NME308's 3TC Turbo TA23 Celica
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:16 am
Hi Guys,
This is my 1976 TA23 Celica. I have been intending to put up a build thread since the latest incarnation of the forums began...
I will attempt to bring the project from its start in 2009 to the present.
2009:
I bought it a couple of years ago because I really missed the TA22 I had for my first car for the 12 years since selling her.
She came with a 2TG and all the gear so well installed a few old timers reconed I had a GT. The numbers however claim it is an Aussie delivered 2T hack which someone has done a swap into at some stage.
The years have not been particularly kind, and at this stage I am not undertaking any major restoration, just a tidy up to get her on the road again.
One of my major recollections on the TA22 was the 2T was a bit asthmatic even in mildly worked state so a 3T with an artificial lung will be slipped in old skool style!
Here's a few random pics of progress to date -
I cant for the life of me find the few pics of her I had when I first took delivery... They're the only ones I had of the whole car, as it is jammed in the shed that tight to be almost impossible to photograph properly!
Specs of the build at 2009.
Engine:
The build plan calls for cheap, however I refuse to compromise on good machining and a few choice internals which 30 odd years will have been unkind to
This is a 3T obviously. I had the head overhauled. A new set of intake valves and dual springs installed also. The head was decked slightly to ensure it was straight and ensure the desired compression ratio achieved i.e. 7:1.
The block was hot tanked and all the usual stuff including boring and honing to suit the 3SGE Beams pistons.
Rods were resized and converted to floating pin.
While this was happening the cam was sent off to wade cams and reground to 230 intake and 219 exhaust @ 50 thou.
A bit of drama was had sourcing a new set of lifters and pushrods out of the states, but they finally turned up...
The crank was reground one size under to ensure the journals are nicely round!
Electrical:
Ignition is being handled by MSD6al with aid of a BTM to remove timing with boost. An Autogauge tacho, oil pressure, water temp, and boost gauge have been installed to ensure I can see the vitals in modern definition. I ran a whole new wiring loom by itself to run these items as I do not particularly trust 1976 wiring too far.
Intake:
The original 3T item has been fitted with a holley 2 barrel adapter followed on by a 2 barrel to 4 barrel adapter! This all was then heavily ported and blended in to suit. A 650 holley was given the basic blow through treatment as per readily available instructions from hangar18 website.
I purchased a dirt cheap V8 gas mixer setup to rob the carby hat from. Since I have loads of exhaust bends of varying sizes lying around from previous extractor builds etc I made up a crossover pipe to mate up to the carb hat and adapted the blow off valve from the side.
Exhaust:
I bought an S14 SR20 turbo, manifold, and dump pipe from someone upgrading. With intention of J-piping off the original exhaust manifold somehow I came to hold the SR manifold against the 3T head and the port spacing is identical. Even the bolt pattern could have been made to work, however the turbo was going to foul the starter motor and engine mount. :rolleyes: So I made an adapter flange from 12mm steel with a drill, angle grinder, and a die grinder to top mount the little sucker. I will have some local exhaust shop bend up a dunger 3 inch exhaust incorporating a really old straight through walker muffler from 10 years ago...
Gearbox:
The original T50 will have to do for now as there is nothing in the budget for something stronger. A new clutch kit is awaiting fitment. The clutch, box, and diff will all be counting on being thrown a lifeline from the original 13 inch steelies with 155 rubber not offering too much resistance
Diff:
Original T series 4.11 which will be locked at some point soon.
Brakes:
The front are now slotted DBA rotors with rebuilt calipers and lucas racing pads. The rears have been treated to new slave cylinders and new brake shoes. The master is now a wilwood 1 inch dual circuit item I have adapted in. Fingers crossed...
Suspension:
A set of Kings lowered springs came my way at the right price so they have made their way under. The shocks arn't leaking and still seem to shock so they're staying!
Body:
It is rough, however it came with minimal rust. I have removed old bog, applied proper rust converter before refilling, and literally saturated the old girl in fish oil! The roof was treated to a lick of paint as it had been undercoated many years ago and never finished.
Completion date:
They are a rubber thing arn't they? Hopefully this year!
Build purpose:
Daily transport with a side serve of fun!
I hate my wife's 99 nissan pulsar with a passion - its just plain boring...
Even my 92 yamaha jog scooter which i blew up recently was better. It would wheelstand off the mark requiring me to lean forward to keep it from flipping, was loud and obnoxious, could top 90kph, and could give the average teenage-driver-in-mums-car a good fright!
I have absolutely no idea how this thing was being driven up until 2005 (the last rego sticker). Let me try to explain...
There are brand new tires on each corner. So far so good.
The rear brake cylinders were leaking extremely bad and brake fluid had consequently been sprayed liberally around by the wheels. The master cylinder of course was empty.
The bush in the idler arm up front was non existent allowing large amounts of unrequested passenger wheel movement - should have had pearler head shake!
The long suffering 2TG was only running on 2 cylinders thanks to mikuni solexs in desperate need of a rebuild and a badly burnt/bent exhaust valve.
