1981 Corolla 4 door build

DEATHTRAP wrote:

Crikey!! Strong numbers . . .

Yep you pretty close. 364ci. to be exact. This is pretty much a stock motor. There's no trickery. Camshaft and valve springs are the only aftermarket parts inside the motor. There is something about this little car that makes me smile.

I may have missed it . . . But what valve springs are you running?

They are PRC 650 lift springs that I got from Texas Speed.

After a long need vacation, it has come and gone too quickly. Much like all vacations I guess. I went out and got a bunch on errands done that I can't get done during a normal work week. I trolled around a couple of salvage yards scoping out any small 80's/90's car or truck that will look like it may have come in my car. So after about 3 hours in the 90+ degree heat, I thought I was going to come up snake eyes. But on the way out I spotted and small grey car about 5 cars down. Took a couple of measurements and the width is just about right. It looked good and was complete. Started taking stuff off being careful not to break any of the sun baked 30 year old plastic. Then I got overheated and through in the towel and went home. Went back the next morning when it was a little cooler, and found only 1 screw was keeping me from victory yesterday. Stripped it of everything that I didn't want and went home. (more on this later)

Most of my week was just not working on cars and having fun. These 2 photos sum up how serious my week was. Wife and our horse sporting some GRM. Can't wait for more time off.[URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/20160625_2114211_zpsslnygduy.jpg.html][/URL][URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/20160625_2113441_zpsvu6cvvkj.jpg.html][/URL]

Guessing you were trying to take a dashboard out....you never actually say in your post above.....

Yeah, sorry. I was trying to rob the dash out of a car in the salvage yard. Then I wussed out. I think it said 87' Horizon. Like an Omni. Later I found out that the right side was completely crushed on the r/f. That also added to my problem. But looks really good. Pics to come maybe tonight.

So, it's been a little while since I posted last. You know, doing the daily grind, honey do's, etc. A couple of weeks ago, I was approached on Youtube, from a guy named Mike in a comment, about doing a story on my Corolla. Initially, I was real skeptical. The first thought was, this is some sort of scam. But I replied back. What is the worst thing that could happen? Right? Well, as it turns out, Mike wasted no time asking questions about my car! And asking the right questions, which made me feel more comfortable. My first response was that my car isn't a high dollar build, plus it's kind of a bucket. But, he said he wasn't interested in high dollar builds. They were interested in builds, that most guys can tackle at home. Which is where I did mine, in a 2 car garage. As the emails went back and forth, I sent him multiple pictures which I had posted in this build thread and some that I didn't post. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking, There is no way this is real. I feel like I am for the most part a quiet, humble, wall flower kind of guy. But, it was real. And an article was written. It still doesn't feel real yet seeing it on LSxMAG.com. I want to thank Mike Aguilar and all of you guys who posted comments and encouragement that helped me along the way. It goes to show, that you just don't know who is watching. Ugly little car and a quirky idea, who woulda thought.

http://www.lsxmag.com/news/video-ben-davis-sticks-a-6-0-ls-into-a-1981-toyota-corolla/

Just saw the article pop up in my Gmail inbox, congratulations!

Congrats thats awesome!

Thank you guys. I am still a little bit in shock. But I do think it's pretty cool which is why I shared it here with you guys.

While I had some down time, I was trolling Youtube.(sshhh) And I ran across this. Please bare in mind that I don't own a Subaru WRX. Not that there is anything wrong with them, it's just not my video. But I felt it is relevant on this thread. You be the judges. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymIYegOCX1o

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ymIYegOCX1o

Oh. Did it not pull up? Did I not do it right? Thought I did. Thank you java230. Your presentation looks better and has way more impact than my link. I like it. Keep up the good work.

That video is great and you didn't even have to make it. Subaru dude did a great job and his car must be pretty dang quick too to hang like that.

