Corolla discovery thread

Post any and all car-related pictures here.

Moderators: charlie, CodyW, Rhoad Racing

User avatar
foilman
Not Really Past the Hazing
Posts: 1465
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:52 pm

Corolla discovery thread

Post by foilman »

So a lot of you know I bought a Corolla to drift this season. I wasn't planning a build thread since it's already built but it's going to take a lot of work and I figure I'll share and post the discoveries so far.

In short... I was told there was a GZE powered coupe with levin front, suspension, diff, and all sorts of goodies for sale CHEAP in NC. Alex and Eugene helped me go pick it up last Saturday and I snatched it up without even driving it, given the cold and rain, no wipers, way too big tires/rubbing, and price. Behold!
Corolla.jpg
Corolla.jpg (219.22 KiB) Viewed 8849 times

FOERST discovery was the Admiral Ackbar Lego keychain which is perfect for a betrayal car. "It's a trap!" This will be passed around the group as cars fail.
Ackbar.jpg
Ackbar.jpg (153.34 KiB) Viewed 8849 times
Eugene noticed the car was dynomatted. We didn't know to what extent until I got home and inspected it. This had to have been an audio competition car previously. There is hundreds of dollars and 30-50lbs of the stuff. So thorough they removed the dash to cover the firewall.
roof.jpg
roof.jpg (206.7 KiB) Viewed 8849 times
Even wasted their time covering the a pillars!
Apillar.jpg
Apillar.jpg (123.17 KiB) Viewed 8849 times
I was told the car had no heater core or AC, but was pleasantly surprised to find the blower and ventilation all works. This piece doesn't seem factory but fits so well.
heater.jpg
heater.jpg (244.66 KiB) Viewed 8845 times
There's no radio but there is a Creative Labs pc speaker here for the passenger.
speaker.jpg
speaker.jpg (115.99 KiB) Viewed 8845 times
Duct tape is not good for holding carpet.
firewall.jpg
firewall.jpg (224.11 KiB) Viewed 8845 times
But does ok on power cables when expertly applied. And that's a front lip on the left.
duct tape.jpg
duct tape.jpg (206.38 KiB) Viewed 8845 times
Last edited by foilman on Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:12 pm, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
Greg
Muscle Milk
Posts: 11575
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:05 pm
Location: Seventh Circle Inner Ring.
Contact:

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by Greg »

:headbang:
Attachments
tarp.jpg
tarp.jpg (20.11 KiB) Viewed 8845 times
Bikes, Meat, Drama, Meat, Gossip, Meat, Metal, Meat, Buttsex, Meat, Family and some Drifting.
User avatar
FooSchnickens
Rock Smoke
Posts: 3747
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:52 am
Location: Hotlanta, GA
Contact:

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by FooSchnickens »

Rock on. Can't wait to see red mist jr. tearing it up.
f00tography
In our minds. In our reality. In our world we are QUEEN DUCHESS TEAPOT HABERDASHERY!! RULER OF ALL!! PARTY OF ONE!!!
Image
fooschnicks: totally oawesome
fooschnicks: whatever that means
gregthore: oaseome
gregthore: without me it's just oaweso
gregthore: Eugene has a meagan muff
User avatar
foilman
Not Really Past the Hazing
Posts: 1465
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:52 pm

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by foilman »

I knew the car had no wipers or motor, but I was glad to find the linkage was still in place in the cowl so I went to pull-a-part. I found a fwd sedan and bought wiper arms that fit and a motor that looks like it will work (connector cut off my harness), as well as some license plate lights and a few other random bits. Then I vacuumed most the leaves out of the car.

Tuesday I put a dislodged hose clamp back on it's coupler and snugged up the others. I noticed the custom welded pipe exiting the supercharger is slathered in JB weld, so I figure it broke off or cracked previously. It doesn't idle right, even after connecting an electrical thing near the throttle body. FOERST drive I found it scrubs everywhere all the time unless going dead straight... it's slammed and tires too big. It came with 4 unmounted smaller tires, but turns out they are two different profiles. More disappointing is the fact it totally doesn't run right. It's in limp mode, can't go more than half throttle or over.. guessing 4000 rpm most of the time.

The electric fans and their temp sensor/relay do work though, as well as the stock temp gauge and fuel gauge (if you count reading 3/4 at 4/4). Most the other stuff doesn't... speedo and tach out, aftermarket tach reads half (despite being set to 4cyl), boost gauge plumbed wrong, and none of them illuminate despite the capability. The turn signals blinked once... think it was a fluke. Power mirrors not working due to wires snipped when doors removed.

The car ran so cold once the fans came on I wonder if the thermostat is there/working right. Car does have a muffler/resonator thing and at part throttle at least will not get me pulled over. The LSD seems stock and wore out. Lifting a tire entering my driveway it just spins, but on jack stands I can tell it's working, just takes a lot to engage. Actually, I don't know what to expect of a factory GTS diff.

