Jump to content
Do Not Sell My Personal Information


Im Back.............. Massive Updates On My 1981 Ke70 Corolla


uncle silvia
 Share

Recommended Posts

Well I have been a member on here for a few years now and did start a topic thread on my corolla, but I failed Miserably at keeping it up to date :rolleyes:

Unfortunately my name-sake Silvia is no more after a run in with a woman driver and a Micra a few years back, so now my attention has turned to my little Corolla :thumbsup:

So here is the project from start to present....... i hope you like it B)

OK so I may as well start at the beginning!!!!

Here is my 1981 Toyota Corolla KE70 1300 that Ive had for over 3 years now!!

This car is so clean and origional, I couldnt believe it when my friend brought it around!

It was owned by an old gentleman from new, that passed away and his family just took his car to the local scrap yard in cornwall! The guys at the scrapyard thought it was too good to scrap so sold it as a whole! A friend of mine knew i was after something "old skool jap" and when he saw it in the yard he told me about it! To cut a long story short............ It became mine for only £250!!! :D .

This car has all the O/E parts and lots of bits like Toyota floor mats, tool kit, Books etc and even has some maps from 1981 lol!!

Its in really good condition to and only had some rust on the bottom of the drivers door!! The car looked like nothing has ever been inside it and nothing is used, broken or worn!!

I use this as my daily driver and a small project to keep me busy when Im not messing with my Silvia (see last photo), which Im soon to reshell after it unfortunately got written off by a woman in a micra!! :evil:

Anyway, heres some pics of when I first got it :D

MyKE70001.jpg

MyKE70003.jpg

MyKE70004.jpg

MyKE70019.jpg

MyKE70005.jpg

MyKE70006.jpg

MyKE70007.jpg

MyKE70009.jpg

MyKE70010.jpg

MyKE70008.jpg

MyKE70012.jpg

MyKE70011.jpg

MyKE70014.jpg

MyKE70016.jpg

MyKE70017.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I bought my Silvia it had a white and chrome NARDI TORINO steering wheel in it which quite frankly looked awful in that car!

I was going to sell it but didnt get round to it!

The standard Corolla steering wheel was really thin and was horrid to drive with! Then i remembered the white steering wheel I had and wondered what It would look like!

It turned out that it really suited the age of the car and kept with the Retro Japanese theme!!

With a stroke of luck we actually had the correct steering wheel boss kit on the shelf at Halfords (where i work = Discount LOL) for my car and it went on a treat!!!!!!!

What do you think????..............

MyKE70021.jpg

MyKE70020.jpg

And some pics at this stage!!.........

2007_0516-0035.jpg

2007_0516-0038.jpg

2007_0516-0029.jpg

2007_0516-0031.jpg

Arty shot:

2007_0516-0021.jpg

As you can see I have fitted the Japanese sized No. Plates (as Im going to turn it pretty much into a Japanese spec car over time), which I think look so much nicer.

Ive also fitted a K&N filter and breather to the engine......

2007_0516-0039.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some of the grey stonechip on the doors was painted white, the rubber door trims were removed and i got some wheels which I referbed myself! They have been on the car for a year now with a lovely set of Yoko boots ;D

Enjoy.............

Wheel Referb:

n511144091_123303_187.jpg

n511144091_123305_724.jpg

n511144091_123306_985.jpg

n511144091_123307_1251.jpg

Finally On The Car :-) :

n511144091_123248_8166.jpg

n511144091_123265_2820.jpg

n511144091_123286_8329.jpg

n511144091_123295_714.jpg

n511144091_123299_1765.jpg

n511144091_123292_9918.jpg

Ive decided Im gonna go mad on the looks department rather than keep it standard but dont worry, it will be all in a 70s and early 80s Japanese/Boso style but will not ruin the car! I bought some 14x9j Enkei dished wheels with stretched tyres and was soursing some twin headlights and suspension parts so I can get her riding low! Im still using the car as a daily driver so the engine will stay almost standard for now bar stage one parts to keep costs down!

