Kevin's A35 Daihatsu Charmant

[KevinC]

Third time's a charm, right? So I've bought this car in 2014 and sold it, then bought it again in 19/20 and sold it in 21' again, just to buy it again this year.... And keeping it this time

It's a 85' A35 LC. So 4K-C, K50 etc etc..
Slowly working on it to make it look good again and mechanically in order. Got all the parts laying here to convert the front struts to coilovers wich will be done soon.

Future plans are hopefully swap in a 4AGE 16V and AE86 running gear. Do some body repairs in the rear as usual and drive it

Next orders will be an adjustable panhard rod after lowering, along with some RCA's and a new radiator.

(Pic's coming, i'm having some difficulties )

[banpei]

It just keeps coming back to you!
That's a very smart-looking Charmant with those Volk Racing Mesh wheels!

[KevinC]

(11-14-2024 11:14 AM)banpei Wrote:  It just keeps coming back to you!
That's a very smart-looking Charmant with those Volk Racing Mesh wheels!

Haha yes, it really does. The only car I regretted selling. Super happy it came back eventually.

[DarkSupra]

Glad that it went to someone who enjoys the car!
Really need to do a Charmant meet this year.

Here is a photo from it when i picked up my shell:

[KevinC]

[quote='DarkSupra' pid='178581' dateline='1735996096']
Glad that it went to someone who enjoys the car!
Really need to do a Charmant meet this year.

Here is a photo from it when i picked up my shell:

Yes, Charmant meet would be cool to attend

Done a few things in the meantime.

I made a seatbracket for my Recaro seat out of one of the original seatframes, but I was never satisfied with the result. Seatposition was too high and not enough adjustment.
So I bought a AE86 Juran Racing seatframe specific for Recaro SR Seats. Had to cut and reposition the 2 left mounting brackets as the spacing was slightly different for the Charmant (1.5CM too wide in the front and 1CM too wide in the rear). No big deal, easy to adjust.

Very happy with the seat position now! Nice and low and allot more sliding adjustment.

Also fitted a adjustable panhard bar from Flo's. Passenger wheel was slightly rubbing due to lowering.

And the last thing I did was upgrade my cooling situation. I had a very slight leak in my original radiator. Offcourse, finding a new original (or OEM Spec) is unobtanium. I wasn't too keen on putting a big alloy one in there. Luckily I found a near new original Denso Honda Civic EG radiator with electric fan. Went and picked it up in Den Haag, ordered some silicone hoses etc and fitted it. It works very well, a little bit too well actually. During driving it struggles to get to temp (the weather isn't also helping). I also found out that the previous owner put a 82deg thermostat in there. I've got a new 88deg one laying around here, so I'm gonna fit that and hope it solves the 'issue'.
Oh and don't worry about the fan connectors on the pic, that was just for testing. I've now put some Deutsch connectors on there

Next up is building my front coilovers with KYB AGX Short stroke shocks and probably removing and rebuilding my steering rack. I've got a small knock/noise on the left side. I've read that this is common on KE70's as it's a bushing inside the rack that wears out.

[Ivan141]

Kevin, nice work, just one piece of advice on the new radiator:
It might be working great now in wintertime, but I can see the floor through the front holes left by the narrower radiator, and that is never a good thing. You want ALL the air to pass through the radiator, not around it. If air can go around it, the pressure in the engine bay and in front of the radiator will get almost equal and the effectiveness of your radiator will drop badly. Put in some sheeting (metal, plastic, whatever) to close up the gaps, and if it cools too much in winter cover a part of the radiator with cardboard.

[KevinC]

(01-08-2025 09:04 AM)Ivan141 Wrote:  Kevin, nice work, just one piece of advice on the new radiator:
It might be working great now in wintertime, but I can see the floor through the front holes left by the narrower radiator, and that is never a good thing. You want ALL the air to pass through the radiator, not around it. If air can go around it, the pressure in the engine bay and in front of the radiator will get almost equal and the effectiveness of your radiator will drop badly. Put in some sheeting (metal, plastic, whatever) to close up the gaps, and if it cools too much in winter cover a part of the radiator with cardboard.

Thanks! I'll keep an eye on it and see how it works out when it's warmer again
I still have the metal part wich covered the left side, so I'll check to fit it there.