AE86 Update: Fast-forward – the machine is ready for battle!

I have a habit, abnormal it might be, unusual it is, but, I usually surprise myself. This oddity occurs whenever I revisit the previous blogs to ascertain when was the most recent AE86 Update. Imagine my surprise (the oddity) when I discovered that, information, re – the AE86 build, was last published, September 28, 2013. I was flabbergasted!

I was never good with New Year resolutions, so to commit to one, ceased years ago, but, what I will tell you is this – January is AE86 month!

I knew that building a race-car would be challenging (I have said this before), but I was relying on my unwavering drive (ignore the pun) to provide the adrenalin required to guarantee completion of the challenge I had accepted.

AE86 – fast-forward

After the seat install (September’s blog), several things happened, some of which threatened to terminate the very existence of the machine! In no particular order – I decided to give the wheels (rims) on the machine a makeover. Ricky, the hard-working but temperamental ‘spray-man’, raised the bar and gave the machine an appearance Hollywood plastic surgeons would envy!

I got a set of Maxxis Victra MAZ-1 ‘shoes’ for the machine as well – 195/50/15 at the front and 205/50/15 at the rear. When I was in the initial stages of building the AE86, I did a few basic checks before deciding the motor to be used. After dialogue with the ‘experts’, the decision was made to build a 7A motor with a ‘Blacktop’ 20 valve cylinder-head. The novice (me) took the advice and commissioned a builder to deliver the potent torque-monster I was told the 7A would be.

AE86 -  striking a pose!

But, the race they say, is not for the Swift. In this case, it did not appear as if the race was for the Toyota either. We went to the dyno with the torque-filled motor (7A) and despite the best effort of the tuner and the team, the results we saw left us scratching our heads.

Apparently the horses that were employed to strike fear in the hearts of the opposition, all saw it fit to depart the combustion chamber and head for the hills! If there was an understatement of the year competition, this statement would be a solid contender – the motor underperformed!

We revisited the builder after our dyno session, but after all the remedies were applied, the AE86 was still anemic and devoid of torque! But, the machine could drive between point A and B, so I decided to enjoy what I had and familiarize myself with its capabilities.

On a typical, Jamaican Sunday afternoon, we decided to put the AE86 through a few, rigorous rev exercises. It is a race-car and it was being built to operate in an environment that did not display a tendency to deliver mercy, so to testing we went.

The motor was not pleased with the abuse, it hurled industrial action at us. While ‘piling on’ some revs and in the middle of the 360/180 degrees dance, the motor protested. When Marvin (crew-chief/mechanic) checked to determine what was responsible for the cease and desist order, my heart, our hearts, sank to an all-time low – the 7A jammed!

With our ‘tails’ in the ashamed, but hopeful position, we returned the machine to its humble abode and plotted our next move. We decided that we would keep the project simple. We bought a Blacktop 20 valve motor.

Motivation is a meal we consume daily, so we had that in abundance. Before you could blink, we had the motor installed and decide to revisit the dyno. What we got from the stock motor was consistent with what we were told we would get, so we were ok with our findings.

It was somewhere during this time that a differential challenge arose. Somehow, the differential I bought the machine with, decided to visit TRD heaven. We went in search of a diff and fortunately a friend in the second city came to our assistance. Differential installed, we were ready for the road again. We were now preparing for asphalt extermination at Jamwest Speedway (held in March of 2013)!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer