Hi from Canada eh

Hi Everyone. Its about time I joined. Ive been on Toyotanation but I only own one Toyota and its an AE101, so, just makes sense to join here lol. I have a 97 Corolla DX 1.6 Auto purchased July 2011 with 117,000 kms on engine. Unfortuantely, it looked as if it had been taken off-road with all the scratches and dented in rocker panel. There was also some repairs to the gas line and the headlight was pushed in. It had rust around the wheel wells and underneath it was rust checked but still showed signs of rust. The previous owner had also left it sitting for several years and I had to replace a seized caliper. With all that in mind, I still went for it and bought it.

Then after about 3 months, I blew the head gasket and messed up my valves. I still dont fully understand what happened but when I got it to my mechanic, he said I blew the head gasket and lost compression in 3 cylinders and my valves were "toast". I never got to see what my valves looked like but I seen the gasket. The mechanic is my neighbor with 40+ years mechanical experience and he said he has maybe only seen what happened to me once or twice in his lifetime. I should of swapped my engine at this point but I went for the reconditioned head cylinder instead and kept it stock...Horrible decision!

welcome along bro dont worry about its condition even after all the flaws its worth it trust me.

welcome to the site bro, we have all hit problems with our cars lol
hopefully you will get yours repaired soon, and why was your decision to put a recon head a bad one?

Welcome dude! I see you on TN, bout time you joined here

welcome along

Thanks for the welcome. The reconditioned head was a bad choice because I probably could of got a blacktop or silvertop installed for the same price. I paid $2100 for the cylinder head and labour.

I have had the body restored and it re-painted (one side of the car was sun faded) to the original colour green. I did most of the body work and sent it away to a cheap paint shop. Painted it for $1000 but wasnt done very good and got overspray all over. I want to re-do the body work and paint because I didn't take the bumpers off and get it all completely out (winter was approaching and wanted to get it done fast)

Installed an aftermarket stereo, painted interior door handles, wiper handles, locks and upper dash vent. Installed interior LED lights. Installed RPM Tachometer. Repaired my cracked headlight housing. Painted rusty window wiper arms. Installed 16" Voxx Racing rims on Nankang tires. Installed Option Racing Short Ram Intake

I think that is mostly all of the main work I have done as of now. More projects on the way. I am currently replacing my exhaust after it corroded and busted off at the flex pipe and converter connection. I am replacing it with..

4-2-1 Headers (DNA Motoring)
Magnaflow Direct Bolt Catalytic Converter
Bosal Resonator pipe with custom fitted O2 sensor port
and stock rear muffler
I also replaced the rear oxygen sensor

Looking forward to hearing it when its done

and Hi Mirroreyes. Good to see ya

any pictures of it mate?

Yes. I have pictures on cardomain. Not sure what the best and easiest way to post pics here is, I see there are a bunch of different ways. Which is the best way to post pics?

best way would be to upload to photobucket and copy paste the [img] tags

or you can upload pictures using the site, click the box with the red arrow, upload it, then copy the image code and then click on the box with the green arrow and post the pic

OK thanks. Ill try photobucket

That is what it looked like when I got it

wow nice, awesome colour

got to say it does look clean..

start up a build thread and il move all your posts from here to there..

Good Idea, I will

Is there a designated builds section? Where should I start my build thread?

yep right here

http://www.ae101ownersclub.com/c2-members-rides

just pick which shape your car is

Great. I started a thread in Saloon. Can you move my posts with pictures from here over to there please. I still need to upload more pics to photobucket

done it for you bro

Welcome Mr. Sound, I've seen your car on cardomain and ToyotaNation! I knew I recognized it lol. I like the green color, that's a rare one.

And, with pics, since your pics are on Cardomain, you can simply use the IMG tags on them here without uploading them again.