Thunder VS Lightning - Juiceboxforyou

I’ve always kept an eye on these two cars, two of the nicest AE86’s rolling around the streets of Waterford back when everyone was deep in the fast and furious Max Power world. These cars have been with the owners for years. I decided to feature both cars together fresh out of a restoration. Both owners went completely different directions so it a fascinating story. If you’re wondering why we’ve called this thunder vs. lightning, well because Trueno translates into thunder, and Levin loosely translates into lightning.

Bryan was planning on buying his Trueno since around ’99 but couldn’t insure one at the time. He waited patiently for the right one’s to come up online. He ended up bidding on a number of cars until the end of March 2004 and accidently one two auctions, with the second becoming Alan Sinnots drift car. After a few short drives Bryan was hooked. Over the years the car has remained somewhat very complete, Bryan daily drove this car for years and enjoyed everything about having a full interior and a very complete example.

For the exterior Bryan wanted to retain the original look of the 87 Kouki GT Apex but add subtle extras. Being the high-end model with all the extras the Apex model came with power steering and electric sunroof, it even had electric windows and electric mirrors! Impressive for back in the day compared to the poverty spec models the rest of the world received.

A TRD spoiler was added to the rear, but instead of the traditional rivet mounting, which works for a rough and ready look, Bryan decided to mold the spoiler to the boot lid keeping a very OEM image to the exterior.

To break up the original front Bryan decided on a Varis carbon bonnet and a zenki splitter. The headlamps were freshened with Raybrig 6000K HID’s.

The interior adopts the same kind of subtle styling. Anything removed was replaced. Some Greddy gauges have been added to the cockpit. Bryan has also added an ultra speed monitor with limiter cut, an 80mm stepper motor tachometer and has added some Genuine Red Trueno floor mats to keep with the original interior look.

For seating Bryan decided on two Bride Brix recline able classics for comfort and functionality. Strapping him in is red Sabelt 4 point harness. Other touches include a Cusco Drift fly off on the handbrake a leather Genuine TRD shift knob, a rare Apex’i S-AFC II black limited and a Nardi classic.

An unusual sight for an AE86 is the rear parcel shelf and back seat retained! Bryan managed to pick up this rare Carrozzeria back parcel shelf from a fellow ae86irl member to complete the rear interior. The car has many subtle rare gems like this, it’s exactly how he likes to build a car.

The car is fitted with a 4A-GZE engine from an AE101 boosted in power by a rare Cusco 200ps kit which comprises of 172mm pulley and adjustable bypass valve.
Bryan retained the stock loom and ECU. It has a fully reconditioned OEM gearbox mated to a 4.3 TRD LSD, an Exedy stage 1 organic clutch and ORC clutch pipe with a Chromoly flywheel.Other goodies include a GReddy Airinx air filter, a large front mount intercooler from an MA70 Supra and a Koyo aluminum radiator.

The viscous fan has been swapped out for a pair of 10″ slimline electric fans.  A Greddy oil catch Tank catches the oil and moisture. A Billion racing power steering tanks replaces the old with a Trust 10 row oil cooler and relocate kit. Bryan has retained the stock manifold and has a Toda de-cat and HKS Legal cat back system out the rear.

For handling Bryan has went with Tokico HTS 102 rear dampers and trd springs, up front Satoru works front coil overs with Tein springs.  Some Cusco tension rods a radius rod brace fitted with Powerflex bushings.

Some Nagisa Auto traction brackets have been installed with a adjustable Revolver panhard rod accompanied by a Kai Power panhard support brace, and while he was at it a Cashiew rear trunk brace!

For braking, Kai power 280mm discs up front and black diamond discs at the rear. Stopping those is a Mazda FC 4 pot brake kit with added Project Mu type hc brake pads and braided hoses front and rear. This all connects to the ground through 15″ Advan Oni 3 spoke wheels wrapped in Toyo rubber. Such a solid setup.

