KE70

[TOM97C]

Hey guys, new to the forum.

So i have just purchased a new car. Im 18 and have owned a lancer coupe and a vt commodore which i recently sold as i want to learn how to work on cars and do mods you probably shouldnt do to a commodore haha.

I bought this KE70 which is exceptionally straight and only has two rust spots in behind the rear wheels but no rust down rear wheel arches or petrol cap which is a bonus! Its a stock 4k 4 speed with an "original" 138xxx kms on the clock - to the left of the clock if you want to get technical - and has been treated like crap to be honest. The car was filth when i got it with crap left everywhere and it is gonna just stay there until i get it running as i dont think its run for a couple of years. Just replaced the starter motor and its cranking well now, its making spark so i now need to investigate fuel. (If anyone knows any common fuel issues in these let me know! I also need to know how to remove the petrol tank to give it a good clean out from like 5 year old petrol and also how to test the fuel pumps working). It needs a bit of attention to the wiring in the engine bay with some plugs just left open and one of the main insulators holding 4 or 5 wires to the tailight assemblies has just been cut so i need to work that out.

As i said i dont know a great deal about cars and i thought this was be a perfect platform to learn things on. For the moment i am just tidying it up and getting everything running and working to get a blue slip and then i can start the mods like maybe falcon springs, bucket seat, steering wheel, fat wheels, and then when i get off my ps in a year and a half even more excitement will begin.

Cheers guys, any feedback and tips would be greatly appreciated.
Tom

[JDMWheels]

Looks like a great base to start with!

[TOM97C]

Cheers JDMWheels!

So today i found a notice of disposal from 2004 and have found out the car has only done 5000 kms since 2004. This leads me to think that the car was running and did another 5000kms from that rego and then stopped and hasnt been started since - thats over a decade ago!!!

Anyway today i managed to get it started!!! I was so surprised i tested the fuel pump using various methods as well as pulled it apart and determined that the fuel pump is now the only lacking mechanical part so out of curiosity i took apart the air intake assembly and poured a little fuel directly into the carby, turned it over and within two cranks it turned over and starting running and sounded really good!! Understandably i couldnt believe that after over a decade of not running it started just like a very healthy car of its age so a new fuel pump will be on its way soon and it should be running. Then ill need to give it a really good clean out, investigate some dodgy wiring around the place (getting no voltage in the main tail light loom plug excepts hazards still work :/.) and then its off to get a blue slip!!

My mate and i have also been filming some of the stuff were doing to the car and will definately film mods we do as we will be starting a vlog / youtube channel on us building up the car. I will provide links when we get video editing etc sorted.

Cheers guys, any more feedback always welcomed and any hints as to approaching the bad wiring to tail light plugs?

Also urgent, there a two plugs off the main loom behind the engine that dont go anywhere and also a white cylindrical plug and standard green plug come off the bellhousing of the gearbox and dont seem to lead anywhere. If anyone could point me in the right direction there thatd be great!!

[Matt]

The tail lights are prob the dome fuse blown, should be something easy to sort out. I have wiring diagrams of the ke70 about which I can post a link to if needed

[TOM97C]

Is the dome fuse located in the fuse box or somewhere else along the loom? And a link to some wiring diagrams would be awesome thanks!

[TOM97C]

Soooooo,

Today i replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter and it took a while for the lines to prime and get enough fuel in it to start but after a couple of minutes it started and stayed running strong, so all is good there however on a side note i did realise its not the original engine but ah well this one seems fine.

BAD NEWS: I did notice a slight leaking of oil from where the fuel pump meets the crank on the side of the block and i thought it would be a good idea to try and tighten the nuts just a little more to see if the tension could possibly seize the leaking however i sheared the stud coming from the block so im somehow going to have to take that out and get it replaced if anyone has any ideas and tips on how to go about it or what size the stud is either side so i can go buy one.

Still no luck with wiring, im probably going to have to pull out the carpet and inspect it as well as the dash cause the wiring under there is also phucked! Anyone have any ideas as to what cause cause tail lights and reverse lights to not work but hazards work fine. Also left blinkers work fine but right is quick as if its got a blown fuse but cant find it?

In the photo of the relay/fuse box in the drivers footwell what plugs am i missing and also what are the plugs coming off the top of the gearbox and the others coming out of the main loom behind the engine?

Any help and tips would be greatly appreciated, cheers

[lildavo]

You're not missing any plugs you need in that fuse box. But maybe just check and replace the tail and stop fuses under the white/clear cover to be sure and put some new globes in. I had problems with my reverse lights and brake lights on a car that had been sitting a while and I did this and they came good. With that broken stud. I'd grab an "easy-out" and use that to remove it

[TOM97C]

Ah cheers mate. Im looking into buying those inner tail light covers cause all of mine are cracked and dont hold together so i might do the globes while I'm there aswell. I might also grab an easy out but i may aswell try it with some multi grips and a firm hold before i throw more money around, trying not to get in that habit but if need be ill go grab one.

I also purchased a set of old school "delta" meshies. My dad thought they might be a type of cheviots but im not convinced but they are made in Australia and are a surprisingly light wheel. Tyres are phucked but got a brand new set of wheel nuts thrown in too. Also got a few other goodies such as battery, oil, oil filter, various relays for the relay box in the bay and gasket sealant for when i put the fuel pump back on again after fixing the stud.

Will continue to keep you guys posted
Tom

[joeschmo_57]

This reminds me of when I first got a Corolla at 16.... 👍🏼

As far as modding it, please steer
clear of the Falcons. Spend money on good suspension that will get the most out of the chassis. Not necessarily jumping onto the coil over bandwagon, but there are plenty of good brake upgrades when you change over suspension to something like an ae86 setup.

[greeneyes]

I don't see 'torque wrench' in that list, the thing that would stop you breaking off any more studs..

Have fun with it, they are great to work on and easy to sort out. Just check the rear wiring with a multimeter ($10 from Jaycar or anywhere.. you'll need it!) and see if the bulbs are getting 12V. The headlight switch is prone to get dirty and stop earthing properly.

Check out The Girls KE70 in my sig to see what simple mods you can do.