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Ive been a long time lurker, and figured I should join up and post this build. Some of you might appreciate it. Ive been buying, and building dozens of different cars over the years. Sometime last year I bought a 1987 Mazda Rx-7 for a daily so I could keep the mileage off of my toys. Well I have since turbo swapped it and dropped it, and its getting 12 mpg... I decided it was time to add it to my toy stable, and get a new daily!
I used to have an AE86, and have had a bunch of AW11's. So I have a ton of 4A-GE's and parts. I looked hard for a reasonably priced AE86, and came up empty handed. I expanded my search to any old school RWD fuel efficient car. I happened across an ad for a TE72 Corolla wagon, that was 1000% stock. It immediately struck me as an option, with alot of potential. This led me to looking up modified wagons, and I came across the original project Rotbox... I already had the right wheels from an RA40 project, so I was hooked! In case you are wondering, this is the third rotbox related build thread, hence rotbox III.
The car was pretty beat looking, and had no brakes. I drove two hours and towed it home for $700! The A/C worked, the exhaust was new, and it had brand new tires! The starter and alternator were also obviously recently replaced.
The master cylinder was suspect, but when I pulled all the wheels off to bleed the brakes, both front bleeder valves were sheered off. Went ahead and replaced the front calipers, and the master cylinder and went for its maiden voyage. Then the water pump failed catastrophically... Replaced that and she has been doing great since!
Did a thorough, full tuneup. And yes, it is a 5 speed!
I love starting with a completely stock car. Its rare to find older cars totally untouched, and it makes it more rewarding when you are finished when you can see where the car started!
Since the original Rotbox was my inspiration, I strongly considered a 3 or 4 inch drop. However I decided to start small, and work my way to a proper drop. So its 2 inches until I get some AE86 coilovers for the fronts. I also had hand polished a set of Celica-Supra wheels for an RA40 I used to have, I tracked down a nice set of 185/60-14's and mounted them... You will have to trust me, the drop looks so much lower in person...
Then it was time to buff, and kill off the rust stains on the paint. I thought about leaving it rusty, but it would look so fresh and clean if it were rust free! These pics do the drop more justice!
For future mods,
AE86 coilovers, drop another inch... Maybe two....
Dual Mikuni Sidedrafts when the stock carb takes a dump. (It drives too nice to screw with it!!)
Header, and full exhaust..
Celica-Supra rear disc/LSD swap.
And thats about it, I like taking pics, so expect more of those. But mods will be slow on this as its my daily, and it drives perfect right now. Its been along time since I have had a quiet car too, so the exhaust is nice for now.
For the hell of it my other two current toys,
A turbo FC and a BUILT 12a powered FB
I used to have an AE86, and have had a bunch of AW11's. So I have a ton of 4A-GE's and parts. I looked hard for a reasonably priced AE86, and came up empty handed. I expanded my search to any old school RWD fuel efficient car. I happened across an ad for a TE72 Corolla wagon, that was 1000% stock. It immediately struck me as an option, with alot of potential. This led me to looking up modified wagons, and I came across the original project Rotbox... I already had the right wheels from an RA40 project, so I was hooked! In case you are wondering, this is the third rotbox related build thread, hence rotbox III.
The car was pretty beat looking, and had no brakes. I drove two hours and towed it home for $700! The A/C worked, the exhaust was new, and it had brand new tires! The starter and alternator were also obviously recently replaced.
The master cylinder was suspect, but when I pulled all the wheels off to bleed the brakes, both front bleeder valves were sheered off. Went ahead and replaced the front calipers, and the master cylinder and went for its maiden voyage. Then the water pump failed catastrophically... Replaced that and she has been doing great since!
Did a thorough, full tuneup. And yes, it is a 5 speed!
I love starting with a completely stock car. Its rare to find older cars totally untouched, and it makes it more rewarding when you are finished when you can see where the car started!
Since the original Rotbox was my inspiration, I strongly considered a 3 or 4 inch drop. However I decided to start small, and work my way to a proper drop. So its 2 inches until I get some AE86 coilovers for the fronts. I also had hand polished a set of Celica-Supra wheels for an RA40 I used to have, I tracked down a nice set of 185/60-14's and mounted them... You will have to trust me, the drop looks so much lower in person...
Then it was time to buff, and kill off the rust stains on the paint. I thought about leaving it rusty, but it would look so fresh and clean if it were rust free! These pics do the drop more justice!
For future mods,
AE86 coilovers, drop another inch... Maybe two....
Dual Mikuni Sidedrafts when the stock carb takes a dump. (It drives too nice to screw with it!!)
Header, and full exhaust..
Celica-Supra rear disc/LSD swap.
And thats about it, I like taking pics, so expect more of those. But mods will be slow on this as its my daily, and it drives perfect right now. Its been along time since I have had a quiet car too, so the exhaust is nice for now.
For the hell of it my other two current toys,
A turbo FC and a BUILT 12a powered FB
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