Old Okinawan Rides

[mikersoft]

I was scanning some old photos the other day and thought I'd share some pics of my old rides. I was certainly a car buff during my time on Okinawa ('89-'95). I still am to this day.

-Mike

My first ride, at Toyota Carina ST (after some mods to improve appearance).
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/mikersoft/Okinawa%20Scans/SCAN0006.jpg

Next, I upgraded to a turbo model (Carina GT-T). This one was fun & pretty quick.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/mikersoft/Okinawa%20Scans/SCAN0005.jpg

My favorite one, a Toyota Starlet Turbo R. The lightweight "R" models were not common - if fact, I don't recall seeing any others on Okinawa. It wasn't pretty under the hood, but I did plenty of power mods. This little red hatchback moved! For awhile, it was one of the faster EP71 Starlets around - until I broke a connecting rod and blew the block. :crying: Tanimaga knows that story ;)
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/mikersoft/Okinawa%20Scans/SCAN0048.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/mikersoft/Okinawa%20Scans/SCAN0049.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/mikersoft/Okinawa%20Scans/SCAN0047.jpg

My last fun ride was a Starlet Turbo S. I didn't do much to her except make the engine look pretty. I decided not to go too far down the engine mod path again ;)
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/mikersoft/Okinawa%20Scans/SCAN0031.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/mikersoft/Okinawa%20Scans/SCAN0032.jpg

[kombu_kid]

BAD-ASS, dude!! Was that Carina GT-T the only rear driver of the bunch? There's something cool about JDM tiny displacement turbo cars.......just so fun to drive once you get "up on the hair dryer"....(turbo).
That Starlet is very cool too.:thumbup:

[mikersoft]

BAD-ASS, dude!! Was that Carina GT-T the only rear driver of the bunch? There's something cool about JDM tiny displacement turbo cars.......just so fun to drive once you get "up on the hair dryer"....(turbo).
That Starlet is very cool too.:thumbup:

Yeah, only the Carinas were RWD. Dealing with "torque steer" on hard launches was one downside of the Starlet. :thumbdown:

-Mike

[swindland]

Nice ride!!!:D

[Ammoyankee]

When I met my wife in 1987, I had a bright red 1976 Skyline Ken&Mary. I still wish I had the car now, it's worth some moola!

[kombu_kid]

I'm looking for some pics of my 1976 Toyota Corona GT2000, which was my cool ride when I was in Oki. I still have it here in CA.....

[Tanimaga]

Ha...! I remember the day you modified and painted your grill on the red Starlet. I note the ancient FET ignition system too!
I wish I had decent pics of my old cars, but I don't. I have a couple pics of my Trueno AE86 before I sold it in 2000. I also had a silver Carina GT-T two door and blew it up racing a 180sx.

You are right..I've only seen one other "R" Starlet to this date.

[Trail]

I like the Starlet

[P_chan]

Nice!

Hatchbacks FTW!

[DoctorP]

Doc had a Carina just like the first pic...only there was a lot more rust on it...hell, there wasn't even a floor board! If you sat in it you would swear you were on an episode of The Flintstones!

[RODSCALIP5]

Nice, I have Starlet Myself..................
http://www.msprotege.com/members/RODSCALIP5/Starlet%20dropped.JPG


So if you see me, holla at me.......
If I am thread jacking let me know.........

[socalheart]

My first car here was a ten year old, red, 1981 Toyota Celica. I liked it.

It's so old there isn't even a pic of one like it on the internet.

[P_chan]

My first car here was a ten year old, red, 1981 Toyota Celica. I liked it.

My first car was a 1989 Z24 Cavalier with a 2.8L V6 and a ton of miles on it! I loved that car:thumbup:

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/chevrolet-cavalier-17.jpg

Looked exactly like that, except mine was a hardtop and red.

It even had the cool digital gauges!

:edit:

This is what mine looked like:

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/chevrolet-cavalier-18.jpg

[Trail]

My first car was 1987 Pontiac 6000. It was POS and I hated that car....

