Wow that's a gorgeous car...

 

Thanks! I've been following it's development since about 2009 and got my first chance to drive one 5/5/12 in Baltimore. I got to work on the following Monday and asked my inventory manager to see if he could trade the red one we had coming in at the time for an orange (Hot Lava) one. I was mostly sold on the car before driving it and once I did, it was all over.

The Celica is for sale...*wink* *wink*....lol. Honestly though, the Celica was repainted by the previous owner because the paint was all faded and the clear cost was peeling everywhere. Whoever painted didn't do the best job of masking so it looks good in pictures and from a distance, but you can see overspray all around the moldings. It's still in good shape for being 22 years old and I'm just the second owner.

The FRS is a bada** car! LOL 200hp but only 2758lbs and 18.1" center of gravity. It looks faster than it is, but for what some say it lacks in power (I think it's fine), it more than makes up in handling. I babied it per break-in according to the manual and didn't take it over 4k RPMs. I was supposed to do that for the first 1000 miles but couldn't help myself around 850 miles or so. It is happiest from about 4500-7000 RPM. It handles so good on Prius tires that they have on there stock so I can only imagine how well it will handle with some stickier rubber under it.

At the training seminar at Pocono Raceway Scion had for us, I took video of a drive in a FRS and a Civic Si and you can see the difference in the video of the handling. It's even more drastic in person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP3t42-ahnw

With all the nannies turned off, it over steers quite easily but it doesn't take long to get the feel of how to control it. I took a short video of my first time playing with it in a parking lot and I was able to get controlled slide by the 3rd try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQigF39eA-s

The only downside is now I have two vehicles to throw money at. I'm really looking forward to getting the SAS parts out of my garage and under my 4Runner. Once that is done, I can start putting some parts on the FRS!

Ruskymx

 

Well, I have an appointment set for the SAS. I'm dropping my 4Runner off at AtoZ Fabrication a few miles from my house on November 4th. They will be installing the IFS Eliminator Kit with 3"HD springs and 4" Rear Leaf Swap, dual cases, 5.29's with Aussie lockers, Dirty 30's and I think that's about it.

I was out wheeling on Sunday 9/30 and snapped my rear sway bar and I also noticed that I started to get a little bored with green trails. Plus I got tired of looking at all the parts collecting dust in the garage...lol

Ruskymx

 

The has started! Woo hoo!




SAS underway! I realized that I forgot a few things like a speedo ext cable, the shifter boot for the dual case lever and probably a few other things that will get figured out as it progresses.

Ruskymx

 

Lookin good. Cant wait to see more pics

 

That is a NICE FRS!! Was thinking of getting one too.

And cant wait to see how the runner is gonna turn out.

 

If you are on the fence about an FRS/BRZ, go drive one. You will be convinced! It's not the fastest car in the world but it's quick enough and handles like it's on rails. I can't wait to autocross it!

I'll get some more pics of progress on the 4Runner next week. I had someone lined up to install everything, but he's got a lot of his own projects going on and a family so I am having a local shop do it. I cannot weld nor do I have the time to learn either. It's going to cost more, but at least it won't be like other projects that I start and never finish. Well, is a trail rig ever truely "finished"? I doubt it...lol

Ruskymx

 

Photo Update:

3" TG Kit



4" TG Rear Leaf Swap


They were getting it on it's own weight today and flexing it out to make sure everything is OK before final welding. I should be able to pick it up of Friday. They did run into a snag though. My 4Runner has the G58 transmission. So, my dual case setup will not work. I have already sourced a G54 transmission and will get that installed and do the cases at a later date. I didn't do anything with the driveshafts yet because I didn't want to get shafts for a single case made, just to get them redone when I get the duals in. So my 4Runner will be 2wd for a while until I can get the G54 that was actually originally set up with the cases that I have.

I'll post some more pics when I pick it up!

Ruskymx

 

That runner looks massive!! Like a beast hahaha looking good

 

I went to pick it up today and they were bleeding the brakes when I got there. They couldn't get a good pedal and we finally noticed one of the lines going into the LSPV in the rear was leaking so they had to replace the line and bend one up to fit. I'll be picking it up over the weekend or Monday at the latest.

Here's another shot from the cell phone.



Ruskymx

 

I picked her up yesterday and brought it home. Certainly drives a bit different! As of now, it's only 2wd because I need to get the G54 tranny that I just bought installed along with the dual cases. It has the stock tranny in and single case because it's a G58 and doesn't work with duals.

Driveway flex shot...lol



Ruskymx

 

How does the 3" front compair to the 4"rear setup? I have a 4" spring setup already and was wondering if the front would sit level or not with the 3" front kit.

Looks good!

 

I think it looks pretty level. If anything, the front may be a tad higher, but it could also just be the rear wheel well being lower than the front. I'll get some better side pics and 3/4 views. I had a lot to do today so just screwed around for a bit.

Ruskymx

 

Looking good!! If u can't get that dual to fit then u can pass it this way hahaha jk

 

More pics

 

Here are some more pics as requested.





The PS rear tire is on top of some wood so it looks tilted. I did notice that the axle is not centered L to R in the front. It looks like the person that welded the spring perches onto this axle didn't measure properly. They will need to be adjusted and I'll get that done when I get my duals installed because I'll be getting the driveshafts done as well. I may need to have them removed anyway to improve the pinon angle so I'll get it done all at one shot. I'm surprised I didn't notice it sooner because the U-bolt on the PS is crooked and very noticeable.



Ruskymx

 

Lookin good rusty!

Sell your 33s while they still have some life on them and put the $$ towards some bigger rubber

 

I like it