Nice work on getting yourself an original shift boot. I brought an aftermarket one for my a dub but the fit and finish just dosn't hit the mark. My stock shift knob is also without it's leather but looks ok otherwise and feels like it's meant to be there.

RdS, I have also been looking at the Fjk Power Getter. Do you think it is the largest bore most free flowing AW11 bolt-on exhaust you can get?
I'm trying to work out whether it would be a better match than my current AW11 4agze HKS with the 3sgte engine?

Actually now that I think about it, FGK made NA and SC in the Legalis R, so I might not want it after all.
That isn't to say I don't have a stock system I would be willing to swap also heh.
 
Mrskylighter: Hard to say if it's a vast improvement on the HKS or the Legalis R. What is definitely clear is it is a good 10dB louder than the Legalis R.
I think in your application you might be better off spending otherwise JDM taxed coin on a custom system.

Id reckon the Fujitsubo Power-Getter or 5zigen Border 304 would be the most free-flowing of off-the-shelf Jap AW11 cat-backs. They're little more than a small muffler and a cannon.
remember these exhausts are made for 4AGE/4AGZE though. You'd have to see what dia exhuast a 3SGTE runs stock, compared to those two above. Your best bet might just be to get a custom system made...
 
 
 
Anyway; nooz! What I've been doing lately..
First up, an AW11 christmas:


a heap of strips, clips, screws, nuts, grommets, etc; to re-assemble the front end bits.

The three long packages in the centre are brand new C-Pillar trims. My current ones aren't too bad, but may aswell get them while we still can.

..and a new bumper-reo. f'n joy, seriously. my old one was a train-wreck..

second hand bonnet catch and lip support (no longer available new from what it seems), and a replacement door handle for my broken one (forgot to order a new one when i was getting the other stuff!)
 
Next up was just cleaning up the scabby looking surface rust on the lower A-Pillar.

From where the quater panel wedges dirt/leaves agains the sill area there.
I have no doubt theres some pretty interesting things going on inside that A-Pillar though. LUCKILY in aus, like I said before, things just dont rust severly. It'l be decades at this rate before it poses a genuine issue..


wheeled the rust off.
Pitted, but no holes.

Applied a neat-enough coat of POR15. Goes on great, and is a brutally sturdy paint!
 
Next, I used the catch/hornbracket/whatever bracket as a reference for where my lower radiator support is supposed to be. I think I showed some better pics on the previous page; but this is the carnage skippy caused as he struggled to fit under the car.

The radiator was unbolted from above, and lifted out of the way. Then using a combination of wood, hammer, and a jack; got the lower section back to where it was not-so-long ago.


worked extremely well. very happy. :)
 
 
Randomly, I bumped into my old import tails as I was digging through the garage. I already had the other tails off, so quickly chucked these on the back of the car for a look!

Not going to run them, but there's no doubt they're much better looking! What Aussie AW11's should have looked like, had our number-plates been a couple mm smaller...
 
 
All coming along very well anyway. :)
 
 
 
 
 
 

damn man, im still stunned looking at all the progress, keep it up and ill need to go see a doctor soon.
 
on another note, would have loved to see your car be at this event
http://www.100mm.com.au/100mm-certified/
would have been a perfect candidate.
 
cheers

you should have got one of these little ball trd gear knobs. they feel heaps good on the AW. Low, light, and quite petite. My old one had one. my current one has a celica ST184 gear knob, but I will be getting a TRD ball for it.
 

I almost bought one when I ordered the other one, as I've always preferred ball gear knobs - they're just nice to use.
..But tried going for something closer to the stock leather knob. I just wish it wasnt so big on top.. or have a bloody TRD badge on both sides.
In the same way, I'd like the ball one more if it didn't have 'TRD' and that somewhat gaudy CF trim on it..
 
It looks like I might need to keep my eyes peeled for an old AW11 knob with the trim still somewhat on it, then try and get a trimmer to re-do it the same.
 
 
 
 
Randomly, I cant wait to drive this again.
Its been 6 months since I've properly driven it now.. :(

hey RDS, have you seen this?
 
I'm still in link-spam restrict mode, but if you head to ebay and type in "TOYOTA MR2 LEATHER 85 TO 89 AW11 MK1 GEAR KNOB COVER" (search worldwide) you'll find a company in the UK that will make you an AW11 leather gear knob cover.
 
I bought one, they will make it in any colour you want.  Result is OK, not brilliant but it's a cheap enough fix to just try and see if it does the job.
 
Cheers,
 
R.

^ Thanks for the suggestion, but I actually bought one of those just before I bought the TRD knob. I got the standard black leather, for what was probably $20ish posted. It was so close to being good, but ehh. The stitching down the back (the face you see) wasn't quite parallel, it was a whisker baggy round the top, and without gluing the bottom around, it is left with a little (~10mm) skirt of leather at the bottom. Its as if they picked apart an original knob for the leather, and then 100 shifter covers later, the old template isn't so great anymore.
I'd definitely imagine some are better than others though. Its not a mass production thing..!
ANYWHEY..
I've still got the cover.. and may even be worth modifying a little to get it to fit nicer. Might buy a sacrificial stock knob and some glue... :)
 
 
 

 
 

Attempted to fit a stock AE101 airbox last weekend; one of two I accidentally bought in recent times. Plan was to have one of these on for a Roadworthy attempt, as I can atleast plumb a couple of vacuum lines into it so everything doesnt look so sus (from cam cover and charcoal canister).


 
It almost would fit awesomely.. but no joy. as is, it interferes with the alternator and a section of water line... with the alternator being the real issue.


the plastic trumpets fit fine, but the box would have to have a 2" square corner cut out and re-panelled to fit properly. :(
Bit of a downer. I'll have another look at this when I get a chance...
 
More fun is that I got a new battery - a large one like my old Bosch (that lasted 7+ years!) - and had a chance to start the car for the first time in a while. good times. :)


no muffler, no intake. rad. :P