[DoctorP]

We are discussing Okinawan Rides people...not your POS back in the States.:rolleyes:

[P_chan]

Sorry, someone mentioned their first car and it brought back memories:D

Hell I wish I still had my old POS.

[DoctorP]

Sorry, someone mentioned their first car and it brought back memories:D

Hell I wish I still had my old POS.

Yes, but her first car was most likely on Okinawa.:D

[socalheart]

I said "here"... :p It was also my first car ever, but it was my mom's car for ten years before it was mine for a summer of teen frivolity. I sold it to some GI for $500. The digital dash read out didn't work, but it had new windshield wiper motor and drove well otherwise.

We are discussing Okinawan Rides people...not your POS back in the States.:rolleyes:

[Boost]

While these definitely not my only vehicles during my stay on Oki, they were by far my favs!

Boost's car and how he came to have the nick, "Boost"; 1989 Nissian Sileighty

http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/14709/sil180.jpg


Temp's car: 1998 "Toyota" Cavalier

http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/14709/cavy.jpg

Boost's crotchrocket: 1995 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/14709/fireblade.jpg

[kombu_kid]

Okay old-schoolers, I decided to get my old right hand drive Okinawan ride running again. I brought it back here to the states in '83. I blew the motor in 2000. Anyone care to identify this motor? It was knocking and missing when I was 100 miles from home but still made it back alive in one piece. After 8 years of sitting, I think I'll tear into it and see what happened.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/MyCammer/P1001664.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/MyCammer/P1001665.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/MyCammer/P1001666.jpg

[Ammoyankee]

I woud say that is an either an 18R or a 2TG! Probably the 18R though and with twin Solex carbs!

[badstreetusa]

Hey man, how's FW treating you?

[kombu_kid]

Yeah, it's an 18RG. Problem is, the Japanese don't "support" this engine here in the states and getting parts like gaskets sets or valve seals is a bitch. If any of ya'll want to buy an 18RG gasket set from Toyota over there and stick it on Ebay, you might be able to make a some bucks from people like me who are desperate for one over here in the states. (If you can actually get one over either.)

The entire shortblock is the same as a stateside 18R (single O/H cam) so crank seals, pan gasket, rings, bearings and stuff like that are easily available, but all the DOHC specific things like chains, sprockets, tensioners and cam cover gaskets are tough to get. I'll probably end up making my cam cover gasket just out of silicone.......what the hell, the factories do it like that now.

[Ammoyankee]

Hey man, how's FW treating you?

Not bad at all... Living close to the NAS JRB Fort Worth (old Carswell AFB), nice area and good schools...

[Ammoyankee]

Yeah, it's an 18RG. Problem is, the Japanese don't "support" this engine here in the states and getting parts like gaskets sets or valve seals is a bitch. If any of ya'll want to buy an 18RG gasket set from Toyota over there and stick it on Ebay, you might be able to make a some bucks from people like me who are desperate for one over here in the states. (If you can actually get one over either.)

The entire shortblock is the same as a stateside 18R (single O/H cam) so crank seals, pan gasket, rings, bearings and stuff like that are easily available, but all the DOHC specific things like chains, sprockets, tensioners and cam cover gaskets are tough to get. I'll probably end up making my cam cover gasket just out of silicone.......what the hell, the factories do it like that now.

I had both 18R's and 2T's in cars back in the 80's on Oki. Both strong running NA motors!

Have you tried looking for parts in the UK?

[xXNothingnessXx]

This is mine....it's kind of old I guess...1994

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/3041000-3041999/3041495_10_full.jpg

[badstreetusa]

Not bad at all... Living close to the NAS JRB Fort Worth (old Carswell AFB), nice area and good schools...

Glad to hear everything is working out...things here in Oki are crazy as ever.

Later

[Ammoyankee]

Glad to hear everything is working out...things here in Oki are crazy as ever.

Later

Yes, there are some things I DO NOT miss...:thumbup: