Club4AG meet...

I am awesome... more to come when I get some time.

But here's a couple pics to wet your appetite until then.

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This month...

10 years ago I bought a Toyota Corolla GT-S. An 85 Zenki hatchback. I didn't think i'd own this car for that long, but man what a history. It's gone through a few minor changes since over the years, but in the end I returned it back to it's former glory. Bought it in October of '99. It was completely stock and everything worked even the A/C. My intentions were never to build a crazy car since I was working in an industry where I put together cars from silly engine swaps to psycho engine builds.

Autox Hollywood park. A first taste of performance driving and the beginning of a another era.

At the time I had a RX-3 that was setup more towards straight line battle. So I didn't care about hp. Since I started to find the straight line more and more boring. My goal was to learn performance driving. At a shop I worked at, I had met Moto of Club4AG fame with his supercharged Corolla he swayed me towards the Corolla. Wasn't really interested in Corollas at the time. I had my sights set on getting a S30 240Z . I still thought the Z was cooler than the Corolla, but the Corolla was so easy to work on. And they were cheaper and easier to find than a Z. Sure I probably could have campaigned the 3. Since the national champion was also piloting an RX-3. I figured it would be easier to find parts I needed for the Corolla than the 3.

Autox Hollywood park late 90's

I've met many enthusiasts throughout the years, most of the early owners have gone on to different things. There's a few I talk to who are still in the game after all these years.

The car has faithfully served it's master and it's taken him to different levels.

Photo by Moto @ club4ag

Learning to drift at Streets of Willow

Drift Tengoku v.14. And yes those are Hoshino Impuls

Competing in the very first Ikaten in the states.


Trying out at the RSR drift festival.


Since then i've acquired another Corolla to do battle pictured above, and retired the other one from active duty. Few old schoolers i haven't seen in a while thgought this was the first car and were saddened I beat the crap out of it. Until I let them know that's not the case.

After 10 years of ownership what's left? I've grown too attached to the car, but my old ass needs something that's more comfortable.


I still get notes or get stopped by people who are interested in the car. But can I really part with my little piece of history? Who knows....

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this is it.

It's been awhile since there was an 'official' meet. It's the good people at Drift Association, Vegasdrift, and AE86Nights stepping up to make this happen. With drifting, autox, and a car show, 4AG guys can choose or do all three. Hope to you see you guys there.

I'm signed up for the car show hopefully I win something cool.

Since SEMA is the following week, come swing by before you head out to the strip and say hi.

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AE86 Tech #86-13: The cheap bender

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Since it's nearing Halloween and being this is the 13th tech, means absolutely nothing. Except for another cheap way of doing stuff. This time I explore bending brakes. Since I can't afford one I made a cheap one. With a couple pieces of metal and a hydraulic press.


Welding a couple pieces of metal I came up with this. Not too bad.


And this is how it works.

Sure i could probably get the same results with a vise and a good size hammer. But we're really after the cosmetics. You know me, it's gotta look good for sho'!


Anyways I don't think you can make this on the vise.


Another thing that this thing is good for is holding pipe on the the drill press. Too bad I don't have a drill press to utilize this amazing piece.

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Octoberfest...

That time of year where everyone can pretend to be German.

Loads of fun if you like having a beer with your bratwurst. If you're in Torrance visit Alpine Village and get your polka on!

Possible....

El Cormino. what do you think?

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Project Volvo #7: Salamat

'Thank you' (for everyone else) for the memories. Well the time has come after almost a year of ownership fermentation. I had to let go the Swedish red velvet. The car that was to be a 24 hours of lemons contender is no longer. Due to the suffering economy, the boss bugging me for a car cover, and everyone busy with other things it was decided that the car had to move on. It has provided great memories of what could have been. But rather than have it face the government 'death panel'. It's been graciously been taken in by my mexican co worker at the shop. Since both his Hondas recently broke down. Before I surrendered the keys to him, I reminded him that he cannot install 13in reverse daytons. He just grinned.

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Just gets crazier...

When I thought Daigo Saito was the man with craziest angle. Kawabata steps up to the challenge. Watch and see. Found this on pro drifter Ken Gushi's blog. Yes i'm a fan.

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Odd goods

Tissue by Yamaha? Got this from a AE92 front clip at the shop. Don't know what it says, but I assume it's some sort of promotional item.

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More crime

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I'm not sure what the hell is going on, but why is the shop taking in more heinous vehicles I don't know. Oh yeah I forget the economy. I guess they'll taking anything at this point. But as usual I swing by the shop to work on the Corona wagon. A few cars down there's an early Corolla, already equipped with a 4AGE, definitely a cool idea and something i'd like to do one day. Probably throw in the turbo motor. This one in particular came in running bad.

Hmm, could it be the way the computer is mounted? To my dismay this was one horribly rigged up car. I don't know who setup it up, nor do I want to know. I hope his excuse is that he's a Honda guy trying to get on the bandwagon?


To top it all off, the exhaust has a nice hole in it for an extra spoonful of oomph. He must be a Honda guy.

AE86 Tech #86-12: Taps/Chasers

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It's not a tool used very often but it's nice to have. Kinda like insurance, you'll have the confidence you know your covered. There will be times that you'll run into a boogered up thread or need to clean out rust and junk in your threads. There will also be times that you'll be at the track and your set is at work. Because you didn't think you'll be running into that situation.


Here's a trick I learned a while back. It's not a 100%, but it might just save the day.

Take a file and a bolt with the correct thread needed for the job.


File perpendicular to the threads like so.


If you've got a dremel or air tool with a cut off wheel, your job has gotten just a little bit easier.

Now wasn't that easy? Do about 2-4 grooves. But don't be doing this on all your bolts and calling it your tap kit. It's always better to get the right tools for the job. Don't cut steak with a butter knife.


As ghetto as this may seem, even the next door neighbor mechanic event used it successfully. I should charge him a consultation fee.

Since those days i've already own a tap and die kit. But I actually still use these to chase out holes with dirt and other garabage in them. It actually works quite nicely. No sense in wasting a tap for just clean up.

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Replacement Battery

Jumper boxes are probably one of the best investments when working on cars. Besides jumping cars, i've used it to power air compressors, and use it as a 12v source to test ecus and other electronics. I've had mine for a number of years and it's served me well. When it was time to replace, instead of buying a new one, I decided to look for a replacement battery. But the price on just a replacement was almost the same as buying a new one. But me being the frugal person, I looked elsewhere.


Found comparable battery at batterymart.com at half the price. I don't know how good it's going to be, or even how long it will last. Only time will tell, but for the price you can't knock it.

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Another interesting swap

Late model Toyota 3.4L into an early model 4Runner aka HiLux Surf. Yeah the one with the removeable rear cap. Just doing little odds and ends so it will be ready to run. Wiring wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Being some of these trucks came with the 3.0L motor, which is POS, it's definitely a good upgrade in power and gas mileage. And if you're ultra baller they'll opt for the TRD supercharger.


Seeing this 'Runner makes me wish I still had mine. But I would be torn between doing 3.4L or the 2.4L diesel. Unfortunately, the diesel is not an engine imported here in the states, but it's still available through importers. But i'd say diesel, because power is nothing without some grease from Mickey D's

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Just noticed

Of all the years i've been to Willow Springs International Raceway, this was the first time I noticed this crank. Looks it's been hear for a while. I wonder what's the engine it came from?

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