RWD subcompact project.

[Canyonero]

I'm selling my Isuzu I-Mark this week, and now I'm eying an old Toyota Corolla for sale just down the road. I haven't called on it yet, but it appears to be an early 80's standard model. Like this (but silver):



Sound like a good project? I know I can grab sport parts from the 80's GT-S like the LSD. But what do you suppose my choices are for the engine? I think the stock engine is like a 75hp 1.8L pushrod engine, maybe a 90hp 1.6L SOHC if I'm lucky. Both carb'd.

I'd consider a 3x00 if there was a tranny adapter.



Hmmm?

[robertisaar]

what's it have? a 3 speed auto or 4 speed manual?

i'd dump it and grab a T5 from a 3.4/3.8 F-car and do whatever was necessary to get that in there. in a car that light, you would have trouble breaking it.

[Canyonero]

I just stopped by to look at it again, the owner was driving by and let me take it for a spin.

Fired right up, has the 1.8L with a 4-sp. Seemed to drive fine. Body is in pretty fair shape, inside shows lots of use. Overall, not a bad car for $500. I know a kid looking for a cheap first car, I might point him that way.

If I got it, I'd like it to be a beater rally car. I have the BMW now, but I'm too afraid of breaking it to play too hard.

[Superdave]

It would be fun but to make it safe and solid would take a lot of cash.

[Canyonero]

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm thinking too. :/

I think I could do some pretty cool stuff with the money I'm getting from my I-Mark, but maybe it's better spent elsewhere. A 3400 for my Trooper perhaps?