Trueno coupe

[ru486]

Hi Everyone,

Allow myself to introduce... myself

I'm new to this forum, but I've been a lurker in the twincam forums for some time. My interest in Toyotas started when I was given an ae82 sedan in 98 after finishing high school. It was (and still is) a slug, but it grew on me and over the years I've turned it into a comfortable, but unexciting vehicle. I was familiar with corollas, but had never seen, or taken any notice of sprinters. I remember playing with a picture of my sedan in photoshop once and thinking "I wonder what this would look like with two doors" and a few minutes later "wow, that looks pretty cool". Imagine my amazement when I discovered such a vehicle actually existed! The more I found out, the more I wanted one.

Earlier this year, my patience was rewarded when an ae86 coupe turned up on carsales (it was advertised on here too, as it was a member's abandoned project). I flew down to see how rough it was, and bought it a few days later. It sat in my parents shed for a while till I could arrange to have it complianced, but arrived in my garage on Tuesday! It still needs a bit of work to make it legal enough to rego, then the task of restoring the bodywork and interior can begin. Runs great and drives like nothing else I've driven before!

Anyway, here it is:

1986 Apex Trueno Coupe (kouki)
- Orginal 4AGE
- JASMA spec extractors (brand now unknown)
- Psycho-loud exhaust
- Front coilovers & camber tops (make unknown)
- Slammed (needs to be unslammed a bit to clear things like speed bumps and small twigs)
- Front & rear strut braces
- Manual steering rack (GTV conversion?)
- Unknown 15" mesh rims (marked SIEG-M WM41 6 1/2-JJx15 if that means anything to anyone)
- TRD Short shift kit
- Italv Lanti wheel (bit tatty but feels nice)
- Full bolt-in cage (now removed)
- Gutted rear interior http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/sad.gif
- Orginal apex seats and front door trims (need restoration)
- Creature comforts (Power windows, mirrors, climate control, cassette holder!)
- 20 years of accumulated Japanese filth (ewww - an archaeological dig beneath the carpet is currently in progress!)

Will have more details when I have time to pull it apart more on the weekend!

[pumpkinking]

why would you take the rollcage out?? that was the best thing about that car..

[chapl]

nice car dude, looks good

[.wolfwood]

koll car, good luck with it.

[ru486]

Cage had to be removed for roadworthy. I'm pretty sure in Qld you can't have a cage that goes in front of the driver (down the A-pillars) as it "obscures vision". Would like to keep it (stiffens body alot and makes it slightly safer) but may end up having to sell it.

[.wolfwood]

sifnt keep it, ive seen heeps of sprinters in qld with full cages in them, just gota get it mod plated. i got full cage in mine and one road worth dude i talked to said it was fine.

[ru486]

That's good news, well I hope it can be put back in then - can stay out for now till I get the headliner cleaned http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/ohmy.gif

[mattysshop]

hey you bought that off my mate Rod didn't ya, i was ment to get that roll cage!! ha ha ha...

JASMA isn't a brand... it's a standard.. like ADR approved..

Japan automotive sports muffler association - HKS, Fujitsubo etc etc formed the collective group called jasma..

[ru486]

Yeah, it was Rods. He said you wanted the cage, but he couldn't get it out!
I felt safer with it in there, but having no sunvisors would be a pain

JASMA hey - learn something new every day!

(its also The Japan Society of Microgravity Application!?)

[mattysshop]

i know.. there are a few others.. i just punched it into google..

do you still have the cage?

[mattysshop]

nicer pic from when it was in JP

[Micknofx]

Should have said very nice pic from when it was in japan, top car mate

[ru486]

nicer pic from when it was in JP[/b]

Yeah, looked so smooth and clean in those pics - hope it will actually look like that when its finished.

Still have the cage. If I can miraculously obtain a full mint condition apex interior, then I might let it go. I'll be using this as my daily transport, and will probably do the odd Cairns to Brisbane run, so don't want to feel like I'm in a tin box.

