Bringing Our 1990 Toyota Celica GT Back to Life

The Toyota Celica has been a fan favourite, that spans several generations. We had been on the lookout for a good project car to get stuck into and that's when we came across this. Gen V, 1990 Celica GT 2.0 ST182, in Super White II. Fitted with an automatic, 4 speed gearbox.

Our ST182 has been off the road for six years, and you can certainly tell by looking at it. The first thing we had to do was get it back to the SGM garage and access the car inside and out to establish what would be needed to get this car roadworthy again. We began inspecting the engine bay, the interior of the car and the underside of the vehicle.

As you can see from the photograph of the engine bay, It's in need of a full restoration. Our ST182 is fitted with the 2.0 3S-GE engine. Aside from being corroded, the engine was complete. It appears that time had been relatively kind to the engine and it was turning over nicely after testing. Oil for both the engine and transmission was at the maximum fill line. Coolant was present, which was surprising considering the condition of the coolant and vacuum hoses.

The Fuel System

All of the service items were rather old and filthy, and it's clear that they hadn't been changed for a very long time. The fuel filter appears to be the original unit, which is quite surprising for a 36-year-old car.

The fuel pump was seized, and upon removing it from the tank, we found that the bottom rubber mounting had completely deteriorated into sludge. The filter sock had also split, leaving the pump assembly in a pretty sorry state. The pump housing itself was heavily rusty and required a thorough clean and service. Luckily, the tank is pristine inside, just the exterior needs rust removal and protection.

The deterioration wasn't limited to the tank. The rubber fuel lines have dry-rotted with age and will need to be replaced throughout the car. Given the age and condition of the existing lines, this isn't something we're willing to take any chances with.

The fuel system will therefore be receiving a complete overhaul before we attempt to get the engine running.

Parts ordered

• HT Leads

• Spark Plugs

• Distributor Cap

• Distributor Rotor Arm

• Coil

• Air Filter

• Fuel Filter

• Oil FIlter

• Engine Oil

• Transmisson Oil

• Fuel Pipe

What's Worth Saving?

It's easy to look at a 36-year-old car that's been sitting for six years and see everything that's wrong with it.

We'd rather look at what's still there.

The shell is worth saving. The engine is complete. The interior is largely intact. And underneath all the dirt, corrosion and neglect is a fifth-generation Celica that deserves another chance.

This isn't going to be a quick turnaround.

We're going to take our time, document the work and restore the car properly rather than rushing it back onto the road.

This is only the beginning of the ST182's journey back to the road.

What's Next?

We'll be working through the car systematically:

• Getting the engine running and assessing the 3S-GE

• Replacing the necessary fluids, filters and service items

• Assessing the cooling system and old hoses

• Inspecting the brakes and suspension

• Investigating the rear suspension corrosion

• Repairing the rear sills

• Cleaning and treating the underside

• Working through the electrical system

• Bringing the interior back to life

• Eventually, turning our attention to the exterior paintwork