Lvangundy

The 9th annual TORC (toyota owners restoration club) meet was today in Long beach.

There were about 100 or so classic and moden Toyota vehicles restored and or customized. Definetly a fun event, next year I'll be there. Someday I'll hope to be in the meet with a certain Cressida..

Afterwards a few of us (including Ryan - flipside909) went to the Toyota museum in Gardena. I never knew it existed (it's a big unmarked building) and had a blast. It's open by invite only so I feel pretty special to have made it. I could go on and on about the cars there but I'll only mention one car - one of the first LS400's made with 32 miles on the odometer! The interior was almost pristine and the leather was still very supple. Very cool.

Oh - there was also the first production model Cressida wih serial number 0000001 !

I took about 150 pictures so I'll post some later.

talgrl626

150pix

Pagong

cant wait for the pics...

I am a classic toyota owner in the process of building up my 1977 RA24. Hopefully I will make the TORC event next year. 7MGTE powered RA24..

Post up the pics Lvangundy.

Richie

Subscribing to this thread

Captain Bone

Ditto. The suspense is killing me!

-Anthony

RA40

iTrader: (6)

We left about 11'ish and I was commenting to the Mrs. I wish there were some Cressy's there. Lvangundy, what year Cressida do you have?

Loved seeing the Chaser and Crown along with all the others...Just sooooo many nice cars there. Really liked the early Celica's like Joji's yellow one and the Corona with the 13B were quite memorable. Again, soo many nice cars. One day I'll hope to have my RA42 Celica there.

Pagong

RA40- are you in classic-celicas.com? it is a great site you should check that one out.

Jojis RA is probably one of the nicest ive seen.

Lvangundy

Sorry guys, I'm the ultimate lagger when it comes to posting pics. I'll try to get some posted tonight.

No Cressida of my own yet, maybe within the next two years or so.

Leets

yet again I miss out on an awesome event... and about this museum... how on earth can I get in.... sacrifices are willing to be made.

Pagong

Lvangundy- you should check out club4ag.com they have a few Cressidas for sale in there for a really good price.

I say go for it.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Pagong-

While at TM Engineering, I asked Todd about my RA42 build...obvious things turned to engine swaps and a 1UZ-FE came to mind. Mixes between old and new school, we discussed a turbo'd 22/20R. The engine thing throws chunks as it dictates how I'm going do the suspension... I haven't figured what I want.

The Cressidas: I've heard of MX73's and 83's with 1UZ-FE's as well as 7M-GTE and 2JZ-GTE's. I just wish some of those were out here. I was going for a mild 6M-GE for mine when I decided on the LS. One story even mentioned an LT1 powered MX62 Cressida. Now that would put some hurt on the unsuspecting.

Pagong

RA40- I was thinking about doing the 20/22R hybrid on the RA24, but I really like a bigger displacement motor and something other than 4 cylinders. The 7MGTE is basically a direct bolt int for this chassis with the only thing needed to make it fit are the 5MGE motor mounts!

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Interesting. The 7MGTE , how far along are you? What tranny and rear end?

In knew I'd be stirred up from TORC, it motivates me to get going on the Celica again.

Lvangundy

OK here are a few pictures. I know, not many at all.

I'm pretty much out of disk space wherever I go (computer/web/CF cards) so the rest will have to wait until I can get some more.

PICS

The pictures include some of the TORC meet and some of the museum pics and of course one of the early LS cars!

Pagong

I am not even close, the motor is sitting on an engine stand getting rebuilt. As far as tranny goes you can use the stock Celica tranny, but wont hold up for too much with the extra power and torque the 7M will produce. The tranny from the same 7MGTE will bolt right up to the stock rear end as well. The only modification is inside where the shifter goes up into the cabin. Since the shifter sits back 3 inches farter back, you have to cut a hole 3 inches back from the original position of the stock shifter. This makes the shifter closer to the driver that makes it a more ideal shift position.

As soon as this one is done, I am hunting down a TE27 (71-74) Mango Corolla and build one of those up.