Page 1 : Intro
Page 2 : Updates Page
Page 3 : Exterior
Page 4 : Interior
Page 5 : Audio
Page 6 : Engine
Page 7 : Drivetrain
Page 8 : Chassis/Suspension
Page 9 : Videos
Page 10 : Summary Info
Page XX : My other car, an 86 Crown Vic Sleeper!

02/28/09
After still having issues with the head gasket sealing well, I decided to move away from MLS head gaskets and return to an old school but dead reliable option.  I bought an Iskenderian Block O-ringing tool and o-ringed the 22R block to accept copper o-rings.  It was quite the nerve racking experience cutting into my block with absolutly no prior practice, but it proved to be pretty dang easy.  The results came out great!  Not only is the head gasket sealing great now, but I am able to return to using stock style head gaskets.  So no more $130 MLS head gaskets.

12/16/08
Finally got everything sorted out with my new radiator.  After having to wait a month because it was all custom per my design, and I had to make on alteration to it (I was glad that was all).  I simply had to angle the outlet down some for clearance from the alternator.  The radiator is from TAPP Inc. (North Carolina Aluminum Radiators), and I'm making that clear because the quality is SUPER!!  I rate this right up there on the same level as a Ron Davis radiator.  But TAPP's prices are fair ($430 for an all custom design, when Ron Davis wanted over $700).  I then ended up ordering a new Spal electric pusher fan since my old one was a little too tall to fit between the oil cooler and the new radiator.  Once that came in I had to make a custom mounting system for it.  I wanted it to be easy to remove just the fan if I needed to, and I did not want the fan to be touching the fin (that way they never get bent).  So I spent a day or so coming up with and fabricating my mount, came out really nice in my honest opinion.  As the new radiator is sitting lower (cost and fitment constraints) I added a petcock to vent the air out of the system at the highest point, which was the thermostat housing.  All and all it turned out great.  Really looks good in the engine bay.

10/15/08
Well since I blew the head gasket at the track I have had a light ticking noise.  Sounded like loose valve lash setting, but after more diagnosis time I realized it was bottom end.  So I tore down the engine to find a familiar sight.  #1 piston (the one the head gasker blew on) had distorted.  It was biding on the wrist pin and hittig the cylinder walls.  Damage to the block was almost non-existant.  But I ran into a problem when I went to replace it.  Wiseco no longer makes the 10.5:1 compression 22/20R pistongs.  So I had to order a complete set of new pistons.  Ended up going with 12.5:1 compression CP pistongs from LC Engineering, Clevite bearings, MLS head gasket, and also decided on a set of Pro-Poly engine mounts from LC Engineeringa s well.  Well took 2 weeks from diagnosis teardown to finished and driving again.  All the work was done in my garage and went pretty smooth.  Drives nice now and no more ticking.  I'm running 110 octane race fuel so that I don't blow another head gasket.  But I blew my radiator so it'll be a little bit before I can finish the break in.

08/20/08
I started to hear a new rattle from the exhaust a while back, and it turned out that the Dynomax mufflers were falling apart from the inside (odd since they don't have any rust at all on them and aren't that old).  Anyways, I've been wanting to try this new design from Cherry Bomb, the Vortex muffler.  Of course like all things I can barely tell a difference.  But it did smooth out the note at low RPMs, and it doesn't rattle.

06/25/08
As I was changing the oil I decided to make an upgrade the oil filter. I keep a pretty good stock of Motorcraft FL1-HP filters for my Vic, and there was space for it so I started using them on the Celica.

02/21/08
I really wanted to run the air horns for some extra performance. I've done flow bench work and am quite familiar with how much head loss occurs at a blunt opening. Having some sort of flare really helps more air flow into the engine. But I also didn't want to run without a filter. Well with a little massaging of the K&N oval filter I realized that I could run them inside the filter with sufficient overhead clearance for unrestricted flow.

Here are a couple pics of the engine bay after it was delivered. What a pretty piece! And there is also a 3 quart accusump installed in place of the rear seat.

Page 1 : Intro
Page 2 : Updates Page
Page 3 : Exterior
Page 4 : Interior
Page 5 : Audio
Page 6 : Engine
Page 7 : Drivetrain
Page 8 : Chassis/Suspension
Page 9 : Videos
Page 10 : Summary Info
Page XX : My other car, an 86 Crown Vic Sleeper!