Started FWD Now We're Here

[CadillacMazerolle]

I took the weekend off to spend some valuable time with my girlfriend but I was able to get a little bit done on the car tonight. This is a passenger side truck manifold I have modified to fit backwards on the driver's side. It was tough because it needed to make such a sharp turn and it wasn't a round hole.











You can also see my solid motor mounts because I want to use the engine block to strengthen the front end even if it is the most minuscule little bit.

[cbpldc]

LOL. Thanks fellas. good to know someone out there appreciates my junk.


You and I are going to go round for round if you keep it up with your manipulative posts.


If you neglect the cost of the Camry it's self because i paid WAY TOO much for it, being a rare turbo diesel.... I have about $2,500 into this build so far. That includes the cost of the axle, new tires, coil overs, engine, trans, clutch, turbo, metal, hardware, and paint. Hoping to be under $3,500 invested by the time it is Dyno tuned and shredding tire!

I'm just saying out loud what you already know you should do.

Great job on the work and keeping the budget in line. You're going to have a very fast, very strange little car that will have people scratching their heads.

Chris

[CadillacMazerolle]

Not a huge update but I did get the hot side done.



Still need to build an oil pan.

[CadillacMazerolle]

Another Small update:
I got the hard part of the transmission tunnel done. It doesn't look like much but these two pieces took me more than all day to do. I used 16ga just to be sure i'm not losing much strength in the uni-body structure. The tunnel is an irregular shape because I intend to run my exhaust down the passenger side to ensure it is not going to drag against the ground.






A shift boot ring will be integrated

[CadillacMazerolle]

A bit more of the transmission/exhaust tunnel done. This also hides a 40" long resonator. I really want this car to be super quiet!

[cbpldc]

Looking good. Won't that resonator channel encroach on the passenger seat space.

[CadillacMazerolle]

The factory seat rails bolted to the top of the old tunnel. The driveshaft tunnel fits between the old seat mounts and the exhaust tunnel is the same height as the factory tunnel so i should be able to just set the seat right back in place on the new tunnel.

....tunnel

[cbpldc]

Say tunnel one more time! Do they speak English in tunnel?



Cool, so it shouldn't even be a problem. No one will see this thing coming.

Chris

[Boxjohn]

"Small block in a Camry? neat"

"6.5 in a Camry? That's silly but I love it."

"...turbo LS. Oh. ****."


Your fabrication skills are ridiculous. That's as much about your imagination and engineering as it is being able to execute the idea into something tidy looking.

[dcozzi]

This is what I tune in to when I come here. Love the fab skills and you are so far "out of the box", you can see your project from outer space. Love it.

Do you have a link to the Volvette build?

[CadillacMazerolle]

Say tunnel one more time! Do they speak English in tunnel?



Cool, so it shouldn't even be a problem. No one will see this thing coming.

Chris

It is definitely one hell of a sleeper!

"Small block in a Camry? neat"

"6.5 in a Camry? That's silly but I love it."

"...turbo LS. Oh. ****."


Your fabrication skills are ridiculous. That's as much about your imagination and engineering as it is being able to execute the idea into something tidy looking.

This is what I tune in to when I come here. Love the fab skills and you are so far "out of the box", you can see your project from outer space. Love it.

Do you have a link to the Volvette build?

I really appreciate all your compliments on this outlandish build! Makes it all worth doing.

I don't have a link to the volvette build. That was years ago BUT it has been town apart and is finally going back together to break the 200mph mark. I don't want this thread to get completely off topic but i have some behind the scenes pictures of Volvette 2.0......

[cbpldc]

Those headers are sexy!!

[CadillacMazerolle]

Alright! back on topic. I finished the driveshaft/exhaust tunnel with exception of one piece. I want to build my exhaust before I make it difficult to get to by closing the tunnel. It's not real pretty but it is getting covered in carpet and I need to keep reminding myself it is JUST a Toyota Camry.



I got a "fuel cell" in trade for some stuff. It was really just a sheet metal box with no openings so I made a fuel cell hold down strap and incorporated a modified G-Body sending unit.

[Centerforce]

That steering wheel and dashboard are so perfectly 1980s.

[CadillacMazerolle]

That steering wheel and dashboard are so perfectly 1980s.

LOL. Thanks Chief

Between waiting for parts and waiting for money for parts, progress has been slow. I did rig up a ghetto fuel filler neck.



AND this snail crawled up under the hood looking for a home.

[CadillacMazerolle]

Got my new Speedmaster intake in today. I have been using a 2k clear on all my new aluminum parts to keep them looking new and make it easier to clean later. It looks like I need some low profile bolts on the valley cover to clear the intake. Not sure if I'll need to countersink them or not. We'll find out soon enough.



The hood hits but i think once I alleviate the valley cover bolt clearance issue the intake will drop down enough to clear. If it doesn't I can always chop that rib out.





I love putting the hood on and standing back to look at this thing. Knowing there is a turbocharged V8 and hand build suspension on coil overs all the way around but it just looks like a completely stock Toyota Camry with "period correct" wheels.

[Crestronwizard]

That may very well be the nicest transmission mount I have ever seen. Great skills. I love it when crazy ideas become reality. Keep the updates coming!

[cbpldc]

This build has a special place in my heart. Partly because of the powertrain, but also because I love 1st gen Camries. When they came out, you couldn't buy another car that felt so modern, so buttoned down and so smooth, yet so efficient. Not even the Datsun Maxima of that era had the modern feeling driving dynamics that this car had.

Chris

[CadillacMazerolle]

HAHAH Thanks man! That trans mount was definitely a last minute thing but it turned out great.

[CadillacMazerolle]

It sucks when something is "done" and you have to cut it apart and rebuild it BUT the new turbo is well worth the effort! I Sorta got lazy and cobbled the new turbo on but it does its job and it's "good enough". "Good Enough" for a Toyota Camry....








I'm not sure what to do about an air filter. I have next to no room between the turbo and headlight. Any suggestions?!?!?!?



I modified the truck water pump to work with the new car intake. A car water pump wouldn't work because there would be no way to get the upper radiator hose to the radiator with how tight everything is.



Again, any suggestion on air filters in super tight spaces?