Newbie with a 85 sr5

[rpholz]

So I've finally got my hands on an 86 chassis which I am pretty excited about.

Found this car behind a salvage yard, it's auto, 4ac, broken windshield but cheap and comes with a title.


Not the best to start off with but it's pretty solid and I feel I need to save it from it's ultimately rusty death.
So a friend and I set out Saturday and dug it out...




I've never been so stoked by a basket case of a car before.

Currently plans are to get it home(no trailer at the time) and begin taking everything out and washing the crap out of it.

Ultimately I'd like to make it a super low budget build to get it running and driving ASAP, so I'm thinking 16v and t50, unfortunetly I'm having a hard time finding things local or for a good price.

Looking foward for any advice or comments! I'm excited for something different as I work in a subaru oriented shop and am knowledgable on them but a total newb to this. Should be a fun experience.

[saiGone]

Looks good. Body line is pretty straight.

If you are looking to do a GTS conversion, skip the EFI and carb a 4ag.

That's what I would have done, if i did it all over again

[rpholz]

Thanks!

It's pretty straight minus the drivers door wanting to fall off when you open it. I assume it just needs new hinges as the door is not rotted out.

And carbs eh? How does it compare to EFI? I will be traveling from 330ft above sea level to the mountains and don't want to see the car act funny from the elevation change.

I also have a Haltech and dyno at my disposal for the car, if that makes the EFI swap easier.

[AE86 Apprentice]

Awesome find! I just got my car as well.. I feel the same as you about this cars. my name says it all. lol

[saiGone]

Thanks!

It's pretty straight minus the drivers door wanting to fall off when you open it. I assume it just needs new hinges as the door is not rotted out.

And carbs eh? How does it compare to EFI? I will be traveling from 330ft above sea level to the mountains and don't want to see the car act funny from the elevation change.

I also have a Haltech and dyno at my disposal for the car, if that makes the EFI swap easier.

You won't have to source a GTS body wiring harness. Wiring head ache would be minimal. (You wont have to pull your dash)
No fuel line swap.
Possibly not have to change gas tank/ fuel pump bracket.

You would still have to source a carb. But then you could get some dope side drafts.

[saiGone]

http://forums.club4ag.com/zerothread?id=85459

[rpholz]

So I think I've got a plan for the 86, decided not to go completely cheap and take some time on it.

Thinking silvertop due to them being slightly cheaper and a quick look at eBay looks like they are very abundant.

Haltech sprint 500 (I have it in my RX, which I need to upgrade to a 1000 for antilag)

12gal fuel cell in the trunk (again I have it kicking around) or gts tank, with a walbro pump

Gts rear diff, for disc and hopefully LSD

Things I need input on
What trans will work the best? Can I adapt a w series out of a truck?
Flywheel/clutch... What are my lightened options? ACT? Findenza?

The hood and fenders are toast, flares and cut out the rust? CF hood or find a replacement?

I like the j blood front nose, and it's pretty cheap so I'll be going that route.
Wheels, what's a good size? Also tires, I'd prefer a conti DW but I think the smallest they go is 16"

Brakes, are the factory ones decent? Carbotech pads for sure no matter what.
Coilovers, I'll be keeping an eye out on a good deal.

I'll be depowering the rack. And deleting the a/c
And eventually sometime the car needs seats... Mmmmm bride.....


Or should I go crazy, list of thoughts:
1nzfe, 64miles on it, sitting at the shop could be had for cheap
1mzfe, free, needs bearings and maybe a crank.
Ka24de, readily available... But nissan...
7afe(?) OMG everywhere, same with 4afe, but probly not worth the hassle
Ejxx, sucks in NA form, turbo PITA, brz 6spd laying around at shop.
More miata blocks laying around than I care to think about... And trans, but miata.. Bleh


Really looking for a direction as I can't make up my mind.

[saiGone]

Dengggg mad questions lol.

So I think I've got a plan for the 86, decided not to go completely cheap and take some time on it.
Thinking silvertop due to them being slightly cheaper and a quick look at eBay looks like they are very abundant.
-Alot of money and work to put in a 20v, you can find them fairly easily, but it will cost you about $2,000 to finish the swap

12gal fuel cell in the trunk (again I have it kicking around) or gts tank, with a walbro pump
You dont have to upgrade your gas tank unless you plan on tracking it (early sr5 gas tank can stall you our as it doesnt have a baffle to keep the fuel from slashing around)

Gts rear diff, for disc and hopefully LSD

Things I need input on
What trans will work the best? Can I adapt a w series out of a truck?
People do W series w. a bell housing adaptor, shifter stays relativly the same location

Flywheel/clutch... What are my lightened options? ACT? Findenza?
Black top 20v has a pretty light flywheel

The hood and fenders are toast, flares and cut out the rust? CF hood or find a replacement?
get used and repaint( cheap

I like the j blood front nose, and it's pretty cheap so I'll be going that route.
Wheels, what's a good size? Also tires, I'd prefer a conti DW but I think the smallest they go is 16"
IMO i wouldnt run higher than 15" wheels

Brakes, are the factory ones decent? Carbotech pads for sure no matter what.
Coilovers, I'll be keeping an eye out on a good deal.
There are rx7 break swaps (4pot)

I'll be depowering the rack. And deleting the a/c
you can depower the rack by looping the lines, but its at your own risk

Or should I go crazy, list of thoughts:
1nzfe, 64miles on it, sitting at the shop could be had for cheap
1mzfe, free, needs bearings and maybe a crank.
Ka24de, readily available... But nissan...
It's been done. good torque. cheap

7afe(?) OMG everywhere, same with 4afe, but probly not worth the hassle
waste of time



Really looking for a direction as I can't make up my mind.