TA/RA possibilites

[suss_slide]

ok guys, today i checked out a RA23, it had an 18rc in it and it was seized, apart from the motor being nackered it had no serious rust, my main concern was the bonnet,(some hinges were broken off) apart from that shes was very straight and the interior was reasonably clean too, i still havent checked the TA22 yet, but im pretty happy with this one because it can bolt in an 18RG and looks reasonable, and a big plus its its a manual only downside is that its got a rooted radiator, and bogged the hell out of the doors, and the passenger side door window is closer to the door then the drivers side window? is this a matter of jsut alligning it again or what? the guy is lookin for around $600 is that a good price?

["Z" UTE]

The window adjustment is probably out, due to stuffed rollers. Easy fix, has been covered on these forums. Bonnet hinges are available NOS from Phil Eacott contactable throug the Canberra Celica Group.Radiators are all stuffed at that age, if the tanks are good get it re-cored. $600.00 for a RA Celica in that condition is a good buy.


cheers Chuck.

[DQIKST]

Stock RA23 in fair condition should be 1-2K, stock 18RG in fair condition about 500-1K (incl carbies).
In case you get a 22, you should be able to find a W50 gearbox (from a RA23/28) for $50-100.

18RGs are good and reliable engines. Some parts may be hard to find, but that is a matter of hoarding.... (this is where wife smacks me in the head)

Hope this helps

i belive you left out THIS IS HOW MUCH I WILL PAY FOR.......

as owners of 1st gen celica will ask what they want for there car if you are willing to pay the money then it is yours. if not look again but if it is clean i will assume that you will head back

and ace my celica is a TA23 with a 18rg, they are identical but i think the RA came out with 10'' disc brakes and the TA came out with 9" brakes, the diff might be a little different to.

TA 23s are the bomb because you know you have a TA23 x member (for that 1JZ or 1G later down the track )

this RA for 600 bucks is a bargin as i am sure you could scrap it and get your money back if your not happy.

As for parts on the 18RG there out there its just up to you where you look, (wreakers, ebay, yahoo japan, toymods )

1st gen celicas are great but i would prefer the 23 series because they have a boot ( i dont like the liftbacks) and they have a longer front end but if you like the 22s thats fine as Rods 22 is looking devine and that has a nice engine in it, and there is heaps of info on them here and heaps of people will be able to help you out.

at the end of the day you are the person departing with the money if You think something is too expensive then dont buy it, but if you want one (they are getting harder to find by the day) you will buy it and keep it stock till your ready to personalise it to your needs,

cya

[Dale]

Converting a ta22 to manual will be bugger all extra work if you're replacing the engine anyway.. basically all you'll need to do is cut the shifter hole a bit further forward with some tinsnips - a 2 minute job

Everything else has already been said!

[suss_slide]

orrighty got an update, tonight while i was workin saw a neat as lil TA22 pull in so when he came inside my work i asked him if he would like to sell it, tuns out it wasnt even his and it his mates who will probly sell it after he finishes with it, so this might mean im going the TA22 route, its not certain tho im foundin out over the weekend hopeully **fingers crossed**

[ATOYOTA]

ta22 are the bomb i got one and its plenty fun looks good (different not a falcadoore) and the lightest or the first gens and does keep up or beat most na sixes

[suss_slide]

well, the only thing puttin me off about the ta22 is that you can only go 1.8 (3TG) to bolt right in, where as the RA23 has got the 18RG oppurtinity, but im sure a few little tweaks could get a 3TG going along fair well, only problem is i havent seen a lot of 3TG's for sale. are these easily aqquirable engines?

[TheToyman75]

Don't get to hung up on how big the 18RG is compared to the 2TG, sure its bigger but they don't go that much harder (Or harder at all ).

Buy the sounds of things your pretty new at the whole car scene so if you can buy one that already suits your needs you will be better off. Engine conversions are not cheap ! Buy the time you change a fw clamps and hoese, buy the bits you need and change all the fluids and filters your $$$ invested will prolly be more than just buying a tidy Celica that already has a manual with 2TG or 18RG in it.

Your biggest killer is the body condition, if you can buy a good rust free, straight Celica then do. They are bloody hard to find.

[RA23]

^^^ what the Toyman sais, especially because you're gonna be off the road for quite a while when you do the conversion yourself if you haven't done that before. So not just $$, but also a lot of time.

[skiddz]

what both guys up there^^^^ said, conversions take a long time and alot of dosh, i was considering a ca18 into my pulsar for a while but that is my daily and i was considering the na version of the engine, which wouldnt have really bin worth my time and or money, and a long time walking places, you have to look at everything in the picture not just the corner that has to do with what engine is goin in, and how fast its gonna go

[Norbie]

Your biggest killer is the body condition, if you can buy a good rust free, straight Celica then do. They are bloody hard to find.

Spot on. Forget about mechanicals, your only priority is to find a straight and (relatively) rust free body. These are so rare these days you can't really be fussy about whether it's a TA22 or an RA23.

Remember mechanical repairs and upgrades are easy, but if you buy a rusty shell you might be looking at thousands of dollars just to get it to basic roadworthy condition, if it's salvageable at all!

[DQIKST]

Your biggest killer is the body condition, if you can buy a good rust free, straight Celica then do. They are bloody hard to find.

what every body said but,

i brought a TA23 and kept it stock for about 12 months they are a great run around/weekend car,

i remember the 1st time toyman saw my car he laughed and said your lucky if you get 17's thats going downhill with the wind behind you

although they are hard to find they are out there, i nagged the old lady in my street for 8 yrs,

if you want power then it comes at a price, but if you want a 1st gen i suggest getting the car and when you are finacially stable then you can do what ever the bloody hell you want with it being a 1G rotary or v6 conversion.

i brought a 18RG with a 5spd and did the conversion it took 1 weekend but thats because i had the x member and all the parts and hey it was going to go a whole lot harder than any old 2T

just remember if you have the car now you can always do it up in 5yrs time,

and engine conversion and replacing clutchs are a whole lot easier than repairing a heap of rust a huge hit and a respray

[suss_slide]

cheers for all the input guys, firstly im only new to the converison scene, not the car scene, second, this is gonna be more so a project car that i add bits to over time, and ive also got a run about.....so over time, hopefully i'll be able to get it on the road, i understand its gonna cost a big money thast why ive gone to the msot simple conversion, but ATM, im pretty confident that im financially stable, plus like i said, im not in a hurry, i know it takes time.

once again thanks for all the input and keep it coming.

[TA-022]

on any conversion its all research and planning.

budgets always blow out because you forget bits or break em.



do like me... find a wreck to convert 1st ... then it just bolts into your good car with minimal work.

[suss_slide]

another update, im most likely gonna be gettin this ra23 this weekend, the guys gonna get the engine running so thats not bad, i noticed the engine its got in there isnt an
18 R-C but an 18R he said this gave it a lil more horsepower, theres also an 18 RG for sale in SA guys askin for 500 with box, so might check that out, just a couple quick qstions guys, wat kinda economy do you boys get from the 18RG and is it hard to convert to EFI are the parts easily available?

cheers Dino