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95 Celica ST "Lilith" from 6GC (Long update)
Member name: PrimeLuxeZ
Market: USDM
Year: 1995
Model: ST
Frame & Type(optional): AT200
Engine: factory 7A-FE
transmission: Not sure
Significant other mods:
CAI
Important NOTES:
This thread I have going on in 6GC.net as well, but for the last three or so posts that I have updated, no on has responded at all, and so I thought I'd come and share with Stanceworks since it seems to get more traffic, Idk if anyone remembers the 280zx that I had as a project, you can see it on the first few photos in the background, sadly that car was sold, since I needed money badly and wasn't working, at the time. I did keep all the good parts off of it for future use if I ever get a 280zx again. I haven't been here for about over 2 years. So I hope everyone likes my build on my 95 Celica ST model. I did copy and paste it from the other forum so it is already kinda long, and is over a year reporting on it, I did some editing, and added more photos that I missed.
Also if anyone could do me a favor and go watch the video I posted on the last update of the thread, Im needing some diagnosis help on this car. Much appreciated.
PrimeLuxe
Hello everyone, my name is Marcos I'm 23 and I live in Dallas, Texas.
I have a Blue 1995 Toyota celica st coupe. with roughly 245,xxx miles on the odo.
Originally from Illinois I think also I'm the second owner too. Came with every service record since 1995. Has been well taken care of.
But with the high miles comes more maintenance. Only thing I've done is oil change basically a week after I bought it.
I haven't done much to the car so far. But pictures are more fun then words.
Here it the car with a cold air intake my first upgrade basically. Notice the paint fading on the hood roof and trunk. I plan on painting it all a matte or flat black, so it will be a black and blue scheme and so the car wont look so old.
The second thing I did to it was paint the black steelies, since it only had three hubcaps when I first got it, and I **** hubcaps with a passion so those came right off as I got home that day. First I was maybe thinking on painting them red since I have red pinstriping on the car and I found a can of paint that had a red hue to it.
And it was dark so I was like that will work so I lifted the car cleaned the wheels with some degreaser and a scrubbing pad and gave it a go.
Both wheels cleaned
And the car lifted up.
So what I did basically was take all the air out of the tire and I had some index cards laying around so I placed them between the tire and the rim to protect the tire from overspray, fairly easy for anyone who wants a different color on their wheels and doesnt want to waste money on unmounting the tires to paint them a different color.
Heres the paint that I thought was red. (Paint specially made for graffiti artist-Sabotage 80)
So I did a coat of it and it came out a dark pink color, so I was like WHOA that's bad and wouldn't look right on the Celica.
So I had a can of "fresh" white paint for backup just in case I didnt like the other.
Its a nice white, and fast drying
So I added about a couple of coats of that white on the two wheels that I had cleaned and it came out okay, I ended getting overspray because I did a bad job on the not covering the whole tire.
You can see the overspray here, it bothers me that you can see it but ohwell and I was too lazy to cover it with black so I just left it alone, I was just anxious to see how the looked on the celi, and I really liked it with the blue color.
What yall think?
So I only had enough to do two wheels that day so I was rolling around town with two white and two black steelies lol, tacky but no biggie.
So later that week I had some more time on my hands and said well Ill knock out the front wheels too.
So I lifted the front and got to cleaning them, I also inspected an oil leak I have, I cant seem to find the source but Im leaning towards the front main seal.
So I learned from last time and prepped the wheels better this time, and removed all the air I could to easily fit the index cards better to prevent overspray and this is what I got.
I put them long ways at first then the second row I just filled in the spaces, for anyone else who wants to try this.
Close up
So I only had enough for one more wheel, so I only have one black steelie and three white, lol and I have no money right now to buy more fresh paint, since I don't want to buy a diff. white and it be off.
But if you're on my left side you'll see them like this. And I also rotated my tires since they where wearing more on the front then the rear.
I have other Ideas for it, I have some fog lights of a Lexus es300 they are yellow projectors, and I have a wink mirror from my del sol I just need some time to install it.
So sadly yesterday my celi stopped on me on the freeway, well at least the engine, and the only person I can blame is myself, I failed to replace the front main seal, and the radiator when I had money. So I basically blew the headgasket on my 1.8 because I failed the replace that 6 dollar seal, and the radiator with the proper one. FML
Now I can either just replace the headgasket, or swap for a 5sfe. Not sure what I should do right now. The 5sfe swap could be nice because I can get the engine and tranny for about 250-350 depending on the mileage, not so bad is it?
So recently what happened, I thought the ignition coil was out so I ended just replacing the coil to the Dist. And it was after barely making it home, the car didn't turn on anymore. Which is lucky. Since I didn't see water in the oil, and I eventually got it fixed, and basically verified that the head gasket was blown.
Im guessing it was between cylinder 3 and 4 since the two pistons in those two cylinders where black, and number 1 and 2 where still clean.
The rings scraped up the cylinder walls, and number one piston has a slight ding on one of the edges, only noticeable if you look closely at it, but enough for it to not make compression. Im curious on what could have caused it.
Only photo I have of the initial tear down of the engine.
And I never got to painting the other wheel white.
But recently I was reading up on some different swaps and at first I wanted to go with the 4afe head and 7afe block, for good power on the low end and top end, then i figured out it wasn't much of a noticeable difference.
So I looked upon doing a 5sfe swap but the motor doesn't have much of a hp gain for the price of just rebuilding the 7afe.
So I threw that out the window.
Next I thought up how about turbo and thought of the 3sgte and read up on that swap and seemed it wasn't for me since you could have a v6 with almost the same power, and threw out that idea of the 3sgte because, well v-6 why not.
Just how awesome would a v-6 1mz 1995 toyota celica coupe, lowered on some nice wheels sound.
And I was already researching prices and I can find the engine around 200 to 350 dollars depending on mileage, which isn't bad i might say.
So what does everyone think?
I also want to note that I want it to be functional and all with working a/c since I do live in Texas, and Texas weather isn't a joke if you have no a/c, trust me I know.
Ill post photos of the 7afe and the damages later.
I can only imagine how it would feel driving the Celi with a v6.
