Matt's Red Dragon Build Thread

[Matt35]

Good Morning,

I've been poking around on the forums for a bit and now I finally have some time to start my own build thread. Here she is, the Red Dragon:

[Matt35]

I was doing some research on some mid-eighties cars to start up my first project and I stumbled across MKII Supras and then found the even lighter MK3 Celicas. I picked this Notch Back out of the NW, body has next to no rust and is completely straight for a 36 year old car. This is an early RA65, with a W58, IRS, and rear drums. My plans are to first upgrade the wheels and tires, then Brakes and Suspension. Once I'm feeling brave the next step will be a BEAMS 3sge swap with ITB's. Here is the current clean 22re and the rear brakes off a 85 Supra which I will be using to delete my drums. Has anyone done this swap before that can point me in the right direction parts wise?

[patwhac]

Your Celica is super clean! Love the coupe louvers. I'm not sure about the brake stuff (my car has SRA) but I'm sure someone here will chime in. Good luck with your build!

[Matt35]

I spent a few hours on her today and already found I've got a bad brake line on the right rear drum. I may do the conversion sooner than later now. The big pain in the ass is the dust shields on my Supra brakes are bent, and I'd need to put them on the car in order to hammer the hubs off and remove them.  Anyone got any good brake diagrams or resources for them?

[Matt35]

Well, I bit the bullet early. Picked up new Rotors and Pads and clips for the 85 Supra Hubs/calipers, ordered all new steel brake-lines from TechnaFit and a Wilwood Proportioning Valve. I'll snap some pic's as soon as I get all the parts in and installed. I also picked up a set of these in 15X8.

[twotone_ra64]

Nice, Enkei Compes! The 15x8s come in +0 offset, are you going to run any kind of spacers?

[Matt35]

I'm going to see if anything rubs first, I'm keeping the car at the stock ride height for now. Previous owner refreshed the entire suspension so I'm going to save the money for now until I feel like I need a better setup.

[83_Celica]

I’m doing the conversion too!! Have the whole k frame from the mk2 and LSD F series. Love your coupe plus the lovers I think it mounts a little different but not sure to be honest, I am waiting for bushings for the entire K frame. Looking at it, it should fit but seems a little beefier. Let us know how it goes! Good luck on your build!!!

[Sigma Projects]

Nice, like others can I have your louvers?

[Matt35]

I’m doing the conversion too!! Have the whole k frame from the mk2 and LSD F series. Love your coupe plus the lovers I think it mounts a little different but not sure to be honest, I am waiting for bushings for the entire K frame. Looking at it, it should fit but seems a little beefier. Let us know how it goes! Good luck on your build!!!

So I've got the entire lower control arms off of an 85, from what I can see everything looks identical. I'm waiting for my Wilwood Proportioning valve to come in and I may need to find a couple new E-brake cables. I couldn't get my hands on a 7.5 Diff yet but that's going to be my next junkyard adventure. I did talk to to to the guys at Weirperformance about getting a 6.7 LSD made but we'll see what I can find in the next couple months.

The louvers make the car, now I just need to find a decent black spoiler.

[83_Celica]

If your buying parts from the junkyard I suggest buying new bushings, rebuild the calipers and while you’re at it clean any rust off and powered coat it. Trust me it’s worthless putting old suspension with old parts, car will handle and feel better with new bushings! Calipers I would get rebuilt or just rebuild yourself with an rockauto kit cause it’s better safe than sorry. Better to service something before it needs it! The F series is bigger so it mounts differently it looks like, The control arms might fit. Once me or you test it we will come to a clarification! If the diff fits then I am not swapping the K frame and probably just junking the K frame and buying new bushings only for my current one. Saves a lot of money and labor/time if the diff fits without needing everything from a mk2

[Matt35]

I'll grab some pics when I make the conversion. From everything I've read the 84/85 GTS shared all of the same components with the supra, so everything should fit. If I run into any roadblocks I'll detail them here.

[danf]

I'll grab some pics when I make the conversion. From everything I've read the 84/85 GTS shared all of the same components with the supra, so everything should fit. If I run into any roadblocks I'll detail them here.

The Supras are identical from the firewall back with our hatches. There are differences from the firewall forward. I think something to do with the steering? I can't remember offhand.

If you grabbed rear control arms there's no issue, but the front ones may be different.

[Matt35]

Feels like I'm run on 3 cylinders. Take a listen and let me know what you think. Plugs, and distributor are all new. I checked all the connections that I could. Vacuum lines look okay as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmBlNn-9yo8

[danf]

The 22re does have a noisy valvetrain in general. It's not going to be super quiet at idle. It does sound off. Are you sure you put the firing order correct?

Another thing is to use a mechanic's stethoscope to listen to the injectors to make sure they're all working.