clay72
New Reader
5/17/14 10:41 p.m.
Built this one last winter. Lexus LS400 engine, Toyota pickup transmission with custom flywheel, 1st generation Celica Supra solid axle with LSD and disc brakes, 1987 Corolla GTS front struts and braks with Eibach coilovers, custom rack and pinion steering, 2.5" single exhaust, Mishimoto Mustang aluminum radiator, corolla GTS dash cluster, custom adjustable 4links and panhard.
The beginning: $500 corolla
Steering
Add some more custom parts
A bigger rearend and discs
Custom lengthened front lower control arms
Front coilovers
Biiig rad
Reshaped tunnel
Some old 13" American Racing Libres
Burnouts of success
Awesome, simply awesome! Great car; love the pick-and-choose Toyota parts-bin combo to get the best of all worlds. 
I want a $500 clean pre-ae86 'Rolla. 
Finding quality size 13 tires has gotta be a challenge
Burnouts if success is my new favorite phrase.
This seems a little short... 
Neato, though I'd strongly suggest you reinforce the rear suspension pickup points/build some subframe connectors before dropping the clutch much.
clay72
New Reader
5/18/14 10:54 p.m.
I guess an underhood shot would be appropriate. I don't seem to have any very good ones. The car is not thaaat clean. Rust free where it counts though. And yes Kenny, it does have some chassis twist at WOT. I'll leave fixing that or not to whoever buys it. Probably a young guy that will drift it into a wall or something.
Dash with Momo Woodgrain.
The_Jed
UltraDork
5/19/14 6:12 a.m.
Kenny_McCormic wrote:
Neato, though I'd strongly suggest you reinforce the rear suspension pickup points/build some subframe connectors before dropping the clutch much.
Otherwise your floor pan might crack, Jack.
NOHOME
SuperDork
5/19/14 7:52 a.m.
This is an awesome swap all the way.For those that might want to follow in your path, It would have been nice to see some of the obstacles you had to overcome, but regardless I like the project philosophy.
Based on the fact that you declare your exit strategy as (profitable?) sale to a next owner, I bet this was not your first rodeo.
Any idea how a Starlet engine bay compares to yours? I have an 81 Starlet that I have changed my mind on three times as far as power plant choices and am thinking about it again...
Sweet car!
You're planning on selling it? How much and where are you located?
Was this car built about 8-10 years ago, and in the NC area? I remember seeing at an autocross, I think in Statesville.
The_Jed
UltraDork
5/19/14 7:41 p.m.
The_Jed wrote:
Kenny_McCormic wrote:
Neato, though I'd strongly suggest you reinforce the rear suspension pickup points/build some subframe connectors before dropping the clutch much.
Otherwise your floor pan might crack, Jack.
And it'll never launch straight no more, no more, no MORE, no more....
clay72
New Reader
5/20/14 8:19 a.m.
This car was built in winter of 2012/2013 in my garage in Campbell River, BC. I'll try to post more details of the build once i get out of this logging camp.
It's not going to be profitable when I go to sell. I've got about $6k into it total. I would like to break even. I just enjoy the building process. Keeps me out of trouble.
A starlet engine bay is much shorter. I looked at a starlet for this swap, but it would be much more involved with firewall modification.
Yeah, that is what I was afraid of. The current plan is a Ford Taurus SHO motor (Designed and built by Yamaha) but that thing is a big beast and while it will fit in the engine bay, I am still not 100% sure it will allow me to route everything properly.
