ae86 front end on ae71

**dan05k** · 11-12-2006, 10:20 PM

i have heard of people putting ae86 headlights, bar, grill, bonnet and guards on a ae71.
can anyone tell me how much work is involved in doing this? what parts are needed? and does it look any good?
any pics would be appreciated. thanks,

**The Witzl** · 11-12-2006, 10:45 PM

is it just me, or is there an actual resounding need to ask the question.... WHY??

Different - maybe?
Sensible - no.
Costly - yes.

**Sam_Q** · 12-12-2006, 12:01 AM

can be done as has been done in Malaysia. I will help do it to a car to continue a build up of a one that belonged to a friend that died. Me and his brother are still working it out

**suss_slide** · 12-12-2006, 02:42 AM

why isnt it sensible? costly? not really, im pretty sure most of the panels bolt up, if your handy with your shit it wont cost much,.

**Sam_Q** · 12-12-2006, 06:55 AM

thats not where the cost is, have a look at the price and availability of sprinter parts. For example try and buy a sprinter radiator support pannel and see how far you get

**dan05k** · 12-12-2006, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by The Witzl

is it just me, or is there an actual resounding need to ask the question.... WHY??

Different - maybe?
Sensible - no.
Costly - yes.

because the stock aussie spec ae71 front end looks like shit!!
whats the difference betten me wanting to do this and other people doing twin headlight conversions?
if you dont have any useful information then dont bother posting ur crap here.
i might only be a new member, but im no retard. I am actually a very experienced mechanic. feel free to give me shit if i start asking about how to fit neons to my mitsubhi mirage, till then, dont bother.
to other people who had usefull information, thankyou. do you happen to have any pics of this modifaction done? do i need to use an ae86 radiator support ?
i do realise that ae86 parts can be pricey, but not out of reach.

**NeoNasty** · 12-12-2006, 10:39 AM

I have seen it done but I dont have any pics of it. It looks hella good.

What about trying to fit an AE82 front end? Then you can fit the twincam16 front spoiler too. I always though that'd look great.

**DigitalPho3nix** · 12-12-2006, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by NeoNasty

I have seen it done but I dont have any pics of it. It looks hella good.

What about trying to fit an AE82 front end? Then you can fit the twincam16 front spoiler too. I always though that'd look great.

AE82 front end is a great idea! I wonder if it would fit properly?

**The Witzl** · 12-12-2006, 11:17 AM

My original comments were aimed at the specific use of an AE86 front end, which to me kinda defeats the idea of using an AE71 in the first place (AE71 is cheap, AE86 is not - yet they are effectively the same shit). I questioned the idea based on that, and that in my mind i dont see much of an improvement from AE71 to AE86 frontend.

The AE82 front end is a lot more sensible in my opinion, as you arent hit with Takumi tax for the body panels. I have bought a complete Taiwanese copy radiator support panel for an AE82 i was fixing up, and it cost only $150 new, and actually fit the AE82 very well.
The rest of the parts are pretty easy to find down at piccies, and cheaply too.

You might be faced with some panel alignment difficulties with this idea though... which could end up in "panel grafting" - a rather costly and laborious process of chopping the original and the donor panels in two and then welding the original rear section to the new front section of each panel.

**dan05k** · 12-12-2006, 12:51 PM

good suggestion, i can borrow front panels of a ae82 easy, whereas i dont have a ae86 laying around unfortunatly. dunno if it will look as good as a ae86, but i might give it a try. I know i can get tiawanese front panels for an ae86 for a resonable cost through parts department at work for special staff price, but dont actually know what panels i do and dont need. for example the raditor support.
i will have a look at the ae82 this weekend and see what i can find.

**Sam_Q** · 12-12-2006, 05:42 PM

I was going to recomend the ae82 front end also, if you go for the early one it is very simular to a sprinter, they have an almost identical front bumper and they ever have interchangable headlight glasses with an 86. The indicator lenses are shorter than an 86 but that might mean it will fit your existing gaurds, its a long shot but you never know. For the bumper you will need to trim some plastic off the sides which is easy enough. Dunno about AE82 but a corolla has a higher radiator support than a sprinter. It's real hard to say but you may well still be able to use the original suport and just do some fabrication.

I will try and find a pic for you

**EVOSTi** · 12-12-2006, 08:49 PM

noones got a pic available? ive seen photos of more than one ke70 with a sprinter front end and imo it doesnt look that great, kinda like when you see a VL with a VS front bar, doesnt suite imo.

but if i were to change the front of a ke70, (which i think looks ok in the first place) i agree with others in saying ae82 would look pretty good. now that i mention it, wasnt there some pics a few years ago of a sprinter with ae82 front end?

**dan05k** · 14-12-2006, 05:19 PM

thanks to the guy who emailed me that pic of the red ke70 with ae86 front, looks really good i thought!
wish i had some more info on how it was done but...