Okay so for the past two months or so, after I was thinking about the v6 swap, it was a good dream while it lasted lol. Sense I needed the car asap since I was moving out and the Celica was my only transportation I had to kick it in high gear. So the easiest way for me to get it running I thought at that time was just rebuild the engine and use the same head. MISTAKE #1 So I bought a timing belt/ water pump kit and also a head gasket and head bolts set with all misc. seals and gaskets.
I dont have photos of them, I paid less then $90 bucks for them, they are mishimoto brand off of ebay. pretty good quality and matchup to the original.
So I cleaned the head with some parts cleaner machine at my brothers old shop, thinking it was enough. I also painted the valve cover white and intake manifold black wrinkle paint came out better then expected. I Reassembled it all up with radiator and all, and it had a valve tick noise for a bit, I went to wash it and the old crappy radiator blew out on me for the second time, but it was fine it was a cold day and the car wash was really close. So I drove it around and parked it outside my house, couple days after I installed some ngk iridium spark plugs and I think that completely threw it off, since the sparking power of the new plugs was too much for the head gasket and already warped head leaked water into the oil and rusted the whole valve train and bottom end. Thats my guess or it cold of been just the head was crap already. Mistake #2 I should of just replace the head with a rebuilt one.
So after that I gave up on that engine.
Still in the need of my Celica I searched on Cl for a 7afe engine. Being Geo, Corolla or Celica. So I found on that had a 7afe from a 94 corolla. So I went to check it out, and ended up buying it for $200 dollars including core charge and 30 day warranty. The reason it was so cheap is because they didn't properly test the engine and it was removed by accident. So that was my risk I was taking.
So I bought the engine with the help of my in laws they gave me the $200 as an early Christmas present.
So as I trusted the people thinking the engine was ready to be installed
I took my sweet ass time cleaning it and making sure I didn't forget anything and painted the engine and the oil pan flat black. I reinstalled everything except this time I didn't install the radiator, or accessories just water pump, dist, trans, with axles and slave cylinder and the starter with only the exhaust manifold/catalytic converter. Just enough to start it. And I hooked up the battery, fuel line, and as the excitement in me grew I got in and turned the ignition, at first it stumbled the first few tries then it fires right up. Barely, you can hear a piston knocking I'm assuming, at the lower rpms, and if you rev it higher it goes away, Im not sure what that could be. So in my head im just like exhausted by this car and a little bit sad from all the work i put into the engine to have it cleaned and all pretty if it doesnt even work, a wast of two days prep. How annoying. Thats where I gave up with that engine since it has warranty.
Removing the old engine with a bad head basically, and the used engine in the back getting prepped to be put in.
On the engine stand getting cleaned.
Engine bay, dirty, I should have taken the time to clean it, but I didnt have a power washer to do so.
Engine clean painted and ready to install. Which I thought was a good engine.
I took the time to paint the valve cover and clean the intake as good as I could.
So finally it comes up to the past two days. If you count today which is the 14 When its being posted.
Yesterday we went to by dads house to pick up the Celica. Which was the 13 of Jan.
Since now my dad really needs his Del sol back and I have been DD it until I get my car fixed.
MODS on the del sol nothing really, thicker ignition wires, and CAI I took off from my Celi in the meantime. Its a 1995 Honda Del Sol with the 1.6l Dohc Only good thing about these engines are the 7200 rpm redline. And 5 speed tranny to go along with it.
my girlfriends stepmoms brother is going to help me with the next engine swap. Since I need the car ASAP
Us on the way there with the uhaul trailer to pick it up.
We where driving a 2014 Ford f-150 sxt 6 cylinder
Can pull 7500 lbs. easily according to him and even more. Pretty good for a v6 extended cab.
Also, we had to use the floor jack to angle and move the car around since I forgot the keys.
:
Here it is on the trailer, went on easier then we expected. Good thing its a Five speed. The drive would of killed us just for the keys.
When we arrived in Venus, Texas. Very small town. Its my girlfriends step moms dads house/garage.
And today. the 14 of Jan.
We basically removed the motor/transmission and driver axle in about 2 hours give or take.
When I got there he had most of the wire harness removed.
No intake or exhaust manifolds wire harness and starter removed.
In the garage. Pretty good amount of room to work in.
Here I am being a proud Celica owner. LOL
Also If you're wondering I don't remember If I mentioned that I am Hispanic, my baby mamma/GF is white.
So thats why the difference in colors. Yay for interraccial. :thumbsup:
Pass axle, the outer joint boot ripped and both axles click when turning will be replace asap.
Draining the oil for the third time.
I actually really like this photo for some reason.
Pulling it out.
Chillen like a villain.
The tranny that I had painted fat black previously.
Empty with no heart.
Loaded up and ready to go to swap out for another.
another shot of the celi in the garage.
Heres the place where I bought the engine from, that had warranty.
They had it on the top shelf. And also this engine had egr, the original one that I had bought didn't, so score for me.
Back on the truck.
That mexican is the one who sold it to me.
Dusty but its a good engine I also had to pay an extra $75 dollars for this engine because this one they know works for sure, it went through all there tests.
So tomorrow which will be the 15, I will hopefully have her done and running, all I need to buy is the oil filter and some new oil.
Ill also have more photos and updates tomorrow night.
Thanks Ill also post more photos of the other engine and me painting the valve cover and intake if I can find the photos.
PrimeLuxeZ
Update
01/15/15
I didnt work on the car today for some unknown reason, but Good news
My mother in law bought me a new battery from Wal*Mart, some oil and the oil filter. They want me to use my car already, since I moved in to there house. They got money up the ass, its nothing for them.
So im thankful for everything they have done for me so far.
But anyways I have a cool story from earlier today.
I work at autozone im not sure if i have mentioned that or not. (bad memory) :thumbsdown:
But around 1 o clock I decide to go to my car and get a couple of things and as I open the door and turn around it to go left. I look up and see four headlight beaming at me and this blue that seems too familiar and even with the faded hood trunk and rooftop.
I saw my cars twin. Not as nice though at least. It had a dent in the back no spoiler, which in my opinion looks sexy, it had the same color interior beige and black. But this coupe was an auto.
No fun. It had a high stance with like 16 inch wheels or so.
Oh yeah I took photos of it too.
Also we have these foglights at the auto zone I work at, they are amber according to the box they seem like the would fit. What yall think.