Congrats - I also had the LSX email newsletter in my inbox today

Congrats to you as well TIGMOTORSPORTS. crankwalk the Subaru, if I remember right, ended up running an 11.78? Which after going through eliminations, I though 11.0 class was a little ambitious. If it were me I would have probably tried the 12.0 class and short shifted to try and slow it down. But that's just me.

I was told that there will be another article coming out on racingjunk.com. We'll see how that one turns out. This one was pretty good so I can't wait for the next one. Feel really lucky.

In reply to DEATHTRAP:

Use the embed link off youtube and it pops up in the thread Looks like a ton of fun and the car is running good it appears!

[URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/COROLLA%20BUILD%20CONTINUES/Screenshot_2016-08-27-00-54-56_zps1wdy3vaz.jpg.html][/URL] Went to the track again on Friday and caught a little bit of air! Saw this after we got home, going through the videos my wife got frame by frame. The track photographer clicked the flash at the right time. It's a little grainy but pretty cool.

Hook baby, hook!

Perhaps an attempt at startup on mine over Labor Day.....

Sounds like you are pretty close. Have you change anything inside the motor?

No, no, no. Bone stock LS3 crate engine. No desire to touch it.

For a while now , I have been tossing around the idea of a fuel cell. My main concern is mainly smelling the fuel. I have plans to put a back seat back in but that is going to come later.

So a couple of weeks ago, I was trolling around craigslist and found a fuel cell out of a boat. Sweet! I'll take it! It needed a different fill point. And got a smoking deal of this cap/vent/return set up. $40? I'll take that too. Started whittling away and mount brackets this past weekend and got the sump fabbed up. My plan is to have this up and going this weekend. [URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/20160904_160936_zpsolmqi2qm.jpg.html][/URL][URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/20160904_190014_zps8izrqx9t.jpg.html][/URL][URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/20160904_190027_zpsouze22dm.jpg.html][/URL][URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/20160904_175522_zps19par4ix.jpg.html][/URL]

Nice work! And mine fired on the first try! Nits and nats before first drive...

[URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/untitled_zpsmm6z9dtl.png.html][/URL]

I have got the sump welded in from a friend. I was able to get the hole in the floor cut, new hoses cut and fittings installed. A couple of straps need to be bent and installed and I will be good to go. Hopefully by this weekend I will be back on the road.

[URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/untitled.png1_zpsqw6a9u7u.png.html][/URL] With my new (new to me) fuel cell installed, new racing jacket, and a new set of belts (which I have been chastised about before, using the out dated ones) I had my sights set on hitting the track again this past weekend. They were having some bracket racing again with several classes. The one I was interested in was the 7.0 index (1/8 mile). So being fairly confident about being close to that, I was served some humble pie. First test pass handed me a 6.97. That's too fast. First qualifying pass I figured out that if I didn't shift into 3rd and go across the finish line on the rev limiter, I was able to run a 7.048. Sweet! I think I have figured it out. nope. Second qualifying pass....6.98. More humble pie. As the night went on I got what I've been wanting for a while now....better weather. Which doesn't help if you are trying to slow down. So on to elimination, which I learned that my .048 qualifying time made me the 9th qualifier! Doesn't look good for the Corolla. So we get paired up and I get tree'd! Did the same thing as before, 2nd gear on the rev limiter and net a 6.985 to his 7.07. Well that didn't work out like I'd hoped. Talked to a friend who was watching it all go down and he said that it was a stacked class and everyone was fierce. All of us were hitting 6.99, 7.01, 6.98, 6.97, 7.03, and so on and so on. Yep, pretty fierce.

But the night isn't over yet. They had a little down time between rounds. That is code for time to get in line to beat it up some more. Ended up making a solo pass and set a new low ET for the little ol' Corolla. Ran a 10.95 @ 120.8. I have somehow lost about 3 mph somewhere. Gotta find out where that went, but for now I'm happy. I love this little car. Keeps making me smile. https://www.youtube.com/embed/EvDQU5KU3YI