Over 1M Posts • 84K Topics • 9K Authors

Doctavic's 96 Celica ST - 6G Celicas Forums

Topic #88114 42 posts Started by doctavic
I've been on here for a few months now, but finally getting around to this. Here is my 1996 Celica ST. I bought it from my friend, who was the original owner, in July with 98k. All it needed was a fix to the rear bumper and an AC compressor, which was the first thing I bought and installed. Still haven't gotten to that bumper, but looking. I don't have a pic of that, or very many pictures of when I first got it, but here is the one I have:



Next, I got a set of Scion TC rims with decent tires (~80% thread left) for $300:



Then, I got a Ralco RZ short throw (7gc) from ebay and installed. It took a while, but the thread on installing these was great and I got all my questions answered. I bought a knock off TRD knob off ebay, and installed that but I didn't like the feel...



...so I tried the weighted knob that came with the Ralco short throw and it really made for nice shift feel. I cut the ring off the boot and tied it down, gives a nice look:



Next, I installed a Clarion CD/Ipod player with bluetooth that I got from Crutchfield, came with a remote too. Easy install, really improved sound quality but I still need new speakers all around.




Then side skirts:



JDM Kouki tails:

In process:


installed:


Then there is the K&N 57i Series Performance Intake Kit made for the 7AFE:

(pic shows the TRD 3-point front strut bar I just installed, see below):


and a video for sound: (there is a rattle between 2500-2800 rpm that I can't find... I think its a heat shield)

Link to video:
http://s1267.beta.photobucket.com/user/cel...f9e559.mp4.html

...then came this weekend. This weekend I installed new KYB GR-2 struts all around, TRD lowering springs, a TRD 3-point front strut bar, a GT-Four rear strut bar, and a steering wheel from a '98:

Throwing on a 20" rim from my friends' shop, just for fun:



GT-Four rear strut bar:


TRD 3-point front strut bar:


Steering wheel (I bought the sub-harness adapter so the airbag works and there is no light):



...and the final (lowered) product... for now (oh, with clear side marker lights):



...still need to fix the bumper!


This post has been edited by doctavic: Nov 18, 2012 - 8:58 PM
...and just installed the LED lights on my cluster from Spree:

Looking great so far! I especially like the Spree LED's. I have white LED's in my gauge cluster but I still had a hint of green until I sanded the backs of my gauge faces.

"Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others labored hard for." -Socrates. Even Socrates told us touse the search button!2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.1998 Celica GT-BEAMSSwapped.2022 4Runner TRD Off Road Prenium.2021 GMC Sierra AT4.
>
QUOTE (richee3 @ Nov 18, 2012 - 11:40 PM) *
>Looking great so far! I especially like the Spree LED's. I have white LED's in my gauge cluster but I still had a hint of green until I sanded the backs of my gauge faces.


what do u mean sanded the back? like what parts the green sheet?

For Sale:OEM tail lights - make offer
the picture I took makes it look more white than it is (not done purposely). i have a light green tint too.

next, thinking bumper, speakers, performance muffler, fog lights, maybe a header... but it wont pass smog then...
ahh so you're the guy who bought that strut bar. glad to see why he never got back to me after i was the first one to inquire on it.

car looks very nice though
>
QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Nov 19, 2012 - 3:24 PM) *
>ahh so you're the guy who bought that strut bar. glad to see why he never got back to me after i was the first one to inquire on it.

car looks very nice though


He had it on craigslist, i found it locally before he put up the posting here. I just hadn't gone to pick it up until after.
>
QUOTE (Malhar95 @ Nov 18, 2012 - 9:43 PM) *
>what do u mean sanded the back? like what parts the green sheet?

There is a green tint on the back of the gauge faces. This thread is very helpful.

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...41562&st=20

Simply put, I had to open up my gauge cluster, remove the needles, and take the faces off. There's a green tint on the back of each gauge face. I used a light grit sandpaper to gently sand behind the numbers on the gauge faces. I didn't do behind my fuel/temp gauges, only my tach and speedo. They're still a little green but not enough to bother me.

"Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others labored hard for." -Socrates. Even Socrates told us touse the search button!2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.1998 Celica GT-BEAMSSwapped.2022 4Runner TRD Off Road Prenium.2021 GMC Sierra AT4.
So... this past weekend I put on new struts, mounts, TRD lowering springs. Finally took it out for a long drive. The front is great, the rear makes a terrible noise over bumps from both sides. Its louder and harsher at speed, but theres no bouncing and it feels tight. Searching 6gc, seems like it could be the rear sway bar bushings. Going to try that first, but I only see sway bar bushing sizes for GTs (16mm). Anyone know if its the same for the ST? Thinking of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/140689722049

EDIT: Checked and it seems it is 16mm. Ordered these today. Hopefully it gets rid of the sound.

This post has been edited by doctavic: Nov 21, 2012 - 7:29 AM
>
QUOTE (doctavic @ Nov 20, 2012 - 11:33 PM) *
>So... this past weekend I put on new struts, mounts, TRD lowering springs. Finally took it out for a long drive. The front is great, the rear makes a terrible noise over bumps from both sides. Its louder and harsher at speed, but theres no bouncing and it feels tight. Searching 6gc, seems like it could be the rear sway bar bushings. Going to try that first, but I only see sway bar bushing sizes for GTs (16mm). Anyone know if its the same for the ST? Thinking of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/140689722049

EDIT: Checked and it seems it is 16mm. Ordered these today. Hopefully it gets rid of the sound.


I got the Energy Suspension 16mm polyurethane sway bar bushings, and helped calm the noise a little, but there is still some rattling on heavy bumps. End links looked okay, guess its the strut mounts?

Had new Alpine speakers installed, component 2-way in the front. Had a hole cut out of the door panel for the install. Between the receiver and now the speakers, sounds like a new car.
>component speaker system includes two woofers, two tweeters, and two built-in crossovers
>6-3/4" mineral-fortified polypropylene woofer cone with rubber surround
>woofer fits 6-1/2" and 6-3/4" speaker openings
>1" silk dome tweeter
>power range: 2-80 watts RMS (240 watts peak power)
>frequency response: 70-22,000 Hz
>sensitivity: 88 dB





This post has been edited by doctavic: Nov 29, 2012 - 6:47 PM
Nice speaker, that's quite a good RMS rating. How does that shifter feel exactly with a weighted knob like that?

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 29, 2012 - 9:34 PM

'97 ST\ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+[sold 10/18]'93 MX-5LE
Those alpines are great for the price. Brother has some in his car and sound great. Whatd you do to mount the tweeters?
>
QUOTE (SwissFerdi @ Nov 29, 2012 - 9:31 PM) *
>Nice speaker, that's quite a good RMS rating. How does that shifter feel exactly with a weighted knob like that?


weighted knob did wonders. solid crisp shifts.
>
QUOTE (celica74 @ Nov 29, 2012 - 10:55 PM) *
>Those alpines are great for the price. Brother has some in his car and sound great. Whatd you do to mount the tweeters?


2" hole saw, tweeters came with a ring that fit snuggly.
>
QUOTE (doctavic @ Nov 29, 2012 - 11:27 PM) *
>weighted knob did wonders. solid crisp shifts.


Good to hear. Can't wait to install mine, although it's a Type-R knob (traitorous, I know).

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 30, 2012 - 4:49 PM

'97 ST\ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+[sold 10/18]'93 MX-5LE
>
QUOTE (SwissFerdi @ Nov 30, 2012 - 4:48 PM) *
>>
QUOTE (doctavic @ Nov 29, 2012 - 11:27 PM) *
>weighted knob did wonders. solid crisp shifts.


Good to hear. Can't wait to install mine, although it's a Type-R knob (traitorous, I know).


Did you install it? How heavy is the one you got ?

This post has been edited by doctavic: Dec 1, 2012 - 10:24 AM
Got my rear bumper from dkdmonk last week, and got around to installing it...

Took off the old bumper, lights, and license plate bezel...


Then took the write junkyard writing on the bumper off with some brake fluid (water did not work, looked online):


...and the end result: (I also put a TRD emblem on the trunk)





...and got around to installing the SS-III grill and TRD badge:



This post has been edited by doctavic: Dec 16, 2012 - 4:41 PM
you just need the foglights smile.gif

God made man....Everything else...Made in China
>
QUOTE (nics @ Dec 16, 2012 - 8:33 PM) *
>you just need the foglights smile.gif


def fog lights, spacers, and a magnaflow exhaust, maybe splitters...
Xmas gift from the girlfriend, Magnaflow 14814... sounds great.