Heres my New Enkei Apache 14x9j running 185/60/14 tyres............

016.jpg

015.jpg

014.jpg

013.jpg

030.jpg

Its going to be a looker that can be run everyday!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unfortunatly it looked like this just before last christmas after my neighbour drove into it in my street :evil::shock: ..................

n511144091_264401_5710.jpg

n511144091_264407_7664.jpg

Well its finally been all fixed up a few months ago and had a few new additions :D................

n511144091_519568_1264.jpg

n511144091_519560_8807.jpg

New front bumper, end caps, front lip spoiler and the front panel fixed.....

n511144091_519572_2739.jpg

New rear bumper, end caps and rear lights...............

n511144091_519565_392.jpg

My retro Japanese Sat Nav :lol:........

n511144091_519576_4136.jpg

My custom tax disk holder :D...........

n511144091_519577_4463.jpg

And heres a few arty shots I couldnt resist taking...........

n511144091_519573_3038.jpg

n511144091_519578_4850.jpg

n511144091_519580_5461.jpg

n511144091_519584_6687.jpg

n511144091_519591_9150.jpg

n511144091_519595_495.jpg

n511144091_519600_2570.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ive been saving for some suspension to lower the bugger propperly but it hasnt stopped me getting some little details from home and from as far as Japan itself!!!! :D

First off I got these pressed Alloy No. Plates made for that old skool look.............

143.jpg

142.jpg

141.jpg

140.jpg

Im heavily influenced buy the Bososoku Movement in Japan so I wanted some little details for my car!

First off I shipped in a few bits from japan..............

Tokyo subway Grab Ring.............

04082008250.jpg

04082008248.jpg

04082008247.jpg

And I threw in a Retro Corolla key ring too............

c1marley-img600x450-1205997312img_3.jpg

Then I had another parcel arrive with some more Jappy bits!! :mrgreen:

I was kindly offered a mates last Hang Ring (Rolo anyone :D) but he felt he had been delayed in sending it to me?!?!?!? (not at all really!)

Anyway he decided to give me some freebes for my troubles :D ..........

09082008259.jpg

09082008262.jpg

09082008260.jpg

09082008263.jpg

He even wrote a warning note on the back of the beer mat saying people will say silly things about the ring on my car!!!! :lol:

I don't know what the sticker means though???? Any ideas????

Link to comment
Share on other sites


And now one of my BIG parcels arrived a few weeks ago, can you guess what it is?? :lol:

11092008386.jpg

Yes its some BRAND NEW Japanese spec twin headlights :D

Will look like this when its fitted (unfortunately there was some bits missing so I have to wait :roll: )..................

9c2b.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And my most recent bargain for the car............

Total cost £17 New :mrgreen:

09102008522.jpg

Its only a cheap one but the welds are really good, its the style I wanted and its not actually that Big so it will be just right!! Cant grumble for 17 quid!!

It has been obsolete for over a year now in work, so I did a store search and I got the last one in the country hidden away at the back of another Halfords store room!! So i had it sent to my store! The price had dropped off to £20 then less my staff discount!!

Ive spoken to an exhaust builder and Ive been quoted £128 all in for this to be fitted along with the rear half of the system in stainless!! (the front half will be done later with the 4 branch manifold )

Thats about it for now but ill keep you all posted!! 8)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes and this time its a mix of good and bad!!!

Well I parked my car outside my mates house over night and this is what I found in the morning

DSCF0011.jpg

Someone had hit my bumper AGAIN on the same corner that got hit last time last year!! Its bent the bumper and the bracket, ripped my plastic end cap in half and dented the front panel under the headlights, all of which need replacing or repairing this time!! Unfortunately no note was left and it was a hit and run!!

Hopefully i should be able to get the bumper no probs as my supplier owes me a new one as this one went rusty after only a few weeks and is faulty! The rest ive got to buy myself!!!

However, on a better note I have got myself a new set of winter rims!!

These are Proper JDM yO TyTe etc etc Watanabe light rims running Dunlop Cut slicks (although street legal they are crap in the wet so are gonna be changed). Ive got a soft spot for these as I has them on my old CRX too, although these are wider with a bit of a dish!!

