Refresh: Project Silver Panda

Lately, I've been spending a chunk of time planning for my little Corolla. As a young guy fresh out of college, and with mountains of school debt looming above me, it's difficult to set aside money or put into money towards the little 'Rolla. But planning is free.

Back in 2007, I removed the mechanical fuel pump, cut a block off plate from some scrap steel I had laying around, and wired in a new electric fuel pump... without a fuel pressure regulator. What happened as a result? I flooded the engine and then couldn't figure out why it wouldn't start. Surprise, surprise. So my plan right now is to return to the OEM setup since the mechanical pump only pumps what it needs and faster the cam turns, the more fuel pumps: it's genius! Obviously if I heavily modify the engine, there's going to be a point where the mechanical pump won't be able to meet the needs of the engine, but I don't think I'll be reaching that point any time soon.

Currently, the little 4A-C sitting in it is not running. As a 19-year-old kid, I bought a car because I wanted to be MR. DORIFTO, and not knowing anything about cars or engines, I flooded the engine and didn't even know it. I thought I destroyed the engine.

Five years later, after having to fix nearly every mechanical mishap possible on my daily driven Acura Integra myself, such is the life of a broke college student, I am finally realizing what happened in the past and what I need to do to fix it.

It needs a battery, a new fuel pump (with new fuel), most likely new spark plugs, a few new gaskets, and finally replace the oil. And then I don't see any reason why it wouldn't start.

As soon as it's running, I can start diagnosing the knocking that is coming from the engine bay. I've heard all sorts of explanations of what it "could be," but what I know is that until I get that engine apart, I won't know for sure.

I've been doing a lot of reading of a fellow Corolla owner in New Zealand, you can check out his blog at 86life.wordpress.com.

Media Alert!: "Bridesmaids" Trailer

So my sister-in-law was visiting yesterday and in the process of showing my wife a new trailer for a movie, called Bridesmaids, I witnessed a bit of automobile.

Just like when you are driving down the street and you see that silhouette and you immediately rubber-neck to see if it was a Corolla. And it was!

Little Tail-End Action of a Coupe

Kristen Wiig of SNL Fame with the Coupe in the background

The reason they probably chose the car in the first place

It was great to see some Corolla love, even if they are presenting it as a piece of junk car owned by an uptight, loser character. 

Hachi-Life, baby.

-SlowTEC

Hachiroku "Blogosphere"

Let me begin by saying that I spend a large portion of my day looking through AE86 Forums, blogs, Corolla build logs, and applicable automotive project articles. Unfortunately, the sites that I make a point to keep up with have been getting fewer and fewer recently, and not because I am lacking in interest. They just aren't posting anything new.

I know, it may seem petty, especially since my last post on this blog was back towards August 2010 way, but I expect more from established bloggers. When I wait 17 days for a new post from KeepDriftingFun, I expect more than "Oh hey, here's a new thing you can buy from us." I don't mind them advertising, because they have to pay for the gas and time somehow, but those shameless plugs are something you throw in as an appetizer or maybe a dessert... not the main course!

I start by checking back every 10-12 hours, and after a few days I may only check once in the morning, and then after a week maybe every other day, and then bi-weekly, and soon I've forgotten about a blog completely!

Once I stopped posting here consistently, I even forget about my own blogs!

Even Hachiroku.com.au, a blog who has a mission statement describing their commitment to day-to-day posting, has yet to post anything since the end of last December.


It's a strange feeling, like all of a sudden being stranded on the Moon with no one to talk to. But I digress...



It's really made me rethink my own commitment to this blog, especially with the redesigned website, storefront, blog...front. You know. Hachi-Life could be so much more to people... originally I just planned on using it to store article links, video links, forum links... you know LINKS. Links to things I didn't want to forget or lose.

Like this link to a video of a car club in Chicago, Risky Devils, doing some street drifting around a mostly abandoned industrial district. Not that the guys in the video are particularly articulate, and even partake in what I can only call douche-baggery towards the end, it is still such a good video of guys going out and having fun. Just sliding around. And, if you are wondering what the music in the video is, the song that begins at the wreck is BBU - BB WHO!!!, and the rap song with the heavy bass-line is Dom Kennedy - Menace Beach.