[ru486]

Just an update on what I've been up to for the past 6 months. Car is still off the road - getting past the rwc nazi's up here is much tougher than in Brisbane. So, in between failing roadworthy's http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/rant.gif , I've been working to turn this thing back into a nice comfortable road car.

Its not far away from roadworthy now, but quite a bit of damage, rust and fatigue underneath that needs sorting. Currently have the front bumper off while new mounting points for the bumper are welded in. Also need to remove front fenders for rust treatment but have to panel beat the bottom of the side rails to get at the nuts - stops people flogging the panels though!

All the electricals now work, and have run wiring through for stereo and driving lights. Speedo gets stuck at 110 though, so need to get that fixed.

Canon muffler/amplifier has been replaced with a straight through muffler and hotdog and suspension has been raised about 1 1/2 inches to stop the exhaust and chassis dragging on the ground. Discs need machining too next time it goes into town.

Have put dynamat and other sound dampening materials throughout the car in preparation for decent stereo installation. I've also made new trim for the rear interior out of 6mm mdf and stretch carpet. These panels remove easily by taking out a couple of screws. Have also put rustproofing in the wheelarches, and will eventually coat the entire underbody.

Anyway, some pics...

[ae85 trueno]

looks hell sexy..

[jezz]

Im unsure why but i like the look of the coupes more then the hatches. nice ride http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/smile.gif

[ru486]

I prefer them, but wouldn't mind either. Gets lots of attention too - "sweet EXA man!"

[green_boy_91]

nice car man http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/2thumbs.gif
hey it looks like an mr2 with that paint style and colour,
but still looks good

[evilsub]

what cha doin in the last pic ?

[jezz]

I prefer them, but wouldn't mind either. Gets lots of attention too - "sweet EXA man!"[/b]

I feel your pain, nothing worse then the "exa" line gets me http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/rant.gif
http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/dcimages/4/8/4/3/117875.jpg
side on pic of my aw11

[Stain]

Looking good man. I can't wait to the day there'll be 2 Trueno's running around the Cairns area.
I'm up in Atherton and currently in the "strip down and repair rust" stage... Once we're both on the road we should go for a cruise. http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/smile.gif

[floody31]

http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/dcimages/4/8/4/3/117875.jpg
side on pic of my aw11[/b]

Hmm, I'm 90% sure I've been in that car when a guy in ballarat owned it years ago....



As for the trueno, nice! But you must be the first person to put MORE sound deadening in an AE86.

[ru486]

The last pic shows the damaged bumper mount. I was also rustproofing/deading the wheel arches and replacing the screws that hold the headlights in - all rusted away.

Hey Stain, I will have to come and see yours when mine is running. Don't go silly on the Gillies though when it is finished though or we'll be back to one.

I know people will think its sacrilege to ADD sound deadening to an ae86, but I'm into car audio even more than I'm into driving like a nut. Having an 86 that's a screaming demon on the outside, concert hall on the inside would be the ultimate for me. Plus, I'm a skinny bastard and probably weigh 20kilos less than most of you, so I can afford a few extra luxuries without compromising performance http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/wink.gif

As for the yellow thing, yep another top EXA. Even more so than mine with the t-top http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Stain]

It's nothing flash atm and with christmas fast approaching it's likely to stay that way for awhile. http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/sad.gif
But sure, you can come over and poke fingers thru rust holes. http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/smile.gif
As for the Gillies... it scares me http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/tongue.gif road is too uneven... The Mossman range however... http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/smile.gif

[jezz]

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http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/dcimages/4/8/4/3/117875.jpg
side on pic of my aw11[/b]

Hmm, I'm 90% sure I've been in that car when a guy in ballarat owned it years ago....



