Got the front seats reupholstered. It wasn't very time consuming at all, but I already had the old covers off. I also found a useful tip. Some people say you can use zip ties to hold the new covers down, but I personally don't trust that method. Every auto upholstery shop in the world that does a good job will use pig rings, so I used pig rings. However, trying to hold the seat cover where it needs to be, nice and stretched, and trying to get the pig ring in place can be very tedious. So I used zip ties to hold the seat covers in place, set the pig rings, then cut the zip ties out. Pretty easy stuff. I will be putting seat heaters in later, so I'll work on correcting a couple of small issues then. But for right now, I'm content with them. Thanks again to upscaleauto for hooking me up.

More pictures of the seats.

BEFORE:


AFTER:



And a couple of better pictures of the battery box.




My camera is pretty much dead in the water, so sorry for the cell phone pics. I'm contemplating buying a new camera and designating it as a "swap expense." Gotta take pictures of everything I do.

>

Haha thanks. I already had the OEM seat covers off, so it wasn't too bad to put these on. Like I said, I learned after a few minutes to use the zip ties to hold the covers in place before putting the pig rings in. Made things go a LOT smoother. I still have to buy the rear seat covers and do those, but I'm not in any hurry. For what it's worth, I almost like having them different colors. It draws your attention away from the back seat, almost makes it like a shadow back there. So maybe my friends will get the hint and NOT want to ride in the back seat then complain about not having any room. I definitely agree that these seat covers have a lot more grip than the factory leather. I was pleasantly surprised. I think the top corners of the seats would fit better if I had '94-'95 seats. Seems like I've noticed those having larger upper corners. Or maybe it's the 'vert seats I'm thinking of. Either way, I got them in with fairly little issue, minus the headrests.

This post has been edited by richee3: Jul 20, 2010 - 5:13 PM

Is it just me or do they seem really loose on the seats? like they need to shrink to fit right?

Also I have a padded armrest cover with the screws for sale that has vincents black on black cover already on...looks like you are going with white though

This post has been edited by 97celiman: Jul 18, 2010 - 8:58 PM

Couple of quick pictures. I'm torn between deleting the 3rd spoiler post as I had done on my old black car or going wingless altogether. I tried wingless for a day or two with my black car and just didn't like it at all. With this color, you can see how accentuated the rear of the hatch is, so I'm liking it a little bit more. What do you guys think?

Third spoiler post delete.


Wingless.


And as we all know by this point, the paint is in pretty rough shape. However, I cleaned up a few spots tonight and even polished a couple of spots to see how it turned out. Where the paint looks good, it's golden. Where the paint looks bad... Well, yeah, it's just really bad. There's no saving it. There's still hope though! The passenger side door is covered in scratches from something. A dog or something. They buff right out You can tell exactly where I worked on it and where I left it alone.



The grass growing up around the car suits it well, don't you think? Maybe I should put a new motor in this thing and start driving it so that I don't have a progress thread for a car that sits in a yard... The saving has begun for the new motor, and I'm just debating whether or not I should spend some cash on a Lotek A-pillar gauge pod and get the gauges in now or if I should just wait and do that after I get the motor. Seems easier to do it now, plus it makes it feel like I'm actually accomplishing something

Edit: Total project cost so far: $506.69, including the cost of the car.

This post has been edited by richee3: Jul 26, 2010 - 12:11 AM

Just buy my 3s and call it a day

wingless is gross imo

>
I may. Let me do some research on the 2nd gen swap. I'll have my decision by this weekend. I'm a couple hundred away from being able to afford your clip, and unlike my friend, I really am only a couple hundred away, pending the purchase of some JDM tails tomorrow. I could have the money in a month and a half. Would a 5x8 trailer hold the clip or would I need something bigger?


>

I thought so too, for a long time. But it's grown on me. Manny and Jenn's car has me sold on a TRD wing, but I live in a very closed-minded area and big wings don't exactly go over well here, no matter how OEM and functional they are. For right now, I've got the spoiler back on the car and the third post is gone. Probably staying this way until I get some body work done to the car.

good progress so far

go wingless for a while, it's a clean look IMO.

i have no wing.... and it looks gooooooood

IMO wingless doesn't look right. ive seen 94/94, 96+, and GT4 in person and i prefer gt4, but only if you have a faster celica. though i have not seen wingless in person, that i can remember.

if you were local id offer to spray your car, you only supply material. i want practice haha ive done smaller parts (fenders) and they look GREAT.

I like this build alot. I might be getting a gt for a good deal(tranny is bad) and be going through alot of the same things that you are. I like the wingless look more than the spoiler. What type of battery are you running in that box?

I'm torn on the wingless. I hated it on my black car. I've seen a couple of cars on here where I liked it. Otherwise, I just feel like all the factory spoilers are either too small or too big. For right now, and until I get some body and suspension work done, it's going as the 3 post converted to a 2 post.

Stephen, for what it's worth, I could still save a ton of money by driving the car to Texas for a few days as opposed to having it sprayed here. I couldn't get it done here for less than $3,000. And even if I painted it myself it rattle cans, it can't turn out any worse than it is right now.

