February 2012
5 posts
1 tag
2/19/12 - Carpeting Fun
Got the dash pad in, but very quickly figured out the carpeting was going to be a real picnic….
Said goodbye to all the moving mats I’ve had in there for last few months.
Then vacuum the whole floor and install all the original matting. Its in great shape, and doesn’t smell at all.
Then thinking the new carpet would drop right in, put the Y heating duct in.
Then...
1 tag
2/16/12 - steering column
got steering column in and a few other under dash items…
Here are the fan and temp controls ready to go in.
some unwieldy cables, but I have the controls basically in place. Nothing to bolt them to yet, but cables all routed and attached.
Then got the steering column and speedometer and tach instrument displays in place and connected.
I know, finally something you recognize as...
1 tag
2/11/12 Main heater box
This is the main heater control box. Directs air, and has heater core.
It goes here:
Now from the engine compartment, the heater lines protrude, and are ready for hoses to be hooked up.
1 tag
2/11/12 APillars
Realized a little late that the A pillar interior fabric should have been put on before the windshield.
Being that the car went to the body shop with windshield and these interior pieces on, I had no record of the fact they really should go on before the windshield. Ugh. The old pieces wrap around the windshield opening edge and the rubber gasket goes on over them. Well had to make do.
...
1 tag
2/9/12 - underdash assembly started
Well I have the door harnesses in and started on under dash. Here is firewall pad prior to install.
And installed.
Shot of the engine bay as it stands. I have the speedometer cable threaded in.
Then clutch pedal assembly.
Then main support bracket for brake pedal assembly.
Trial fit of brake booster looks good. Have to take it back out though to get the clutch master cylinder...
January 2012
7 posts
1 tag
1/29/12 - interior & chrome
worked on some of the window edging chrome and interior panels. And a casualty….
Here is the roof rail chrome all in place. yeah!
But we had a casualty. I have glasses. For seeing really close up, I take them off all the time. Well I was putting the rear edging chrome on….
And while doing so, I took off my glasses and laid them on the matting you see inside the car. Later...
1 tag
1/22/12 - speaker deck panel
Took a few days and sessions, but I have the rear deck panel done.
Lots of measuring, trip to hardware store, grinding down 6x9 grills to fit over the 5x7 speakers!!! I tried to mount the speakers directly to the sheet metal, but alas that turned to be near impossible. Would have had to drill 4 holes through sheet metal with curves in it. You know how difficult it is sometimes for a drill...
1 tag
1/15/12 - headliner
After a lot of struggling and cussing, I managed to get the headliner in.
1 tag
1/15/12 - trunk area
Got the trunk mat cut and the gas tank shield in place. Aligned the rear deck and it now closes and latches.
1 tag
1/10/12 - Fuel Tank
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1/9/12 - Tailights
1 tag
1/5/12 - Taillights
hmmm, now let’s see where was I? Its been two months!!!…
Just got back to the “project”. Been delayed by whole host of things, and perhaps progress will continue to be slow for awhile. Cleaned up the rear brake hardware. Yes I have all NEW brake shoes, but the old ones looked barely used, although rusty. So I actually cleaned them up and put on a coat of POR15.
I...
October 2011
4 posts
1 tag
10/14/11 - rear bumper
Over last few days, assembled and installed the rear bumper.
Bought all new stainless hardware for it, and some extra for the front bumper later on. After painting all the parts, had to tap out and refresh threads on every bracket, etc.
Bumper assembly is such that all the brackets are bolted onto the bumper frame, and then the chrome over the top of that assembly. So I had to trial fit...
1 tag
10/14/11 - Steering box
Steering box and idler arm in place.
Holding off on rest of steering linkage until after engine in place. That should make it easier to install the engine without linkage in the way.
1 tag
10/7/11 - Front suspension & brakes
Been busy with front suspension and brake hardware…
This stuff takes even longer than I thought. Every single step involves much more than I would guess. True of everything I guess. Went to put on the front lateral to strut rods and ran into this. Upgrading from rubber to poly bushings all around. Old setup has this metal cup and rubber bushing.
Put together they look like...
1 tag
10/3/11 - front brake lines
Little bit of a puzzle again, but got all the front brake lines laid out into place…
One of the firewall lines was a pain to thread in. Then other one had to go behind that one. Took the time to put a little anti seize on each tip to prevent rust up.
Once those were laid out, the extension lines through the fender walls were pretty easy.
Here is closeup of the brake distribution...
September 2011
7 posts
1 tag
9/29/11 - axle springs & shocks
Having gotten the front to rear brake line in, I found I couldn’t connect it to the axle, as it was riding way too low…
Reason it was so low, is that springs and shocks were not in. Or at least I hope that is the reason. I recall when I removed the shocks the rear end dropped quite a ways, so assuming the reach of the shocks restrains how far the axle hangs. So shifted from the...
1 tag
9/28/11 - Lines & Discs
Worked a little tonight on some stuff, and some progress from few days back…
I previously installed the left strut, knuckle and control arm. Tonight I installed the disc covers on both sides. Left one pictured above. Right one below.
