ellover asked via PM about the Celica and I thought it would be more beneficial if I put it here for all to read rather than for one person - here goes... *waits for flames
Hi,
please note I am in New Zealand, so some of my references may be reflective of where I live.
Currently I'm on a 6 year journey/build with my ST185. Over this time, I've had the opportunity to explore the options available for the ST185 and the possibilities.
1) engine - you can buy various bolt on bits like fuel rails, injectors, cams, pistons, rods, valves - essentially the main engine components. These parts cost a slight premium in comparison to other vehicles, but they are available.
Need to drop engine out from under the car with gearbox attached (generally the easiest way to do engine stuff). Some people are familiar with the 3sgte, but others aren't and won't touch a st185.
Power output is middle ground from stock engine. There are limits to what stock engine can take before it blows piston rings or breaks the headgasket. Build it stronger and the potential is there for cylinder wall cracking. Oil reticulation is not the best on st185/gen2 engine. st205/gen3 engine has better oil reticulation. st215/245 fixed block cracking with more webbing on the block in weak areas.
2) turbo/exhaust - you need an adaptor to utilise the stock exhaust manifold with an aftermarket turbo. There are cheap ones, and expensive ones, but its additional cost to retro-fit other turbos. No turbo just bolts on. You can buy modified toyota turbos, but its a half measure in a sense as there are restrictions in the OEM turbo design (mainly exhaust housing size). Along with the aftermarket turbo, are ancillaries like oil and water feed lines which need to be custom made to suit (unless you buy an all in one kit which has these already). Alternatively you can buy cheap chinese manufactured ex manifolds, but they tend to crack and fail.
Exhaust is 'fun' area. Full systems are becoming more available, but when I started you could only get cat back systems and had to get mid section built locally. You may still need custom down pipe to match to rest of system if using aftermarket turbo. No 'plug and play'
3) intercooler/radiator - st185 came with air to air as standard and water to air on Carlos Sainz / RC version. A2A top mount is shit, so you'll want to go FMIC. W2A is hard to come by. You can buy cheap chinese kits for FMIC, but most people upgrade with custom work to get the desired cooling solution. You can buy aftermarket radiator which has thicker core, but a lot of people swear by a replacement/re-cored OEM unit for cooling duties.
4) gearbox/drivetrain - 2nd and 3rd syncros die, shifter bushes die (20+ year old car of course). Major cost to repair syncros (its generally not a cheap fix to repair any gearbox IMO). Straight cut rally gears are available at a price. No front LSD (and IMO, none will be built due to lack of room in housing and potential of manufacturer to sell a lot :shoots: ). Rear TORSEN diff, or open diff. Hard to find aftermarket LSD to replace, sometimes hard to find OEM LSD to replace.
5) suspension/chassis - aftermarket coilovers available from Tein, BC, D2 etc. Selected bushes/factory replacement links are available from Superpro, Nolethane and for unique bushes like subframe are available from Poland for poly or Austria for aluminium. xii motorsports in Canada is started to develop subframe bushing kits to support North America an the world. Strut tower braces and under body braces are available as are upgraded rear swaybars from Whiteline.
6) Wheels/Bearings/CVs - wheels are 5x100, so select Subaru or Volkswagon wheels with correct offset will fit. Wheel bearings and CVs are standard toyota fare and available from anyone that stocks parts for a camry or corolla. Inner CV's are more select and may require who driveshaft changes as they don't list seperate parts for inner CVs more often than not.
7) Brakes - nothing bolts on from any other cars except the st205 brakes/discs at the rear (note hub spigot is different size between models st185=54mm vs st205=55mm. Modification is required to retro fit st205 brakes at the front. Only select companies have off the shelf brake kits and they are not cheap.
8) Interior/Electrics - various subframes to retro fit aftermarket seats are available. No other toyota seats are drop in replacements. Electrics are electrics in a 20 year old car. It isn't going to be overly complicated, but there may be degradation due to copper oxidation
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Everything I have mentioned comes at a price. It is not common to find a bunch of this stuff on ebay for second hand as the car was not a common car and was introduced as a premium car. While some parts are shared, other parts are only for the st185. Even Mr2 has specific MR2 components which cannot be transferred between cars. Trawling forums is the easiest way to cheaply modify your car, but you may have to play waiting game.
The car really isn't plug and play like Nissan, Subaru or Mitsubishi. You have to be willing to take on a st185 and have a penchant for an older and heavy car. Essentially you are taking on a less supported performance car and your wallet will have to make sacrifices. A lot of st205 stuff can't be transferred, though some bits and bobs can.
My observations, but then again, I'm so far in on the build, that I can't pull out without losing a fair amount of my shirt. In terms of an easy modifying platform, give it a miss. If you like the nostalgia and like to have a clean original car and can afford the coin on upkeep and mods.. i'll leave you to make that decision.
All the best, Dave