I will have more news tomorrow when I go work on the celi, putting new water pump that i previously had bought and the timing belt.
So Itll be ready for my mother inlaws brother to drop it in for me and be able to hook it up himself hopefully.
Thanks.
PrimeLuxeZ
Very good news, and I mean very good.
So when we got that engine back in I worked on it the 16th, I put the new water pump, and out of all the three engines I kept the best looking timing belt covers. And put silicone around the edges on them to keep the timing belt as dry as possible.
Fram oil filter, with pennzoil 10-w30 something cheap right now to clean out the motor then ill change it again in about 2000 miles or so, with something better.
Some photos of the timing.
At an angle a bit.
On the cam:
On the crank:
I also removed the old intake and Exhaust manifold to put the old one on there.
The intake had the small vacuum ports on the bottom all bent up, and the exhaust manifold didn't have the catalytic converter attached.
My valve cover that I took so long to paint just to mess it up on engines that kept failing. I should have kept a spare.
The spark plugs that it had where Denso resistor
this>>>>
#quicksearch
Photo of the ground straps and electrodes, really worn out, rusted, and rounded off.
So I put in my Bosch Platinum from my original engine, Just to start the car and not have to strong of a spark if anything goes wrong.
Distributor on and spark plug wires also. Because I knew they wouldn't be able to set the ignition timing on the car.
(they as in my girls stepmom dad and brother, and girls dad.)
And if they did, I still wouldn't trust them.
The flywheel, seems like it has some hot spots, but I have no choice but to reuse it. So that goes back on, and now that I think of it does anyone sell lighter flywheels for the 7afe, I gotta do some searching.
The flywheel, had a lot of life left in it, and I had no choice but to reuse as well.
The pressure plate with some hot spots also, which really sucks that I couldn't replace now.
I guess its not to bad since all three are mated together already.
Torqued the clutch on slammed the tranny in, with the driver axle. (will be replacing asap)
And had it ready for my father in law and his wifes brother to put back in the car.
Also if you read from a couple days back when I had to tow the car,and the car fell off the jack, and dented the spare tire capsule thing.
It doesn't look like much but now the spare tire bulges out into the trunk area and isnt level anymore.
I came back to work on it and finish it up, because they had no idea where half the other **** went since it was all over the car. Only I knew.
I put on the vacuum, and water lines under the throttle body. I put all accessories on, I actually changed the power steering pump bracket because
the one it had was thicker in diameter. Corolla ACC I guess.
Also I found out that wire three and wire two where switched on the distributor but right on the engine.
My hyphotesis, I switched the wires when I was working on the original engine head overhaul. And I put them back in the wrong spot, hence making the engine I bought sound like it was knocking??
So maybe the other 7afe engine was good, but I don't care because this one is cleaner and has less mileage on it.
A bit of water. That radiator doesn't go to this car, its of a corolla that I bought thinking it was gonna fit since the corolla had the 7afe and I was just eyeballing it lol.
So new radiator was ordered on the 17th and will be here on Monday the 19th
And a ****ty video of the car trying to start. If you have bad internet. You hear the guy saying go ahead he was messing with ignition timing to find the right sport to turn on at.
The car had a bit of gas but wasn't reaching the fuel pump since it was on jackstands and leaning back, so we had half a gallon of gas laying around, and added that.
ON my list of what to do asap.
buy both cv axles
buy two or maybe four new tires or maybe wheels with used tires??
Get the car inspected
Get the car insured
Start paying dealer for the car. I still owe $700 I stopped paying him once the car broke down. :thumbsup:
IN the near future:
Buy some lowering springs. I may go with some tein lowering spring. Almost two inch drop. eh
Buy new struts or coilovers but so expensive.
Get black carpet, and black seats. There was a white celi 95 too with black interior a couple weeks ago, I am gonna go again hopefully they still have them.
Better H.U.
SOME BASS
Fix my darn sunroof
Tent windows
Exhaust Headers
Bozo pipe
Maybe buy extra trunk that is spoilerless.
Well Im happy its running will have more updates on my celi that I decided to name lilith. For your laziness.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=lilith+meaning
Ill keep yall updated.
PrimeLuxeZ
So I uploaded the videos of the start up on Youtube, to post them better on here.
Since they didn't seem to work in my earlier post.
Here we are staring it up, but too low on gas.
Here shes started up. Sounding really healthy.
And the cv axles have been ordered with some really cheap good quality wiper blades.
only paid. $86 dollars. Also the cv axles are remans, only 30 day warranty, but good enough for that price. Plus a discount from a promo code.
02/03/15[/center]
So on the first of this month I moved out of my in laws house (kicked out) because they found ash in the restroom toilet, and they thought we where smoking cigarettes in the house. Which is slightly true just not cigarettes.
Anyways I went and put the radiator on the car it is a TYC brand, that they bought for me priced at $80 bucks.
And as I was leaving the small city of Venus a cop decides to pull a u turn just to pull me over.
*slap in the face
It was a female cop and pulled me over because my front lic. plate was missing.
And the funny thing my friend following me didn't have one neither.
So the car ended up getting impounded and I received a citation for no Lic. no inpection and no insurance.
I was just simply trying to get her home. What a bummer.
I had to pay $270.00 today, good thing was I didn't need insurance to take it out because the place holding it didn't require any.
So I drove her home with my brother following closely which was a 40 min. drive almost.
And she is now safely home where she belongs.
I'm really thinking of buying some of these off of eBay, with some cheapo wheals too.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-Damper-Co...248&vxp=mtr
Also where can I get all pro-thane bushings for my car, like a kit if they sell them for the Celica, I'm guessing they are the same for the st and gt maybe?
I almost forgot I got my axles and wiper blades in the mail a couple days back.
Good quality, with the blades that where Napa brand. I just couldn't beat those prices. I want to buy all other suspension bits before I put the axles on and get some new tires and get it aligned to get it riding proper.
That's it for today will have more in the near future.
Prime Luxe
Okay so I will be buying the thermostat might as well replace it since almost everything on the cooling system is new.
Will be searching for the cheapest one, online or at parts store.
So yesterday the 7th I went to the junk yard to see if I could find the high beam headlights and the middle aluminum bash bar. (IDK proper name)
With the girlfriend of course, Nice adventure for her lol.
