Running hard on snow and gravel has taken it’s toll. I’ve got two blown rear shocks and a really sloppy tie rod. I guess that means it’s time to get started. Problem is… nobody else drives Celica’s, and nobody makes Celica parts. There are no rear strut replacements available… period. Well… there might be one option. I’m in pursuit.
Did you know the stock rear strut has a body length of only 11″ and yet offers more than 7.5″ of travel? If you’ve ever shopped for short stroke options for auto-x, you’ll know that 11″ is damned short. That’s shorter than my 86’s ultra stubby Tokiko HTS, and shorter than anything Koni’s Race inserts allow. And 7.5″ of travel? A normal car has about 6″, and the high dollar rally parts offer around 8″. It’s likely that all the aftermarket manufacturers looked at Toyota’s specs and thought they were crazy.
So my options… High dollar inserts in custom casings? High dollar coilovers? Custom ears on a more common strut? This is one time when I might spend money rather than hack something together, and that’s probably a more sure sign than anything else that I am old now.
And then shoes… My RC is the “widebody” Celica. I actually find that pretty annoying because a like how skinny cars look and… because my already uber aggressive 7J +23 by Celica standards, is still more than 35mm sunk in the rear. Do the math and I’m aiming for something around -10 offset there, while up front should remain about the same. For tire options/gearing and ride height I’m looking for 15’s… where to find a pair of PCD100 15×7 -10’s? That seems more troublesome than the rear struts.
But then there are all these old bushing that I want to replace as well; those I might have to pour myself. And one degree of caster? 1 degree!
At least my engine fits in my car properly, and I don’t have to pull the engine half out of the car to replace spark plugs…
Just don’t turn it into a Camry. Oh god please don’t! It looks unique, not only in Toyota history, what with the melted cheese look, but also in WRC history. At a time when Lancia and Ford had boxy hot hatches, Mitsu and Subaru had their fat family haulers on steroids and subsequently their third world taxis with the same treatment, Toyota broke the 80’s tradition of styling cars by folding cardboard and instead went all rounded curves.
PS. I mean, I honestly think this was the car that in both proportion, shape and size, made way for the rounded 90’s.
Hmmm… you might have a point. It’s dated in other ways though: it’s the last Toyota to have pop up lights. Still… part of why I bought it and not a 205 was the looks. I think I’ve since changed my mind there, but some appeal remains. I just need lots of WRC porn and action shots to keep it up…
A Camica would be unique and that’s all. I actually just learned about the Curren on my last trip to Japan. That’s a good looking car… but 205 based.