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Wagon build


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It's been a long time since I had an actual project car. Super happy to have this 1980 Corolla wagon. I've always loved the look of the wagons, especially the early model TE72 with quad lights. It handles really well and carries hockey gear in the back like a pro.

 

I actually have no idea what I'm going for... pseudo drift car/cruiser/just what I like. I have no intentions of drifting it, maybe a few auto crosses. No idea right now. Just building it how I like.

 

 

 

So here's the stats.

 

1980 Corolla Wagon 3TC 1.8L

Purchased with 113K on the odometer.

Originally from GA

Originally an automatic car, 5spd swapped from previous owner

Has QA1 front coilovers with (I assume) AGX shocks, no idea

Rear AGX shocks with 2.5ish lowering blocks

 

Bought the car and it was slammed waayyy too much for my liking. That caused a bit of rear quarter damage that'll be addressed soon.

 

Here's how it sat when I picked it up.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/0103151222a2.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/0103151223c2.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/2462.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/2352.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/2432.jpg

 

 

 

Parts have been comingin steadily for this beast and taking up quite a bit of space at work, going to work on getting them installed within the next few weeks.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/02191515082.jpg

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Yeah it was Andy's. So many can understand why I said it was way too low. haha

 

Anyhow, more parts.

 

I bought a set of Celica-Supra wheels from my buddy Doug. These wheels are one of my favorite designs and love the way they look on older Toyota's. They are 14x7 +8 offset, not necessarily "hellaflush", but look "right". 185/60R14's will be wrapping them.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/IMG_20150211_1037332.jpg

 

My last few sets of Supras were flat black, so no need to change that.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/02121513382.jpg

 

Never a big fan of stock steering wheels, so I got an NRG deep dish leather wheel with an NRG short hub and NRG quick release. Great fitment and good price. I'll upgrade the wheel to a Nardi once I get everything else on the car that I want. The NRG wheel is good, but still some flex (No where near EBay steering wheels). Still a great wheel probably on par with a Grant.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/0119151531a2.jpg

 

Also got a set of new headlights. Love the yellow glass and these upgrade to an H4 bulb.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/0207151005a2.jpg

 

My daily and the wagon.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/0204151127a2.jpg

 

Some more parts ready to go on, hopefully this weekend I can may some headway with getting the header and exhaust on. Also need to throw on my new front brakes, bearings, joints, etc and get to cleaning the underbody.

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So I got the exhaust hung. Still not exactly how I want it, but definitely the look I was going for. Need to weld on a bracket to hold the right side up a bit.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/02261518422.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/0226151842a2.jpg

 

Called in the expert to help put some wheel bearings, ball joints, brakes, and RCAs in this weekend.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/02281511402.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/02281515572.jpg

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Love the exhaust! I put a stainless catback on my BMW and it did the same thing: left side was slightly higher than the right. i tried "clocking" it when everything is loose, or tightening up one side higher, but nothing worked. Time to cut the muff, rotate and reweld!
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Spent the other morning throwing on my new black door handles.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/IMG_20150309_102549.jpg

 

I feel like it really changed a huge amount of the look. I was kind of apprehensive about maybe having too much contrast with the black/silver everywhere, but I'm loving it.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/IMG_20150309_131629.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/0309151312e2.jpg

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I dig it. I feel like the tail light trim should be black now as well.

 

I initially thought that, but the black door handles and rubstrip tie in the wheels and mirrors nicely, along with the front bumper and lower lip. That's it. Whereas the chrome roofrack, window vents, and factory tail/liftgate tie in some brightwork. If you wanted to paint the tails black, you'd have to chase the rest of the brightwork as well, and that would be an unnecessary hassle.

 

The older, good-condition brightwork gives it more of a retro vibe. Painting it black would cheapen the look, like you're covering up something wrong with the trim.

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I dig it. I feel like the tail light trim should be black now as well.

 

I initially thought that, but the black door handles and rubstrip tie in the wheels and mirrors nicely, along with the front bumper and lower lip. That's it. Whereas the chrome roofrack, window vents, and factory tail/liftgate tie in some brightwork. If you wanted to paint the tails black, you'd have to chase the rest of the brightwork as well, and that would be an unnecessary hassle.

 

The older, good-condition brightwork gives it more of a retro vibe. Painting it black would cheapen the look, like you're covering up something wrong with the trim.

 

I've thought of doing all of this too. I'm not sure yet.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Found a manual steering rack this weekend. Got a text from Farkas saying there was an AW11 MR2 at pick n pull, so my roommate and I spent a little bit there yesterday pulling random parts.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/03221512462.jpg

 

Looks a little rough right now, but ordered some new boots, inners, and outers. Took it apart last night and re-greased it. Now I only need an '83 Corolla column to convert to steering rack.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/03221516062.jpg

 

Were able to pull some timing covers pieces and other random 4AG parts for my roommates AE86. It rarely see daylight so I had to get a picture. :thumbup: haha

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  • 5 weeks later...

Well not much has happened in the past few weeks. I was able to clean up all my swap parts and source an '83 Corolla steering column. I'm only missing the lower intermediate shaft, either from a manual steering Corolla or an MK3 Supra. I am really holding out so I don't pay $90 for a new one from TechnoToyTuning.

 

POR15 all the parts!

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/04221516212.jpg

 

I also cleaned up the grille and the headlight surrounds and painted them black. I like them better this way.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/IMG_20150405_132542.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Then the unthinkable happened last Thursday.

 

 

 

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/IMG_20150416_173845.jpg

 

Some lady in a Sebring hit me at a stop sign at 665 and 62. Not a lot of damage, but definite pissed me off. Then broke my toe two days later moving some appliances. haha

 

 

 

I guess that gives me a reason to shave the quarters.

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/042115064622.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/0422151151a2.jpg

 

It should be done by Saturday, so at least I got that going for me.

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http://alnabkvb.net/vb/up/7341_01328691457.gif

 

Glad you're repairing it quickly. I really like this wagon.

 

While you're at it, I'd take care of that surface rust on the pinch welds at the bottom...maybe put some POR15 on that as well?

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  • 1 month later...

Been a while since the last update.

 

Not too much going on. Car came out of the body shop looking great. You can only really notice the color being slightly off. I'm super happy that I decided to have them shave the quarter panel seams. Looks so much better now.

 

 

I'm still trying to source a used Supra intermediate shaft for my steering swap. I just don't want to pay $90+ for a new one.

 

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/FB_IMG_1431197523192.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/IMG_20150510_163309.jpg

 

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/irockacorolla/Cars/IMG_20150606_154842.jpg

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