I went to a pick n pull with the most 6gc in stock. All I managed to find was a good bash bar, and one fog light the other one it had was damaged, and a good set of spark plug wires, but I have yet to install those.
Here is the bash bar and fog light.
And I also found a nice Ai power muffler I believe, and it says HKS power, probably a fake, but it was a nice muffler,cut it off a 2003 Mazda 3 i believe. Was a direct fit for it It may could have been a axle back from where it bolted. I hope it doesn't sound like a rice bucket.
I was planning on installing blast pipes, or a small twin bozo pipe out the back. But now I have this.
And I actually had to go today because I didn't have a sawzall or anything to cut it let alone the tools to unbolt it.
So I used this, and with some elbow grease got it going.
It being cut.
And yesterday doesn't end there. I was at the park and im guessing the tire was low, and I hit a pot hole and blew out the front passenger tire. So I had to go today and get another.
Im really tired of the faded paint. '
PrimeLuxe
So much has happened, and I will do my best to piece it all together since the last update. With alot of photos of course.
2/6/15
Downtown Dallas in the back, with the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge aswell.
Random Shot.
2/10/15
Then the better set of spark plug wires. Compared to the old ones, number one cylinder wire was swollen from the engine oil spilling onto it.
Old
Newer
I also received my black TRD emblem from ebay. Which is awesome and will probably be put to the left of the license plate in the rear.
So since I had bought the muffler, I went to a muffler shop to get a quote and the guy was trying to charge me 70 dollars to install. Wasn't gonna happen, I may just weld it up my self, I recently acquired a 90 amp wire feed welder from harbor freight. Should be enough to get the job done.
2/11/14
This was an irritating day for me, I remember it so well.
So as I started the day, with the task in mind of, changing out my CV axles, I had no idea what was in store for me.
Up she went.
Trans gear oil being drained.
I reused it since it was all new when I just had installed the engine, not too long ago.
I do remember loosening everything was fairly easy, since it had mostly been all disassembled not too long ago either.
The seal had started to leak from the last removal and installation. Slow dripping.
Ripped boots, with an even worse axle.
So what ended up happening, RockAuto sent me the wrong axles, after all my hard work disassembling it and trying to fight the axles to go in.
They weren't going in, with closer inspection, they had sent me an axle for the 5sfe engine according to the box, and the splines where bigger then the original one on the Celica. And the other for the 7afe engine, buy that didn't fit either.
:thumbsdown:
All on the bottom of the passenger side. Caked up oil from the leaky front seal from the previous engine.
Oh and I figured why my Celica was getting louder.
2/18/15
Bought a three dollar lens from the thrift store, its a macro lens, but takes awesome photos.
95 Celi, with recently acquired 91 Celi
2/24/15
Then this came in the mail. In white.
2/25/15
Then I got another flat. Same side from the last.
3/22/15
So about a month went by until I finally installed my Failsafe thermostat.
Engine bay pic- White valve cover with a bit of winkle paint on bottom for texture. With the Full intake painted wrinkle black.
Removal of Distributor, I had removed it because the seal was bad, hardened and leaking oil onto the engine. The only auto part store that had it was NAPA and that was at the end of the day, and it was way cheaper then what Auto zone and Oriellys was selling it for.
Will be needing a new cap soon.
And then I found this.
Like really. You can see where someone broke the tabs on the sides, and use the top part for some restriction. Crazy how I didnt catch this before.:
Nothing has happened since then, but I just ordered a new set of Axles from ebay and I hope they are correct, never had issues with ebay.
Will be replacing both wheel bearings and seals as well, friends hooking it up, he has a 6gc as well with bearings that have warranty.
Do a little switcharoo, and I will be having everything I need hopefully by Wednesday.
I also will be buying three used/new tires. The two front ones are really bald, from so much vibration and movement caused by the bad bearings.
So that's everything up to date with my Celica.
PrimeLuxe
So since the last update I received the axles and got the front wheel bearings, and bearing seals, replaced them and another trans axle seal since I damaged it upon removal of the driver side axle since I was having trouble removing it.
The old tired, axles out for new ones to take its place.
The bearings had so much slack, a good 10 mm of movement or so.
Removing the HUB from the spindle.
You can see the inner races of the bearing, one on the socket and the other on the Hub.
And that weird contraption you see in the back with a bottle jack, was me trying to make some type of bearing removal tool and that ended up a fail.
Spindle with the outer race stuck in there.
I tried everything possible to get the old bearing races removed. This did nothing but waste my time for about an hour.
Then I just decided to cut them off, which was way easier, I got a bit into the inner hub, and I know that isnt good for it whatsoever, but when you are balling on a budget anything goes.
The car ran good for a few weeks, then one day accelerating onto the on ramp entering the freeway, I hear the Celica make a machine gun type noise, I could feel it on the clutch pedal the most so naturally I thought something went wrong with the axles, but the tranny was engaging and disengaging with no issue. I drove it for about another 2 miles, and as I down shifted, the sound immediately got louder. So I pulled over at a corner store checked it out, the sound gets louder and faster as the rpm's get higher. I got the car home, with all the noise it was making. And now Im stuck here, I havent checked the engine much, but the sound resonates throughout the engine bay and is hard to specifically pinpoint. I can feel more of the rattling feeling that matches up with the noise on the engine itself. What does everyone think it could be, from my research possibly a spun bearing or the rod knocking, or loose piston caps. Any suggestions help.
Also on the good side, I just bought a 96 Camry LE with the 5sfe auto trans, about 5 days ago. Picked it up for $1000 with working A/c and very good tires.
Pretty comfortable car, but so slow. Here are some photos of her since i'm now DD her while the Celica gets fixed.
Will take some better ones later, those where off the ad, from Craigslist.
2/20/16
So the car has been on the back burner for quite some time, I still have it, and I still have not done a single thing to it since it crapped out on me.
I have some videos now, well I have had for quite some time, just been to lazy to really put them up.
Also if y'all haven't read above, the car is making a machine gun like noise.
I have a shot from the outside of the vehicle, Its kinda hard to hear, since my phones microphone is crap from dropping it so much,
it has some static to it. But if you play close attention you can hear the sound when idling. Any help is appreciated, my Camry crapped out on me, that car Ill share the story later.
