Hey guys I just bought my first Corolla. Im really a Camaro guy, but I've always been into these cars. Its an 87 SR5. Its all stock with some cut springs (they suck). The automatic is toast. Everything else is good. What should I do??? Fix the tranny, swap it for a manual, or do a complete drivetrain swap? All help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

Undaground4eva wrote:Hey guys I just bought my first Corolla. Im really a Camaro guy, but I've always been into these cars. Its an 87 SR5. Its all stock with some cut springs (they suck). The automatic is toast. Everything else is good. What should I do??? Fix the tranny, swap it for a manual, or do a complete drivetrain swap? All help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

first off, welcome....and enjoy your newly found 86 life!

second off, took a half a sec to get these results from google using your query...
https://www.google.com/search?q=just+bought+an+ae86+now+what%3F&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

third, find a AE86 GT-S donor and swap everything from it, to your 86. Or, just sell your 86, and keep the GT-S donor 86.....Have fun!

TSo are you telling me I wasted my money???

Undaground4eva wrote:TSo are you telling me I wasted my money???

Yes and no.
Let me elaborate.
I'm simply saying that, depending on what you want to do w/your 86, theres many ways to achieve it.
Hence, the link I posted. Which gives you many ideas on where to begin.

Now let me answer your second question:
As with many challenges in life, if you devote a lot of time, effort, money, and possess an extreme amount of patience. Then the answer is no.

If you lack any of the aforementioned, the answer might be a Yes......but then again, everyone is different.

I say enjoy living the 86 life! For as long as you're in it anyway....Have fun!

^What he means to say is that the AE86 came in two variations in the US. The SR5 and the GTS.
The SR5 is single-cam 4AC, carbed, rear drum brakes, and was available in automatic. Among others things. All around its only pushing around 70 hp give or take. Especially with the auto.
^This is what you have.
The GTS on the other hand is your initial D car and close to the opposite. Twin-cam 4AGE, fuel injected, disc brakes(sometimes even LSD), only available in 5 speed, not too mention it looks a lot better with the front lip and awesome seats. Probably pushes around 100 hp give or take.
Now most people will tell you, and I mean MOST people will tell you to just sell the sr5 and buy a gts or swap in a twincam(quite a bit of work but from most perspectives, worth it). Few have love for the single-cam.
Now, if you decide to keep your sr5. there is a website, http://4ac-powered.forumotion.com/
That will hold most you need to know. the 5 speed swap is well worth it if you plan to keep the sr5 for a while, but sourcing the parts may be a hassle. If you plan to go twin-cam, dont bother swapping the sr5 to 5 speed as you will end up doing it with the twin-cam swap anyhow.
Like idream said, it comes down to your preferred choice in the end, keep what you have, swap it, sell and buy a gts, or try and build a 4AGE killer out of your 4AC.

In the end though, Suspension is always a good place to start.