Shops that work with first generation celica?
 

I looking at a first generation celica with a 18RG engine swapped in it. I was wondering if there are any local shops that specialize with these cars? I also have problems finding information on these cars, so if anyone can provide me with any website, forum, contact and local owners, it would be greatly appreciated.


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im pretty sure any shop that have tinkered around with an ae86 should be able to work on these..

however, that 18RG motor.... rare stuff indeed.

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I own one. Sweet cars. Mine is stashed away waiting for some time but I am kinda familiar with em. Its not too hard to put all ae86 gear under them including the rack and pinion. Just need some basic fab skills and a welder.
The one your lookin to buy is it yellow?

The one I am looking at is blue. So you are saying AE86 and the Celica has interchangeable parts?

I have been reading up on the 18RG motor. I realize that it is apparently pretty rare? Are they especially hard to work on?

if i remember, parts are quite rare and expensive for 18RG?

design should be quite similar to the 4AG, cept the 18RG is running on carbs and a DOHC 8V design...

I think i have an idea which one you are looking at... those gen 1 celicas are seriously cool cars.. and theyre so small!

AE86 is wider. The rear bolts in but needs a longer track bar the front will bolt in with some new subframe spacers either welded onto the celica chassis or get somethin fancy machined up. then the 4age bolts in and build a trans crossmember and the trans goes in easy etc etc.

i love the first gen celica !!!!!

The one in Coquitlam? Good Luck.

Make sure you go over the body with a fine toothed comb and request any extra engine parts the seller can give.

Sign up to dorikaze.net (Canadian) and 3tcgarage.com (US) for info and parts.

I've had a few 18RG Celica's and am soon to swap a 2TG/T50 into my '71 Corolla. Engine parts can be spendy and hard to find but they're out there.

2TG_Parts

Yes the one in colquitlam.

Thank you for the sources. So the 18RG are pretty hard to work on eh.

How are the rust on these first gens anyways? It doesn't seem as bad as, for example, datsuns. Are the 18RG pretty reliable?

:sweetjesus: i love the first gen


i cant recall exactly but i remember there was a shop that had a lot of celica project cars of various generations

i just cant remember the shop :/ you could try posting in celicagarage.com, it's not really active anymore though so don't expect speedy replies

Awesome. Thanks for the lead.

No, mechanically, they're simple. It's just that parts are getting harder to come by.

I'd say if it's still running points, swap to electronic ignition. Syncing carbs can be a bit of a task but other than that, pretty simple. It's all part of the fun in having an old car as a toy - tinkering and fine tuning.

Went to look at the car. Pretty solid. Engine was a little hard to start up though? Once it was started though, things seem relatively smooth. He was pressing on the pedal during the start up, the owner said because the car is carb? The owner told me he put in a lot of methanol in the engine in order pass smog test, isn't that bad for the plastic tubings? Rust wise, better than I thought. Interior wise was definitely actually not all that bad.

Yes its carbed and as such will be a pain to start especially in colder months. I take it you've never owned an older carburated car?

You are correct. I am pretty new to this. Do you think it is worth to change it to efi in the long run? Or swap in another more modern engine inside?
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Save yourself the headache and take a pass on the car especially if you don't know what you're doing unless you're dead set on this particular car. Considering your previous interest in a Chevy 350 swapped 280ZX I'd say you should reconsider bit that's just my opinion lol.
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I don't see anything wrong with a SBC swapped 280. It's cheap, torquey, tons of parts.

Swapping to an EFI motor on the Celica is always an option. A lot of guys do 3SGTE/Beams swaps. Or you could keep it original/nostalgic.

If you do, let me know. I'll take another 18RG.

At the end of the day it comes down to what you want to do with it. If you want a fun, reliable weekend car with oldschool looks, auto-cross, bone stock, original, etc.

Not really digging the looks of the 280zx, but the swap is what drew my attention in the first place. Nice and torquey! And the 240z, while nice, is quiet costly and hard to find not rusted example in my price range.

I really like the look of this car. I plan DD it, just around Vancouver, nothing major. In terms of mods, I just want to change the front and rear bumper, lower the car and slap on new rims. My first priority is to ensure the drive train can take the abuse of being daily driven, which is why I was thinking of a engine swap some time down the road.

Ad's been deleted. Did you end up buying it?

I didn't get end up getting because of financial issues.

Damn, sorry. It's always nice to keep tabs on the old cars and meet up once in awhile.

I was at Specialty Engineering and they're working on one yesterday. Check them out. They do race car builds and fab work

Specialty Engineering high performance auto services