The best bit is they cost me nothing as i swapped them with a local guy with an AE86 as he liked my wheels with the polished lip!! Job Done!!

Heres some pics..............

DSCF0022-1.jpg

DSCF0023.jpg

DSCF0024.jpg

DSCF0025.jpg

The wheels are 14x7or7.5 with my old ones being 15x6 so they fill the arches out nicely!!

As you can see Ive also Added the chrome strips on the rear lights as per JDM models too!! Im an attention (to detail) !Removed! LOL.

Watch this space for my summer wheels coming soon

We also had a bit of fun the other night with a mate who is also interested in photography!

He decided he wanted to use my Corolla as a subject!

Nothing over the top just a nice quality photos!

Heres the first finished one of me and my Rolla

scott-corolla.jpg

And another..........................

scott-corolla2.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well the Corolla went for its MOT and it failed!! :cry:

To be honest I'm not upset as Ive done well to have 2 years of MOTs not costing me a penny on such and old car!! :P

Well it failed on %$(ed Exhaust, Rear brakes and a 10p sized hole in the inner arch!! Not to bad really!!

Well the exhaust was dead and rusted through so I used this as an excuse to get the exhaust I bought earlier fitted! As the whole exhaust was pretty cack I ended getting a full stainless system made up for it from the downpipe back!

Its a top job and it sounds nice and deep without being too loud!!

Heres some pics of the finished article....................

230320091035.jpg

230320091036.jpg

230320091037.jpg

230320091038.jpg

230320091040.jpg

230320091039.jpg

Also While the car was off the road, I had a week off with good weather, I started to fix up the bodywork and the damage to the front end!

There was a few rusty bits on the doors and rear arch so ive sanded, treated, filled where nessessary and painted to get it back looking nice again!!

Its not perfect but it cost me next to nothing to do and it will last till the car eventually has a full respray sometime!!

Heres some of the pics of the work.........................

The damage before...

18122008694.jpg

18122008695.jpg

After I removed the bumper it revealed this mess.......

190320091009.jpg

Filled the hole after straightening the front panel..........

190320091012.jpg

Primed......

190320091013.jpg

Da Daaa......... looks a bit better............

200320091019.jpg

Brand new bumper...........

230320091033.jpg

I havent got pics yet but I painted the back of the bumper with silver hammerite as these are cheap copy bumpers and do corrode unfortunately....

230320091034.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some more bodywork tidying....................

240320091048.jpg

240320091049.jpg

While it was in the air I got some better pics of the custom exhaust.............

240320091047.jpg

240320091043.jpg

240320091044.jpg

Ive also polished up my new chrome bumper for the front and got that back on! It will probably have to come back off when I do the Twin headlights............

030420091082.jpg

030420091085.jpg

LOL :lol:

030420091084.jpg

030420091087.jpg

030420091088.jpg

And my 14x9 Enkei wheels went off for a polish and a paint................

010420091071.jpg

010420091072.jpg

Unfortunately I found they couldnt be split to be painted as they had been welded together???? Well at least they wont leak air I guess and ill never need to split them again hopefully!!!...............

010420091073.jpg

And as the car stood at this point! I thought Ide enjoy the sun and take some photos after washing it...................

040420091090.jpg

040420091091.jpg

040420091093.jpg

040420091094.jpg

040420091095.jpg

040420091098.jpg

040420091100.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Photo Whoring!!

Ok so not an update as such but me and a mate went out and did a little shoot of my Corolla and his (now sold) 120y just for fun!

Heres some of the pics........ Enjoy............. 8)

2509_71151724091_511144091_1626745_7848765_n.jpg

2509_71151719091_511144091_1626744_3598811_n.jpg

2509_71151709091_511144091_1626742_7019754_n.jpg

2509_71151714091_511144091_1626743_8381655_n.jpg

2509_71151744091_511144091_1626746_6413433_n.jpg

And 1 of the Datty for ya..........

