The Unofficial Jørn Innset Homepage

Celica


Just washed #1 106.92 KB	Just washed #2 107.94 KB	Just washed #3 107.97 KB	Just washed #4 92.26 KB

Location: Oslo, Norway
Car: 1995 ST202, blue/green-ish
Tag: BP 42403
Production date: 05/94
VIN: JT164STL200049625
Model: ST202L-BLMGFW
Engine: 3S-GE
Color code: 752
Trim code: FD20
Mileage: 167000 kms (28/04/2004)
Data (as standard):
- 1210 kg
- 175 hp@7000 rpm
- 186 Nm@4800 rpm
- 0-100 km/h@8.1s
- vMax@220 km/h

This is my 'everyday-car', which I use all year to and from work or any time I'm not comfortable using my MR2...:-)

That, however, hasn't stopped me from using money on modifications for it! I guess I'm not the kind of guy who just buys a car and leaves well enough alone...

I bought it on october 5th 2001 from its female owner, and according to her there is only one previous owner in Switzerland, where it was originally sold. It was imported to Norway in 1999. The only original equipment was AC and stereo (radio/CD/tape), but I was just looking for AC anyway, so.... Unfortunately the paint was in a horrible condition, but the price was right so I bought it anyway. :-D

The car is now sold, hopefully the new owner will enjoy it as much as I have.

Before me buying it #1
84.89 KB

Before me buying it #2
110.75 KB

Before me buying it #3
100.93 KB

Modifications and parts bought and installed (ordered by date):

Nokia CARK-91 handsfree for my Nokia 6310 cellphone (09/10/2001)

Replaced broken antenna with new (14/10/2001)

Old and new
142.44 KB

The old
one snapped
130.89 KB

The new one
with correct length
116.35 KB

Original owners manual in danish (!), part # 009705, still it's better than the german one that came with the car...:-) (17/10/2001)
New tyres - Vredestein Giugaro Sportrac 205/55/15, not my tyre of choice, but it's what the previous owner came up with when I demanded new tyres... (17/10/2001)
Not a mod in that respect, but a very useful tool for doing the mods - workshop manual, engine Toyota part # RM164E (10/11/2001)
Installed wire mesh -grille, bought from a local mailorder store...:-) (15/11/2001)
Streetnav GPS-system from Pharos - attached to a Palm M515 or an Ipaq coupled with SWI's Mapviewer or TomTom's Route Planner this is a fun and useful tool for trips (15/11/2001)
New brake and clutch pedals from mk7 Celica - Toyota part # 31321-53010 (15/11/2001)
Clear side repeaters - Toyota part # 81732-20220 with yellow bulbs - Toyota part # 90981-15012 (15/11/2001)
Wired up the non-working front fog lights (22/11/2001)

Ramair CV-01 70mm performance airfilter from Fensport. Now, this was fun! It was a doodle to install, even included a hole for the airtemp.-meter, and the sound was great! Any performance increase? Dunno, but I can finally hear the engine at high revs! Also mounted a couple of extra intake pipes that go under the car to scoop up more fresh air. Update: Click here to read about the effect of these pipes (22/11/2001)

The new filter 73.35 KB	Filter installed 86.75 KB	Note the two pipes 100.50 KB	Going down... 88.86 KB	...under the car! 66.05 KB
Air should go there, please 98.87 KB	From the EPC 101.86 KB

Defa alarm/immobiliser, hopefully it'll help keeping the car mine... (16/01/2002)
Changed the plugs since I had no idea of when they were last changed. Platinum plugs from Toyota (16/01/2002)

Exchanged the original stereo for an Aiwa CDC-MP3R, RDS/CD/MP3 and a DIN-sized CD-console for storing up to 4 CDs, the latter has Toyota part # PZ437-90341.00 (17/02/2002)

