New KP61 Starlet owner in the PNW

B.P. · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:53 pm

Well I just bought one of my all time favorite cars, a 1981 KP61 starlet

You dont see too much vintage japanese cars getting love around here in Portland Oregon.

I am realizing now that finding parts to make this project happen is going to be pretty difficult! But that's half the fun right?

I'll post more pictures tomorrow.

Any advice on coil-over options would be very helpful thanks, its on cut springs at the moment and rides like crap.

Thanks,
-B.P.

ben · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:06 pm

I love the color. Congrats on your new purchase. I'm sure some of the Starlet heads can advise you on suspension. Welcome to JNC!

pagong · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:43 am

Where are you finding these cars?

I would trade my VIP wheels for a good running Starlet or the Older Cressidas :wink:

B.P. · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:04 pm

I got it off of craigslist lol...

I love the color, the car has a welded diff cusco strut bar, rear strut bar, celica GT wheels (painted)

Hope You guys like it, it needs a good deal of work, but it is a solid project.. :mrgreen:

john · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:27 pm

B.P. wrote:

You dont see too much vintage japanese cars getting love around here in Portland Oregon.

Are you kidding? It's the Datsun 510 capitol of the world...

http://datsunsnw.org/

And I love the Starlet. :tu:

B.P. · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:32 pm

I know but datsuns get love everywhere lol, i like to see the less common cars get built, one of my buddies also has a KP61 and another has a Datsun F10 Sportwagen!

B.P. · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:35 pm

Does anyone know of Shops in the oregon/washington area that deal with older japanese cars?

stingray · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:12 pm

congrats on the starlet :tu:

B.P. · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:44 pm

I would like to run dual side drafts on the car, but i looked on the Redline/Weber site and they only list an intake for the 3k-c?

Any advice, thanks?

Oxford Comma · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:21 am

I almost bought this starlet, I still have the pictures he sent me on my phone haha. I was afraid of buying it from Illinois and having it shipped to me from Portland without seeing it in person. Out of curiosity what's the condition of it, and what did you pay?

B.P. · **Posted:** Sat Sep 19, 2009 5:43 pm

I love the car, but i have been working on it all weekend and this thing is like Pandora's box lol.

I paid his asking price, and drove it home.

B.P. · **Posted:** Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:29 pm

so the car has been running hot so i decided to replace the waterpump, and thermostat.

I will be replacing the radiator also because when i pulled the hoses i found this,

Top Hose connection

Bottom

I may have also gotten a litte off track too, i was looking at new seat options

Also decided to take a look at the "shaved" bumper, which ended up working out in my favor

B.P. · **Posted:** Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:36 pm

So i was trying to diagnose why the car doesn't want to run smoothly. It felt like it was running on only three cylinders, so i took out all of the plugs. 1,2,3 were all fine, and uniform looking, while 4 on the other hand was pitch black! and covered in oil

I decided to do a compression test after seeing that thinking that the rings may be bad on cyl #4 so i do, and all cylinders tested good, so now i am more confused, but happy that i dont need rings.

Long story short i am gonna replace the valve stem seals for cyl 4, and a new seal for the little spark plug thingy that is supposed to seal on the side.

B.P. · **Posted:** Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:19 pm

so i may have sourced a 4age motor, but i plan on running carbs on it. Would i be better off getting a harness and running the stock EFI?

Any advice fellas? 350 views and hardly any advice or help common JNC! i know you guys know your stuff :tu:

john · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:49 pm

B.P. wrote:

Would i be better off getting a harness and running the stock EFI?

I would, especially if it were meant to be a daily driver. :tu:

B.P. · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:35 pm

i was leaning towards carbs because it would be easier, but the EFI will be much more dependable. I have heard of people using AE86 coilovers for the front, does anyone have a link to a build where someone has done this?

Thanks,

-Brian.

Lincoln Stax · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:39 pm

B.P. wrote:

Any advice fellas?

You might want to try the Puget Sound Toyota Owners Club forums. I was at their meet a few weeks ago and there were a couple of gorgeous KP61s there. They might have some good advice for you.

B.P. · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:46 pm

Thanks man, i'm trying to get as much knowledge as I can from people have built these before so i can do it up right.

Thanks :tu:

john · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:19 pm

B.P. wrote:

I have heard of people using AE86 coilovers for the front, does anyone have a link to a build where someone has done this?

FWIW, I have seen 3-4 threads about this over at www.club4AG.com. Might try there?

B.P. · **Posted:** Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:42 pm

I have to replace the valvestem seals this weekend, but would like to do it without pulling the head off, has anyone done this by running cyl #4 to TDC and letting the valves rest on the top of the piston?

TIA

-B.P. :tu:

New KP61 Starlet owner in the PNW

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