to my horror, they discontinued those parts was wondering if anybody had those clips its for the alternator and oil sending unit PM if you are interested in either selling or maybe giving them away thanks for the help.

[Yupe7]

So after some time, I am getting close to the home stretch of getting this car reliable
been either repeating replacing seal ie like oil pan my Achilles heel which keeps leaking going for my third attempt today with rtv but may just buy a rubber gasket and right stuff so it never leaks who knows

[Box]

Have you taken a straight edge and made sure the pan isn't warped any? That and make sure the lip of the pan isn't puckered anywhere. I also want to say most Japanese cars had their oil pans sealed with some kind of RTV from the factory and didn't use a gasket. Something like Honda Bond or Toyota FIPG, typically. If you don't want to spend the obscene amount of money for those something like the Permatex Black is close enough, I think the regular series goes by optimum or optimal now since the Ultra series never wants to come off and is a bit overkill.

[igpx12]

Have you taken a straight edge and made sure the pan isn't warped any? That and make sure the lip of the pan isn't puckered anywhere. I also want to say most Japanese cars had their oil pans sealed with some kind of RTV from the factory and didn't use a gasket. Something like Honda Bond or Toyota FIPG, typically. If you don't want to spend the obscene amount of money for those something like the Permatex Black is close enough, I think the regular series goes by optimum or optimal now since the Ultra series never wants to come off and is a bit overkill.

You could go the route of permatex, but my luck with that is like using window caulk, Spend the 20 for a squeeze tube of Toyota FIPG, I haven't had a pan gasket fail on me yet after using it. On a side note if you dont ever want it to leak just get it welded on lol, jk jk

This post has been edited by igpx12: Nov 1, 2018 - 4:58 PM

[Box]

I've never had a problem with Permatex, but I also always follow instructions to a T and make sure surfaces are clean and level. FWIW many swear Honda Bond craps all over the Toyota FIPG, so your results may vary.

[Yupe7]

Yea i notice it had like rtv type material when i got the new engine but i usually go with the gasket and the right stuff never leaks with but expensive so i wanted to go with rtv this time
So @box i check the oil pan that i going to put on today (spare one i had) today fix it. It was a bit warp check with straight edge pretty smooth a few areas had some what of a gap not to worry about it. I am going to use the gasket to make up for it and right stuff. so hopefully dont have to tear down for the four time during the weekend. Also clean up the pan thats on her and check how bad it is thanks for the help.

[Box]

Usually you can straighten a pan out with a hard level surface. Also the factory torque specs would be for RTV, using a gasket you should go a few ft lbs higher.

Another thing, make sure you tighten in a cross pattern starting in the center and working your way out after getting all the bolts in finger tight first.

[NgoFcukinWay]

The JZ motors have their upper and lower oil pans sealed with black FIPG along with the oil pump as there is no gasket available for them at all if it gives you any idea of what route you want to go. A tube of black FIPG usually takes care of the 3 surfaces.

[Smaay]

check the wire on the oil pressure sensor plug. its a single wire that gets a lot of abuse.

[Yupe7]

Thanks will do. The oil light is off now after replacing my connecting rod bearings but still, want at least check resistance to the wire.
Also, have a few parts in order so I am excited will have pics up here of it soon

[Yupe7]

Hey update time!!!!
other than being lazy when it comes to updating. I have been daily driving my celica with a few month now with some new add ons and new problems.
I have been fix stuff like wiring at starting to weather at the connector and coolants hose. But still have an annoying idle problem when driving it for a long time and when it hot outside. Replaced the idle control valve, made sure idle screw was properly adjusted. But I think either two things my coolant has leaks where air comes through or my timing needs to be adjusted. Anybody run through that same problem???
But in the meantime I have this annoying issue cosmetically speaking with my headlight gaskets that keep wanting to come off. I lost the clips that held them in place. Does anybody know what to do about them.