I looked at the ECU to confirm it's for the GZE. Next will be pulling its codes, hooking up my wideband, checking the fuel pressure, and connecting the boost gauge post throttle body to discover why it runs so bad. It seems a sensor/vacuum type problem. Mechanically it feels/sounds good but I'll do a compression test out of curiosity. Oh, I need to check the AFM too.
Last edited by foilman on Thu Feb 28, 2013 12:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Dr. Marlow
Salsa Rodeo
Posts: 5507
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:51 pm
Location: Chambodia

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by Dr. Marlow »

bummer on the motor being in limp mode :(
Image
You've got the wrong answer
User avatar
revel
Eet Bacon
Posts: 7666
Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2004 6:00 pm
Location: DeepDishDreams&StretchedTireNaps

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by revel »

dammit. so much money spent on dynamat, but skimped on the motor and electrical. that piece between the blower motor and the big hvac vent is an a/c delete pipe. actually rather sought after. wish i knew more about 4agze
User avatar
Greg
Muscle Milk
Posts: 11575
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:05 pm
Location: Seventh Circle Inner Ring.
Contact:

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by Greg »

revel wrote: that piece between the blower motor and the big hvac vent is an a/c delete pipe. actually rather sought after. wish i knew more about 4agze
Same on the miata, seen them go for $100 before. I have one.
Bikes, Meat, Drama, Meat, Gossip, Meat, Metal, Meat, Buttsex, Meat, Family and some Drifting.
User avatar
FooSchnickens
Rock Smoke
Posts: 3747
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:52 am
Location: Hotlanta, GA
Contact:

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by FooSchnickens »

Greg wrote:
revel wrote: that piece between the blower motor and the big hvac vent is an a/c delete pipe. actually rather sought after. wish i knew more about 4agze
Same on the miata, seen them go for $100 before. I have one.
King of the pointies.
f00tography
In our minds. In our reality. In our world we are QUEEN DUCHESS TEAPOT HABERDASHERY!! RULER OF ALL!! PARTY OF ONE!!!
Image
fooschnicks: totally oawesome
fooschnicks: whatever that means
gregthore: oaseome
gregthore: without me it's just oaweso
gregthore: Eugene has a meagan muff
User avatar
P.Haire
Trunk Junk
Posts: 14396
Joined: Mon Sep 27, 2004 8:13 pm
Location: ZOO
Contact:

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by P.Haire »

hope you get it sorted soon.
Image
please believe
User avatar
andysapp
I need to go outside
Posts: 28825
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: KILL 'EM ALL.

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by andysapp »

Tony your post count is HELL in calculator 1337.

I love those spokes! This car rules.
User avatar
Greg
Muscle Milk
Posts: 11575
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:05 pm
Location: Seventh Circle Inner Ring.
Contact:

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by Greg »

wait, what?

7734
Bikes, Meat, Drama, Meat, Gossip, Meat, Metal, Meat, Buttsex, Meat, Family and some Drifting.
User avatar
Generz
Eet Bacon
Posts: 7968
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 1:11 am
Location: XOXO GossipGene
Contact:

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by Generz »

I hear a Corolla in distress... my hands are tingling to work on it for some reason. DAMNIT.
Image
User avatar
andysapp
I need to go outside
Posts: 28825
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: KILL 'EM ALL.

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by andysapp »

Greg wrote:wait, what?

7734
Ahhh. I'm dyslexic. Or I just read it fast and wanted it to be that.

User avatar
foilman
Not Really Past the Hazing
Posts: 1465
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:52 pm

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by foilman »

Boring discoveries from last night, and no pictures. It sucks without pictures huh? Mostly vacuum line issues. Found a check valve hanging out with the other end free so it would have been a boost leak. I pulled that off and relocated the boost gauge line to that port to read vacuum. There was a large nipple "plugged" with a small bolt so I sealed that off. I knew the brake booster line was suspect when I FOERST inspected the car because it had no clamps. The booster side was "ok" but the engine side was worse than expected. I tried the pull the hose off to clamp it and the whole steel nipple came out of the manifold. It was pretty bent up and the aluminum hole wallowed out so I found a spare one sitting around from a KA and helped it out with a little permatex.

There is a blue 3 port vacuum solenoid with no hoses attached. Checked online and found it's common to do that to keep the ECU from limiting boost. Most the other lines seemed pretty good so I fired it up and it idled much better and the gauge said it's pulling decent vacuum. I tried to read the diagnostic codes but it said there were none. I may have accidentally reset them if it works the same as a NISSAN... either that or it there is a speed sensor/temp signal not getting the ECU so it's never ready to check.
Last edited by foilman on Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
icantdrift
Salsa Rodeo
Posts: 5987
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 1:03 pm

Re: Corolla discovery thread

Post by icantdrift »

foilman wrote:I tried to read the diagnostic codes but it said there were none. I may have accidentally reset them if it works the same as a NISSAN... either that or it there is a speed sensor/temp signal not getting the ECU so it's never ready to check.
Are you using a scanner (and is it for OBD1) or jumping pins on the connector? Might try both just to see what happens. I don't believe that OBD1 has a "ready" mode like OBD2, it should just throw codes if there's a sensor problem.
Post Reply