dropping the rwd crx project

[drummingpariah]

Well, it looks like I may very well drop the rwd crx project. I have found another project car that I didn't think I'd come across that I consider to be prettier. On the plus side, this one actually fits the f20c. I'm going to go make an offer on it tomorrow:


It's an inline 4 rwd toyota celica liftback. It'll have to be smogged, but since I'm putting in a newer motor (maybe rotary, maybe f20c, we'll see what i come across) that shouldn't be a problem. I'm excited, what can I say?

[hndacvcsi]

Holy surface rust Batman!!!!!

[drummingpariah]

Yeah, out here (Cali) this car is considered totaled because of rust. Give me an hour with a bead blaster, or four hours with a wire wheel and it'll be as good as new (after a few coats of flat black). The catch is that I'd need to decide on an engine for this. Lots of stuff fits, and damned near everything is cool. I can't wait to go take a look at it tomorrow. My biggest concern is getting legal paperwork for it.

[hndacvcsi]

Originally Posted by drummingpariah

Yeah, out here (Cali) this car is considered totaled because of rust. Give me an hour with a bead blaster, or four hours with a wire wheel and it'll be as good as new (after a few coats of flat black). The catch is that I'd need to decide on an engine for this. Lots of stuff fits, and damned near everything is cool. I can't wait to go take a look at it tomorrow. My biggest concern is getting legal paperwork for it.

yeah i can see your point on the papers, but im pulling for you because, barring the rust, the panels look straight as a motherfucker. i say 2jz ftw

[drummingpariah]

Originally Posted by hndacvcsi

yeah i can see your point on the papers, but im pulling for you because, barring the rust, the panels look straight as a motherfucker. i say 2jz ftw

I went and took a look at it today. The place kind of looked like an impound lot, which could work in my favor (impound lots often sell cars fairly cheaply). It might have been abandoned, which will make getting tags problematic (but I'm creative, I'm sure I'll work something out).

Going with a 2jz defeats the purpose of the car. I want something cheap, light, and fun. I can find an f20c out here with tranny, ecu, and wiring for about $1500 and that qualifies as being all of the above. The 2jz is really only cheap when it's a 'grey' import, which defeats the purpose of fun. Also, most 2jz's were iron blocks (I could be wrong... they might ALL be iron blocks).

Lastly, the jdm phase never really caught my interest. At all. Honestly, the whole JDM movement kind of makes me sick.

My engine choice will really just hinge upon what's available when I'm ready to tackle this. Chances are that I'll go with rotary power of some sort. The engine bay in the Celica is respectable but not massive, so a 13b would fit nicely with a turbo or two. A 13b-REW can be had in several junkyards around here, and the 250-or-so horsepower (more with a decent ecu and bigger turbos) would yank you back in your seat on it very nicely.

I've been researching different suspension setups, and since I already have a spare s30 (datsun 260z) rear end, I could weld that up relatively easily and have a good, strong rear end with IRS. I could also fabricate something new using the rear suspension from a sportbike (such as a 1000CBR-RR). There are a lot of options with a car like this, and the car itself is rare enough that I'd be inpired to carry it through to the end.

For the time being, I've got the CRX loaded up with parts and I'm having AAA tow it down to my house in San Leandro. Hopefully all it needs is a new battery, but I'm planning an MPFI swap whether it's needed or not (maybe itbs?).

[mocha907]

nice find in cali it's totaled in alaska it's "only a little surface rust" the harsh temperature differences road salts ect. eat away at cars very quickly up here. if it were me i would put a SBC in that sucker

[-b18c1vic-]

Originally Posted by drummingpariah

I went and took a look at it today. The place kind of looked like an impound lot, which could work in my favor (impound lots often sell cars fairly cheaply). It might have been abandoned, which will make getting tags problematic (but I'm creative, I'm sure I'll work something out).

Going with a 2jz defeats the purpose of the car. I want something cheap, light, and fun. I can find an f20c out here with tranny, ecu, and wiring for about $1500 and that qualifies as being all of the above. The 2jz is really only cheap when it's a 'grey' import, which defeats the purpose of fun. Also, most 2jz's were iron blocks (I could be wrong... they might ALL be iron blocks).

Lastly, the jdm phase never really caught my interest. At all. Honestly, the whole JDM movement kind of makes me sick.

My engine choice will really just hinge upon what's available when I'm ready to tackle this. Chances are that I'll go with rotary power of some sort. The engine bay in the Celica is respectable but not massive, so a 13b would fit nicely with a turbo or two. A 13b-REW can be had in several junkyards around here, and the 250-or-so horsepower (more with a decent ecu and bigger turbos) would yank you back in your seat on it very nicely.

I've been researching different suspension setups, and since I already have a spare s30 (datsun 260z) rear end, I could weld that up relatively easily and have a good, strong rear end with IRS. I could also fabricate something new using the rear suspension from a sportbike (such as a 1000CBR-RR). There are a lot of options with a car like this, and the car itself is rare enough that I'd be inpired to carry it through to the end.

For the time being, I've got the CRX loaded up with parts and I'm having AAA tow it down to my house in San Leandro. Hopefully all it needs is a new battery, but I'm planning an MPFI swap whether it's needed or not (maybe itbs?).

my sister in law just moved from San Leandros, back to Florida! the one place i actually enjoyed when I went to Cali to spend my 4th of July in 07... ALL of her neighbors had identification to get some bud from the clinics.. man, that is what I needed to take the edge off, knowing that in a short time that I would be heading back to Iraq for the third time since 2002.. LEGALIZE IT!

[solsykness]

I wish I lived in Cali...parts galore, omg. Living in AK sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mocha907]

Originally Posted by solsykness

I wish I lived in Cali...parts galore, omg. Living in AK sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tell me about it it's gonna be fun having my new motor shipped my poor wallet

[solsykness]

Yeah, bro...that is why I'm thinking about just going boost. I mean, I've got two choices...either spend 3000+ on a gsr swap or damn near half that for a turbo build that will yield me decent enough power to toy around with all the crazies up here. hmm? That's a tough one, lol.

[drummingpariah]

See, the trouble with cali is the fact that I can't take a non-turbo engine and turbo it. That's why my 13b should be turbo when i buy it. Also, the engine has to be newer than the car for it to be street legal.

Basically, there's a shitload of extra work I have to deal with because I live in Cali. It all roughly evens out. You guys have the option to shoot on over to Canada and get honest-to-goodness JDM or Australian models legally. That's pretty fucking sweet.

But still, a 1st gen celica with a 13b-rew would rock ass.

[daveb91]

Whats it come with a 22re??? I would just build and turbo that. They make tons of parts for those engines.

[jordan_myers]

Nice find....I love the old school imports. I have always wanted to find a first gen Civic just to use for a daily driver. I would personally go for the f20, although this is just because I hate rotary engines (no specific reason, well it maybe due to the fact that their different and different scares me).. Good luck with the project