The original stereo out 63.48 KB	From the right 57.22 KB	From behind 60.69 KB	Fron the left 52.72 KB	This bastard snapped off when removing the trim - be careful! 46.94 KB
The trim out 72.54 KB	Another view 61.18 KB	Somethings missing! 106.54 KB	The new stereo 73.76 KB	Note the CD-case above 75.75 KB
Finished! 43.53 KB	Still finished! 90.58 KB	And here's even the remote! 81.87 KB

Complete respray in the original color (23-25/02/2002)

Before (note that it's not damaged in any way, the paint is just worn):
Brrr.... 88.02 KB	...no dents here... 73.21 KB	...nor here... 77.42 KB	...nor here... 79.00 KB	...nor here... 75.43 KB
What? Still no dents? 65.44 KB	Nope! 62.64 KB
After:
DSCN5789.JPG 81.53 KB	DSCN5792.JPG 78.79 KB	DSCN5793.JPG 78.61 KB	DSCN5795.JPG 70.86 KB

Lowering kit, Inter Alloy, which lowered the car 30 mm (29/04/2002)

Finally... 89.67 KB	Red? Why not black? 89.09 KB	Front, before 78.00 KB	Rear, before 49.08 KB	Old vs. new front 95.71 KB
New, front 68.80 KB	On the car 61.25 KB	Still on...:-) 65.57 KB	Old vs. new, rear 89.51 KB	New, rear 75.19 KB
Front, after 63.17 KB	Rear, after 65.43 KB	30 mm lower! 79.62 KB	Still low! 77.28 KB	Still low! 54.68 KB
Still low! 95.73 KB	Comparison, front 45.63 KB

Complete suspension alignment, camber -1 deg. all around and some toe at the rear. Tested the new setup at a local track the same day, and it made the car handle very well indeed, with a slight tendency to oversteer, just the way I like it (30/04/2002)
New rims, 8"x17" TSW Fly with 35 mm offset, and tyres, Yokohama A539 215/40/17. I really wanted to go for 225/45/17, but was afraid that they'd rub and of the increased diameter; only slightly below 5% (30/04/2002)
Original tweeters from Toyota, part # 86160-2B180, 86160-2B170, 67491-20330 and 67492-20330, mounted in the doors (06/05/2002)

Right
54.34 KB
Left, sans garnish
69.66 KB
Installed custom plexiglass mount for Ipaq and Palm (23/05/2002)

One for maps...
78.64 KB
...and one for speed!
75.97 KB
Fitted locknuts to the wheels (23/05/2002)
Resprayed windshield wiper arms (myself!!! :-D) and fitted new Bosch wipers (26/05/2002)

Jeez, they still
look okay!
55.48 KB
Respray of rear bumper - some MORON!!! hit it while I was parked in the street...just 1.5 weeks after the complete respray... Got the front 'splitters', Toyota part # 76851-20040 and 76852-20030, painted at the same time (02/06/2002)

Exchanged original tail lights with a new pair from a '96 Japan-only special edition Celica. These have clear turn signal glass and look quite different to the originals. Toyota part # 81561-2B240 and 81551-2B300. Note that these are not E-marked, and probably not legal in most European countries, so keep those originals in a safe place...:-D (04/06/2002)

Left, new
86.40 KB

Right, old
86.79 KB

Spot the difference!
88.31 KB

Left, new
77.87 KB

Right, old
88.73 KB

Installed the front 'splitters'. Nice look, and not terribly low like the Toyota add-on spoiler (Toyota part # PZ402-14440-AB) delivered in some countries (05/06/2002)

Testfitting
86.86 KB

Testfitting
101.25 KB

Testfitting
81.69 KB

Testfitting
87.26 KB

From the EPC
106.73 KB

Not a mod in that respect, but a very useful tool for doing the mods - workshop manual, chassis, Toyota part # RM380E (08/06/2002)

Installation of EBC Green Stuff pads in the front, EBC part # DP2874, and EBC brake fluid (307 deg. Celcius boilingpoint) in preparation to this summers trip to the Nurburgrings Nordschleife (13/06/2002)

