This is my project car, an Australian-delivered 1981 Toyota Celica LT Liftback, which has sat since around the year 2001/2002. The 18RC & W50 5 Speed Manual-equipped Celica has 66,000 kilometers on the clock and, unfortunately, suffered valvetrain issues. It has since sat garaged, but in mid 2024, this project has slowly started. With a big passion for cars and racing, this Celica was the perfect platform for me to learn everything, from restoration, prep work, paint work, mechanical work (suspension, steering, engines, etc.), and has even opened some doors to some CAD Development. This project will be used as a learning tool to develop custom brackets, engine mounts, custom aero/bodykits, interior peices and more, which over the next few years should get developed and sold on an online store or through contacting me. In the future, fully adjustable trailing arms, coilovers, and adjustable front suspension would be the goal to be able to learn and apply these findings to suspension tuning/setup.
*Hover/Select Image for Description
Installed new suspension
Painted the spring seats in Chasis Paint
Cleaned and prepped ready for paint
Prep for parinting trailing arms for the 4 Link Rear Suspension
Masking and prep for chasis paint
Rust Conversion Primer
Sanded old paint and rust off
Original Condition
EGR & Emmisions Delete
Final Results
Sanded Lettering and Clearcoated
Primed and Painted
Sanded and Prepped Surface
Final Results
FInal Results
After Acid Cleaning
Original Condition (Lukey 544 Headers)
Cleaned up USA Spec Mid Sump
22R Mid Sump from USA to complete a GT conversion with Aus Spec Subframe
Old Engine is out
Side View
New Wheels Acquired
Start of full brake and suspension restoration
Chasis paint applied to boot
Sound Dampening Applied
Prepped for Sound Dampening and Paint
New Carpet and Console back in
New Carpet
Retrimmed Centre Console
Heat/sound dampening & cushion for comfort
Heat/sound dampening & cushion for comfort
Preparing to sound deaden
Progress Picture
Reconditioning horn
Original Condition Horn
Resprayed and refurbished the hood latch mechanism
Another unfinished project
Started a custom digital gauge display
Inspiration from local car event
The start of this resto-mod
