1981 Corolla 4 door build

[URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/LS%20COROLLA%20BUILD/100MEDIA_IMAG0664_zps5422d5e7.jpg.html][/URL] Hey guys, my name is Ben and have been on here for a couple of years but haven't posted very much. I spend most of my time tinkering with my car. I am a drag racer in a group of what appears to be a bunch of road course guys which is cool too. I got this about 5 years ago and have been whittling away at it every since. In the beginning my wife told me " If you bring that home, you can just sleep in it!" She didn't see the diamond in the rough like I did. Eventually I wore her down and it sits in the driveway. And I see her spraying it down when we wash both of our other cars. It has grown on her. This car started out as a mud brown 4 door Corolla with a 1.8 and a 5 speed. I wanted more power in a sleeper that no one would suspect and still have a flat hood. As a couple of you guys have voted up my car most of you wouldn't look twice. So lets catch up.... The 4 cylinder and 5 speed was taken out for a sbc 350 and a 350 trans. Home build a drive shaft, modified 1 tube in some free hearders, built a 3" y-pipe that was connected to a 3.5" exhaust to the back of the car. I had plans to change out the rear end when it broke, but it still lives to date. I cut the centers out of some Nissan Altima wheels and re-welded them back in for some custom back spacing.( and not one of them is straight. I wouldn't advise doing this) After a couple trips to the drag strip with several 14.0 passes I put it on the dyno and was saddened by the terrible 150 hp to the wheels. (The dyno breaks a lot of spirits and makes grown men weep.) The motor has had oil pressure issues for a couple of years and I kept using thicker and thicker oil to help it live longer. Which brings us all current with the current build. Now the old motor has been taken out and an LS motor is going in...slowly I might add. Built some headers and mounts which neither one quite fit. Also ventured into building my own mufflers cause no one build what I want.

In reply to DEATHTRAP:

Sorry guys I am being a bone head on the photos. Lets try again.

DEATHTRAP wrote: The motor has had oil pressure issues for a couple of years...

This is why I love old American V8's.

Nice project.

Lets see if these photos have gone through. Hopefully they go through.

Having trouble with photos. the first one went through. I don't get it.

Ahhh haaa. I think I figured it out. I have some clearance issues to work out. But it is coming along.[URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/100MEDIA_IMAG0686_zpsc2bc11a4.jpg.html][/URL]

I had a 81 Wagon that I still regret selling. This should be a hoot when you get it up and running. Keep us posted.

[URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/100MEDIA_IMAG0631_zps46a875f2.jpg.html][/URL] I bought some circle track stuff and made up some beefier rear control arm and panhard bar. I am waiting to install the panhard bar when I swap out the stock axle for the 8.8 out of an explorer than I narrowed 7".

Why does it say that the pic is "currently unavailble"?

Because Flickr is a Yahoo property, and is therefore useless and stupid. Try photobucket.

Well before I go any further, do you guys see any of these photos? This has been driving me crazy all morning and I haven't got any work done.

All good now!

You have a twisted mind that I admire.

Carry on.

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Looks good!

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Sorry for being a post whore. Someday I might make Dork!

DEATHTRAP wrote: [URL=http://s829.photobucket.com/user/YOTA81UNDERTHEKNIFE/media/100MEDIA_IMAG0631_zps46a875f2.jpg.html][/URL] I bought some circle track stuff and made up some beefier rear control arm and panhard bar. I am waiting to install the panhard bar when I swap out the stock axle for the 8.8 out of an explorer than I narrowed 7".

Question (plus a side observation)..

I see a lot of drag racers who like to use a 4 bar trailing set up. But I've also seen a lot of good technical articles that a well designed 3 bar trailing link does a better job- mostly in that it can combat torque wedge.

(Torque Wedge = the twisting torque on the axle due to the engine torque).

I've read a few sites about it (having seen it first in Racecar Engineering), one that I found a long time ago was a claim that this person set up a drag racer in the 60's that did very well with an open diff.

I also ran into a team that had two trans-am cars- both of the 'Vette bodied. One had a 4 bar, one a 3, and they much prefered the 3 bar car compared to the 4 bar.

Thoughts about going down that path? Or are you so comfortable with the 4 bar you don't want to change?

The observation- tires- can you be sneaky and put some tires on it so that the car sits pretty level? I see a lot of Miata V8's with tires that are not too wide- so the car looks more stock. That would make a lot more people miss the fact that you've got a V8.

Good luck with the project- I bet it will be a blast when you are done.

I'm no help on the fab questions, but I will say my first car was an 82 4dr and I've always dreamed of finding one and doing a v8 swap. You have my complete approval.

Did I miss something?? I guess I don't understand how all of the other pics got posted by clownkiller. Was that me? Or was that you? And to alfadriver.....I had thoughts of using a ladder bar set up and a 3 link with a locating wishbone kinda link, but it would require me to totally revamp the rear suspension. the coil spring pocket on the rear is right up against the inside of the tire. I thought if I had to do that much cutting I would want to do a rear 4 link or even full tube chassis. And a full tube chassis 4 door corolla is still a $200 car at best. Besides I just cut off the old brackets from the old axle and transfer the to the new axle. And some classes don't allow full on 4 links. This is still factory style.

The difference between a 4 link and the 3 link I'm talking about is that you replace the upper two links that are above the lower trailing links with a single link that's to the right side (looking from behind) of the differential.

The geometry of the two lower links plus the final gear ratio would then define the length and angle of that single upper length.

So it's not really a ladder bar.

Both systems would retain the pahard rod for lateral location.

It's more of a question than anything- since you already have the hardware for the 4 link.

but here's a thread I found that disucsses it: http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2474

I think clownkiller was just trying to help you post your pictures since it's typical for people new to the forums to have troubles, but it looks like you got it down now.

Nice project by the way. Oh and don't feel like you're on the outside around here since you drag race... I don't race at all!