New adventure Toy(ota) in AZ

[Jrally]

I'll start posting pictures of my work in progress, my alternative expedition car for the desert SW. This car came to me a few years back, a dream I had to build. It pulls together a couple of my interests; rallying, off-road racing, along with just taking an easy trip over long weekends through the desert and foresty trails of Arizona. The car started out as a 1984 Toyota Celica GT, odd place to start an expedition rig from, I know, but I like doing things differently. I've been building the car for a bit over a year now, on and off as time allows. This past weekend I finally reached a milestone in the build, actually getting to drive it off-road. There is still a ton of work to do, but it's now running, with a freshly rebuilt 22rec engine. The back end has redesigned geometry and shocks to allow 9" of travel. The front end is fully custom, 3" drop down subframe to mount 3" longer arms for increased wheel travel, but maintaining a near flat control arm angle for stability (7.5" of travel). The wheels keep the original look of the car, while the 27" tall all terrain tires give it the ground clearance.

-Jon
Roodwerks Eng...

 

[njtacoma]

Wow.

I love it! It is an inspiration to me. I have a Toyota Tacoma Double cab, but my daily driver/snow car is a 240 Volvo, I have been thinking of a small lift (diesel springs front/ wagon springs rear) to help with snow depths in Colorado.
I love the bumpers etc. Very Trans-Africa rally looking to me. I'm not nearly as serious as you are for the off road side, but like what you have done here.

I hope it serves you well!

 

[Pskhaat]

Fantastic! I've been thinking of trimming down my LC barn, selling my DD and doing something similar with a slightly older model something with A/4WD and manual tranny. I find myself driving my FWD DD to almost every non-off-hwy activity lately which includes a good amount of FS and non-graded dirt.

 

[deadbird]

cool car

I have always wanted to do the same to a late 70's chevy caprice classic station wagon, we had so much fun with one when I was 16.
How about a few action shots?
It looks like a blast to get sideways.

 

[Jrally]

So far, it's first outing went as hoped/planned. The car feels very safe off road, stable.

-Jon

 

[Rallyroo]

Cool! I had a Celica of that generation before except mine was the 1985 model year. I miss it sometimes and I feel it was the last true Celica since 1985 was the last model year that came in RWD.

 

[Jrally]

A few video links I posted up. Anyone that claims they'll never jump an off-road traveled vehicle is just wrong. Our cars and trucks are off the ground more times then we know. Also thought I would include a sketch of my next project for the car, roof rack to mount to the cross bars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arIbnN9chUY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7G-1TqQoRo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwoHPUykT8M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ornwpigh1TQ

-Jon

 

[pint]

Very cool! I love to see something different. :victory:

 

[expeditionist]

Nice!!! I love seeing variations of unconventional Toyotas. I always loved the Toyota 4wd Van. Looked for one for a long long time to build up into an expo project but never could find it. This is what I had in mind...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXlCQE3l29g

I always thought that Toyota had the most unique, economical, and reliable options for 4wd. The Celica project is quite impressive. Strikes a chord with my Rally passion. Have you seen the Celica in Rally action?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSpQ5vnE5D0

Nice Celica man!!

 

[expeditionist]

Sorry man!! Should have watched your rally videos first. Very nice! Of course you have seen rally Footage! After all, you are building a rally ride. Good luck and look forward to what lies ahead. In a side note, I have been a rally fan for many years! I worked extraction at the 2005 Colorado Cog Rally in Steamboat Springs. Combines my love for Rally with my love for 4wheel/extraction. Most local rally organizers welcome a sweep/extraction specialist as this is a normal part of the sport. It is a lot of fun and I encourage everyone to get involved at a local level.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Simply rad!

 

[Jrally]

I've seen plenty of rally action, from my couch, from the pits, from sweep vehicles and from behind the wheel. I've built and raced two different rally cars for myself and three other cars for other people. Occasionally I still get requests to do some side work on various rally cars. (twice this week)

-Jon

 

[Pskhaat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSpQ5vnE5D0

At 9:50 that is some serious speed, I don't think that video angle does it justice.

 

[Jrally]

The WRC level of cometition is certainly fast, topping out around 120mph occasionally. Here in the US, in my whimpy Group2 (under 2400cc n/a 2wd) I've seen close to 100+mph, but usually more like 75-80mph top speed at a given race. Speed is still fun, but so is enjoying the scenery. When you race, you hardly have time to notice more then the road itself and occasional tree or big rock. My Celica suspension, although similar to the rally cars, is sprung softer for comfort and articulating over obstacles along the trails. I'm actually crewing at a rally in two weekends, Blythe, CA.
This is more of my rally side of the Celica's inspiration (Group B era)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TQy6jAi9kw&feature=related

-Jon

 

[Jrally]

Some of my build pics on how I got to this point... (sort of picture overload)

-Jon