AW11 SC - Full Rebuild (and I mean full!)**************** FINISHED ***********************

 
After a bit of thinking I have decided to go the 'full hog' on my restoration of my SC AW11.
I got the car with pre existing damage to the front end - the extend was a bit unknown however I saw through the dirt at a car with pretty good bones!.
 
My last restoration was to a little SWB Suzuki Vitara. My 12 yo son and I took it from a $300 rust heap to a show car - and yes the restoration story was published in Australia's leading 4x4 magazine..
I had an AW11 20 odd years ago - it was BRAND NEW! - a gun metal AW11 with factory sunroof, cruise and after market 15" momo stars with RE71's - Back in the late 80's this was cool as! ... I was only 21 (do the math) - My biggest regret with that car was trading it for a GT-Four! - The first one registered in QLD! ...Since then the AW11 has always been a favourite of mine.. I now have 2 - and they both cost a fair bit less than the $37K I paid for that first one! ....
 
The car I am planing on restoring is a 1986 supercharged 'T' roof. Busted front lower support, dented guards, ****ty interior, motor that doesn't run properly .. etc etc ... but!!!! - Little rust...
 
The aim is to repair this to better than new.. properly grossly over capitalise and more than likely go overboard on every aspect.. But it’s going to be fun..
One thing I have learned with these cars is that sourcing parts can be challenging .. and Toyota Australia seem to have a pre-recorded message that goes something like ‘that’s out of production and no longer available’
However – I have a little network of people and companies from here in Brisbane to the UK and US who can get me what I need – mostly new parts too.. Hell – I can even get new front reinforcement cross members that were long thought extinct .. I also have just received a brand new idle control valve for my NA car and air flow meter for it too! (NEW!)… It’s all out there if you look hard enough…
 
Now to start the car I will post a few shots of it pre restore… I am still not sure what colour to paint it, but it will have to be wild … also I know the interior it going to be re done in leather (everything inc dash!) – but colour, stitching etc is still up in the air … so I’d welcome suggestions.. I was thinking pearl black with gun metal ghost stripes.. the will match the 17” Advanti Talons in gunmetal grey (http://www.bigotyres.com.au/upload/advanti-talon-gunm.jpg) these have already been ordered ..
One other thing about me – I don’t like taking forever to do resto’s – I want to have this finished by mid September….
 
 

Wow, looks like it will be an awesome transformation!!  I like your style, speedy progress!!  I wish I had the time to do the same...
 
 

Good luck with the re-build! Progress and end result photos and story will be an interesting read

Awesome work, they definitely look brand new. Keep up the work !

Yep - they do make a specific product for dull lenses, but it's really expensive and I find the fine cut polish works just as well (maybe even a bit better)..

ozhummer

Yep - they do make a specific product for dull lenses, but it's really expensive and I find the fine cut polish works just as well (maybe even a bit better)..

you must be referring to something else?  this is just a bottle, quite cheap, around $15 from memory.
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G12310
 
I have seen a full on kit costing over $100, but it was some weird brand I never heard off.
 
You can also get small buffing pads to put on a drill from bunnings, easier if you dont need/want to remove lights.
 
Cheers
 
 

I have pretty much finished the front of the car - just some additional rust proofing, under body protection and so.. but the main problem with the car is now fixed - that being the lower radiator support. I removed the old bent up rusted one and welded in a new replacement - as I have now decided to repaint the car black (with some cool surprises that you all will have to wait and see..), so all the front has been 2 packed with special rust preventative undercoat and paints..
I am waiting on a new race radiator, so it's missing that at the moment, but the air cond condenser is all nice again - this was the old one, I basically sand blasted it and repainted.. actually not sand blast but media blasted with glass as it's pretty gentle on alloy.. All brackets have been sandblasted too and painted with a 2 part epoxy rust preventative paint .. I generally replace all nuts and bolts on a project like this too..  So the front is starting to look like new ...
 
I think the engine removal is next weekend ... need to find a cheap engine crane ...Anyone in Brisb got one for sale ??).