I picked up an S2000 conversion kit the other day, and got to installing it today after the rain stopped. It looks pretty good but I still need to attach the rubber hosing and glue the top part down.





I also installed the Celica door sills I got from cww180. They go nicely with the shift knob. ...and I got some TRD front splitters (pictured) and some black TRD rear splitters (not pictured that are on the way, that will all need to be painted).






Things I have (or have ordered) that still need to be installed:
TRD front and rear splitters (need painting, rears will need a slight repair too)
GT spoiler and GT-4 riser blocks:


Fog lights (hoping I have factory wiring, still need to get a switch), NGK wires and Iridium IX plugs (bad pic)



Loving the Magnaflow. Sounds really nice.




I also picked up MOOG rear end links (still tracking the noise in my rear suspension), racing pedals from Autovation (shipping now) and a Meguiar's DA Power System Kit to compound and wax the car...I wish I had a garage, I'd get so much more done on my own... I also need to get those stickers off the inside rear window without affecting the defogger..... any suggestions?

Thats a pretty solid update for now.

This post has been edited by doctavic: Jan 12, 2013 - 10:20 AM
For removing stickers you'll need a plastic scraper, hairdryer, WD-40, some paper towels, and some denatured alcohol. Soak the towel with WD-40 and place it on the sticker to let it soak the sticker. Then bring out the hairdryer and heat up the sticker while continuing to rub it with WD-40. After awhile switch out to the scraper. Keep rotating through soaking, heating, and scraping until it's just residue. Then can go between alcohol and WD-40 to remove that. How I removed some that were on mine. Didn't take too long, but it came off without damaging anything.

This post has been edited by Box: Jan 12, 2013 - 1:45 PM

2001 Miata LS 5-speed
>
QUOTE (Box @ Jan 12, 2013 - 2:42 PM) *
>For removing stickers you'll need a plastic scraper, hairdryer, WD-40, some paper towels, and some denatured alcohol. Soak the towel with WD-40 and place it on the sticker to let it soak the sticker. Then bring out the hairdryer and heat up the sticker while continuing to rub it with WD-40. After awhile switch out to the scraper. Keep rotating through soaking, heating, and scraping until it's just residue. Then can go between alcohol and WD-40 to remove that. How I removed some that were on mine. Didn't take too long, but it came off without damaging anything.


I will give this a try, thanks for the tip Box!
Your car is looking great! Is there an actual S2000 conversion "kit" that you can buy? I have satellite radio in my Celica, but it wouldn't hurt to have a functioning antenna (my motor works, but the mast cable is broken).
OK.... I saw that tutorial, but wanted a screw on conversion. I like those Scion wheels as well, and my '97 convertible needs some nicer wheels. I like the wheels that they're slapping on Miata's lately as well, but the Scions are fine. Off to ebsy.....LOL
>
QUOTE (FrankB2 @ Jan 14, 2013 - 10:21 PM) *
>OK.... I saw that tutorial, but wanted a screw on conversion. I like those Scion wheels as well, and my '97 convertible needs some nicer wheels. I like the wheels that they're slapping on Miata's lately as well, but the Scions are fine. Off to ebsy.....LOL


if buy the few things in that thread, it will literally take you 5 minutes to remove the old antenna and install this one.
Sounds good. There's a Honda dealer 2 miles from where I live.
It was 50 degrees on Sunday so I....

installed my GT-Four raiser blocks and GT spoiler (courtesy of culpable04) got new shore plates too, to do my part to support the rebuilding of the jersey shore...



also repainted the orange doggy cluster cover I got from chucho and installed it. totally changed the feel of the dashboard. really happy with this one.



and lastly installed my new Celica pedals from autovation:


I also got around to painting my TRD front splitters with the advice of Special_Edy... but its too cold today to install them or the rear splitters I got from ebay...
Love that cluster, it reminds me a bit of 911. Pedals are classy too.

'97 ST\ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+[sold 10/18]'93 MX-5LE