87 FX16 GTS Track Toy Build - Part 12

"MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig" (MR2_FTW)
08/24/2018 at 12:24 • Filed to: None

With a nice clean workspace, getting the car prepped for HPDE was a much more pleasant experience.

The passenger harness install went smoothly. Now the instructor will have the same level of safety equipment as the driver.

The length of the shoulder straps is a little long, but still within spec per the instructions included.

I also whipped up this little metal bracket to keep the intake from flopping around. This was one of those little things that was just nagging in the back of my head for a while.

Finally the day of the HPDE arrived. After a brief panic over a forecast for 80% chance of thunderstorms, it ended up being a beautiful day.

I was really glad to be able to run the shaved RA1's I’d bought used a while back. These tires are so freaking sticky it’s nuts.

In the first session everyone was still getting used to just being on track. Having done a few trackcross events at Dominion before, I was casually familiar with the twistiest section. I was even able to chase down a Chevy SS and a Nissan 350Z, two much more powerful cars.

By the end of the day, multiple people had walked by and asked what I had done to the engine to be able to keep up with much more powerful cars. The look on their face when I replied telling them that the motor is basically stock, making around 100 horsepower, was priceless. Lots of people were also surprised that I was able to fit all my stuff in such a small car. Hatchbacks for the win!

Here’s one of the quicker laps I got on camera. I wish I had remembered to record the third session when I got to play around with my friend in his EK Civic, but alas I forgot to hit the “record” button.

The car performed nearly flawlessly at the track. The only issue I encountered was the water temperature gauge going up to 3/4 after being on track for 10 minutes or so. It never went above that, but still that’s not good. Before I even left the track I had ordered a radiator on Amazon. Of course, nobody makes a drop-in radiator for the AE82, so I ordered one for an AE92 knowing I’d have to do some tweaking to get it to fit.

As it turns out, the AE92 radiator is pretty darn close, but there are a few key differences. The most obvious is the upper hose fitting is in a completely different spot. This is not an issue if you just order an upper hose for an AE92. The lower hose fitting is slightly different as well, but not enough to need to change hoses.

One thing I really don’t like about this specific radiator is these plastic drain plugs. They sit too close to the exhaust manifold for my liking, so I will be replacing them with metal plugs instead.

The fan mounting points are slightly different as well. For the top two mounts, you just need to drill new holes a few mm over from the stock ones. The bottom mount needs to be cut off of the shroud, as it interferes with the drain plug and lower hose fitting.

I welded on a little tab in the right spot and now the stock fan is mounted up, ready to rock.

For the upper brackets, I drilled a hole in the radiator support and put in a riv-nut to relocate the passenger side bracket. Both brackets need a new hole drilled and the excess cut off to fit.

And it’s in! Hopefully this will keep temperatures under control at the track. Having to back it off in the middle of the session sucks. Other than the little plastic plugs and a longer hose for the overflow, it’s pretty much ready to go. I’m really happy with how little modification this needed to fit, and recommend it to anyone with an FX that isn’t afraid of doing a little drilling/welding.

DISCUSSION (10)

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
08/24/2018 at 12:35

Holy shit. Dude. AE92 FX16 GTS?

Absolutely RootWyrm approved.

Call me when you’re ready to go to town on the motor without going to 4AGZE. I have seriously wanted to build a 4AGE for a long time now.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
08/24/2018 at 13:03

The FX16 is on the AE82 platform. But apparently AE92 radiators fit pretty well lol

M.T. Blake > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
08/24/2018 at 13:25

Excellent work getting out there and using it! Track days are a blast. Something always goes wrong - expect it! I almost bought a FX16 GTS but it had a bad head and I didn’t feel like delving that deep into it for how much the owner was asking.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
08/24/2018 at 14:39

You will disregard my typo! (Srsly, it really was a typo.) There is no typo!

But yeah, they do. When the original rots out and Toyota wants completely insane prices for everything, you find out what AE92 parts swap in real quick. (Except for the $350 taillight, of course. And that was circa... 97 or 98.)

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
08/24/2018 at 14:48

Yeah basically everything on this car is pieced together from either AE92 or AW11 MR2 parts. FX specific parts are few and far between for sure

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
08/24/2018 at 15:07

Just try finding the GTS-specific suspension bits. Shocks were “uh, call Koni.” Springs? Forget it.

But even with the automatic (no seriously, my friend’s was an automatic) it was amazingly competent.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
08/24/2018 at 15:34

Koni doesn’t make shocks anymore. Though I did find out that if you chop the rear housings in half, and weld in the top half of an AW11 front strut housing, you can run AW11 front Konis in the back of the Corolla, and do the same up front with AW11 rear Koni’s. Then just weld on some adjustable sleeves and you’ve got yourself some coilovers.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
08/24/2018 at 16:20

Well again, this was 20 years ago. You know, when Koni did still make parts.

But crap on a crutch that’s... ugh... that hurts my soul to even think of doing that, just because the AE82 geometry was pretty much spot on. And the AW11 is just... ugh.. ugh.. ugh.

I’d need to get out the calipers and tape, but I honestly have to wonder if it couldn’t be tweaked to take SW20 parts (Tein has a part) with GTS geometry . Not sure how to get the caster in there though, because my memory is so rusty.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
08/24/2018 at 16:32

It maintains the geometry, the le ng ths aren’t much different. That’s why it works so well. I have put SW20 front struts on an AW11 which help a ton because the AW is severely lacking in shock travel. The SW struts give you a little over and inch of extra travel.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
08/24/2018 at 16:59

“Not much” and “Zero” are a gulf apart, especially under load. (Also remember you are talking to a perfectionist. 0.5mm = too much.) Remember too that increasing travel actually alters geometry. Too many “tuners” go “yep! Stock locations blah blah, geometry is the same!!” That’s not how it works.

Mind, I’m not saying more travel wouldn’t be better. Don’t recall enough about the GTS to say there. Probably is around the 100-125HP range, but ISTR this platform being one that needs travel sharply curtailed when you turn up the torque. Drop a 4AGZE in it I can figure it out, I suppose.

... argh, d amnit, bring me your car and a suitcase of cash! I really don’t have room for an FX16, even if I could somehow miraculously find one that hasn’t completely rotted out. Plus I can only drive one car at a time. :(