All in all the drivers enjoyment factor could only have been in the negative range somewhere! :rolleyes:
Cheers,
Jason
This is my 1976 TA23 Celica. I have been intending to put up a build thread since the latest incarnation of the forums began...
I will attempt to bring the project from its start in 2009 to the present.
2009:
I bought it a couple of years ago because I really missed the TA22 I had for my first car for the 12 years since selling her.
She came with a 2TG and all the gear so well installed a few old timers reconed I had a GT. The numbers however claim it is an Aussie delivered 2T hack which someone has done a swap into at some stage.
The years have not been particularly kind, and at this stage I am not undertaking any major restoration, just a tidy up to get her on the road again.
One of my major recollections on the TA22 was the 2T was a bit asthmatic even in mildly worked state so a 3T with an artificial lung will be slipped in old skool style!
Here's a few random pics of progress to date -
I cant for the life of me find the few pics of her I had when I first took delivery... They're the only ones I had of the whole car, as it is jammed in the shed that tight to be almost impossible to photograph properly!
Specs of the build at 2009.
Engine:
The build plan calls for cheap, however I refuse to compromise on good machining and a few choice internals which 30 odd years will have been unkind to
This is a 3T obviously. I had the head overhauled. A new set of intake valves and dual springs installed also. The head was decked slightly to ensure it was straight and ensure the desired compression ratio achieved i.e. 7:1.
The block was hot tanked and all the usual stuff including boring and honing to suit the 3SGE Beams pistons.
Rods were resized and converted to floating pin.
While this was happening the cam was sent off to wade cams and reground to 230 intake and 219 exhaust @ 50 thou.
A bit of drama was had sourcing a new set of lifters and pushrods out of the states, but they finally turned up...
The crank was reground one size under to ensure the journals are nicely round!
Electrical:
Ignition is being handled by MSD6al with aid of a BTM to remove timing with boost. An Autogauge tacho, oil pressure, water temp, and boost gauge have been installed to ensure I can see the vitals in modern definition. I ran a whole new wiring loom by itself to run these items as I do not particularly trust 1976 wiring too far.
Intake:
The original 3T item has been fitted with a holley 2 barrel adapter followed on by a 2 barrel to 4 barrel adapter! This all was then heavily ported and blended in to suit. A 650 holley was given the basic blow through treatment as per readily available instructions from hangar18 website.
I purchased a dirt cheap V8 gas mixer setup to rob the carby hat from. Since I have loads of exhaust bends of varying sizes lying around from previous extractor builds etc I made up a crossover pipe to mate up to the carb hat and adapted the blow off valve from the side.
Exhaust:
I bought an S14 SR20 turbo, manifold, and dump pipe from someone upgrading. With intention of J-piping off the original exhaust manifold somehow I came to hold the SR manifold against the 3T head and the port spacing is identical. Even the bolt pattern could have been made to work, however the turbo was going to foul the starter motor and engine mount. :rolleyes: So I made an adapter flange from 12mm steel with a drill, angle grinder, and a die grinder to top mount the little sucker. I will have some local exhaust shop bend up a dunger 3 inch exhaust incorporating a really old straight through walker muffler from 10 years ago...
Gearbox:
The original T50 will have to do for now as there is nothing in the budget for something stronger. A new clutch kit is awaiting fitment. The clutch, box, and diff will all be counting on being thrown a lifeline from the original 13 inch steelies with 155 rubber not offering too much resistance
Diff:
Original T series 4.11 which will be locked at some point soon.
Brakes:
The front are now slotted DBA rotors with rebuilt calipers and lucas racing pads. The rears have been treated to new slave cylinders and new brake shoes. The master is now a wilwood 1 inch dual circuit item I have adapted in. Fingers crossed...
Suspension:
A set of Kings lowered springs came my way at the right price so they have made their way under. The shocks arn't leaking and still seem to shock so they're staying!
Body:
It is rough, however it came with minimal rust. I have removed old bog, applied proper rust converter before refilling, and literally saturated the old girl in fish oil! The roof was treated to a lick of paint as it had been undercoated many years ago and never finished.
Completion date:
They are a rubber thing arn't they? Hopefully this year!
Build purpose:
Daily transport with a side serve of fun!
I hate my wife's 99 nissan pulsar with a passion - its just plain boring...
Even my 92 yamaha jog scooter which i blew up recently was better. It would wheelstand off the mark requiring me to lean forward to keep it from flipping, was loud and obnoxious, could top 90kph, and could give the average teenage-driver-in-mums-car a good fright!
I have absolutely no idea how this thing was being driven up until 2005 (the last rego sticker). Let me try to explain...
There are brand new tires on each corner. So far so good.
The rear brake cylinders were leaking extremely bad and brake fluid had consequently been sprayed liberally around by the wheels. The master cylinder of course was empty.
The bush in the idler arm up front was non existent allowing large amounts of unrequested passenger wheel movement - should have had pearler head shake!
The long suffering 2TG was only running on 2 cylinders thanks to mikuni solexs in desperate need of a rebuild and a badly burnt/bent exhaust valve.
All in all the drivers enjoyment factor could only have been in the negative range somewhere! :rolleyes:
Cheers,
Jason