Celica ST205 GT4 - Phase 2!
Discussion
After all that and it being in storage for the two years I got it back and start to actually use the damn thing! I had recommissioned it, driven it, blown a wheel bearing, fixed that and just about got sorted for Retro Rides Gathering at Mallory end of last year.
I packed up the car on Thursday night and finished up work at 1pm Friday, ready to roll. Started the drive with 44% fuel level and took the fosse way, 92 miles. The car is night and day better to drive with the stock pedal box, column and a (mostly) normal driving position.
The camp site at RRG was something to behold, a totally incredible set up of flat grassed areas terraced around 5m above track level, so the view was amazing. Friday night was a little blurry
Saturday morning on the other hand, yeah, that'll do pig.
It was cold that night, low single figures and my double double sleeping bag worked a treat! Celica looked ace in the morning sun too
Ugly mug
The day was spent chilling out, watching some bonkers racing cars going 10/10ths and chatting to friends. I only got a couple of pics though.
Early night on sat for me, because our friendly track dictator BstardChild had peer pressured me into taking the car on track on Sunday!
I got up an enjoyed some porridge with the sun coming up over the track
I was terrified. Everyone was super nice to me though, giving lots of advice and words to calm me down. A chap called David took me round in his Millington Diamond engined Escort for the sighting lap, this gave me a good chance to view things without worrying about the car or driving.
Past that, checking tyre pressures and levels, it was time. All this work, 10 years of dicking about with it, would it actually work?
Obviously no pictures on track, I was a touch busy! The long and short of it was the car ran like a top, it was much faster than I was which worked out just fine, the chassis, engine and power delivery were relatively benign though, so a great way to learn. I had one little lock up on track, a result of coming into the back chicane with cold brakes, which rapidly warmed up as I was putting more and more pressure on the pedal, this locked the rear and caused it to step out. I just backed off the pedal and got back on it again as the corner was approaching fast!
Every gear change resulted in a lick of yellow flame out the bonnet exit screamer pipe, distracting but in the very best way!
Here is a quick log of the data taken from the third session
In my fourth session and one lap in, the car suddenly developed a really bad exhaust blow, happened like a switch too. I limped it into the pits and was greeted by Gobs, Pip Warren and Elk, we looked it over and found it was one of the exhaust bungs for the EGT sensors. It had vibrated loose and lost the little stainless tube that locks into an olive. A bit lost we discussed getting it welded up by the R-Tech guys, but as we were discussing this, Elk popped up from behind my passenger front wing and said 'is this it?'..... yes, yes it is!
The tube, about 25mm long had fired out of the manifold, ricocheted off the bonnet (there is a dent!) fired between the chassis leg and gearbox, past the suspension and driveshaft into the passenger front wheel which then caught it in one of the spokes. The centrepetal force had kept hold of it until I stopped in the pits. You couldn't make it up.
Fitted it back in, job done.
I called it quits at that point and drove the car to the Late Brake show stand, where it lived for the afternoon.
I stayed at the show later than I ever have, it was just superb. However the time came to pack up and make my way home. Another 92 miles back with zero issues, I parked up at 6:45pm.
The car ran faultlessly all weekend, zero leaks, consumed no oil, the breather catch tank is totally dry. It just ran like a top.
Thank you to all involved, RRG is the best show of the year, and this one was a vintage year for sure.
Finally updates, what needs doing or updating? I think I need to bleed the brakes, the pedal is softer than I would like, especially on track. I need to see why the throttle is only opening 75%! I could do with a less grabby clutch, this one is comical
I will attempt to keep you guys updated with any progress I have, plus I will be starting my new project soon. This should be interesting, carbon tub, sub 400kg.....
I packed up the car on Thursday night and finished up work at 1pm Friday, ready to roll. Started the drive with 44% fuel level and took the fosse way, 92 miles. The car is night and day better to drive with the stock pedal box, column and a (mostly) normal driving position.
