Bestow your wisdom upon me

[Jaxe]

Guys,

I've never done up a car and I've never modified a car... but I'm dying to get into it! :newbie:

I buy several magazines and browse these forums and I'm really starting to see green at all the awesome rides out there.

I have a 1989 Celica SX (2.0L 3S-GE engine). It's a "White Lightning" edition and apparently there were only 150 brought into Australia.

The White Lightning has a few extras that the standard SX missed out on like leather steering wheel, sunroof, electric everything, sports seats, graphic EQ and best of all sexy white alloys !

It's in unbelievablse condition for it's age. The wheels have to go, but I'm more interested in performance (I'm not into rice).

Like I said, I'm totally new to modding cars, so where's a good place to start to get more out of my Celica?

I can post pics of my baby if anyone's interested. Hah.

Thanks for your help.

[boostimports]

how is the "white lightening" different to the STOCK CELICA SX - post pics?

[Jaxe]

Like I said in my post, the white lightning comes with a few extra options - sunroof, leather steering wheel, graphic EQ, white alloys (ugly mothers).

Mechanically, it's identical (as far as I know).

Cheers.

[Jaxe]

Here are some pics (notice my sexy wheels and awesome battery! )

[2fardown]

Nice truck shifter! Cut that down already.

Nice ride.

[Jaxe]

Good call. Will do.

I only got it recently, and I haven't done anything to it.

I'm mainly focussing on performance. It's got bugger all touque down low, but starts to pick up at 4000rpm.

I want to start out with the basics, but where to start with limited funds?

Thanks for your reply 2fardown. Cheers.

[Jaxe]

Hey, I want to know what you think of my Celica? I was saving for a 'line, but insurance was a joke (I wrote off my last car) and it seemed almost unattainable. I want my Celica to be at lease able to leave my G/F at the lights in her MR Lancer. Heh.

[2fardown]

First thing I would do with a NA car is get a quote on a 2 1/2" exhaust with extractors. Possibly an air filter upgrade - nice and cheap. From those two mods alone you will notice a nice increase in power. As far as anything else performance wise I'm not to sure...possibly cam/s?

[Jaxe]

Thanks 2fardown.. I'll look into it this arvo. Do you have any idea how much an air filter will be? Or what brand I should look at?

[2fardown]

Just a K&N element should do you fine $95~. I suppose it depends on the shape & size of your current filter. You could go a POD but I wouldn't recommend that.

[hippy]

from what i know there isn't all that much u can do to NA cars ... best to go to the NA section and ask them ... they'd know more than us turbo guys LOL

[Jaxe]

Thanks hippy.. I'll see what I can do about moving this thread to the N/A section.

Cheers.

[51jay]

Alot of money and work to get good power ups with an n/a.

If you were to double the hp you'd end up with car thats no fun on the street .....very cammy, unstable idle, nil power below 4000 and a screamer above 5500 + with a compression ratio of 10.5:1 or more you'd really need 100 octane fuel..................................on the other hand...if you were to supercharge your existing motor or engine swap to a suitable turbo it would be happiness all the way

[ron]

hi Jaxe,

try toymods.com as they are the boys to talk to as they own toyota twinnies also.

but i would go the air filter and an exhaust done, 2" should be fine.

ron

[2fardown]

51jay: I think he's after a mild power increase, not a tubbed 10second 1/4 mile dragster.

[Jaxe]

2fardown - correct, I don't want a 10sec car (or even a 13 sec car)!

I'm after that feeling you get when you know the car's got more power/grunt/oomph in reserve just in case you need it.

At the moment, I know when I'm pushing it and I'm getting beaten by my G/F in her 1.6L Lancer!!!

[Jaxe]

Hi Ron - thanks for the suggestion. I'll check out the site right now.

[akeenan]

put an rb25/26dett into it

[Jaxe]

Hahaha :uh-huh:

I wish it would fit! Imagine that..

I guess I could put a turbo in 'cause Toyota had the GT4 Celica.. but I have no idea how much it would cost or how I'd go about it (remember how newbie/clueless I am)

[GTS-4OrCeD]

Don't forget, the gt4 was 4wd. You can only have so much power going through a front wheel drive car. But I would go Extractors and 2 1/2" exaust. More agressive cams. Change the air filter, Cold air induction (won't help much, but it won't hurt either) See what chips and tuning is avaliable, but the results may be quite small. Some handling mods may be in order, like suspension.

But personally I wouldn't bother, and maybe just put a good stereo in, a Celica would be good for that sort of thing.

I would save the money for a faster car in the next coming years (AE86 , silvia, MR2, some honda coupe, these could be a possible upgrade.).

One of the toyota or celica forums I am sure could help you more, as they will have done this stuff in the past and know what gives the best results.

Greg.