2509_71151684091_511144091_1626738_1892236_n.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well its the bit you have all been waiting for........ Yes the Enkei's and Lowering :D

I finally got round to getting this done as I wanted to show It a few times before I came traveling!!

Heres some pics of during and after the work................

Wheel centres sand blasted ready for paint!!

5771_109091894091_511144091_2180016_774095_n.jpg

All painted in BENTLEY ANTIQUE GOLD awating Stainless bolts

5771_109091914091_511144091_2180019_6430737_n.jpg

Rear dish painted too

5771_109091929091_511144091_2180021_8275490_n.jpg

Finished wheels with bolts fitted

5771_109091944091_511144091_2180024_1910153_n.jpg

5771_109091954091_511144091_2180026_4803745_n.jpg

Completed set :-)

5771_109091964091_511144091_2180028_1483095_n.jpg

Fitment.........Check lol

5771_109091994091_511144091_2180033_5620493_n.jpg

This is how u polish them............. Spin the wheels and rub LOL

5771_109092009091_511144091_2180035_5883322_n.jpg

Trying tires

5771_109092019091_511144091_2180037_645318_n.jpg

I went for 185/60/14 Fedrals in the end

5771_109092054091_511144091_2180043_6045947_n.jpg

First trial Fitment before lowering

5771_109092079091_511144091_2180048_3729334_n.jpg

Needs some arch work!!

5771_109092104091_511144091_2180053_4135797_n.jpg

Not a lot of clearence between wheel and strut....... Even with 15mm spacers!!!!

5771_109092119091_511144091_2180056_7371588_n.jpg

STREEEEETCH!!!

5771_109092129091_511144091_2180058_1896230_n.jpg

Rear springs removed for some angle grinder action......... for now!!

5771_109092139091_511144091_2180060_4926569_n.jpg

One Coil Removed at the back!!

5771_109092154091_511144091_2180062_3486823_n.jpg

Fronts removed for same treatment!!

5771_109092159091_511144091_2180063_7433363_n.jpg

One coil off all round

5771_109092164091_511144091_2180064_2107694_n.jpg

5771_109092174091_511144091_2180066_2741880_n.jpg

Time for some Arch mods!! (Heres ma Lo-Rider Yo lol)

5771_109092209091_511144091_2180071_5113045_n.jpg

Rolling..........

5771_109092224091_511144091_2180074_2976596_n.jpg

Rolled, flared and painted............. Ill do some filler work on these at a later date!!

5771_109092259091_511144091_2180081_4070645_n.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since we had more arch clearence we decided to go lower at the front............... another 1.5 Coils off the front :-)

And this is the outcome :D................

5771_109092279091_511144091_2180085_8167270_n.jpg

5771_109092289091_511144091_2180087_3596986_n.jpg

5771_109092299091_511144091_2180089_594909_n.jpg

5771_109092304091_511144091_2180090_3668142_n.jpg

5771_109092309091_511144091_2180091_3012421_n.jpg

5771_109092314091_511144091_2180092_4183082_n.jpg

5771_109092319091_511144091_2180093_6894179_n.jpg

It can go a little lower at a later date but I need to get the exhaust fettled with first as its a little low..........I do need it to be drivable though as its my daily driver!!

Hope Ive redemed myself for my lack of speed on this project ;)

And heres some better pics from The Dorset J Car show last summer................

5771_110142429091_511144091_2195939_4888871_n.jpg

5771_110142439091_511144091_2195941_404461_n.jpg

5771_110142444091_511144091_2195942_4267625_n.jpg

5771_110142449091_511144091_2195943_5672175_n.jpg

5771_110145644091_511144091_2195991_4427397_n.jpg

5771_110149274091_511144091_2196055_4572062_n.jpg

5771_110149284091_511144091_2196057_6183520_n.jpg

5771_110149339091_511144091_2196066_1866692_n.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Heres some more recent pics of the car.............................

