Is modding an old 1993 corolla possible/viable/stupidity?

**leftyscrewdriver** · 03-04-2016, 07:25 PM

Hey there!

I am embarrassingly new to car modification, even though I've always enjoyed racing and cars in general. I am looking to buy a new car this year, and doing so would make my 1993 Toyota Corolla Hatch essentially just scrap metal. I am hoping to do something more productive with it. My thoughts are to turn it into a project/learning sort of car, which I can tinker with and mod as much as possible so as to learn the in and outs of the car. How viable is this?

It is an AE92 chassis hatchback, with a 4A-FE 4cyl 1.6L engine. The car is manual, has a stupid amount of KMs on it, but I completely replaced the clutch only a few thousand ago, along with the brake pads and calipers.

What mods can I do to it? Literally throw ANYTHING at me that I could tinker with and explore. I would like to increase its power obviously if possible (turbo? lol), and if all goes well I hope it can be a car I can throw around on back tracks and potentially enter in some entry level rallycross events for fun (massively ambitious I know).

That's what this post comes down to, how much can I do with this car, older than me, that I love to bits. I'd rather know now that it's useless so I can start putting away a few extra $$$ to buy a turbo golf or such, if it comes down to that.

Thanks so much for the time!

Isaac

**xero** · 03-04-2016, 07:42 PM

Ask yourself this question, "what do I want to do with this car" or "do I have a picture in my head of where I want it to be"

Nearly 20yrs ago I started with a corolla just like yours, I learnt to (and made mistakes on) work on that car with a very basic set of tools.

As you are just learning for the moment I would suggest starting with a basic suspension set up, like some upgraded shocks and springs, new bushes, upgraded swaybars. Maybe some better brake pads.
And some good tyres on your choice of wheels.

I would leave power mods to a bit later, but engine conversions to 4age 20vs are dime a dozen on these cars.

**leftyscrewdriver** · 03-04-2016, 08:12 PM

Hey xero, thanks for the reply man.

In regarded to your suggestions, I think you've made some really good calls but being a newby round these parts, say I was looking at using it for mucking around on dirt, what would be a solid general setup to aim for? Like upgraded shocks and springs - what would I want to be upgrading them to? Soft? Same with pretty much everything else. Happy if you don't feel like explaining it further, but maybe can point me in the direction of resources which would help me tune it to what I want from it.

Thanks again!

**trdee** · 04-04-2016, 10:32 AM

i see you are in vic. a suggestion would be to go to a TCCAV meeting and get to know some local toyota nuts who you can talk to in person and generally just get into the community. from there you will be able to build your knowledge and also get valuable advice

my only suggestion is to try and be patient, learn more about the car and yourself before spending money going in a direction you may regret later. good tyres and brake pads are the quickest, easiest, cheapest no regret option for now. and you can slowly build up from there

**xero** · 10-04-2016, 05:26 PM

as per TRDEE, meet up with some of the TCCAV people and just talk to them about their car/s. dont be afraid to tell them that your new and want to learn and all that, most people are willing to help you out with info if you keen to do it yourself.

patience is also a key factor, you have to face the fact that its not going to happen overnight, but it will happen (unless it leading up to toyota nationals then yes, shit some how gets done overnight).

something to do is get under the car, look in the engine bay or get a couple of wheels off and just look at and take note of the current condition of some of the components of the car to see what needs replacing. you'd be surprised what you can find if you just have a look and replace if worn/old and crusty.

**allencr** · 11-04-2016, 01:25 AM

Are any 1.8 4AFE's available, drop right in with a different ECU??

Is it is is it not RUSTED? If it has cancer do you know what&how to recognize & fix it and what is not worth trying to cure?
Good luck.

Sometimes others failed project cars are a bargain, especially displaying what not to do.