Dave’s car is almost at another end of the AE86 spectrum. For starters its the Levin front, but this car is also the Apex model, the car itself was bought just about 8 months before Bryan received his and the same story goes again. That love for such a simple yet chuck-able car, a car that rewards your driving. Daves car has been well used and it has been built around his style or driving. The Levin was originally silver and sported a set of Advan A3A’s up front and Longchamps on the rear. I used to see this car every day, mismatched wheels, gutted and ready for fun. This car left a huge impact on me when I was younger,

The first thing that grabs your attention is the Ueo bomber bar which sticks out of the original bumper and has been colour coded to match the unusual exterior brown. The bumper is the original zenki but has been treated with some gloss black which really works. Dave wanted to choose a colour which would stand out but not be too loud, the brown is a very uncommon colour on the cars buts works perfectly.

The front grill on this model is quite rare. Basically how it worked was having a closed grille when the engine is under normal operation to improve the drag coefficient and when the engine is under heavy stress it would open to allow air to flow in for more cooling worked by a thermostat which opened the grille when the water temperature was hot enough.

Then the grille would open up and show the Twincam 16 logo instead of the Levin logo when closed, classic eighties Japanese engineering. Dave has swapped out the Zenki mirrors for electric cleaner looking Kouki’s and a Carbon culture bonnet with a pimp titanium bonnet stay sourced from Japan. Nothing too loud about this car, the classic Zenki Levin look can hold its own any day.

Inside the car has the total opposite feel to Bryan’s Trueno. The car has a very used purposeful feel to it. You can post Daves little home made holders. There are gauges everywhere, but they serve a purpose. Some smoked auto gauges for oil, water, fuel, vacuum and revs have been installed, Dave has also added an Apexi RSM and a HKS fan controller.

Dave has added a TRD shifter and a Hydraulic hand brake with a Wilwood brake bias adjuster. For steering he opts for a classic Sparco deep corn suede wheel. The passenger gets the Recaro treatment under their behind while Dave chooses an unknown Japanese fixed bucket, some D2 harnesses keep everybody secure.

As this car was geared more towards performance, the engine received serious attention. There is a high torque block from an AE92 corolla, a big port head, it’s been fully ported and polished and gas flowed. A 264-inlet HKS double inlet camshaft, a 272 exhaust HKS camshaft some tasty looking Hks vernier pulleys and a Hks timing belt! A Techno pro spirit water pump, an AE101 oil pump, and some Jubride aluminum pulleys, keeping things nice and cool is a Koyo Radiator with a blitz cap. Dave also added some Wossner high compression pistons and some Rc 440cc injectors and a Walbro fuel pump.

Some Msd leads and coilpack, and AE101 throttle bodies with T3 funnels and adapter plate are in place. Dave has also added a Cusco oil filter relocate and cooler. The engine has received Arp rods, main and head and Arp head struts. Dave installed Techno Prospirit 3,8kg flywheel and Exedy triple pedal clutch for good with a TRD 2way LSD.

Allowing the car to exhale is a Powercraft tornado manifold and the exhaust system is a chopped up HKS legal under axle, with 2.5″ pipework. Everything is controlled by an Omex 600 ECU.  All this runs on that it runs E85 Bio ethanol. Once it starts you get the distinctive smell alcohol. Insanity.

Dave fitted the car with some essential handling upgrades. Up front an unmistakable Ueo Bomber bar is seen. A Revolver strut brace and Nagisa auto shakitto plates keep things stiff at the firewall, on top of that the entire car has been seam welded and has received a Cusco 7point dash dodge rollcage.

Dave has added some T3 pillars ball lower arms and T3 tension rods. Complimenting that is Uras inner tie rod ends with Battle version upper and lower trailing arms and a Techno Prospirit panhard rod.  Some Greddy suspension with some electronic adjusters has been added to this crazy mix. The car is total function.

For breaking Dave chose Wilwood 4pot dynalight calipers up front with 280mm drilled and grooved front discs. All this keeps in contact with the ground through some XXR 002 wheels wrapped in some Toyo proxy tyres.

Two proper examples of two very tastefully built. The eight six already has such a rich history and its great to see such a cool story that comes with these two builds. It always fascinated me how both owners are totally different but have the same interests, which were reflected in both builds. Quite possibly two of the most influential cars of my younger years that gave me a proper schooling on what were right about owning something from Japan.