My car that looks fast but isn't...

[Xtra Big Kahuna]

Time for an update.

Finally got it painted and got some JDM side markers. I still need spacers and a good roll but that should be one of my next mods.

I am hoping to be able to go out and have a proper shoot but as you can see in the pictures the Washington weather isn't the best right now.







Next up on my list is a Nardi wheel, white or bronze rims, a lot of suede, new lug nuts, and some new headlights.

[Xtra Big Kahuna]

Looks great!

Thanks.

On your grainy pics, use a longer shutter speed and a lower ISO setting. I'm not an expert by far, but thats what I'd try first.

Painting powder coat isn't that hard. You don't need to remove all the powder coating, just scuff it up. I would deffenetly paint them something lighter. Every time you post pics I can not see the wheels as they just blend into the shadows of the wells.

Okay I will try that. I was going to try and polish them and that's why I was wondering about removing the powder coating. I will probably just take them somewhere to get powder coated again. Hopefully I can find someone around who can do it.

[NorCalFocus]

On your grainy pics, use a longer shutter speed and a lower ISO setting. I'm not an expert by far, but thats what I'd try first.

Painting powder coat isn't that hard. You don't need to remove all the powder coating, just scuff it up. I would deffenetly paint them something lighter. Every time you post pics I can not see the wheels as they just blend into the shadows of the wells.

[Nick475]

Looks great!

[Xtra Big Kahuna]

I went out today and got some quick pictures since I just got my alignment and my lip fixed and put back on. Recently put her down closer to the ground too.

Here they are. None of them are edited and I am having a hell of a time trying to figure out my photos are so grainy.













And here is a picture to show about how low I am



And here is me and my buddy (Codidly) at Taco Bell last night.



I should be picking up some adjustable camber arms this weekend and then maybe some spacers after that so I can get the rear tires flush and then add camber to the front.

Also, I was contemplating refinishing my wheels but I have no clue what to do with them. I was thinking about polishing them or maybe doing some sort of hyper black but I cant decide. Plus I don't know how to strip the wheels since they are powder coated.

[Xtra Big Kahuna]

Heres a really exciting update for you guys.

Began the repairs on my lip.



I will give you a minute to find your socks and put them back on before I post up another update.

[Xtra Big Kahuna]

I like the celica, it sucks its like the bastard child left over from the body kit days. These cars actually look good stanced and I'm surprised more people aren't working with them. I only read one "bad" statement throughout this thread:



This is a bad way to draw inspiration for the direction of a build. If I said stancing is stupid and only retard kids do it (example, calm down guys), I hope you wouldn't go outside and lift the celica to 4x4 status.

Either way, nice car man. I like where its headed, keep it up and you'll have one of the few stanced celicas out there.

Well, I just never had any exposure to the stance scene until I started reading blogs. It was something that I didn't even know existed. But once I found out about it I became very interested and decided that was the direction I wanted to take my car. Before I was kind of lost trying to pick a direction.

Thanks though.

It's coming along nicely. Can't wait til you get stuff painted and good pics.

Same here. I hope to go into Seattle and get some rolling shots and some shots near the Space Needle and EMP when its painted.

[coconutt]

It's coming along nicely. Can't wait til you get stuff painted and good pics.

[dbales]

I like the celica, it sucks its like the bastard child left over from the body kit days. These cars actually look good stanced and I'm surprised more people aren't working with them. I only read one "bad" statement throughout this thread:

When I first bought the car though I was young and I thought the body kit was so cool. But then I started reading S|W and Canibeat and then I realized this body kit was stupid.

This is a bad way to draw inspiration for the direction of a build. If I said stancing is stupid and only retard kids do it (example, calm down guys), I hope you wouldn't go outside and lift the celica to 4x4 status.

Either way, nice car man. I like where its headed, keep it up and you'll have one of the few stanced celicas out there.

[Xtra Big Kahuna]

Hey I just met you
and i know this is crazy
but convert to rwd
and swap in a 2jz maybe?

I would love to do that. But that is insanely expensive. I would do a mid engine 2JZ swap. Somebody started a 2JZ swap into a celica and is just about done, last I heard was he was having troubles with it running rich. He is the only person to try it.

But hey, I will start the project right now, just send me like $30,000 and i will get to it.

[Nick475]

Lol...

[zr71]

Hey I just met you
and i know this is crazy
but convert to rwd
and swap in a 2jz maybe?

[Xtra Big Kahuna]

Ya. I know what you mean. If I hadn't gotten this car but still ended up in the stance scene I would have never considered buying it.

When I first bought the car though I was young and I thought the body kit was so cool. But then I started reading S|W and Canibeat and then I realized this body kit was stupid. Too bad at that time I still had no job so nothing impressive really happened for awhile. But now I know where I want this car to end up and that 'clean' is the good look. So I am hopeful for my end result.

[HooWybrow]

At first I had no hope, but now I definitely see potential. I know all about what it's like to have an "underdog" car.

Looking forward to where this goes.

[Xtra Big Kahuna]

Alright. Time for some updates. I have good news and bad news.

Good News: I got my Extreme Drop kit and installed that. Haven't really gotten to drive enough to break the springs in but so far they car my car lower which is good. I have a quote to get the nose of my car painted and the hatch filled and painted so in a couple weeks that should be going in for paint. I have to wait a paycheck or two.

Bad News: I got a little too excited when I put in my extreme drop kit in and I lowered the front a little bit too much and put a hole in my CV boot so right now the car is in the process of getting a new CV axle. (Yay, new parts!) Also, I took off my front lip to make some repairs but I have been too lazy to actually start the repairs. At least the car is just sitting in my driveway on jack stands so nobody will see this shame filled stage.

Here is how she is sitting right now.



Also, I did a really rough photoshop of the rims I plan on getting. I will definitely be getting these this winter unless I find something that tickles my fancy a little bit more. Of course by the time I get these the front bumper will be painted and I think I will get rid of the TRD fuel door when I put these on.



Edit: I forgot to mention, this photochop used a picture I took after the extreme drop kit. As you can see it leveled the car off rather nicely. My next step will be something more than natural camber partnered with spacers so I can get some more low.