BOOM! Just like that I saved a video, a car club blog, and two decent pieces of music that are definitely going to make their ways onto future driving playlists. And maybe it wasn't related to Hachiroku's exactly, but it's still cool by association. (And if you go halfway down the first blog page of Risky Devils, you'll see a sweet 20v rippin' up a track day!)

So while we may have just entered Fe-Brew-ary, I'm going to make my resolution for 2011 to post more often and more meaningfully here on Hachi-Life. I vow to finish the site, complete my product population in the store, and actually create something worth investing the time into.

Until next time,
SlowTEC

4A-C: The Power Struggle

Toyota's 4A family of engines definitely started a cult following. Everyone remembers and likes 4A-GE, he was the high school  quarterback and prom king, people even remember 4A-GE's bodybuilder cousin, 4A-GZE, even if it was because of the scandal with performance enhancing drugs. But no one every really gave much of a thought to his Average-Joe older brother, 4A-C. 4A-C was decent at sports, and though not really phenomenal at anything he wasn't a quitter. 4A-C may not have won any races, but he finished every one. 

The Little Engine That Could

And he should be commended for that. 
Well, the group at 4AC-Powered.forumotion.com does exactly that, and sifting through page after page of modification, inquiry, and backyard-engineering you really start to feel a glimmer of hope bubbling up in your chest, 4A-C power is possible! 


Is it worth the money? Probably not, but then again Hell yes it is! I admit, I admire 4A-GE too, but something about the underdog nature of 4A-C, I end up rooting for him every time. So this is the post dedicated to how you can pump up 4A-C into something respectable.
First thing first, take the C out of the equation. The evil octopus, black spaghetti of death, the emissions equipment littering the engine bay has been known by many names, but it's intentions have always been straightforward: to hold you back!


BE CAREFUL IF YOU HAVE TO PASS EMISSIONS THOUGH, TANGLING WITH THE OCTOPUS WILL MOST LIKELY LEAD TO A FAILED VISUAL.


There are tons of videos and explanations for what needs to be done to free your baby up and get it out from under The Man's thumb, and once all the clutter is gone it'll make you feel a lot less anxious when looking under the hood.


Carbs don't have to be bad! 
There are good carbs, like the old tried and true Weber 32/36 DGEV Progressive Carburetor. Retailing at around $230 for the carb alone, it can seem like a chunk of change, but breathe easy as there are usually a few used models to be had on Craigslist in your area for around $100-$150 (though a good rebuild might be in order, and don't forget your adapter!). Or, if you just want to spend the cash and get it over with, the Weber Redline K740 kit comes with everything you need (carb, adapter plate, filter) to bolt that baby onto the manifold, and runs just shy of $300.
You've got your Weber on and it's running stronger, and is way cleaner under the hood now that you wrestled the octopus out of there Godzilla style, what next?


Cam it, baby! 
The good fellas at Schneider Racing Cams will regrind your camshaft to whatever duration and lift floats your boat! Send your camshaft to their shop in San Diego, along with $120 US, and in a few weeks you'll be hearing some gnarly idling! Don't forget to grab your double valve springs from Schneider while you're at it (~$75), you don't want to float a valve!


What Next?
Now you're cammed, you've got a new carb, and your new double valve springs are in and you're looking for more? You have a couple of options now, Hage Tool and Machine Inc. in Bear, Delaware happens to make Adjustable Cam Gears that look incredible. And a deal for only $100.

And don't forget the flywheel! The stock one sits at more than 20 lbs!!! You can get an after market lightweight 6-bolt flywheel for the 4A-C that weighs 8 lbs, but it'll cost you a chunk of change anywhere between $325(Stillen) - $400(Aasco). 


Unfortunately, we're now starting to run out of easily acquired parts and upgrades, from here on out it's handyman corner (unless you're flush with cash). 


The exhaust, from the manifold all the way back to the tip, is small and restrictive on a stock 4A-C. And since pacesetter and S&S haven't made headers for this engine for some time, you are either going to have to hawk Craigslist, eBay, and Corolla forums until one pops up, hire a fabricator (or Forum friend) to make you one, or make it yourself. Expect to shell out no matter what direction you go.


Another handyman upgrade is the conversion from a standard internal coil distributor to an external high voltage MSD 6AL with Blaster Coil 2. As explained by 4AC-Powered's own Und-R-Steer, owner of the Ultimate 4A-C, "Once you get into heavy performance modification to your engine, the need for a more precise and powerful spark control becomes important." Makes sense to me, hopefully it makes sense to you. The full instructions are listed on the 4AC-Powered forum and you'll have to become a member to get complete access. (Ha! I knew I would find a way to make 4AC-Powered invaluable at some point!)