So I want to get this one back up and running asap, since I have no car right now.
I posted the link to the video below, I cant seem to attach it directly on here to view from here.
Also if you like, check out the 3000gt P.O.S. I'm fixing as well.
>>>>>>>>https://youtu.be/XkkuU7xxRY0
Market: USDM
Year: 1995
Model: ST
Frame & Type(optional): AT200
Engine: factory 7A-FE
transmission: Not sure
Significant other mods:
CAI
Important NOTES:
This thread I have going on in 6GC.net as well, but for the last three or so posts that I have updated, no on has responded at all, and so I thought I'd come and share with Stanceworks since it seems to get more traffic, Idk if anyone remembers the 280zx that I had as a project, you can see it on the first few photos in the background, sadly that car was sold, since I needed money badly and wasn't working, at the time. I did keep all the good parts off of it for future use if I ever get a 280zx again. I haven't been here for about over 2 years. So I hope everyone likes my build on my 95 Celica ST model. I did copy and paste it from the other forum so it is already kinda long, and is over a year reporting on it, I did some editing, and added more photos that I missed.
Also if anyone could do me a favor and go watch the video I posted on the last update of the thread, Im needing some diagnosis help on this car. Much appreciated.
PrimeLuxe
5/30/14
Hello everyone, my name is Marcos I'm 23 and I live in Dallas, Texas.
I have a Blue 1995 Toyota celica st coupe. with roughly 245,xxx miles on the odo.
Originally from Illinois I think also I'm the second owner too. Came with every service record since 1995. Has been well taken care of.
But with the high miles comes more maintenance. Only thing I've done is oil change basically a week after I bought it.
I haven't done much to the car so far. But pictures are more fun then words.
Here it the car with a cold air intake my first upgrade basically. Notice the paint fading on the hood roof and trunk. I plan on painting it all a matte or flat black, so it will be a black and blue scheme and so the car wont look so old.
The second thing I did to it was paint the black steelies, since it only had three hubcaps when I first got it, and I **** hubcaps with a passion so those came right off as I got home that day. First I was maybe thinking on painting them red since I have red pinstriping on the car and I found a can of paint that had a red hue to it.
And it was dark so I was like that will work so I lifted the car cleaned the wheels with some degreaser and a scrubbing pad and gave it a go.
Both wheels cleaned
And the car lifted up.
Heres the paint that I thought was red. (Paint specially made for graffiti artist-Sabotage 80)
So I did a coat of it and it came out a dark pink color, so I was like WHOA that's bad and wouldn't look right on the Celica.
So I had a can of "fresh" white paint for backup just in case I didnt like the other.
Its a nice white, and fast drying
So I added about a couple of coats of that white on the two wheels that I had cleaned and it came out okay, I ended getting overspray because I did a bad job on the not covering the whole tire.
You can see the overspray here, it bothers me that you can see it but ohwell and I was too lazy to cover it with black so I just left it alone, I was just anxious to see how the looked on the celi, and I really liked it with the blue color.
What yall think?
So I only had enough to do two wheels that day so I was rolling around town with two white and two black steelies lol, tacky but no biggie.
So later that week I had some more time on my hands and said well Ill knock out the front wheels too.
So I lifted the front and got to cleaning them, I also inspected an oil leak I have, I cant seem to find the source but Im leaning towards the front main seal.
So I learned from last time and prepped the wheels better this time, and removed all the air I could to easily fit the index cards better to prevent overspray and this is what I got.
I put them long ways at first then the second row I just filled in the spaces, for anyone else who wants to try this.
Close up
So I only had enough for one more wheel, so I only have one black steelie and three white, lol and I have no money right now to buy more fresh paint, since I don't want to buy a diff. white and it be off.
But if you're on my left side you'll see them like this. And I also rotated my tires since they where wearing more on the front then the rear.
I have other Ideas for it, I have some fog lights of a Lexus es300 they are yellow projectors, and I have a wink mirror from my del sol I just need some time to install it.
So sadly yesterday my celi stopped on me on the freeway, well at least the engine, and the only person I can blame is myself, I failed to replace the front main seal, and the radiator when I had money. So I basically blew the headgasket on my 1.8 because I failed the replace that 6 dollar seal, and the radiator with the proper one. FML
Now I can either just replace the headgasket, or swap for a 5sfe. Not sure what I should do right now. The 5sfe swap could be nice because I can get the engine and tranny for about 250-350 depending on the mileage, not so bad is it?
So recently what happened, I thought the ignition coil was out so I ended just replacing the coil to the Dist. And it was after barely making it home, the car didn't turn on anymore. Which is lucky. Since I didn't see water in the oil, and I eventually got it fixed, and basically verified that the head gasket was blown.
Im guessing it was between cylinder 3 and 4 since the two pistons in those two cylinders where black, and number 1 and 2 where still clean.
The rings scraped up the cylinder walls, and number one piston has a slight ding on one of the edges, only noticeable if you look closely at it, but enough for it to not make compression. Im curious on what could have caused it.
Only photo I have of the initial tear down of the engine.
And I never got to painting the other wheel white.
But recently I was reading up on some different swaps and at first I wanted to go with the 4afe head and 7afe block, for good power on the low end and top end, then i figured out it wasn't much of a noticeable difference.
So I looked upon doing a 5sfe swap but the motor doesn't have much of a hp gain for the price of just rebuilding the 7afe.
So I threw that out the window.
Next I thought up how about turbo and thought of the 3sgte and read up on that swap and seemed it wasn't for me since you could have a v6 with almost the same power, and threw out that idea of the 3sgte because, well v-6 why not.
Just how awesome would a v-6 1mz 1995 toyota celica coupe, lowered on some nice wheels sound.
And I was already researching prices and I can find the engine around 200 to 350 dollars depending on mileage, which isn't bad i might say.
So what does everyone think?
I also want to note that I want it to be functional and all with working a/c since I do live in Texas, and Texas weather isn't a joke if you have no a/c, trust me I know.
Ill post photos of the 7afe and the damages later.
I can only imagine how it would feel driving the Celi with a v6.
