So my kid is super into cars as I am. My mom wants to give him her old 2004 Celica GTS for his birthday in a few months as kind of something for him to work on, and save up to fix up. I’m for the idea, as he doesn’t have much drive despite him being a hard working kid. So far, he does work hard to make money but he wastes it on candy. He has the drive but not any goal. He loves cars and is into fixing them up. Granted, he’s not old enough to drive yet, but that’s the idea. Giving him a car that he can care for and fixing it up, while he has time to do work, and learn will give him something that will give him an idea of the value of money and work. He has the work ethic, he just needs the goals and value understanding.

My question is what should be the important things to work on first? I understand rust is an issue, it’s sat for maybe 6 years or so and has some body rust above the rear wheels. Beyond rust, is there something that’s a quick and easy upgrade? This will be something that will be presents for his birthday/Christmas for several years getting upgraded as he won’t be able to drive it for a few years. He has been asking about it for a few years and will want it to be comparative to my MX-5 that’s about to get supercharged. Hes such a hard working kid that loves cars enough that he might manage to make it faster than mine but I don’t know enough about Toyotas to know what should be done in what order so that he’s got a good ride when he’s able to drive it.

Any experienced Toyota people able to help?

  • Brkdncr@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    2 months ago

    If it sat for 6 years then:

    • Brake lines
    • fuel injectors
    • fuel hose
    • fuel tank
    • fuel pump
    • vaccum lines
    • soak combustion chamber with penetration oil, spin the engine until it’s primed, pray that the rings aren’t stuck.
    • tires
    • P00ptart@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      The tires are fine, my mother got them and the wheels updated, but thanks for the rest. I’ll have to get it moving so that he can make it his own. His dream car is a 57chevy but we just don’t have the money for that yet.