Installed the discs onto the hubs.
All previously painted, so just reassembly. Great fun doing it that way I think.
Previously, a few days ago I...
1 tag
9/16/11 - Front end assembly
Added more components onto the front end.
I took the front strut OUT that I had put in. I decided I wanted some rubber insulator between the spring and the perches. I cut some rubber strips and used 3M Weatherstrip adhesive to stick it on. Now the spring does not ride metal on metal in the perches.
Installed the engine bay cross member, and the front lateral support mounts.
Finally...
1 tag
9/11/11 - right front strut started
Started assembly and installation of the right front strut.Amazing to me how much puzzling I did on this. Back and forth to the manual, trying to be sure I didn’t miss anything, or bolt something together that was semi permanent, backwards. Like the steering knuckle to the ball joint. Took a bit of puzzling to realize that the accordian like rubber grommet in the photo only fits the old...
1 tag
9/09/11 - wiper mechanics
Got the wiper control arms in place.
And the front bumper mounts
1 tag
9/4/11 - Wiring
Started on putting in the wiring harnesses. Can anyone install this under the dash for me?
Installed the rear fuel lines.
Made some progress on getting wire harness under the dash.
Installed the passenger side harness, front to back and into trunk area.
Little more effort and have under dash wire harness mostly in place. Some hardware fastened down.
Driver side installed...
1 tag
9/3/11 - Mirrors
Now that hurricane Irene is passed, and I survived that, back to work on the Celica. Got the side view mirrors installed…
At least the hurricane caused me to clean out the garage in order to get everything in, so much more room to work now.
Debated for awhile what to do with the mirror bases finish wise. The original finish was not in very bad shape. It was a olive sort of glossy...
August 2011
3 posts
1 tag
8/7/11 - Door Work
Finished up the hinges with new bushings and rehung the drivers door.
Also got the chrome trim reinstalled on the tops of the doors. Had to fill and redrill some of the holes, as remountings in the past had been off the mark, and some rust, had enlarged all the mounting holes.
Driver’s door got chrome trim strip, and glass installed.
1 tag
8/6/11 - Windshield trim
Managed to get the windshield trim installed today.
Rear window also.
Worked on the passenger door. Finished lock and handle install. Also most all the mechanics on the interior of the door. Window regulator, interior door latch and lock. Here is the workbench in the middle of it all.
Passenger door. Looks easy. I won’t even guess how many times I had that door handle in and...
Wire connectors
Hey I was reading through your posts and saw you were having troubles with one of the wire connectors on the corner marker lights. have you heard of “Vintage Connections” where you can buy the nylon shells and the spade terminals to go with them? I’m not affiliated with them in any way (other than I use them on my RA29).
http://vintageconnections.com/
Click price list on the...
July 2011
6 posts
1 tag
7/23/11 - Door hinges!
One step forward, two steps back. When Scott helped with windshield install, he attempted to adjust the driver’s door for me. Guess what, lower door hinge is toast.
Just another one of those things. I did ask when the car was over at RMR about the hinges, in fact I bought new bushings ahead of time figuring they would need some help. I was assured they were fine, well wrong O!
So I...
1 tag
7/17/11 - Cleaning glass
Razor blade, then a little hot water and lots of Dawn work wonders.
Glass
Funny. I just got quoted today from safelite. $100 to do front and back if I bring in my own seals… which I have already of course. It’s still a long way off but I’d rather pay someone else to do it than try that gross mess myself. You are a brave man!
Reply: Be careful here, I had a glass place put in the glass on my ‘66 Mustang, and they thought they could simply put...
1 tag
7/15/11 - Glass install
Do not attempt to put in a windshield, if you haven’t been a helper on 25 of them already.
I helped on one, and thought I could do it myself. Luckily I figured out early on that I was out of my element and was able to pull in experienced help in a matter of an hour. There are many tricks to doing this right, and it is one of those jobs that takes finesse and a “feel” for...
1 tag
7/12/11 - Timing cover
Got the timing cover installed…
Did a trial fit, and above I have gasket goop on, ready to install gaskets.
Just another shot of my work area. I’m not as organized as everyone thinks.
Below is timing cover installed. C clamp to hold down part of the gasket where another part bolts in later. Want gasket material to dry while gasket compressed on.
1 tag
7/10/11 - Notched Pistons 101
If you recall from earlier post, I have a clearance issue with this ridge and the intake valves…
After much thought I decided to try to fix this myself. Usually a job for the machine shop, but just couldn’t see dropping likely $400 to have this done. Little bit irritated that the engine shop let me get into this fix in the first place. What has to be done is to grind away enough...
June 2011
15 posts
black sail panels
Love the black on the exterior sails.. did you paint over the chrome or have it stripped?
Answer:
I just painted over what I had. Most the chrome had peeled off. Yes, to do it right they should be stripped. Perhaps I will feel the pain of my decision when they start peeling again. :-(
Anonymous asked: hey - i LOOOVE your wheels (rims) -- i have a 73 18rc engined st, yellow also... i am dreaming up your rims on my not so fast st. kidding aside, are those to be found somewhere for sale?