The camp site at RRG was something to behold, a totally incredible set up of flat grassed areas terraced around 5m above track level, so the view was amazing. Friday night was a little blurry
Saturday morning on the other hand, yeah, that'll do pig.
It was cold that night, low single figures and my double double sleeping bag worked a treat! Celica looked ace in the morning sun too
Ugly mug
The day was spent chilling out, watching some bonkers racing cars going 10/10ths and chatting to friends. I only got a couple of pics though.
Early night on sat for me, because our friendly track dictator BstardChild had peer pressured me into taking the car on track on Sunday!
I got up an enjoyed some porridge with the sun coming up over the track
I was terrified. Everyone was super nice to me though, giving lots of advice and words to calm me down. A chap called David took me round in his Millington Diamond engined Escort for the sighting lap, this gave me a good chance to view things without worrying about the car or driving.
Past that, checking tyre pressures and levels, it was time. All this work, 10 years of dicking about with it, would it actually work?
Obviously no pictures on track, I was a touch busy! The long and short of it was the car ran like a top, it was much faster than I was which worked out just fine, the chassis, engine and power delivery were relatively benign though, so a great way to learn. I had one little lock up on track, a result of coming into the back chicane with cold brakes, which rapidly warmed up as I was putting more and more pressure on the pedal, this locked the rear and caused it to step out. I just backed off the pedal and got back on it again as the corner was approaching fast!
Every gear change resulted in a lick of yellow flame out the bonnet exit screamer pipe, distracting but in the very best way!
Here is a quick log of the data taken from the third session
In my fourth session and one lap in, the car suddenly developed a really bad exhaust blow, happened like a switch too. I limped it into the pits and was greeted by Gobs, Pip Warren and Elk, we looked it over and found it was one of the exhaust bungs for the EGT sensors. It had vibrated loose and lost the little stainless tube that locks into an olive. A bit lost we discussed getting it welded up by the R-Tech guys, but as we were discussing this, Elk popped up from behind my passenger front wing and said 'is this it?'..... yes, yes it is!
The tube, about 25mm long had fired out of the manifold, ricocheted off the bonnet (there is a dent!) fired between the chassis leg and gearbox, past the suspension and driveshaft into the passenger front wheel which then caught it in one of the spokes. The centrepetal force had kept hold of it until I stopped in the pits. You couldn't make it up.
Fitted it back in, job done.
I called it quits at that point and drove the car to the Late Brake show stand, where it lived for the afternoon.
I stayed at the show later than I ever have, it was just superb. However the time came to pack up and make my way home. Another 92 miles back with zero issues, I parked up at 6:45pm.
The car ran faultlessly all weekend, zero leaks, consumed no oil, the breather catch tank is totally dry. It just ran like a top.
Thank you to all involved, RRG is the best show of the year, and this one was a vintage year for sure.
Finally updates, what needs doing or updating? I think I need to bleed the brakes, the pedal is softer than I would like, especially on track. I need to see why the throttle is only opening 75%! I could do with a less grabby clutch, this one is comical
I will attempt to keep you guys updated with any progress I have, plus I will be starting my new project soon. This should be interesting, carbon tub, sub 400kg.....
Regardless, I very much appreciated the support given by you and the team for a complete novice like myself. I was terrified, sweaty palms, dry mouth the lot. The reality was rather addictive, I guess like a lot of endorphin generating activities!
I need to get it uncovered, prepped and taxed ready for the Sunday service at Prescott 🙂
I need to get it uncovered, prepped and taxed ready for the Sunday service at Prescott 🙂
We made it to the Prescott Sunday Service!
I started prep last week, oil change, fix the alternator plug and a general check over.
Oh HAI!
It is tucked up, but has been moved in and out of the garage being built around it
Up in the air
Despite the oil only have one track day and around 500 miles on it, I wanted to change it because of all the cold starts with little warm up it has done over winter. Good call it was too, the oil stank of fuel, inevitable given the use. I could have taken it for a long drive to boil off the fuel, but oil is cheap and it is good having clean stuff in it.
I use Mannol after a lot of use and experience with it, it works well and I can change it often at the price it is. It kept the valve stem oil seals in my N73 in tip top condition up to 140k miles, not many BMW's of the era can say that!
I have also changed from a 5w40 to a 0w30. The car doesn't get driven in the cold at all and make excellent oil pressure, possibly too much at over 100psi cold.
(if you haven't got one of these oil jugs yet, just get one. They are cheap and make filling up a joy, plus with the caps they don't get dirty between uses!)
Next up, alternator connector. I have moved the alternator to make space for the turbo manifold and because I am using a black top head the mounts are no longer on the front of the block. So it now resides on the back of the block, and with the angle the Celica engine is at, access is.......difficult.
Glad it doesn't need changing
The connector I am using is the original toyota one, some 29 years old. Unsurprisingly the plastic has gone brittle and last time it was installed a number of pieces cracked off. A new one from Brands Hatch Performance was installed using crimps and self sealing heat shrink.
All done, I prepped it for Sunday with a quick wheel bolt check and a wipe over. Little did I know that was a bit pointless, given the state of the 'orchard'!
Had a great time and managed to take virtually no photos, Here is what we did get
This caterfield sounded bonkers, heavily supercharged lump of unknown origin
Loved this little Y10 turbo swapped Fiat too, the owner was very friendly and we had a quick chat
Did I mention it was muddy?
Got the boy on the pressure washer when we were home to clean it up
Great weekend overall. Going back again on the 22nd in the Celica for the Midlands Hillclimb club practice day, then taking the M3 out on the 23rd for the Bicester Heritage Breakfast Club thingy
Oh and oil pressure is still high on 0w30, seeing 30psi hot idle and around 90psi over 5krpm. Doesn't seem to mind, it doesn't leak or anything so no point chasing it really.
More soon
I started prep last week, oil change, fix the alternator plug and a general check over.
Oh HAI!
It is tucked up, but has been moved in and out of the garage being built around it
Up in the air
Despite the oil only have one track day and around 500 miles on it, I wanted to change it because of all the cold starts with little warm up it has done over winter. Good call it was too, the oil stank of fuel, inevitable given the use. I could have taken it for a long drive to boil off the fuel, but oil is cheap and it is good having clean stuff in it.
I use Mannol after a lot of use and experience with it, it works well and I can change it often at the price it is. It kept the valve stem oil seals in my N73 in tip top condition up to 140k miles, not many BMW's of the era can say that!
I have also changed from a 5w40 to a 0w30. The car doesn't get driven in the cold at all and make excellent oil pressure, possibly too much at over 100psi cold.
(if you haven't got one of these oil jugs yet, just get one. They are cheap and make filling up a joy, plus with the caps they don't get dirty between uses!)
Next up, alternator connector. I have moved the alternator to make space for the turbo manifold and because I am using a black top head the mounts are no longer on the front of the block. So it now resides on the back of the block, and with the angle the Celica engine is at, access is.......difficult.
Glad it doesn't need changing
The connector I am using is the original toyota one, some 29 years old. Unsurprisingly the plastic has gone brittle and last time it was installed a number of pieces cracked off. A new one from Brands Hatch Performance was installed using crimps and self sealing heat shrink.
All done, I prepped it for Sunday with a quick wheel bolt check and a wipe over. Little did I know that was a bit pointless, given the state of the 'orchard'!
Had a great time and managed to take virtually no photos
, Here is what we did getThis caterfield sounded bonkers, heavily supercharged lump of unknown origin
Loved this little Y10 turbo swapped Fiat too, the owner was very friendly and we had a quick chat
Did I mention it was muddy?
Got the boy on the pressure washer when we were home to clean it up
Great weekend overall. Going back again on the 22nd in the Celica for the Midlands Hillclimb club practice day, then taking the M3 out on the 23rd for the Bicester Heritage Breakfast Club thingy
Oh and oil pressure is still high on 0w30, seeing 30psi hot idle and around 90psi over 5krpm. Doesn't seem to mind, it doesn't leak or anything so no point chasing it really.
More soon
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