Possible New Banzai Project

[banzaijoe]

Hi everybody,

Had a wander through Autotrader the other day and stumbled across a 1986 EP70 Starlet: mint condition, one lady owner from new, 71k miles, fsh. The spare wheel/tool kit/cigarette lighter have never been used either. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I bought it for £250 (too good to pass up) because my daily driver Civic probably won't pass its MoT next month.

Now I know it's in good nick but I also know it's never going to be worth a fortune, especially as it's the first of the front-wheel drivers and is only a carb'd one litre engine. But... having done some research I'm beginning to think this might make an interesting and different sort of project for the mag – stripped-out, engine conversion etc.

Do you lot have any ideas on that score? I've heard about 4E-FTE (Starlet Turbo) engine conversions but am worried about electronics, seeing as my car doesn't have an ECU. Don't particularly want to start getting into expensive MoTeC management etc. I have heard that the 1.5 litre LiteAce engine is a straight swap. Basically, I need some advice...

THANKS!

[gordypix]

You have sooooooooo got to post a photo of this car Joe......

[JT]

im sure they actually did a turbo version of that in japan, if its the version im thinking of (this one)...

have a search around. but im 90% sure they did, if that's the shape you've got. i think it had about 100bhp - similar to the charade Gtti of the same era

[EircamAE86]

Does this mean that the ae86 is finished????

[Treuno]

Shame its not the RWD starlet! But never the less! My mate had one of these as his first car! Had a right old laugh in it!

The liteace engine goes straight into the RWD starlets but not the FWD! Plus they arnt a great engine! Reliable but no revs!

If i were you i would stick in a 4AGE out of a AE92 with a pair of 40 webers hanging off it (inc the AE92 g/box) and get a DLI ignition setup!

You will probably have to use literatly everything off of a AE92, e.g. brakes/ struts/ driveshafts etc, but i imagine the shafts and engine/gearbox mounts will have to be modified to fit! Be a laugh i reakon!

[andy_twincams]

4a-ge on carbs???or trottle boddies

[banzaijoe]

Does this mean that the ae86 is finished????

Not quite yet it's not. There are still a few snagging bodywork bits to sort out. The lacquer on the rear bumper is flaking, so that needs respraying. The nearside front wing could also do with being resprayed and have my new arch trim and aerial fitted. Other than that, yes, it's pretty close to being done. Not a wild car by any means, but very sympathetically modified and in keeping with the age/look of the original car.

On another note, I just took part in a Drift Academy day in the AE86. Interesting to really get a feel for the car's handling traits, though it did make me aware that to go drifting properly I really need more toe-out on the front end.

[EircamAE86]

Whats up with the bodywork???? :o

[banzaijoe]

There's nothing wrong with the bodywork, just not perfect :)

The lacquer on the rear bumper is beginning to peel away, and the n/s front wing has been resprayed at some point but not completely. For some reason only the top half was sprayed and the bodyshop decided to hide the masked area with a pinline (which I've since removed). Other than that, the paintwork's in good condition, only bearing a few swirl marks from regular washing. Still thinking about a full respray in original colours before we hit the show season...