Anonymous asked: hi, I'm looking for a 1977 Celica GT, ST Coupe or Liftback. I am very interested in purchasing one. If you know of where I might start in looking for one, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks
John
John
1 tag
6/20/11 - Door Handle Bling
Driver’s door handle and lock cylinder in place. Many of you will recall the long episodes getting those door handles done, months and months ago.
1 tag
6/19/11 - Here & There
Quarter vent covers on, and the stainless top edge trim. And some other stuff…
Dug out the trunk latch to put in, and found its one of the many items that just never got any attention since it was taken off. So I had to take a time out, and go back to cleaning items again. Covered in dirt and over spray, took me a little while to get it all off. Here are the parts, pretty much all...
1 tag
6/15/11 - Rear window
So according to my assembly sheet, the last thing I took off before the car left for the shop were the rear windows, so they are next.
Sure is sweet, to pull window out of the pile in the basement, its all clean and ready to bolt in.
To assemble your car restoration project you just work the disassembly notes you took backwards to assemble. What! You didn’t write down disassembly...
1 tag
6/15/11 - Rear brake lines
You know how they always say to never throw anything away?…
That goes double in car restorations. Above is the flex rubber brake line that connects frame hard line to axle hard line. I went to put the rear brake lines in, and for the life of me could not find the junction hardware piece that connects the two axle hard lines to the flex line. Lo and behold it was still attached to the...
1 tag
6/12/11 - FIRST thing bolted on!
Mark this date!! First thing bolted back on the car!!
Those are the rear end stabilizer bars. Rolled the rear end out from its corner that its been sitting in, since months ago…
Attached all the stabilizer bars.
Got the panhard bar into position, but most of all, look, the support dolly for the rear end is out, the rear end is ATTACHED to the car!!
Still remaining are pan hard...
1 tag
6/12/11 - Carpentry?
Carpentry for my 1977 Toyota Celica.
Alas I put the rear deck panel in a “safe place” some 30 years ago when I needed to cut holes for stereo speakers. Wanted to keep the original, without cutting it. Its gone now, lost to time where it was “saved” to. So, cutting up a new one. Brand new sheet of luan board from Loews.
Also, the masonite spare tire cover was mangled...
1 tag
6/9/11 - Bad Exhaust valve clearance
Exhaust valve clearance is minimum of 0.100 inches. The feeler gauge in the foreground is .025, so four of those in thickness. How thick do you think the narrowest section of that play dough is? .025 on a good day? Ugh, need to halt engine assembly till I figure out solution to this.
1 tag
6/8/11 - engine assembly
Got a little done today on engine long block assembly.
Timing chain rails and tensioner in first, then timing chain with cam sprocket.
One needs to install cam sprocket now to hold the chain up while the timing cover is installed. Below is somewhere mid assembly of the oil pump onto the timing cover.
1 tag
6/5/11 - radiator painted
Radiator was recored a while back. Was going to buff the brass, but after nightmare doing the wheels, I caved and painted it. Here it is in primer.
Below the finished product.
1 tag
6/5/11 - under quarters
Well I thought this was going to be easy….
Just wipe down the existing oversprayed yellow areas in the rear under quarters, and recoat with some undercoating. Alas, as I started wiping it down, I saw it flex! It was no longer attached to the surface underneath. The old undercoat was no longer sticking. So went at it with screwdriver, half expecting to find lots of surface rust...
1 tag
6/4/11 - Underfenders
The underfender areas were ugly. I know that looks rusty, but its not. Lots of old undercoating with plenty of embedded dirt. I had at it with a wizz wheel, except used a wire brush attachment. Just to get the heavy dirt and some of the undercoating off.
This is the only rusted area. I ended up hitting this with actual cutting wheel to grind out most of the rust.
Here is the area...
1 tag
6/4/11 - Wheels DONE!
As mentioned before, metal refinisher I am NOT!. I find this work tedious. Man so happy these are DONE. Not perfect by any means, but good enough. I am finally freed up to move on to other things. In the future, farm this out to others.
These are two photos of the sanding in progress. All of the surfaces were hand sanded with 400, then 600 grit. This gets rid of the oxidation, but plenty...
May 2011
2 posts
1 tag
Wheels - 5/22/11
Hopefully you can see the difference from foreground wheel to background one. Only about 6 hours labor on each of the two(foreground and right) versus back one. Two wheels down, two to go.
1 tag
Slowdown - 4/12/11
Door panels are back from interior shop. They look Great!! Of course I have not seen the bill yet, so they look even better.
Just a note that very likely things are going to slow down here quite a bit. My checkbook called and left me a message. It wasn’t a very nice message. So need to attend to some issues there. Still working the car, but much slower for awhile. I’ll keep...
April 2011
10 posts
1 tag
Some Assembly Required - 4/22/11
Ok, all the parts are done, just “some assembly required.”