As for the trueno, nice! But you must be the first person to put MORE sound deadening in an AE86.
[/b]


That would have been me http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/smile.gif Unless your thinking of my clone, im fairly certain you mean me though, you accidently aquired my copy of high octane years ago off matt http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/2thumbs.gif

[Stuck]

Plus, I'm a skinny bastard and probably weigh 20kilos less than most of you, so I can afford a few extra luxuries without compromising performance http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/wink.gif[/b]

Calling us fat http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/sad.gif ?

[ru486]

http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/biggrin.gif I'm a stick

Here's a pic from tonight. We'll just pretend it has a front bar.

[jezz]

i've allways contemplated getting rid of the mr2 for a daily coupe. Dunno if i could part with my baby though. I'll settle with the ke's at the moment. Photo's like that make me even more in two minds. top pic http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/smile.gif

[ru486]

Here's another one then - back in its muffler dragging days. It looked awesome, but bottomed out on everything. Getting stranded over the pits at QT with the wheels off the ground is not conducive to getting a rego.

MR2 looks more fun, but would be tough using it as a daily. An AE86 coupe is a good compromise I think.

[E V A N]

Awesome car dude.
I saw this before it was in Aus for sale.

[jezz]

in that pic, windscreen back, reminds me of a z20 soarer.

[ru486]

Its 50% soarer, 50% mr2, and the rest is EXA http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/tongue.gif

Thanks Evan. Did you see it in person or just the auction ad? When Rod first bought it, he never saved the ad, so don't have a list of what mods it had. Don't know if anythings been done to the engine internally, or what sort of clutch or diff it has.

Got the broken bumper mount fixed yesterday. Just waiting for the paint to dry and it can have its nose back on.

Need to get the A/C fixed too - I've nearly drowned in my own sweat each time I've driven this thing. So fricken hot up here. Hopefully the extra insulation in the roof will help a bit.

Black interior is sooo hot

[jezz]

I peeped the add too, but can't remember datails, didn't ahve the cash to bid on it or i would have.

[ru486]

I never saw the original ad because I had no money either and looking just would have been torture.

[LordNafe]

Needs to be lower http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/tongue.gif Drop it on it's nuts again http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/tongue.gif
Looking good though, it's a hot car champ.

[ru486]

Yeah, it looked better before but needs to be legal till after rego. Rear end is sitting high in the pic because of the slope. Front is raised up enough so that it doesn't need spacers to clear struts.

Even now, the exhaust is only 10cm off the ground - before it was about 5. As a result, its pretty bashed up underneath from bottoming out. Front tow hooks were completely mashed, bottom of radiator support has also hit the ground, muffler and flex joint were almost worn though. Had to drive it up on blocks of wood to get a jack under it or get it over the pit. Funniest thing was when the cat tried to dive under the side and got its head stuck http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/tongue.gif

[ru486]

Did a very cool mod today... http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/greenbounce.gif

Its been a long time coming. Almost up to its 1 year anniversary of coming to oz.
At last its on the road!

[driftke70]

looks marvelous

[ru486]

Thanks, it runs well too. I took it for its first decent test drive on Saturday. Decided to go for a lap round the block, but 300km and two mountain ranges later, the only real complaint I had was a bit of a sore back.

It felt quite stable and the handling is very sharp, unlike my boaty ae82 which gets speed wobbles above 100. Only thing it didn't like was rough country roads. The back wheels would lift off on some of the bigger bumps, briefly sending the tacho to the redline. Also had no idea how fast I was going because the speedo indicates maximum rather than current speed http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/forums/emoticons/huh.gif

Hopefully will have AC fixed this week too.

[ru486]

Here's a couple of recent pics of my coupe. It still needs a lot of work done to it, but I'm just enjoying driving it and putting up with the imperfections for now. Not looking forward to driving the ae82 again while its in the shop.

It will soon have a working radio, which I have mixed feelings about, because like others have said, the car makes its own music.

[harrygat69]

looks good ive always wanted a coupe

[green_boy_91]

man thats a nice clean car i cant get over it lol