I may as well start at the beginning.
This is what my 2005 Celica looked like after I stripped it down. One of the rear wishbones seperated whilst driving and left us in a sub-optimal position.
At this point I had already sourced a MIG machine, steel and tools to set about fixing this / learn how to weld. It didn't take me long to realise that this was a project probably not suited for a beginner. The chassis box sections were actually rotting from the inside out!
Needless to say this got fragged. A real shame as it's an absolutely blinding car.
I replaced it with a T5:
I'm pretty sure this one was previously from this forum. It's really lovely bar some blebs on the bodywork. The sound of the 5 pot burble is really something.
It was a bit tired when I got it, so it was treated to an all round refresh, new bushes, dampers, timing belt, brakes, ignition parts etc. I also overhauled the PCV and vacuum system completely.
As all good cars do, the ungrateful thing then rewarded me by running like a bag of plop for a while. I traced this down to a faulty boost control valve. I replaced the valve with a known good one which got the car back to proper T5 standards of fun, until a few days later it started to give the most horrific death rattle.
Well I'm fairly sure connecting rods are meant to be straight..
The faulty boost valve must have allowed overrun of the turbo and squished the rods.
Off with its head:
All in it received a bit of a budget rebuild with new conrods, crank bearings, gaskets, camshaft seals and injector seals.
It's finally running well again although has become rather incontinent. I'll need to drop the sump and reseal it.
As if my punishment wasn't enough, I ended up buying another three Volvos...
This is what my 2005 Celica looked like after I stripped it down. One of the rear wishbones seperated whilst driving and left us in a sub-optimal position.
At this point I had already sourced a MIG machine, steel and tools to set about fixing this / learn how to weld. It didn't take me long to realise that this was a project probably not suited for a beginner. The chassis box sections were actually rotting from the inside out!
Needless to say this got fragged. A real shame as it's an absolutely blinding car.
I replaced it with a T5:
I'm pretty sure this one was previously from this forum. It's really lovely bar some blebs on the bodywork. The sound of the 5 pot burble is really something.
It was a bit tired when I got it, so it was treated to an all round refresh, new bushes, dampers, timing belt, brakes, ignition parts etc. I also overhauled the PCV and vacuum system completely.
As all good cars do, the ungrateful thing then rewarded me by running like a bag of plop for a while. I traced this down to a faulty boost control valve. I replaced the valve with a known good one which got the car back to proper T5 standards of fun, until a few days later it started to give the most horrific death rattle.
Well I'm fairly sure connecting rods are meant to be straight..
The faulty boost valve must have allowed overrun of the turbo and squished the rods.
Off with its head:
All in it received a bit of a budget rebuild with new conrods, crank bearings, gaskets, camshaft seals and injector seals.
It's finally running well again although has become rather incontinent. I'll need to drop the sump and reseal it.
As if my punishment wasn't enough, I ended up buying another three Volvos...
