Project Mango, '72 TE27 Corolla Rustoration

[95_civic_gsr]

Originally Posted by JDM_Matter

Looking good have you figured out what color your going to go with, is that original color???............

It does appear to have another coat of paint, but the original paint looks to be "Red Garnet". Its going to be close to this color when it is repainted.
The same color that is in this US 1972 brochure:

[JDM_Matter]

Originally Posted by 95_civic_gsr

It does appear to have another coat of paint, but the original paint looks to be "Red Garnet". Its going to be close to this color when it is repainted.
The same color that is in this US 1972 brochure:

Very nice anymore progress pics on the car????

[95_civic_gsr]

Lots!

When I showed up to my cousin's garage, he had already started taking things apart in preparation for the engine removal. The grill, radiator and supports were taken out, along with all the fluids from the motor and transmission.


This radiator will still work, but I think he has another one somewhere so its a spare. The air cleaner will be removed for a side draft carburetor set up.


So he hooked up the hoist and we began the motor pull.


Then we realized that more of the front of the car needed to be removed before the tranny would clear while attached to the engine.


The exhaust manifold will be fine disconnected like that, but the battery tray must be removed so that we can get to the bolts that hold on the bumper.


Then we run into a snag. Someone used a standard bolt with standard threads on a car that has nothing but metric bolts and threads. It also had undergone years of abuse from neglected car battery maintenance. So it was rusted tight. The head rounded off almost immediately. So after several soakings with penetrating oil, and heat from a torch, the vice grips were able to remove the offending bolt.


This should be a bracket that holds the battery tray. Rust has eaten through so much that the tray just pulled off and the bolts dropped through. Thankfully the donor car has some brackets that can be used.


With that out of the way, the bumper and side moldings could be removed. Now its time for that front valence panel. My cousin is inspecting the area where the previous owner had it spot welded in place. Its not supposed to be welded. It is supposed to be bolted in place.


My side was easier. Except for this. There is a screw there which is not supposed to be there. It is supposed to be a flush mounted screw. I guess who ever fixed it before didn't have any metric bolts at all.


On the left is the bolt they were supposed to use, on the right is the screw that was substituted.


The front valence panel finally removed. But there is more.


This is what the wire connectors are supposed to look like. Nice and unplugged right at the connector.


Someone decided it would be quicker to just cut the wires than to unplug them just three inches further up the wiring harness. I HATE STUFF LIKE THIS!


With the rest of the front end removed, the tranny will now clear the front of the car.


Starting the engine pull, the motor is disconnected from the car.


This stubborn motor mount won't let go.

[95_civic_gsr]

Another view of the motor at tilt.


Then the mount almost fell out.


After fighting with the automatic transmission lines, the motor is almost out of the car. Its a tight fit, but it goes through the front of the car without scraping anything. We want to make sure not to damage the paint!


Side of the motor down to the tranny. Its much easier to remove this as one unit. The transmission is a pain to remove while the motor is still in the car.


The disconnected header and brake master cylinder are far enough out of the way that they can stay in the engine bay for now. The large starter pictured here will be replace with a gear reduction model later on.


There is my cousin Lee, the brains, skills and owner of this project, standing behind his freshly pulled motor. I was surprised as to how large the motor and tranny combination actually is.


The automatic transmission is of little use to this project so its time to pull it.


The empty engine bay. So many options. 2T-C, 2T-G, 4A-GE


Years of grease and battery acid damage to clean up.


Since this car will be exempt from normal inspections, the evaporative emissions will be removed. Removal of the old school charcoal canister and hoses will clean up the engine bay nicely.


A trick when removing bolts from something like a transmission or other large item with different sized bolts. Draw a picture of the item on a piece of card board. Then use a punch to make a hole where the bolts go. Then press the corresponding bolt through the hole in your picture.


Make sure to label the top, and what it goes to if you have other projects. Its also good to label which side you are looking at, like from the transmission or looking at motor.


The tranny successfully pulled. No need for the torque converter.


Anyone need an automatic transmission from a 2T-C? Or a giant paper weight?


The 2T-C engine mounted on the engine stand. Its so light weight I think I could have picked up the motor as it sits.


Lots of steam cleaning needed here.


The exhaust ports are so small. At this point we also check the engine. It rotates easily which is a good sign. It will most likely be rebuilt before any other alternate motor choices are considered.


Riding high, now that the motor has been removed.

[JDM_Matter]

Good progress are you guys going to modify the 2T-C or rebuild it to stock form with the sidedrafts????

[balang_479]

Awesome project, the finished levins you posted look amazing.. cant wait to see this finished.

[95_civic_gsr]

Originally Posted by JDM_Matter

Good progress are you guys going to modify the 2T-C or rebuild it to stock form with the sidedrafts????

I'm doing nothing. This is all Lee's build. I just get to watch and take pictures. Right now the SOHC 2T-C will be cleaned up, and used to move the car around. I know he really wants to find a 2T-G engine to install. That is the DOHC version of the current motor. That would make the car period correct for one like it from Japan. I'm pushing for the 4A-GE motor, but that is not a simple install like the 2T-G. While it would add more horse power to the car, its not at all what Lee is looking for with this build. He likes things to look as much like they just came from the factory as possible.

Originally Posted by balang_479

Awesome project, the finished levins you posted look amazing.. cant wait to see this finished.

Thanks! Neither can we. There is so much work left to be done, and its so hard to find parts for cars this old. Hopefully this car will reach a point where it can park next to those Levins without disgracing them.

[95_civic_gsr]

Lets see where we left off. Several questions were lost in the JDMU crash.

I guess one of the last posts was - Parts to be Installed.



I love the way this TRD shift knob looks.





Here when you hold the knob just right, you can see the shift pattern embossed over the TRD logo.





The original shift knob compared with the TRD shift knob. Both of these knobs are over 30 years old.






These knobs are smaller than a cue-ball or 8-ball shifter, but when installed they have a similar feel to them.






I remember now. I walked up to visit and get updates on the project. There was a huge box next to the car. I wondered what could be in such a box of this size. My cousin was really excited for me to see what was inside. Was it interior pieces, a set of wheels or better yet, was it a engine swap?



NOPE! Just a box full of card board. What is this, some sort of joke?



No I was informed, there is a windshield in there. So why all the excitement over a windshield?



Its not just any windshield. He has been looking for this windshield for well over 10 years now. This one was said to be the last in the country. When cars get this old, glass becomes a scarce commodity.





Then he brings out another box. Inside is a mint set of SR-5 seats, front and rear. These things look immaculate. The black seats will go great inside this little red Corolla.




When you deal with cars of this age, finding parts is a very big deal. Even little parts that you wouldn't think were that necessary. Here is a unopened shift boot cover and a unused speedometer cable. Both items were very difficult to locate. Both items are in extremely good condition.

[Nachtmensch]

congrats on those finds! hopefully you never crack that windshield

[MRMRT]

NICE PROJECT

[ransombmxalex]

wow, this build is sick. keep us updated

[JDM_Matter]

Where do you guys find all the parts for this car????

[EKREY]

THATS GONA B ALOT ALOT OF WORK BUT

[JDMJunkee]

wow looks like you got a big project on your hands, doing a great job. I love these things!

[efrue57]

subscribed......... I love seeing the work you guys do. so far the projects i've seen from you have all turned out awesome.