My cousin has started a new project. He has finally recovered from his last project, a 1974 Datsun 260Z Restoration: "
1974 Datsun 260Z Restoration" and decided to undertake a greater challenge.
We stumbled upon this 1972 Corolla in our local junkyard, and he had to have it. He waited for over 9 months for the paperwork to clear before he could take it home. Its pretty rusted and needs lots of work. But after his last project, I'm sure he's up to the task.
It is fairly complete, some trim is missing, but he has another parts car and spares somewhere. It has the Toyoglide 2 speed auto which he plans to convert to a 5 speed later. The crankshaft turns, but he will pull out the motor for further inspection.
I think he is going to tear this one down completely to fix it up free from all rust.
I believe his eventual plan is to make it a period correct car. He is tossing it back and forth going with the JDM vs Race Car look.
I've got some pictures that can give an idea later. He already has all sorts of JDM trim, so my guess is he is going that route.
Since its from a junkyard, it didn't have keys. So his #1 priority at the moment was getting keys made so he could work on getting it to run. Its a royal pain to work on a car that doesn't run, because you have to push it around everywhere. While the keys were being looked at, he attacked the wiring.
There was a mouse nest on the battery tray full of empty pecan shells. They also chewed on some of the wires on the main loom going into the firewall.
On the TE27s the engine harness and dash harness are together, so it all comes out...
Here is a close view of the chewed wires...
There were about 6 wires chewed on, but could have been way worse. They are soldered and have heat shrink tubing applied. Next is to wrap electrical tape on it again.
The left headlight connector and one turn signal plug had to be repaired as someone messed with them before and cut the wires and used crimp connectors instead of soldering them. Other than that the engine bay side of the harness was in decent shape.
Here are the essentials for auto to manual tranny conversion: the pedals, back-up light switch harness, hydraulic clutch line. Not pictured are the manual tranny mount, slave cylinder, clutch master cylinder and 5 speed tranny.
While he is waiting on me to get done with the engine hoist, he pulled the tranny and started the auto to 5-speed conversion. I hear he has modified the transmission tunnel, cut an re-welded a plate so that it accepts the shifter location change. I'll have to get some pictures of that.