The package
95.06 KB

What's inside
89.21 KB

Ohhh - stickers!!!
87.56 KB

Racing brake fluid
70.56 KB

Changed the oil and filter, this time for Mobil-1 5w-50, veeery thin... (20/06/2002)
Modified the lower compartment of the dash to incorporate 2 additional power outlets to accommodate the Ipaq and the Palm (22/06/2002)
Added a combination meter - laptimer, in/out temperature, ice warning and voltage monitor. The outside temp.-sensor is used for monitoring the intake temperature (22/06/2002)
Installed a fire extinguisher in front of the passenger seat - never know when you might need one... (25/06/2002)
Changed the gasket for the oil drain plug, seems the old one couldn't cope with the thin Mobil-1 oil... (25/06/2002)
Did a test of the two additional intake tubes I have in my setup. Prerequisits:

- Original intake in place, blowing cold air as intended from the factory
- Stock airbox and filter removed and replaced with Ram-Air filter
- Temp.-sensor placed directly in front of the air filter

The test was performed in the evening on a cloudy day with no sun (i.e. no chance of hotspots). Drove the car a set distance to and fro, constant 80-85 km/h. The results were as follows:

Starttemp. with additional intake tubing: 58 deg.
Lowest temp. measured: 32.3 deg.

Starttemp. without additional intake tubing: 51 deg.
Lowest temp. measured: 38.1 deg.

Conclusion: The tubes do their work as intended, 18% colder air is actually far more than anticipated (25/06/2002)
Purchased and installed ornament for footboard, special order from Japan. It's a moulding made of aluminum, with 'Celica' imprinted - very nice! Toyota part # 67917-20220. I also bought new plastic footboards made especially for these ornaments, so I wouldn't have to mess with the originals. Toyota part # 67913-20230-C0 (right) and 67914-20190-C0 (left) (26/08/2002)
Changed the oil and filter, - Mobil-1 5w-50 (15/02/2003)
Rear skirt installed - nice! Toyota part # PZ402-14460-AB (20/03/2003)
Professional detailing (04/04/2003)
Right front splitter was damaged this winter, had to be resprayed and remounted (09/04/2003)
Modified the surroundings of the intake, installed an insulating mat between the engine and the airfilter. This helped enormously on the intake temp, which is now exactly the same as the outside temperature (while driving) (08/06/2003)
MTEC SuperWhite bulbs for the headlights installed (05/07/2003)
Changed the rear pads, which had started to squeal. And changed to winter tyres...:-( (25/10/2003)
Complete undercoating (anti-rust) treatment (10/12/2003)
4-point street legal harness, Luke Motorsport LMS, in preparation for easters' visit to the Nürburgring (29/02/2004)
Changed the oil and filter, - Mobil-1 5w-50 (01/04/2004)
Went for a trip to the Nürburgring, 23 laps! See videos here and pictures here (12/04/2004)
Sold the car...now an Elise awaits...:-D (28/04/2004)

Modifications pending:

Maybe: Sideskirts, Toyota part # 75855-20030, 75856-20030
A big maybe: Group A spoiler part (hightens the original spoiler to ST205-spec), Toyota part # 76087-20916, 76088-20914

After having owned an MR2 since 1994, and enjoyed the many (MANY!) sites and forums on the Internet specifically for this car, it was a shock looking for the same for the Celica. While there are a few sites around, they're mostly concerned about the really old ones, or the latest (7th gen.) Celica. To top it off, in the forums I see references to MR2-sites for this and MR2-sites for that - are Celica-owners really that technically challenged? In all fairness, there are a few sites worth reading, and they're specified below.

This webpage is mostly here because I like to keep track of the things I do with my cars, and since I've got a terrible memory, this is one way of doing it. And if I can help others with their Celica's at the same time, well then that's great...:-D

Anyway, I enjoy driving the Celica, and modifying it, and while it's harder to find solutions on the Internet than for the MR2, it's fun trying!

The summer of 2002 I visited Nürburgrings Nordschleife for the third year in a row, first time with the Celica. It performed very well indeed, and I set a new personal best with a laptime of 09:45:00.

Useful Celica-links: