I haven't owned this car very long so the list of "to do" is much longer than the list of what I've already done.
Build Thread:
Current Mods:
- heavy window tinting to keep the wife from complaining about not using air conditioning or using it sparingly.
- Header wrap to keep engine bay temps lower
- Bosch Platinum +4 spark plugs for a higher temp ignition of fuel
- Michelin 185/65 R14 HydroEdge tires inflated to the recommended 44psi (unless rain or snow is present at which point I lower 2psi for better traction and handling for safety reasons) Had I waited a little longer to purchase these I could of got the same series with "Green X" Michelin's specially formulated tread compound that decreases rolling resistance... they do fine, but every bit helps. Guess I'll have to wait another 100,000 miles until these start to show some wear and buy the Green X next time.
Planned Mods:
- Looking for a manual transmission to swap out but it's looking to be nearly impossible to find for this year of Corolla.
- Replace the heavy metal hood with a light weight fiberglass hood. Also will do some aerodynamic mods in the process
- Wheel well covers front and rear
- Fiberglass trunk, that may raise up into a Kamm back if I can get the approval from the wife unit
- ScanGuage monitor to keep the lead foot away
- Replacing both front seats with fiberglass racing seats to reduce weight
- This may have to wait until we get another car as I'm not sure the wife will not approve but I would like to remove the doors and replace them with fiberglass doors with Lexan instead of the heavy metal doors with electric motors, glass, switches, etc.
- Light weight wheels for reduction in unsprung weight ratio
- Larger exhaust, Flowmaster, and high flow catalytic converter for increased exhaust flow so the engine doesn't work as hard.
- Replace heavy metal fenders with light weight fiberglass ones
- Replace plastic bumper cover with fiberglass one that blocks off some of the air intake area, and makes some adjustable. Also will build it into an air dam/front splitter.
- Find and fix the mystery oil leak so that I can run lighter weight oil (currently running 10W-40 oil with 1/2 a quart of stop leak which is a very heavy thick oil it helps slow the leak but I still go through about 1/4 quart of oil per 10 gallon fill up) I would like to be running 5W-20 to let the engine move more freely.
- Plane the head to raise compression to 11:1
- Port and Polish the head adding grooves to the intake side to agitate the air and cause better fuel/air mixture.
- Cold air intake for increased power and better fuel/air mixture.
- Independent fuel management system. Gotta get off the computer for this car. The engine is amazing on here in the Lotus Elise (same engine is used 1ZZ-FE) it produces around 180hp stock but for the Corolla it runs 120hp. I have a hunch that has a lot to do with the computer. If I can dial in the fuel/air ratio and how the car responds I can maximize efficiency, and reduce the need for more throttle usage. The car already has a tubular header, tubular aluminum intake runners, forged crank shafts, independent coils for each set of plugs, and a ECU/ignition that sends multiple spark discharges at low RPM ranges. I just need to take control of these systems and dial them in properly.
- The car needs new struts so in the process I'm probably going to change over to lowering springs as well. Should be able to take 1.5" of the front and 1.2" off the back I believe that's what the springs for this year of Corolla are rated.