01/14/15
Okay so for the past two months or so, after I was thinking about the v6 swap, it was a good dream while it lasted lol. Sense I needed the car asap since I was moving out and the Celica was my only transportation I had to kick it in high gear. So the easiest way for me to get it running I thought at that time was just rebuild the engine and use the same head. MISTAKE #1 So I bought a timing belt/ water pump kit and also a head gasket and head bolts set with all misc. seals and gaskets.
I dont have photos of them, I paid less then $90 bucks for them, they are mishimoto brand off of ebay. pretty good quality and matchup to the original.
So I cleaned the head with some parts cleaner machine at my brothers old shop, thinking it was enough. I also painted the valve cover white and intake manifold black wrinkle paint came out better then expected. I Reassembled it all up with radiator and all, and it had a valve tick noise for a bit, I went to wash it and the old crappy radiator blew out on me for the second time, but it was fine it was a cold day and the car wash was really close. So I drove it around and parked it outside my house, couple days after I installed some ngk iridium spark plugs and I think that completely threw it off, since the sparking power of the new plugs was too much for the head gasket and already warped head leaked water into the oil and rusted the whole valve train and bottom end. Thats my guess or it cold of been just the head was crap already. Mistake #2 I should of just replace the head with a rebuilt one.
So after that I gave up on that engine.
Still in the need of my Celica I searched on Cl for a 7afe engine. Being Geo, Corolla or Celica. So I found on that had a 7afe from a 94 corolla. So I went to check it out, and ended up buying it for $200 dollars including core charge and 30 day warranty. The reason it was so cheap is because they didn't properly test the engine and it was removed by accident. So that was my risk I was taking.
So I bought the engine with the help of my in laws they gave me the $200 as an early Christmas present.
So as I trusted the people thinking the engine was ready to be installed
I took my sweet ass time cleaning it and making sure I didn't forget anything and painted the engine and the oil pan flat black. I reinstalled everything except this time I didn't install the radiator, or accessories just water pump, dist, trans, with axles and slave cylinder and the starter with only the exhaust manifold/catalytic converter. Just enough to start it. And I hooked up the battery, fuel line, and as the excitement in me grew I got in and turned the ignition, at first it stumbled the first few tries then it fires right up. Barely, you can hear a piston knocking I'm assuming, at the lower rpms, and if you rev it higher it goes away, Im not sure what that could be. So in my head im just like exhausted by this car and a little bit sad from all the work i put into the engine to have it cleaned and all pretty if it doesnt even work, a wast of two days prep. How annoying. Thats where I gave up with that engine since it has warranty.
Removing the old engine with a bad head basically, and the used engine in the back getting prepped to be put in.
On the engine stand getting cleaned.
Engine bay, dirty, I should have taken the time to clean it, but I didnt have a power washer to do so.
Engine clean painted and ready to install. Which I thought was a good engine.
I took the time to paint the valve cover and clean the intake as good as I could.
So finally it comes up to the past two days. If you count today which is the 14 When its being posted.
Yesterday we went to by dads house to pick up the Celica. Which was the 13 of Jan.
Since now my dad really needs his Del sol back and I have been DD it until I get my car fixed.
my girlfriends stepmoms brother is going to help me with the next engine swap. Since I need the car ASAP
Us on the way there with the uhaul trailer to pick it up.
We where driving a 2014 Ford f-150 sxt 6 cylinder
Can pull 7500 lbs. easily according to him and even more. Pretty good for a v6 extended cab.
Also, we had to use the floor jack to angle and move the car around since I forgot the keys.
: 
Here it is on the trailer, went on easier then we expected. Good thing its a Five speed. The drive would of killed us just for the keys.
When we arrived in Venus, Texas. Very small town. Its my girlfriends step moms dads house/garage.
And today. the 14 of Jan.
We basically removed the motor/transmission and driver axle in about 2 hours give or take.
When I got there he had most of the wire harness removed.
No intake or exhaust manifolds wire harness and starter removed.
In the garage. Pretty good amount of room to work in.
Here I am being a proud Celica owner. LOL
Also If you're wondering I don't remember If I mentioned that I am Hispanic, my baby mamma/GF is white.
So thats why the difference in colors. Yay for interraccial. :thumbsup:
Pass axle, the outer joint boot ripped and both axles click when turning will be replace asap.
Draining the oil for the third time.
I actually really like this photo for some reason.
Pulling it out.
Chillen like a villain.
Empty with no heart.
Loaded up and ready to go to swap out for another.
another shot of the celi in the garage.
Heres the place where I bought the engine from, that had warranty.
They had it on the top shelf. And also this engine had egr, the original one that I had bought didn't, so score for me.
That mexican is the one who sold it to me.
Dusty but its a good engine I also had to pay an extra $75 dollars for this engine because this one they know works for sure, it went through all there tests.
So tomorrow which will be the 15, I will hopefully have her done and running, all I need to buy is the oil filter and some new oil.
Ill also have more photos and updates tomorrow night.
Thanks Ill also post more photos of the other engine and me painting the valve cover and intake if I can find the photos.
PrimeLuxeZ
Update
01/15/15
I didnt work on the car today for some unknown reason, but Good news
My mother in law bought me a new battery from Wal*Mart, some oil and the oil filter. They want me to use my car already, since I moved in to there house. They got money up the ass, its nothing for them.
So im thankful for everything they have done for me so far.
But anyways I have a cool story from earlier today.
I work at autozone im not sure if i have mentioned that or not. (bad memory) :thumbsdown:
But around 1 o clock I decide to go to my car and get a couple of things and as I open the door and turn around it to go left. I look up and see four headlight beaming at me and this blue that seems too familiar and even with the faded hood trunk and rooftop.
I saw my cars twin. Not as nice though at least. It had a dent in the back no spoiler, which in my opinion looks sexy, it had the same color interior beige and black. But this coupe was an auto.
No fun. It had a high stance with like 16 inch wheels or so.
Oh yeah I took photos of it too.
I will have more news tomorrow when I go work on the celi, putting new water pump that i previously had bought and the timing belt.
So Itll be ready for my mother inlaws brother to drop it in for me and be able to hook it up himself hopefully.
Thanks.
PrimeLuxeZ
01/17/15
Very good news, and I mean very good.