(Kidding. I could mess it up really bad.)

Epicsirhc, post up a progress thread when you get it! Although I'd love it if the car was running, I think I'm actually happier this way. Gives me time and money to work on the car, as opposed to having to put gas in it and pay for insurance. I can take my time and do whatever I like, and in any order. For the battery, it's a Neverstart. Sticker on the side says "Shipped June '08." It's as dead as it can be. I've only got power when I have it hooked up to a battery charger. No big deal, since I planned on getting an Optima when I buy the new motor anyway.

Edit: Total project cost so far, $722.69. Why the sudden jump from $506.69 to $722.69 with no update? You'll see.

This post has been edited by richee3: Jul 27, 2010 - 1:47 AM

Bump for a totally useless update!

Today, I went to the post office and picked up a JDM cardboard box!



It's at least a 450 RWHP cardboard box. It's from Japan.

Oh, and it had some JDM tails inside.




That's the third set of JDM tails I've bought for under $150 shipped. I could have bought a fourth pair but decided I didn't need to. I really should have spent this money getting the car running again, but I figured I'd save some money on the tails while I could.

Took a picture of the finish just so you guys get an idea of the condition/color of the paint. As I said, where the paint is bad, it's very bad but where it's good, it's good.

>
Dude WTF

LOLOLOLOL

OT: Looking good man, I can't wait to see how it turns out.

This post has been edited by HectortheRican: Aug 3, 2010 - 1:17 AM

>

Lol nice sig, Samir

Just a teaser for you guys.



Yes, I used a Honda to get my Toyota in my garage. And it did the job quite well. I'm very fond of my topless orange Honda. I go on topless Honda cruises quite often.

Getting the proper tools ready:

Gotta have the truck to move the car.

The last picture of this motor in this car as it should be.


This is literally all of the oil that was in the oil pan.









This post has been edited by richee3: Aug 10, 2010 - 4:36 AM

get this thing ready for the next meet man!

This post has been edited by enderswift: Aug 10, 2010 - 4:12 PM

oh those greasy days!!!!

>
Lol working on it. It's just a matter of saving up and buying a 3S at this point.


>
Nothing beats a busted axle boot! I love being covered in axle grease.

For real though, the first serious update of this thread: The super blown 5S is out of the car.







Needs moar low.


This post has been edited by richee3: Aug 10, 2010 - 10:07 PM

Quite the show sir.

You're making some really nice progress. How much longer until the 3S...rough estimate?

Keep up the good work.

>

I'm hoping to buy it around Christmas or sometime after that. It probably won't happen though. I keep finding good deals on stuff and buying that instead. Like $141 for the JDM tails, just so I didn't have to pay $200 later. And I just bought bseaman's DCW gauge pod because I probably won't get a chance at another one. So unless I find a really good deal on a head unit, the engine is the next expense. $2,200, here I come.

What kind of head unit, i have a friend selling a nice double din right now for 275 AVH-P4000. Its pretty nice. I just bought his new one he didnt like for 300, AVIC-D3. And i have a friend who owns a audio shop so i can get a big discount on alot of other models and other audio things.

The one he's selling
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Pro...rs/AVH-P4000DVD

This post has been edited by JuMPiiN: Aug 11, 2010 - 12:10 AM

dude. 60 shipped and mine is yours.

it's not the best but it does the job.

This post has been edited by 97celiman: Aug 11, 2010 - 1:33 AM

Guys! Stop showing him those good deals...I want him to purchase that 3S-GTE and get this thing running.

Just kidding.

I like your goal Dan and hope you make it. I'm saving for an engine now too - I just have to encourage myself I can do a swap and then decide N/A or boosted.

This post has been edited by Keiri: Aug 11, 2010 - 9:24 AM

are we swap racing? hahah

its kinda good though not getting the engine in there for a while, gives you a chance to really get into cleaning and making sure everything thats a pain to get to with the motor in is workin mint. Hell, you could make that thing look brand new again!

you like being covered in grease? thats scary. Well good luck with the swap, its fun when you DIY, i love driving my vert.

Sadly the beams is coming out soon for maintenance....

oh and do you want a toms lip?

Lol I have no extra money, guys. Not buying anything until after I get the motor. I did, however, pick something up a few days ago.

What could it be?


It's JDM BUBBLE WRAP!!!!!


So... What happens if I take this JDM bubble wrap and combine with my JDM cardboard box? There's an explosion of JDM... It's like JDM forced induction.


Here's a videos of it in action!!!! 814 RWHP. Clicky.













































. . . Or maybe it was a DCW gauge pod wrapped in bubble wrap.



Holes have been drilled in the firewall, so now the 4 gauge battery wire and all wires for the gauges are run properly. No pictures of that because a hole in a firewall is a pretty boring thing.

This post has been edited by richee3: Aug 17, 2010 - 3:11 PM

Go go progress!

I personally hate axel grease...it just gets everywhere. Specially when a boot is blown and you drive it for a bit...such a pain to clean up.