Ae86 Buying Advice...

[Ian Gratton]

Hi,

Basically I am going to view an ae86 GT Coupe on saturday. I know very little about this cars but I want it mainly for fun and some drift racing. The spec of the car is as follows:

1984 A reg in white/black,MOT-dec04 TAX-end june.

ENGINE-4AGE,Washable air filter,polished induction pipe,splitfire plugs,4-branch manifold+Janspeed centre section with stainless back box,radiator re-core,lightened crank pulley+fan,MicroDynamics adjustable rev limiter with full throttle gear change,Castrol GTX Magnatec oil.

CHASSIS-Lowered,Koni adjustable shox,Whiteline h/duty f+r anti-roll bars,adjustable Panhard rod all with pollybushes,40mm roll centre adjusters,drilled-grooved front disks,braided brake lines,2 spare front calipers,set of 5 polished 14"Supra wheels on brand new Fulda Attiro rubber,some spare deep dish drift wheels.

INTERIOR-standard complete,Trust aluminium gear knob,5"Tacho rev-counter with shift light,INDIGLO BLUE volt/vacume guages,mountney s/wheel.

EXTERIOR-Full re-spray last nov,black bonnet,phase2 sideskirts,some stickers etc.

Questions....

any tell tail signs of a dead or dying 4AGE engine ???

any bad areas on the Shell ?

are the spares still quite easy to get hold of ? I've heard things like alternators can be a pain.

basically anything that you think I should look out for.

all advice welcome

[EircamAE86]

Altenators and that kind of stuff are not a problem just had mine re-coned for £45. Its hard to say about the 4ag, they are fairly bulletproof. Thats the one in chesterfield, from findit.co.uk sounds like a good car, the body cant be bad if its had a full respray. If youve never really known ae86s, i suggest you have a look at a good one first so you have something to compare to, where u based????????

[simply_sideways]

All three phases off the 4A-Ge engine are fairly bullet proof just keep a good check on oil level cause if they go low on oil 95% of the time they will throw a big end bearing and as of yet i dont know of a big end bearing being successfully changed they will always throw them again.Gearbox just check that it takes gears with no fuss only problem you could have there is fourth gear they always seem to wear the syncro on that gear first and then it starts to jump out of gear the diff are usually flawless just see if you can hear any kind off whine now if its just been rebuilt you would usually get that.The body im afraid is a whole different ball game check the floor pan under the pedals and the bottom off the spare wheel well check both sills at the front off the back wheel arch they usually go there the inside off the boot at the bottom off it and last but not least the two pockets if you put your hand in to the top off the two back arches or you can also get to them by opening the boot and putting your hand down the two pockets at either side off the car.Your body is your main problem if thats solid your sorted. Oh one more thing if your going using it for drifting you would be a lot better off getting a set of 13" superlites or revolutions with 185/60/R13 tyres they are a lot easier to play around with happy driftin simply sidewys.

[Ian Gratton]

Cheers Folks,

I am based in Derby (hence why the chesterfield one - its only 20 mins away).

If anyone is close by it would be good to see another ae86 so I have a yardstick to compare to. I too figured the Shell couldn't be too bad if he's gone to the trouble of a respray (it was just external - if I have the car I may well strip the interior and engine bay and paint the lot. I need to find out a little more history of the car too. It sounds like all the suspension and ARBs have been replaced quite recently. Do they destroy wheel bearings - many cars from this era did if you were a bit rough with them ????

Will let you know what I find when I get back - hope its a good one :)

My only other real option is to go back to my original plan of using an s13 200sx - but the ae86 appeals to me because of its history.

Ian.

ps: EircamAE86 - your car looks lovely - I notice you are based in doncaster - I'm a doncaster lad originally too - my brother is traveling down to derby to help me check this car over - could be useful to pop and see yours some time.

[simply_sideways]

HEY IAN IF YOUR STUCK OR NEED PARTS GIVE US A SHOUT IM WELL USED TO THEM A BIT OF A SMART MAN :hokus-pokus: IF YOU WOULD

HAVE HAD FOUR OF THEM SO FAR HAVE PRETTY MUCH SEEN EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO THEM HAPPY DRIFTIN

[EircamAE86]

To problem mate, just tell me a time you want to meet some evening (donny town/dome????)

My car is far from mint but i think it ll give you a good idea of what to look out for!!!!!!!!!!!

[RWD for me]

Did you buy the ae86 in chesterfield went to look at it but wouldnot sell it told me someone was flying from ireland so see it on the sunday