So when we got that engine back in I worked on it the 16th, I put the new water pump, and out of all the three engines I kept the best looking timing belt covers. And put silicone around the edges on them to keep the timing belt as dry as possible.
Some photos of the timing.
At an angle a bit.
On the cam:
On the crank:
I also removed the old intake and Exhaust manifold to put the old one on there.
The intake had the small vacuum ports on the bottom all bent up, and the exhaust manifold didn't have the catalytic converter attached.
My valve cover that I took so long to paint just to mess it up on engines that kept failing. I should have kept a spare.
The spark plugs that it had where Denso resistor
this>>>>
#quicksearch
Photo of the ground straps and electrodes, really worn out, rusted, and rounded off.
So I put in my Bosch Platinum from my original engine, Just to start the car and not have to strong of a spark if anything goes wrong.
Distributor on and spark plug wires also. Because I knew they wouldn't be able to set the ignition timing on the car.
(they as in my girls stepmom dad and brother, and girls dad.)
And if they did, I still wouldn't trust them.
The flywheel, seems like it has some hot spots, but I have no choice but to reuse it. So that goes back on, and now that I think of it does anyone sell lighter flywheels for the 7afe, I gotta do some searching.
The flywheel, had a lot of life left in it, and I had no choice but to reuse as well.
The pressure plate with some hot spots also, which really sucks that I couldn't replace now.
I guess its not to bad since all three are mated together already.
Torqued the clutch on slammed the tranny in, with the driver axle. (will be replacing asap)
And had it ready for my father in law and his wifes brother to put back in the car.
Also if you read from a couple days back when I had to tow the car,and the car fell off the jack, and dented the spare tire capsule thing.
It doesn't look like much but now the spare tire bulges out into the trunk area and isnt level anymore.
01/18/15
I came back to work on it and finish it up, because they had no idea where half the other **** went since it was all over the car. Only I knew.
I put on the vacuum, and water lines under the throttle body. I put all accessories on, I actually changed the power steering pump bracket because
the one it had was thicker in diameter. Corolla ACC I guess.
Also I found out that wire three and wire two where switched on the distributor but right on the engine.
My hyphotesis, I switched the wires when I was working on the original engine head overhaul. And I put them back in the wrong spot, hence making the engine I bought sound like it was knocking??
So maybe the other 7afe engine was good, but I don't care because this one is cleaner and has less mileage on it.
A bit of water. That radiator doesn't go to this car, its of a corolla that I bought thinking it was gonna fit since the corolla had the 7afe and I was just eyeballing it lol.
So new radiator was ordered on the 17th and will be here on Monday the 19th
And a ****ty video of the car trying to start. If you have bad internet. You hear the guy saying go ahead he was messing with ignition timing to find the right sport to turn on at.
The car had a bit of gas but wasn't reaching the fuel pump since it was on jackstands and leaning back, so we had half a gallon of gas laying around, and added that.
IT RUNA=s!!!!!!!!
ON my list of what to do asap.
buy both cv axles
buy two or maybe four new tires or maybe wheels with used tires??
Get the car inspected
Get the car insured
Start paying dealer for the car. I still owe $700 I stopped paying him once the car broke down. :thumbsup:
IN the near future:
Buy some lowering springs. I may go with some tein lowering spring. Almost two inch drop. eh
Buy new struts or coilovers but so expensive.
Get black carpet, and black seats. There was a white celi 95 too with black interior a couple weeks ago, I am gonna go again hopefully they still have them.
Better H.U.
SOME BASS
Fix my darn sunroof
Tent windows
Exhaust Headers
Bozo pipe
Maybe buy extra trunk that is spoilerless.
Well Im happy its running will have more updates on my celi that I decided to name lilith. For your laziness.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=lilith+meaning
Ill keep yall updated.
PrimeLuxeZ
1\24\15
So I uploaded the videos of the start up on Youtube, to post them better on here.
Since they didn't seem to work in my earlier post.
Here we are staring it up, but too low on gas.
Here shes started up. Sounding really healthy.
And the cv axles have been ordered with some really cheap good quality wiper blades.
only paid. $86 dollars. Also the cv axles are remans, only 30 day warranty, but good enough for that price. Plus a discount from a promo code.
02/03/15[/center]
So on the first of this month I moved out of my in laws house (kicked out) because they found ash in the restroom toilet, and they thought we where smoking cigarettes in the house. Which is slightly true just not cigarettes.
Anyways I went and put the radiator on the car it is a TYC brand, that they bought for me priced at $80 bucks.
And as I was leaving the small city of Venus a cop decides to pull a u turn just to pull me over.
*slap in the face
It was a female cop and pulled me over because my front lic. plate was missing.
And the funny thing my friend following me didn't have one neither.
So the car ended up getting impounded and I received a citation for no Lic. no inpection and no insurance.
I was just simply trying to get her home. What a bummer.
I had to pay $270.00 today, good thing was I didn't need insurance to take it out because the place holding it didn't require any.
So I drove her home with my brother following closely which was a 40 min. drive almost.
And she is now safely home where she belongs.
I'm really thinking of buying some of these off of eBay, with some cheapo wheals too.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-Damper-Co...248&vxp=mtr
Also where can I get all pro-thane bushings for my car, like a kit if they sell them for the Celica, I'm guessing they are the same for the st and gt maybe?
I almost forgot I got my axles and wiper blades in the mail a couple days back.
Good quality, with the blades that where Napa brand. I just couldn't beat those prices. I want to buy all other suspension bits before I put the axles on and get some new tires and get it aligned to get it riding proper.
That's it for today will have more in the near future.
Prime Luxe
02/8/15
Okay so I will be buying the thermostat might as well replace it since almost everything on the cooling system is new.
Will be searching for the cheapest one, online or at parts store.
So yesterday the 7th I went to the junk yard to see if I could find the high beam headlights and the middle aluminum bash bar. (IDK proper name)
With the girlfriend of course, Nice adventure for her lol.
I went to a pick n pull with the most 6gc in stock. All I managed to find was a good bash bar, and one fog light the other one it had was damaged, and a good set of spark plug wires, but I have yet to install those.
Here is the bash bar and fog light.
And I also found a nice Ai power muffler I believe, and it says HKS power, probably a fake, but it was a nice muffler,cut it off a 2003 Mazda 3 i believe. Was a direct fit for it It may could have been a axle back from where it bolted. I hope it doesn't sound like a rice bucket.
