It's Happening! twotone's Build & Restoration Thread

[twotone_ra64]

Friends. Foes. Followers. Gather 'round for a tale of courage, love, and all things Celica!

I have traveled from the Midwest, through the great plains and across the mighty Rockies. On the eve of a Saturday, I returned to my home in the Bay Area, in the People's Republic of Kalifornya. Finally reunited with the RA64 I love, I set out to acquire the many parts she needed so that I may restore her to her former glory!

So yeah, upon returning home I picked up some black interior parts from user RA65CFORME (thanks man, you rock!) and then set out to look for more. I checked Row52.com and, two days ago, a 1985 GT-S convertible showed up at the nearby pick-n-pull, so today I went to see if I could grab some parts from it. Turns out it was a super clean, low-mile and straight-paneled red coupe. I had no idea why it was there in the junkyard. It was pristine. The black interior was perfect. The engine had already been removed, but lucky for me, the W58 manual transmission was already taken out of the vehicle and placed on the ground. Right there for me. I was ecstatic. Low-mile, cheap 5-speed. I grabbed a bunch of black interior parts that I still needed, the transmission, clutch pedal, power window setup with harnesses, e-brake, gauge cluster and 3-plug ECU (which I don't need and will be selling, let me know!). I ended up spending all of my savings, but I have no regrets.

I've got quite a few projects laid out in front of me for the next few months. I'm very excited about the manual swap, though. I still need the clutch, flywheel, cylinders and a clutch line to make it all happen. Stay tuned for pictures of the loot.

[Dr.Jun.Manabe]

  Pics! Progress pics are the best . I know you have some of the autopals haha.

[twotone_ra64]

Pics! Progress pics are the best . I know you have some of the autopals haha.

Yup, you've probably seen it on Instagram hahah. Here it is again for everyone, when I put in new "Hella" H4 conversion lamps a few days ago. Also polished up the headlight retainers and the shrouds:

[twotone_ra64]

A picture of the loot I received from RA65CFORME:



And a few pictures from the junkyard raid:









And best of all:





More to come!~

[twotone_ra64]

Alright, went back to the junkyard to pick up a few small pieces, chief among which was the little dust boot for the clutch actuator arm, pictured below.



However, I think I'm still missing a piece that connects the end of the clutch slave cylinder (which I need to buy) to the clutch actuator arm. What could that be? Maybe the pin that comes with the slave cylinder fits on there? A pic from the FSM that shows what I'm talking about:



I'm also missing the shifter dust boots, those got torn out. Anyway I can easily replace those?

[danf]

Did that car in the wrecker have good taillights? And a grille that isn't broken? I was also looking for an a/c button and the a/c amplifier which is the control box attached to the evaporator.

By the way there is nothing to connect the clutch slave to the fork engagement. When assembled it is spring loaded and it stays put.

Edit: Damn it is a self serve yard.

[twotone_ra64]

Did that car in the wrecker have good taillights? And a grille that isn't broken? I was also looking for an a/c button and the a/c amplifier which is the control box attached to the evaporator.

By the way there is nothing to connect the clutch slave to the fork engagement. When assembled it is spring loaded and it stays put.

Edit: Damn it is a self serve yard.

It did! You need coupe taillights? Also the grille was meh, it had a long, deep scrape on the left side (probably from someone's attempt to remove the engine) and the dragon badge was meh. I stole the Toyota badge too.

Ohhh got it, so the pin just pushes against the arm? That makes sense to me.

[danf]

It did! You need coupe taillights? Also the grille was meh, it had a long, deep scrape on the left side (probably from someone's attempt to remove the engine) and the dragon badge was meh. I stole the Toyota badge too.

Ohhh got it, so the pin just pushes against the arm? That makes sense to me.

Yeah both my tails are both cracked and one has a hole in it. I think it is one of the ways water is getting in my trunk.

[twotone_ra64]

Yeah both my tails are both cracked and one has a hole in it. I think it is one of the ways water is getting in my trunk.

Hmm granted no one's taken the tails, I could help you out. I'm not sure how much the pick-n-pull wants for them, though.

[danf]

Well, if you can figure out how much they are (and maybe snap pics if you can) and let me know...   

[PB3]

Seeing that un-wrecked convertible in the junkyard makes me kinda sad.
If you do end up going back, it would be worth it to grab the power window switch from the driver's door. Not for me, but it always seems like there's demand for those.
Did it look like the trunk would stay up on its own? If so, the trunk lid struts would be a good grab too - and those I would be interested in.

[twotone_ra64]

Well, if you can figure out how much they are (and maybe snap pics if you can) and let me know...   

danf, the yard wants $25 USD each for the taillight assemblies. IIRC, the panels on the back of the taillights were broken off (a grey plastic piece that holds the lights and harnesses). Not sure if that was a crucial component you also needed. There's also a 7.75% environmental fee (must be a California thing ). Then there's shipping to Canada (would also have to get a quote like you did for me).

Seeing that un-wrecked convertible in the junkyard makes me kinda sad.
If you do end up going back, it would be worth it to grab the power window switch from the driver's door. Not for me, but it always seems like there's demand for those.
Did it look like the trunk would stay up on its own? If so, the trunk lid struts would be a good grab too - and those I would be interested in.

It's very sad, isn't it? I just wonder why it ended up there. Perhaps it didn't pass smog and the owner decided to sell it for $1000 under the Cash for Clunkers program. Pick-n-Pull yards like picking those cars up. Also, the driver's side door panel was missing by the time I got there, including the power window switch. I'll have to source that separately.

As far as the trunk lid struts, those were good - the trunk lid did stay up on its own, although I did not check whether or not they operated smoothly. Not sure on price either, they're not listed on the website nor will they pick up the phone

[danf]

danf, the yard wants $25 USD each for the taillight assemblies. IIRC, the panels on the back of the taillights were broken off (a grey plastic piece that holds the lights and harnesses). Not sure if that was a crucial component you also needed. There's also a 7.75% environmental fee (must be a California thing ). Then there's shipping to Canada (would also have to get a quote like you did for me).

Well, that's not bad. Did you snap a picture of the taillight housings? I'm just wondering exactly what was broken. I can paypal money over quickly to get them no problem, and I also use a shipping depot in the US just across the border so shipping might not be so bad. The problem for me is that when sending stuff out they charge me for commercial dealings at the US border office so I have to send them from here.

Did that car have A/C? there's two other things I was looking for, the AC button by the radio, and the control box under the evaporator. I'd also send over money for your time. 

[twotone_ra64]

Well, that's not bad. Did you snap a picture of the taillight housings? I'm just wondering exactly what was broken. I can paypal money over quickly to get them no problem, and I also use a shipping depot in the US just across the border so shipping might not be so bad. The problem for me is that when sending stuff out they charge me for commercial dealings at the US border office so I have to send them from here.

Did that car have A/C? there's two other things I was looking for, the AC button by the radio, and the control box under the evaporator. I'd also send over money for your time. 

Ohh gotcha, so receiving items isn't too bad then. Should be easier on me to send them over to the depot.

I don't have any pictures of those right now, sorry... the broken pieces were on the backside of the housing; they can be seen from inside the trunk. However, the actual plastic lenses were fine. And yes! The AC button was still there. The control box should be there too, however I can't confirm that from memory because I didn't look at that portion of the car.

[danf]

Sweet. I should be able to figure out something with the taillights.

If you can call and ask for prices for the other two parts (if it's like the local pick-a-part here, it'll not be super expensive for the button and the box I need. Instead of jamming up your thread I'll PM you.