Mickey Ohkita's 1984 Toyota Corolla SR5

If you think it takes a fortune to build a fun drift machine, then you've got a thing or two to learn from 45-year-old Mickey Ohkita of Torrance, Calif. He built this drift-ready AE86 '84 Toyota Corolla SR5 for a measly six grand. That's right, six grand. OK, so he bought the car back in 1990 when they were worth like, $.10, and nowadays, it's almost impossible to find an AE86 that's not a rusted hulk for less than $3,000, but with some luck, you can dupe this car without breaking the bank.

Mickey is an old-time car guy from Kyoto, Japan. When he came to L.A. almost 18 years ago, he became immersed in the city's car culture as a body-and-fender man at Pro Tech Auto Body in Torrance. Even then, Mickey, whose policy is to "take my time and don't use excess money," had visions of the kick-ass AE86 Corolla he'd build one day.

When Mickey bought the car it was a 4A-C- powered (SOHC, carbureted), automatic-equipped road slug, and it pretty much stayed that way until 1997, when Mickey met his patron saint of Corolla modification, Yoshi Noyori of El Segundo, Calif. Yoshi, a mechanic, spurred Mickey onto getting off his ass and creating the AE86 of his dreams.

First change was the engine. Out with the very old, in with the fairly old: a DOHC, fuel-injected 4A-GE mill, carefully built by Mickey and Yoshi. Air is introduced with a custom ram air and Jubiride intake stacks, and fuel is added via a JDM Toyota AE101 (Corolla Sprinter) throttle body and port-matched Jubiride intake manifold. Mickey milled the head for a higher compression ratio and enlarged the ports to introduce more air and fuel into the mix.

HKS cams, measuring 264 degrees on the intake side and 256-degree exhaust were installed, and perfect timing is ensured with adjustable cam gears. The squish is provided by 0.5mm oversized pistons. Letting out the spent fumes is a port-matched TRD header feeding a custom exhaust with twin-pipe tip. Controlling the estimated 142 rear-wheel hp is a Konishi Speed ECU and A'PEXi Super AFC. Redline is set at 8000 rpm, which Mickey explores regularly.

Backing the high-winding 4AG is an AE86 five-speed manual. Bolstering the stick's performance is a Toyota AE92 (later-model Corolla GT-S) clutch and flywheel. Delivering the power to the wheels is a TRD differential with steep 4.778 gears. Mickey reports the car jumps off the line, spinning the tires often.

Suspension mods were next, and Mickey's ingenuity was really called into play here. He wanted to create a car that could be driven daily, but was still competitive in the increasingly popular U.S. drift events. Up front are owner-modified TOKICO Illumina shocks (from the rear of an MR2), Ground Control springs, a stock anti-roll bar, TRD bushings and a custom upper strut-tower brace. Out back are KYB shocks, Ground Control springs, a stock anti-roll bar and TRD bushings.

Stock brakes enhanced by Jubiride pads and stainless-steel brake lines provide the "whoa." For better brake feel and to stop the firewall from buckling under hard braking (a common AE86 trait), Mickey created a custom master-cylinder brake stopper. It's a pretty trick piece.

It's the wheels that truly set this AE86 apart. Evoking Japanese racers of the '60s and '70s, Mickey had stock '86 Celica wheels plus-sized and widened to 15x7 inches and painted them black with a small color-keyed gold stripe. They're shod with Falken Azenis, sized 195/50VR-15 in the front and 205/50VR-15 out back, which are reversed for drift events.

Next, it was time to attack the 14-year-old body. For competition and to counteract the sagging effects of aging, Mickey created very trick dual monocoque, chassis-stiffening center bars, which are mounted in the interior and adjustable via heim joints. He also added JDM Trueno bumpers front and rear, a JDM Trueno front spoiler, JDM Trueno taillights and a fresh coat of gold paint.

The interior was treated to a competition look and feel. First Mickey removed the rear seat, carpeting and insulation. He keeps tabs on the 4A-GE via a mix of stock and Auto Meter gauges, housed in a custom-built dash panel. Mitsubishi seats were added, and the riders are held in place with Sabelt five-point harnesses. Dressing up the interior is a Nardi Torino steering wheel and TRD shift knob. For better weight distribution, the Optima battery was located in the trunk.

Mickey is now part of a small group called the "Over 40s," made up of himself, Yoshi, his competition driver Ko Kagiya, and friend/competitor Koji Haraguchi. Mickey would also like to thank Yoshi, Moto and Taka of Club 4AG, Kennji of G Speed Co., Mr. Oshima of Zero Factor, Non Fujita of Enonvativ Force, Jim Nakajima of Pro Tech, Mr. Watanabe and Mr. Nagata of Techno Square, and Endless for making the car possible.

So far, the "Over 40" bunch is getting a lot of attention on the So. Cal. drifting circuit and a lot of respect from the younger crowd. They're learning that it doesn't take a lot of money to have fun and look good, just some time, creativity and a little luck.

Interior Nardi Torino steering wheel; Mitsubishi seats; Sabelt five-point harnesses; TRD shift knob; Auto Meter gauges in custom panel, relocated wiper and A/C switches; removedrear seat, carpeting, insulation; Optima battery in trunk