BIG UPDATE!

OK, so I have been really lazy with updating this blog, I have done a lot of work to the Celica since the last update.

The first thing I had done since it went in and got repaired was a full 3" mandrel bent stainless exhaust system, from the custom dump pipe back, from Brian at Exhaust Innovations. This consists of a new high flow cat and single rear muffler, and sounds fantastic! I also got Brian to put a burnt tip effect on the pipe


I have also been freshening up the bushes throughout with Whiteline Plus chassis control bushes, and have removed the steering rack mounts to replace those bushes as well.

I have also fitted a new Alpine head unit, Infinity Reference speakers (4" front, 6.5" rear) and Sony amplifier.


I installed a fire extinguisher on a bracket in front of the passenger seat, using aluminium that I polished up to a mirror finish


I have also had the distributer reconditioned as it was leaking oil.

Last but not least, I have fitted up a set of 17" SSR Professor SP1s, in Super Black Coat. These are 8" wide, with an offset of +37 and are normal disc up the front and Super Low Disc at the rear (super low gives more lip, these could have fitted the front too but I wanted to leave room for a big brake kit). Tires are 215/45 Dunlop Sportmaxx TTs

So the car is currently sitting on stands in the garage getting the rear bushes done, I am also replacing the brake lines with braided and repainting the calipers, hubs and spacers black.
The work continues...

Break down on Christmas Day

Travelling on the busy Gateway Motorway in Brisbane on Christmas Day on my way to visit some friends the car simply slowed down and stopped. No spluttering, no bangs, just a complete loss of power.

After checking the basics it was clear I wasn't going to get it started again, so I got a tow truck. I have since had the car towed back to APC, where it was compression tested and the results were very bad, turns out the cam belt was all but shreaded and had spun, putting the cars timing out. This is indeed weird - the engine was only supposed to be assembled roughly 10,000 kms ago. The belt looked like it had a groove worn in to the back of it, so thats the cause. Tensioner looks to have played a part in that - that should have been replaced with the belt.

Off came the head, which was sent away to get tests. I was discussing on my options to take. Obviously more power down the track is always on the cards, so while the engine was apart I wanted to make sure we performed any necessary work so we wouldn't be repeating the process. Upon inspection of the block, the pistons looked to be in good condition, and all the modifications that had been described to me when I bought the car had been performed, so at least I wasn't lied to!

Another couple of things I thought might as well get addressed while the engine was half out were the gearbox syncros, the whining coming from the front (diff I think) and the leaking power steering.

The head results came back good - no bent valves. Also was noted it was indeed ported as I had been told when I bought it, and already had a different set of cams, and APR head studs, also as I had been told. The problem was that it hadn't been assembled correctly, so would require a complete strip down, machining and re-assembly. It was deemed that for the power figures I'm after, once re-assembled the head will be more than capable.

So, that brings me to here. I'm still waiting to get it back, but when I do it will have a freshly assembled head, reconditioned gearbox, diff and power steering system.

UPDATE: I picked the car up today, finally (Feb 15). The head has been pressure tested, wet blasted and rebuilt, with the valves and seats getting buffed and faced, new valve guides and seals. Also, the gearbox recieved new bearings and seals, new 3rd and 2nd gear syncro rings and a new 2nd gear syncro hub. The power steering rack and pump were both reconditioned, new CV boots were applied and the seals in the distributor replaced. Also, a wheel alignment was performed.

Gear changes are beautiful now, and the steering feel is vastly improved with the new rack and wheel alignment, before the steering felt like it was off to one side, easy to turn one way, harder the other way - no such problem now.