I love your car thread and updates! 
 
That Blitz kit looks like its like for a 1/2nzfe

still just plugging away at this.
got around to repainting the exhaust heat-shield - something thats bugged me for years! simple job, but just never got around to it..! :P

 
Exhaust comes off, then a hilarious amount of bolts to hold the heat-shield on.
The boot floor above the heatshield was in fantastic shape.
The heatshield too, was still very original. complete with 25years of dust, and Toyota's top-notch painting effort..

...that paint is really just thinking about being there. seriously just dusted on!
Clean, scuff, carsguide..

Painted in somewhat-high-temp satin black, and to the front section only. Just like new..

Joy.

 
The Fujitsubo, while I was at it:

This had been on the car for 50,000km. Was unmarked until I dropped the car 4"...
..and the price you pay:


Still absolutely fine, but just looking a little scruffy underneath.
 
I'll be using this exhaust to get the car re-registered, but am thinking of getting a new (louder) exhaust for when that's done. I'll likely order a Fujitsubo Power-Getter soon regardless; as even though I'm not sold on the look, I like the sound. Its worth a shot.
 
 
Another thing I've been doing; before it goes to get the touch-up paintwork done..
Im absolutely no panel-beater, and don't have the equipment to do this properly; but had nothing to loose in attempting to un-roll my rear guards. I'd already made a mess of the rear guard lips, and anything I did at this point would have to be fixed anyway.. so I had a crack just for fun.
I gradually bent the lip back out with a pair of multigrips, then hammered it back.. and did this again.. and again.. and again.. until it was reasonably round. At this stage they're back where they should be, and look like the original lip/edge has just been attacked by a pick..!


Its genuinely good fun. :P
 
 
That's all for now..
I'm still waiting on a ton of shyte I've ordered from different places; so pics of that when it starts to arrive I guess..! :)

Unfortunately I wouldn't be parting with the Legalis either way, as I'd need a 'stock' sounding system to get out of potential strife if need be. I donated my original stock exhaust to another MR2'er, so I have nothing else!
its dinted n **** anyway... and new ones are so nice.. :P
 
In other random news, Bulk Toyota stuff has started to arrive.
First thing I replaced was the old gearboot and knob. I'd really wanted a new leather-trimmed stock gearknob, like the car would have had originally (the leather on mine had come off, revealing the bare urethane/plastic underneath); but these are impossible to get. Unfortunately not available anymore.. :(
So I bought what felt like the next best thing.. the next closest to new OEM. Its the leather TRD knob.
This is the second new gearboot I've bought now too! annoyingly, my last one got cut up on the side by a thread/nut on the short shifter. It was a crap design, and is long out of the car now..
ALSO added yesterday was a very good used leather handbrake lever. Mine wasn't too bad, but this was nicer.
looks strangely naff and shiny in the pics, but it is actually nice.


I'm not totally sold on the gearknob yet. It feels bloody massive (the actual 'ball' part at the top, not the height), and I don't like the TRD badge on the side; but it may grow on me.
The size and shape actually reminds me of the Momo knob used in the super edition AW11's..
Either way, the knob will stay for the time being.
 
 
 

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?

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. :)
 
 
 
 
 
 

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.
 

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.

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