Let the rumble begin.

Being the motorsports spectator that I claim to be. The season of motorsports is in it's early blossom and I must head out to the smell of race gas and burning rubber.  I love the rumble of the V8 with cars tidy paint jobs.  But thanks to Steve C. for the ticket, I am able to fulfill my motoring passion.

Back in...

1968 this car was rolling off the show room floor. I spotted a very clean and what looks to be very original Chevrolet Camaro. At first glance I believe this a 68, but i'm no expert. They should give this guy the medal of honor for actually driving it on crowded L.A. freeway.

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Project 740 #3 Junkyard hopping

Well it's been a while since i've actually been to the yard, mostly because I'm too lazy to grab parts. I'd rather have someone else do it for me. Anyways just looking for stuff for Hell Boy's Wagon, when I came across these two beasts of burden.



Jaguars both equipped with Chevy v8 engines. I normally don't come across these at the yard, but I thought it quite the coincidence that there was two of them. I assume they came from the same place. Both in different states of disrepair, one looking worse than the other. Unfortunately, as many Volvos I did find at the yard they didn't have anything I wanted.

Though I also found this little gem

50's era Desoto at the front of the yard. I don't know if it was for sale or not, but it really looked to be in pretty good shape. Something I wouldn't mind picking up and making into a nice little cruiser.

AE82: Not reallly JDM

Toyota Corolla FX16 wasn't built in Japan, but at the NUMMI plant in Fremont California. Joint venture with General Motors and Toyota, which brought you Geo Prizm/ Toyota Corolla and Pontiac Vibe/ Toyota Matrix. Built to go head to head with VW's Golf and Honda's Civic HB, it was built with either an 8 valve (4AC) or 16 valve (4AGE).
Today let's look at what 20 years of waiting for the right power plant brings to the patient. Here we have my buddy Brian and his ultra sleeper. Powered by a 4AGZE and mated to a 6 speed transmission. The supercharged engine is sourced from a US spec MR2 and the transmission is from a Japan spec AE111 Corolla.

Having the opportunity to drive it, because I was working on it, for a day was indeed pleasant. Since the car has a functioning a/c system it made much more bearable to drive on a typical sunny day in So Cal.

Coupled with the 6 six speed transmission it really runs through the gears quickly. The power from the supercharger is smooth and linear. It pulls hard off the line at a traffic light and can pass with ease on the freeway.The whine produced from the clutch activated supercharger is great, but not as great as a pssh from a turbo.

The hood scoop sourced from an AE92 Levin is the only thing you'll see to warn you of the cars potential. I'm sure some of the noobs will ask if it's a Subaru or something.The wheels are standard Toyota steels with Factory Toyota hub caps.
The car is a bit rough around the edges, with it's rusty hatch and worn out paint. But with a healthy dose of boost who the hell cares.

Overall the package is great, small light weight hatch with good power and to top it all off it's street legal, thanks to the use of the U.S. spec MR2 supercharged engine setup. If Toyota/ General Motors offered this in their line up back in the day i'm sure we'll see much of these cars on the road.