My 99 Solara: Project 'Make it Run'

by **steffknee** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:22 pm

I figured I start a separate thread instead of continuing in the introduction section.

I bought this car with a seized motor, my project right now is just to make it run as well as clean it up a little.

First was the free stuff: took out the headlights to glue some tabs back on and buff them out and repainted the grille...
before:

after:

Today the motor came out:
Started at about 5pm today and it was out by about 8:30.
So due to a lack oil changes the little remaining oil was black and smelled horrible. And due to the lack of oil the connecting rod for the piston in cyl #2 snapped in half and took out chunks of a few other things on it's way down to the oil pan. Pieces of the housing for the balance shafts, bolts, bearings, various chunks of metal were just laying at the bottom of the oil pan. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it.

That was all for today. It will go back outside tomorrow morning until the motor is ready to go back in.

by **SleeperSolara** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:29 pm

Nice.
Just do a V6 swap. lol.

by **Camry Racing** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:55 pm

SleeperSolara wrote:Nice.
Just do a V6 swap. lol.

DO A 3SGTE SWAP thats the best route to go

by **atclate** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:25 pm

That looks nasty. Are you putting it back in? You sure it will still work?

by **Jakecallun20** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:09 pm

Yeah nice set up, horrid engine. Reminds me of what my friend did last Wednesday. He locked up his ford truck when he hit a rock, knocking a hole in the oil pan and starving it of oil. Hope that block isn't going back in!

by **TLMNICK** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:57 pm

**corrected**
Lookin good girl...those headlights are lookin nice.
Looks like you've got a good head start on your project.

by **gnegroni** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:37 pm

Good luck on your project. No better satisfaction than getting a bigtime screwed up ride as the one you bought and turn it into a sweet looking and running machine. :sweet:

BTW, you might wanna checkup this guy's post (selling 1MZ-FE spare):

http://www.solaraguy.com/viewtopic.php?p=471217

by **Mr_Chunkz** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:51 pm

stephanie
Are you a solaraGIRL or a solaraGUY
i think these solaraguys think youre a dood.

by **5sfe** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:54 pm

Camry Racing wrote:
SleeperSolara wrote:Nice.
Just do a V6 swap. lol.

DO A 3SGTE SWAP thats the best route to go

the 3sgte doesn't require a anti knock sensor, in this case the solara's do..so
in my opinion don't do a swap from what people and solaraguy members have told me solara's aint meant to go fast (except the v6 but not super fast)....if you want it to go fast you got to have deep pockets...just make it look pretty and put a good name for solara's, everywhere you go..by the way does that solara come from new york...and by the looks of the engine bay there is going to be more stuff to change in the future..good luck though

by **steffknee** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:57 am

No I am not using that block. I'm going to use a spare 5S Celica block a friend of mine is giving me for free. The finished engine will not have a balance shaft anymore.

From looking at the top of the cyl 2 piston it seems that 2 of the valves hit it. They appear to seat ok but doing a water test on them showed they are probably bent. Someone at work sourced 2 valves from the shed at work and I'll have to have the machine shop re-seat them.

The 5S is going back in. No swaps for the Solara. I'm going to use it for a few years but it will eventually be driven by my sister for a while. I don't want her going anywhere fast in this car.

If I get it back in one piece I'll probably get rid of the auto transmission and pay more attention to it. When it comes to my cars I have pretty deep pockets. Right now my Celica is my baby and anything it needs or might need I buy. For now, whatever the Solara needs to run and drive is what it'll get.

The car was actually originally sold at the dealership I work at in Bristol, RI and I got it from a family in Plymouth, MA. Surprisingly the body has no rust, just everything in the engine bay. I can't wait to drive it and see if the brakes work.

and YES, I AM A GIRL

by **PhreakdOut** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:45 am

^^ Good luck with the project Stephanie. We've had a few ladies on here who aren't afraid of wrenchs so you are in good company.

It's nice to see you're keeping the project sane for your sister. No point in making a car that will get her into trouble quickly.

Keep us posted on this. It's interesting to watch!!

by **Mr_Chunkz** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 10:57 am

lol stephanie knows more about working on cars than most of us guys do!
Looks like you got ya work cut out for you on this car
cant wait to see what you do with it. Bring that little solara back to life

by **5sfe** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:44 pm

steffknee wrote:No I am not using that block. I'm going to use a spare 5S Celica block a friend of mine is giving me for free. The finished engine will not have a balance shaft anymore.

From looking at the top of the cyl 2 piston it seems that 2 of the valves hit it. They appear to seat ok but doing a water test on them showed they are probably bent. Someone at work sourced 2 valves from the shed at work and I'll have to have the machine shop re-seat them.

The 5S is going back in. No swaps for the Solara. I'm going to use it for a few years but it will eventually be driven by my sister for a while. I don't want her going anywhere fast in this car.

If I get it back in one piece I'll probably get rid of the auto transmission and pay more attention to it. When it comes to my cars I have pretty deep pockets. Right now my Celica is my baby and anything it needs or might need I buy. For now, whatever the Solara needs to run and drive is what it'll get.

The car was actually originally sold at the dealership I work at in Bristol, RI and I got it from a family in Plymouth, MA. Surprisingly the body has no rust, just everything in the engine bay. I can't wait to drive it and see if the brakes work.

and YES, I AM A GIRL

ummm i recommend you use the balance shaft trust me..i took mine off i lost performance, fuel economy, and here is some information i pick up.... some owners modify their engines by removing the balance shafts, both to reclaim some of this power and to reduce complexity and potential areas of breakage for high performance and racing use, as it is commonly (but falsely) believed that the smoothness provided by the balance shafts can be attained after their removal by careful balancing of the reciprocating components of the engine.. So basically keep the balance shaft and also every component in the engine is their for a reason and good luck with the car... i been working on my typing so mine the grammar, i'm working on it :drinking:

by **PXLpainter** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 2:03 pm

Great updates on your hard work Stephanie! :up:

You won't have to worry about your li'l sis going too fast in the Solara. :lol:

by **atclate** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 2:08 pm

Wow~~~ picking up a dead car and bringing it back to life is definitely one of the things I would like to have accomplished in my life. Can't believe you're already on your second one~~~

My 99 Solara: Project 'Make it Run'

My 99 Solara: Project 'Make it Run'

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