1986 toyota celica - a work in progress

[86Celica]

hi everyone,
honored to be among you. People who are not going to wait for car companies to make extremely fuel-efficient and aerodynamic cars. I intend to contribute to this forum. I own a 1986 Toyota Celica, european specs, with a 1600 cc 4 cylinder engine. If you love that car like I do you may be aware that it bears some resemblance to a Ford Probe or an EV1 (may she rest in peace). My main aim is to make this car more aerodynamic, and improve her looks at the same time. I also do some weight reduction, and drive as eco as possible.
I measure in full tanks, my record so far is 40 MPG.

Please excuse my future rookie mistakes as this is the first forum I've ever joined.

[86Celica]

this is her
Attachment 88

Attachment 89

[86Celica]

sorry, this is my last introductory post, I promise. What I've done since the pictures were taken:
- partial grill block (tape)
- passenger side mirror taken off
- rear wiper and its motor taken off
- black protection strips all around taken off
- rear emblems "Toyota" "celica" "ST" taken off

What I'd done already:
- taken out spare wheel, jack and attachment, fire extinguisher, wooden trunk bottom cover

I have experimented with stripping the interior but I've put everything back in. These plastic pieces only save one or two pounds taken together, and the poor car looks like a bomb's gone off inside. The car's got a beautiful interior, and I keep it that way.

[GasSavers_Red]

Nice car and welcome to the forum

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Do you have a 12R in there? You might see some significant improvements from advancing timing, maybe up to 55mpg+ according to anecdotal accounts from the owners of other R engines. Is it an auto or manual transmission?

P.s. Welcome aboard!

[86Celica]

oh dear. I don't know what a 12R is, or advancing timing, but I will check the engine type asap. It's a 5-speed manual transmission. Is there a thread on "advancing the timing" or can you tell a bit more? 55 MPG sounds great, and you sound pretty sure! thanks !

[GasSavers_Red]

I dont think he has the 12r engine. That power plant was used in the corona.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_R_engine#12R

I think he has a carb'ed 4A
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_...281986-1989.29.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

The timing is just when the spark fires in relation to where the piston is. I've read that mileage in a pickup with a 22r engine was increased from the low twenties to the low thirties by advancing timing, so a smaller displacement version of the same engine family should respond similarly. The only problem was the engine would knock if hauling a load, so this couldn't be done all the time, and your NOx emissions may spike as well, so for checks stock timing would be best. But if you drive conservatively, advancing timing may be safe and allow for a nice boost in peak mileage. In any case, it'd be safe to advance timing by a degree and record mileage over a fixed route to see if there was any improvement, and if advancing it too much results in pinging under any circumstances, just back it down to where there was no pinging.

edit- Yup, a 4A sounds right.

[zpiloto]

Welcome to the group. Nice car. I think the biggest bank for the buck will be a grill block and belly pan. If you search the forums you can find all kinds of aero ideas. If you have a belt driven cooling fan might check into an electric one.

I would put the tire, jack and fire extinguisher back in. 30# is not going to make a noticable difference in FE and if you need them the .20 MPG (or less) that gained won't be worth it.

Don't forget to add your car to the gaslog that way you can track your progress. It's a great tool.

[MetroMPG]

Welcome. Nice, clean 20 year-old car!