89' Toyota GT-Four Lightweight

[Evoluzione]

As this section is a light hearted look into what people are doing with their cars and not a request for engine building critique or tips I'm saying nowt.

[_Batty_]

Evoluzione said:

As this section is a light hearted look into what people are doing with their cars and not a request for engine building critique or tips I'm saying nowt.

Bores don't look great it has to be said.
Stunning looking car, loved these as a kid, infact have a few models at home.

Hoping to come to Rally day so hope to see it in the flesh!

[Evoluzione]

_Batty_ said:

Bores don't look great it has to be said.
Stunning looking car, loved these as a kid, infact have a few models at home.

Hoping to come to Rally day so hope to see it in the flesh!

If Rory Mcgrath maps it again it will be fine.



Sorry.

[squareflops]

Evoluzione said:

As this section is a light hearted look into what people are doing with their cars and not a request for engine building critique or tips I'm saying nowt.

couldn't have said it better

I appreciate your comments; although the builder in question has been at this game for 30 years plus. I too have heard horror stories but until a rod exits stage left through the block I'll continue to have total faith in the work carried out.

Cheers Batty, hope you can make it and swing by, lets hope we have the weather with us.. It's a strange situation where you hope a perfect stranger can come and stare at your car and maybe say "oohh" isn't it, but a pleasant one all the same.

Evoluzione said:

If Rory Mcgrath maps it again it will be fine.

oh dear

certainly a likeness!

I wish it was mappable. Having spoken around running it in, it's been decided that we'll stick the standard ECU back in for that. There's a a slight possibility that the Mines ECU (coupled with an AFM set to run too rich) may have been partly responsible for the damage caused i.e. over fueling causing bore wash and eventual shenanigans. If I'd known more when it was @ Vixpys RR I would have adjusted the AFM to lean it out slightly whilst the AFR was being monitored. The standard ECU will at least keep the engine safe and then; and then I'll be going for a Link Gx with wide band to remove the early 18th century tech currently looking after the fueling.

I've been in talks today about replacing the rear exhaust section with something more in keeping with the aesthetics of the car as it will be in a few days. The stainless jap can on there now won't really suit. We'll see..

Nice MR2 Batty

[chuntington101]

Would be better is the heat exchange was in front of the rad rather than behind it. obviously the bigger the better.

[squareflops]

did I say behind? whoops, i believe the pre rad will sit in front of the engine radiator. just give me a few days guys ill iron the deets out when I see it

[_Batty_]

squareflops said:

Nice MR2 Batty

Went a long time ago, but lived driving it (dare I say more than an MX5!) and like the pic.
How does the Celica manage with rust? MR2's sills go, do you have the same problems?

[squareflops]

_Batty_ said:

Went a long time ago, but lived driving it (dare I say more than an MX5!)

shut up man do you want to get thrown out..

_Batty_ said:

How does the Celica manage with rust? MR2's sills go, do you have the same problems?

I know of a few 185s and quite a lot of 205 that suffer with rust, on the 185s at least the sunroof models tend to suffer more as I think the drains that run down to the rear quarters get blocked and hold water then rust the quarters from the inside.

Mine lived in a barn for 10 years and is garaged now so not too bad. It does have some rust on the front O/S arch but I'll get that sorted at some point.

Little update, I've gone for the rally-esque back box (have I typed this already??) and also some genuine TTE replica wing mirrors (always sounds weird saying genuine copies but by that I mean they are moulded from an original set of genuine TTE mirrors from a GRP A so as close to the real thing without being real) It was put to me that the original mirrors will look a little out of place with the other equipment on it and I instantly agreed (knowing I would curse my ugly cumbersome oe mirrors forever more if I didn't swap them over)

That's all for now..

[Heaveho]

Given the other mods to the car, which take it quite a long way from being authentic, I wouldn't let such a prejudice stop you from fitting a box with more sensible ratios.......surely it would allow you to enjoy the car more, and there would be nothing to stop you refitting the original item come sale time?

[squareflops]

I think authentic is a subjective term here; maybe even the wrong term. The Lightweight was produced to go rallying i.e. be pulled apart and built into something more purposeful. In this sense the car is in keeping with its purpose (I'm talking rather generally here as I don't tend to use it competitively) The box is by no means an untenable proposition for every day driving, regardless of its quirky nature that's exactly what I find interesting about it, it shifts through it's first 4 gears like nothing else I've driven and I'm more than happy to put up with the compromise (not that I see it as that, quite the opposite in fact) for the 'authentic' Lightweight experience.

Changing a box on one of these isn't a small job and and the work would be disproportionate to the gains; if any, based on your point of view.

The car won't be used every day, it's a toy and putting longer ratios in it would slow it down and change it into more of a tourer rather than point and shoot which is exactly what I want it for.

I see your point though.

[Heaveho]

Yeah, fair comment, I'd forgotten what a work-up it is doing the box on one of these. Glad you're enjoying it, keep the updates coming, it's an interesting thread.

[squareflops]

cheers dude

[squareflops]

Progress

LW started getting pulled apart this morning and will be worked on this week, with a possible return date of this Friday.











So the engines out (obviously) and will be inspected tomorrow to see what caused the miss-fire. Thew news was it all came apart relatively easily but a few mounts etc were pretty firm pointing towards this possibly being the first time the engines been out; inconsequential but an interesting note. The brakes will be going on in the next few days along with the suspension etc. The handbrake shoes are fubared so are being replaced along with rear cv boots and possibly rear arb drop links.

I would really love to be helping out on this but I'm over the moon that it's being worked on in earnest and that it'll be back shortly.

I should be receiving a few more shots of progress through out the week so I'll keep this updated

[squareflops]

Bit of an update..

As work has gone on there's been a few consumables (and not so consumables) that have needed replacing. The rear cv gaiters need replacing. I had "loads of nuts, bolts and brackets missing or snapped off the engine"

That doesn't altogether surprise me given the age of the car and the shoreness of the cheese of which the bolts etc were made.

My clutch wasn't worn out. It had however started slipping. The reason for this was the gearbox main oil seal had leaked and the bell housing was full of oil so the clutch was badly contaminated and replacing would have been required anyway.

The brake flexis at the front are too short for the new brake setup, bit of a pain but it means braided flexis will be made up so that's not a bad thing overall.

I think buy the time this is finished the gearbox will be the only part of the car not rebuilt

[squareflops]

Thought it best to go with new lines on the front so replaced the oem with braided items



and connected to

205 4 pots. A great sight for any 185 owner



The 185 brakes are pretty woeful and these are known for being very good.

And new FB CS bonnet painted in 040 and being finished off



There's some gearbox news too but will update a bit later

Edited by squareflops on Saturday 10th August 15:06

[clarkson22]

hi mate looking good, own a rev 1 turbo mr2, always liked the gt4 theres and nice black one hanging about near mine, looks very clean, good luck pal

[squareflops]

cheers bud, I always imagine the MR2 turbo to feel quite a bit quicker than the 4; being half the weight and having no 4wd transmission loss!

Well; I've today arranged delivery of a low miles 205 (ST Toyota not Peugeot) to Worcester. There were complications with the E152F short ratio box so I've opted for a standard ratio box for now. It will improve driveability during the running in process (and generally). The Lightweight gearbox can sit in the workshop and I'll get it rebuilt when funds allow.

It will be strange having the LW back without it's defining feature but I'm looking forward to normal ratios for a while to be honest!

Engine will be mated to the box and in the car tomorrow, not much left to do after that..

[squareflops]

Getting closer, should be back this week (jinx)

with the charge-cooler system plumbed in



and with the bonnet on



There's just a few small jobs left like the wing mirrors and then MOT / home

[squareflops]

All finished & home

I can't say enough good things about it. It's beautifully balanced, It's super smooth and produces great power during this run in process. It stops on a dime and I'm just in love.

Engine/box

Lots. pretty much full rebuild
new pistons & rings
reground crank & balanced with flywheel
ST205 HG I believe
Lots of head work to improve flow
new oil pump
new water pump
all new ancillary belts
air-con removal (why do people insist on calling it delete :confuse: )
charge cooler setup from a CS
Dump valve removal
Paddle clutch
205 gearbox.

Handling

New (dench) suspension adjusted to be slightly higher than standard
Not sure of the spring weights but the handling is superb and sehe'll handle a bit of rough/lanes when I'm in west Wales chasing rally traffic
28mm rear anti roll bar with new bushes front & rear

Brakes

205 front & rear calipers from the wasp with all discs machined to ensure they're true 8)
rear 205 discs / pagid pads
Lexis IS200 32mm discs up front with - Ferodo pads I believe? might be wrong
braided front lines

Body/Misc

TTE lamp pod (possibly my favorite asthetic feature)
TTE wing mirrors
Simonds? rally exhaust rear box with down swept tailpipe which compliments the car perfectly in sound and look
CS fiberglass bonnet
25/20mm spacers on the Roulettes which amend the 47ET offset. Got some O.Z. Chronos on the way for trackdays also
Electric/Hydraulic power steering conversion which is EPIC
slag flaps
Lots and lots of touches that we didn't even discuss but Warner saw fit to do as he takes pride in his work, above and beyond

Don't think I've forgotten anything..



Took these before I washed it when I got home (it did rain on the ay home afterall :lol: )











when home





power steering mod



new mirrors (there's one on the other side too)













and an awesome finishing touch, a genuine period TTE decal



I don't think the pics do it justice but you get the idea.. I wan't to pull the wheels off and get some shots of the brake setup too but that will come in a few days when Rally Day is sorted.

Edited by squareflops on Thursday 19th September 23:07

[snotrag]

That looks absolutely brilliant!