I was planning on installing blast pipes, or a small twin bozo pipe out the back. But now I have this.
And I actually had to go today because I didn't have a sawzall or anything to cut it let alone the tools to unbolt it.
So I used this, and with some elbow grease got it going.
It being cut.
And yesterday doesn't end there. I was at the park and im guessing the tire was low, and I hit a pot hole and blew out the front passenger tire. So I had to go today and get another.
Im really tired of the faded paint. '
PrimeLuxe
04/20/2015
So much has happened, and I will do my best to piece it all together since the last update. With alot of photos of course.
2/6/15
Downtown Dallas in the back, with the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge aswell.
Random Shot.
2/10/15
Then the better set of spark plug wires. Compared to the old ones, number one cylinder wire was swollen from the engine oil spilling onto it.
Old
Newer
I also received my black TRD emblem from ebay. Which is awesome and will probably be put to the left of the license plate in the rear.
So since I had bought the muffler, I went to a muffler shop to get a quote and the guy was trying to charge me 70 dollars to install. Wasn't gonna happen, I may just weld it up my self, I recently acquired a 90 amp wire feed welder from harbor freight. Should be enough to get the job done.
2/11/14
This was an irritating day for me, I remember it so well.
So as I started the day, with the task in mind of, changing out my CV axles, I had no idea what was in store for me.
Up she went.
Trans gear oil being drained.
I reused it since it was all new when I just had installed the engine, not too long ago.
I do remember loosening everything was fairly easy, since it had mostly been all disassembled not too long ago either.
The seal had started to leak from the last removal and installation. Slow dripping.
Ripped boots, with an even worse axle.
So what ended up happening, RockAuto sent me the wrong axles, after all my hard work disassembling it and trying to fight the axles to go in.
They weren't going in, with closer inspection, they had sent me an axle for the 5sfe engine according to the box, and the splines where bigger then the original one on the Celica. And the other for the 7afe engine, buy that didn't fit either.
:thumbsdown:
All on the bottom of the passenger side. Caked up oil from the leaky front seal from the previous engine.
Oh and I figured why my Celica was getting louder.
2/18/15
Bought a three dollar lens from the thrift store, its a macro lens, but takes awesome photos.
95 Celi, with recently acquired 91 Celi
2/24/15
Then this came in the mail. In white.
2/25/15
Then I got another flat. Same side from the last.
3/22/15
So about a month went by until I finally installed my Failsafe thermostat.
Engine bay pic- White valve cover with a bit of winkle paint on bottom for texture. With the Full intake painted wrinkle black.
Removal of Distributor, I had removed it because the seal was bad, hardened and leaking oil onto the engine. The only auto part store that had it was NAPA and that was at the end of the day, and it was way cheaper then what Auto zone and Oriellys was selling it for.
Will be needing a new cap soon.
And then I found this.
Like really. You can see where someone broke the tabs on the sides, and use the top part for some restriction. Crazy how I didnt catch this before.
: 
04/20/15
Nothing has happened since then, but I just ordered a new set of Axles from ebay and I hope they are correct, never had issues with ebay.
Will be replacing both wheel bearings and seals as well, friends hooking it up, he has a 6gc as well with bearings that have warranty.
Do a little switcharoo, and I will be having everything I need hopefully by Wednesday.
I also will be buying three used/new tires. The two front ones are really bald, from so much vibration and movement caused by the bad bearings.
So that's everything up to date with my Celica.
PrimeLuxe
07/27/15
So since the last update I received the axles and got the front wheel bearings, and bearing seals, replaced them and another trans axle seal since I damaged it upon removal of the driver side axle since I was having trouble removing it.
The old tired, axles out for new ones to take its place.
The bearings had so much slack, a good 10 mm of movement or so.
Removing the HUB from the spindle.
You can see the inner races of the bearing, one on the socket and the other on the Hub.
And that weird contraption you see in the back with a bottle jack, was me trying to make some type of bearing removal tool and that ended up a fail.
Spindle with the outer race stuck in there.
I tried everything possible to get the old bearing races removed. This did nothing but waste my time for about an hour.
Then I just decided to cut them off, which was way easier, I got a bit into the inner hub, and I know that isnt good for it whatsoever, but when you are balling on a budget anything goes.
The car ran good for a few weeks, then one day accelerating onto the on ramp entering the freeway, I hear the Celica make a machine gun type noise, I could feel it on the clutch pedal the most so naturally I thought something went wrong with the axles, but the tranny was engaging and disengaging with no issue. I drove it for about another 2 miles, and as I down shifted, the sound immediately got louder. So I pulled over at a corner store checked it out, the sound gets louder and faster as the rpm's get higher. I got the car home, with all the noise it was making. And now Im stuck here, I havent checked the engine much, but the sound resonates throughout the engine bay and is hard to specifically pinpoint. I can feel more of the rattling feeling that matches up with the noise on the engine itself. What does everyone think it could be, from my research possibly a spun bearing or the rod knocking, or loose piston caps. Any suggestions help.
Also on the good side, I just bought a 96 Camry LE with the 5sfe auto trans, about 5 days ago. Picked it up for $1000 with working A/c and very good tires.
Pretty comfortable car, but so slow. Here are some photos of her since i'm now DD her while the Celica gets fixed.
Will take some better ones later, those where off the ad, from Craigslist.
2/20/16
So the car has been on the back burner for quite some time, I still have it, and I still have not done a single thing to it since it crapped out on me.
I have some videos now, well I have had for quite some time, just been to lazy to really put them up.
Also if y'all haven't read above, the car is making a machine gun like noise.
I have a shot from the outside of the vehicle, Its kinda hard to hear, since my phones microphone is crap from dropping it so much,
it has some static to it. But if you play close attention you can hear the sound when idling. Any help is appreciated, my Camry crapped out on me, that car Ill share the story later.
So I want to get this one back up and running asap, since I have no car right now.
I posted the link to the video below, I cant seem to attach it directly on here to view from here.
Also if you like, check out the 3000gt P.O.S. I'm fixing as well.
>>>>>>>>https://youtu.be/XkkuU7xxRY0
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