ae86andkp61's Toyota Corolla GT-S: Readers Rides: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Readers’ Rides:
Toyota Corolla GT-S
Added on May 22 by ae86andkp61

This is my low and stiff Corolla for trackdays, autocross, and paved backroads fun. I have put a lot of effort and aftermarket parts into suspension work, and a few bolt-ons for the engine. It is lightweight, responsive, and loves to hassle bigger cars through the twisties! My goal has been to enhance the performance envelope a bit without losing out on driveability or streetability too much. I want light weight and a simple aesthetic with a spectacular overall driving experience and I am pleased with the results so far.

Highlights include:

-TRD Japan fiberglass hatch and spoiler with lexan window for weight savings

-Carbon fiber hood and Japanese bumpers (not pictured) for further weight savings

-Lightweight battery for weight savings

-Adjustable aluminum suspension arms, heim-jointed one end, hard bushing at the other end for weight savings and handling response without rattling loose any fillings

-Homemade short shifter and various body braces

-TRD Japan roadrace shocks and springs

-Traction brackets to relocate the rear lower control arms and roll center adjusters to relocate the front control arms after lowering

-TRD hard bushings wherever there aren’t heim joints

-A small dose of negative camber up front and zero toe for great turn-in

-Braided brake lines and high performance pads

-4-2-1 header, exhaust, Injen intake, and power steering delete to wake the engine up a little bit and further shave the weight

-Nardi deep-dish steering wheel for a bit of interior dress-up and a better driving position

14 updates
4 comments

Updates

Comments

turboswede:: How can an AE86 not get more votes? Especially one as nice as this one?
May 30, 2008 2:41 p.m.
Stuc:: Cool! (Check mine out haha) Where'd you get the 4-2-1 header? Update the pic with the new bumpers too
Jul 17, 2008 4:45 p.m.
ae86andkp61:: I got the header from a company called KBD, and sadly they are now discontinued. I think at one point they were known as Dobi, and made the headers back when the car was fairly new. These days they do mostly bodykits, but several years ago we got a couple dozen Corolla owners together and had them do one last run. Apparently they got rid of the tooling after that last batch. :( It is a nice street header because it enhances and smooths all of the powerband over stock, and saves a nice bit of weight. Unlike most of the other offerings on the market, it is designed first and foremost for LHD cars, so it fits, and the primaries are a good size for a stock head with other breathing upgrades (mild tune.) Most others on the market are good for heavier mods or racecars, but give up some bottom/mid range on the street. I will have to take some pics when I get the bumper back on. I took it off again to tidy up wiring for the lights and so my buddy could copy the Japanese bumper brackets.
Aug 27, 2008 5:11 p.m.
wheelsmithy:: Man, beautiful ride. Great to read @ your engine builkd up. My 4age is going together much milder-webbers, stock cams, timing pulleys, on a 120K engine. Good to get ideas for that inevitable first rebuild.
Nov 5, 2009 8:48 a.m.