10425_126689139091_511144091_2415031_6895658_n.jpg

10425_126689144091_511144091_2415032_7999839_n.jpg

10425_127193404091_511144091_2422185_3382275_n.jpg

10425_127193444091_511144091_2422190_1367157_n.jpg

10425_127193454091_511144091_2422192_4851652_n.jpg

10425_127193484091_511144091_2422197_5339654_n.jpg

10425_127193489091_511144091_2422198_2492253_n.jpg

10425_127193494091_511144091_2422199_1381952_n.jpg

10521_161228049091_511144091_2724905_3579763_n.jpg

Oh and i have some new goodies for the we beasty too :D

10521_161227984091_511144091_2724895_2437886_n.jpg

JDM Chrome wind deflectors (need a little modding as off a different car)

10521_161227989091_511144091_2724896_7177753_n.jpg

10521_161227954091_511144091_2724892_4373430_n.jpg

Very rare Genuine Toyota Corolla (Jap Spec) chrome fender mirrors......... maybe the only set in the UK??

10521_161228004091_511144091_2724898_4775871_n.jpg

10521_161228014091_511144091_2724899_2460319_n.jpg

10521_161228019091_511144091_2724900_8049940_n.jpg

10521_161227974091_511144091_2724894_2346112_n.jpg

Centre Consol.............. unfortunately got a bit broken but I should be able to fix it.

10521_161228024091_511144091_2724901_2231744_n.jpg

10521_161228029091_511144091_2724902_2206773_n.jpg

Corolla 'C' badges Gold and rare white

10521_161227999091_511144091_2724897_2380033_n.jpg

Gold Badge test fit (however this will be on my JDM Twin Headlights and grill i already have ready for fitting)

10521_161228044091_511144091_2724904_6523326_n.jpg

10521_161228034091_511144091_2724903_1673024_n.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I am now in New Zealand and will be traveling for a year here!!

WOW what an amazing country by the way.......... love it :D (Oh and its full of old Toyotas tooo)

The Corolla is now in storage and ready for the project to go to a new level when I get back 8)

These are the last pics i took before i left...............

16131_184763399091_511144091_2911742_1554444_n.jpg

16131_184763409091_511144091_2911743_4126021_n.jpg

16131_184763414091_511144091_2911744_2555719_n.jpg

16131_184763424091_511144091_2911746_2408659_n.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well While im away my plan is to collect parts for the Corolla over her in NZ as lots of parts are avaliable here!

When i get back the Corolla will no longer be my daily and will be a full project car with a complete rebuild and engine swap over time!

Watch this space :thumbsup:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 years later...

The OP was last on the forum in September 2010 - so I doubt you will receive a response ..........

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

love it ,!!!!!!!!!!! Im tiding a 1980 hiace at the moment ,they dnt seem to be a very chatty bunch on here, trim bits for my van are hard to come by .but totally love your motor well done ;) :clap:

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 years later...
On 1/10/2016 at 11:34 PM, FROSTYBALLS said:

The OP was last on the forum in September 2010 - so I doubt you will receive a response ..........

Well I’m back 😉😂👍

On 1/11/2016 at 9:28 PM, scrowie190 said:

love it ,!!!!!!!!!!! Im tiding a 1980 hiace at the moment ,they dnt seem to be a very chatty bunch on here, trim bits for my van are hard to come by .but totally love your motor well done 😉 :clap:

Hi 👋 

thanks for the comments. Obviously this was a long time ago. 
I had to sell my van when I left NZ which was a big regret but I’m currently considering a gen 4 Hiace now as I miss van life.

As for the corolla...... it’s been in storage for 10 years now but hopefully moving it to my new house with double garage soon 😉👍

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
On 1/2/2020 at 3:45 PM, uncle silvia said:

Well I’m back 😉😂👍

Hi 👋 

thanks for the comments. Obviously this was a long time ago. 
I had to sell my van when I left NZ which was a big regret but I’m currently considering a gen 4 Hiace now as I miss van life.

As for the corolla...... it’s been in storage for 10 years now but hopefully moving it to my new house with double garage soon 😉👍

Would you sell it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share





×
×
  • Create New...




Forums


News


Membership