Help on Restoring 85 Celica
viceversaeyeq
06-16-2004, 01:30 PM
I am pondering on whether I should try to restore my 85 Toyota Celica. It has quite a bit of body damage. I would probably need to do some work under the car. The muffler may need to be replaced. It has about 160,000 miles. That is a lot, but it runs pretty good. It doesn't sound like there are any engine problems. I think that if I keep up with tunes ups and oil changes it should run for awhile. Also, if I was restoring it I would have to do something with the interior. I'm thinking that if I do a good amount of work to it, it will be a pretty nice car. I'm not really sure though. Let me know if you think I should try to restore it or just find a nice junkyard for it?
TRAILDUSTER79
06-16-2004, 02:09 PM
REMEMBER ONE THING, SHOP FOR PRICES FIRST BEFORE YOU START THIS. PARTS ARE HARD TO COME BY AND CAN GET PRICY.
Ok, if you want to restore your Celica, you are in for some work. All depends on how bad the rust is on the vehicle. If it has a lot of cancer, the best thing to do is find a rear clip for it (in a junk yard or someone whoi is selling their's cheap), since it doesn't rust much on the front end much. A junk yard will usualy cut the car for you if they have the tools (sawzal) and you will have to have it taken to a professional shop to have it installed on your car ($2000 [minimum] + rear clip). On the interior, the best thing to do is take it to a good apholstry shop and have it done there (you have a wider selcetion that way and better workmanship [if it is a good shop]) {$1000+}. So here we are at minimum $3000+ and you still have to get it painted. The car in perfect shape is only worth about $3000. So, it is a toss-up on what you want to do. The good thang, is that you own the car out-right and when it is done, it will be better than new (if the shops you take it too do quality [not quantity] work.)
I am lucky because I can do all the mechanical and body work myself. Which saves me a bunch of money.
If you have some friends that do body & paint, it would be your best thing to ask them to HELP you in resotring your car. Meaning, they show you how to do something and You help them in the work. Is a good thang because when it is all done, you can say that you KNOW your car and you helped in the restoration of it. A lil eego boost.
It all boils down to.....Do you have the time, money , and paitence to have this? It isn't an easy undertaking, but it can be well worth it when you look at the finished product and say, "THIS IS MINE".....and it is a lot cheaper than a new car.
On the engine, I don't know which one you have, but they are good for around 200,000-250,000 miles before needing any real work. And that is if they are well taken car of. I got just over 300,000 out of my 22R before I went into it and I only did a stock rebuild. I am building another for it that is going to have some power.
It's all up to you and your pocket book. Let me know if you need any more help.
Dale,
....210-669-5652
Schertz, Texas
Ok, if you want to restore your Celica, you are in for some work. All depends on how bad the rust is on the vehicle. If it has a lot of cancer, the best thing to do is find a rear clip for it (in a junk yard or someone whoi is selling their's cheap), since it doesn't rust much on the front end much. A junk yard will usualy cut the car for you if they have the tools (sawzal) and you will have to have it taken to a professional shop to have it installed on your car ($2000 [minimum] + rear clip). On the interior, the best thing to do is take it to a good apholstry shop and have it done there (you have a wider selcetion that way and better workmanship [if it is a good shop]) {$1000+}. So here we are at minimum $3000+ and you still have to get it painted. The car in perfect shape is only worth about $3000. So, it is a toss-up on what you want to do. The good thang, is that you own the car out-right and when it is done, it will be better than new (if the shops you take it too do quality [not quantity] work.)
I am lucky because I can do all the mechanical and body work myself. Which saves me a bunch of money.
If you have some friends that do body & paint, it would be your best thing to ask them to HELP you in resotring your car. Meaning, they show you how to do something and You help them in the work. Is a good thang because when it is all done, you can say that you KNOW your car and you helped in the restoration of it. A lil eego boost.
It all boils down to.....Do you have the time, money , and paitence to have this? It isn't an easy undertaking, but it can be well worth it when you look at the finished product and say, "THIS IS MINE".....and it is a lot cheaper than a new car.
On the engine, I don't know which one you have, but they are good for around 200,000-250,000 miles before needing any real work. And that is if they are well taken car of. I got just over 300,000 out of my 22R before I went into it and I only did a stock rebuild. I am building another for it that is going to have some power.
It's all up to you and your pocket book. Let me know if you need any more help.
Dale,
....210-669-5652
Schertz, Texas
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