Several members have taken their builds further by modifying the factory intake manifold to be more straight-through, having parts specially made/altered, adding the 4A-GE's oil cooler, as well as switching out the bottom end with a more sturdy 7-rib block. The possibilities are endless!


Now you just have to get the suspension set up and you'll be running with the big boys!


Thanks for reading! 


SlowTEC

Do-It-Yourself: WHEEL SPECIAL

So if you are like my father, you think that the right wheels can make up for any amount of body damage.

Considering we are all in love with 20+ year old cars that have a following (but not large enough of a following that OEM panels are still produced), body damage is something we all live with.

But that doesn't have to be true for the crusty, dim, grungy, flaking, peeling, road-rashed, beat up, scuffed, chipped, or ugly wheels that we put on our beloved Corollas. And besides the cost of a few materials, which can be cheap depending on how hard/easy or long/short you want the job to be, it is something that can be accomplished on all of us no matter what stage of our build.

So pulling straight from our own AE86-Scene sites comes two extremely well written articles showing how a little elbow grease and wrist strain can produce some seriously envy-inducing results.

The first article was written by Dorikaze.ca's own Loki440, and is titled, Loki's Guide to Polish and Paint your Wheels. The guide is well written, with enough pictures and explanations given to help you through, and the finished product is an incredible refresh, making the original picture look like a washed out old Polaroid.

The second article is a doozy. The article was written by Club4AG's Jeonsah, and, while beginning the thread in an arrogant tone about Club4AG's "coolness," the result of his long and arduous labor, in my opinion, definitely gives him the right. The article, Club4AG's Own DIY Wheel Restoration!, is a long, intense, labor of love on the part of the member. The amount of time and effort that went in to such a project is nothing short of mind numbing, I mean, honestly... the guy spent 40 long hours working on those wheels! And the way they look in the end shows that it was worth every second. And considering he did it with the tried and true ol' Supra wheels gives him a +1 in the Corolla Good Book.

I am planning to undertake a similar project with my Corolla's factory alloys very, very soon. So expect it in the near future.

Have a good evening,
SlowTEC

4AC-Powered: The Underdog Story

The first post is going to be reserved for my most active forum: 4AC-Powered.

"The Little Forum that Could"

STOP! I know what you're thinking! The 4A-C is not the retarded cousin of the 4A-GE, he's just the slacker little brother. But just because he was the high school outcast and not the varsity quarterback doesn't mean he lacks potential. It is that his potential isn't immediately apparent, it takes a special kind of person to cultivate that potential. And that is the best way I can describe the membership of 4A-C Powered, they were the people that saw the misguided outcast and chose to put the effort into helping him excel.

He may not be as popular, but, as many members have proven, he can still be successful.

And since the 4A-C was thrown in quite a few cars, the membership is as diverse as any 4A-GE group. The main issue is the aftermarket support, or, I should say, the lack thereof. Because of this the Do-It-Yourself spirit reigns supreme here, if you aren't handy already you're going to be in a hurry.

So maybe the next time you or a friend is buying an SR5, take a moment to weigh your options, the 4A-C may be down but he definitely isn't out.

-SlowTEC

Hachirokuuuuu!!!

Hello there!

So the purpose of this blog is to update the interesting Corolla stuff I find in an effort to really consolidate my knowledge base and put together a link center of the interesting articles I find so I can quickly look them up again for my own sake!

I hope it helps others in the process and I am going to put up some merchandise for sale in the paypal storefront I have created that is on the left-hand side of the screen. (I'm sorry if the left-handedness offends any UK or OZ people... it's just the way I'm wired here in the good ol' US of A)

An introduction is in order!

I am a member of nearly every other Corolla community, and I enjoy all of them, the only problem is that I find it's difficult to remember/find a lot of articles I felt were really useful. And that crap is irritating. The name, or handle if you will, that I go by is "SlowTEC," yeah yeah I used to have a Civic and that's where it's from. Look man, we've all made mistakes...

I don't mean to poach other people's readership, or compete in any way, I am just making this a shortcut.

So without further ado, here we go! First post will be up shortly!

-SlowTEC