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My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back

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Rhyno
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Monday, August 10, 2015 3:02 AM (permalink)
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My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back

Hi all,

This is my car as it looks at the moment, with still the rest of the Veilside kit I have now grown unfond of 
 
About 2 1/2 years ago I bought this little gem of a bloke in Darwin, Australia.  The car was formly maintained and modified by forum user VERBO who sold it back in 2009/10. Its been passed around through a few boy racers hands. It was in a bad way. This is what it looked like when I first grabbed it
 
 
When I saw the car for sale I was immediately interested. I could see buying this car could potentialy be a big money pit, but as I was already invested in an sv21 Camry 3sge-t project, I thought at worst case this car will have many re-useable parts for the Camry if it turns out to be a lemon.

Turn's out the main issue where the lemon heads that had worked on this car for the last few years.
 
When I got it these where the main issues, back in Feb 2013 
Gauges where not working - no speedo, no tacho, nothing
Coil-over's camber adjustment plates, 2 of 4 put in backward (Installed by DNT Performance...) Car pulled sharply to the left.
Lower ball joints stuffed
Rear spoiler and bar damaged, spoiler missing air blade
Front spoiler badly cracked on the left, looks like it has had many repairs over the years - at least 3 different colours of fiberglass and/or bog
Small ding in lower section of left door
Stereo not working properly, front speakers shorting in and out - also tweeters disconnected and replaced with co-axial's.
Rear speakers not working at all, nor the original subs (5x7's)
Boost gauge light not working
General wear and tear on interior
Heaps and heaps of grime everywhere
Lots of hoses and clamps need replacing, worn and rusty
Antenna replaced with ****ty aero pro install, does not seal properly and leaks.
Book leaks from screws from spoiler, not sure if it has a leak or it cold tracks, but causes condensation in the boot.
T-Tops leaking
Passenger window control temperamental
A ton of bad wiring using speaker wire or super low gauge wire, with those poxy "squeeze and cut 1 into 2 connector" things
 
A lot of these issues where fixed in the first 12 months. When the car was mechanically sound I took it to the drags and did a 14.142 quarter, at 106mph, with a 60 foot time of 1.72. Was very happy for a first outing :-)
 
Since then I have also replaced the steering rack ends, front wheel bearings, rocker cover gaskets, all filters, coolant, half of the brake fluid, sun visors, and just general maintenance.

When I pulled the dash apart to look at the gauges I found this: 
 









Scotch guard clips or whatever they are called, harness adapter plugged into a harness adapter, speaker wire used as power wire and other nasty's. Replaced all this quick smart. Tacho issue was swollen caps luckily. Turbo timer was just unplugged as was the boost gauge light lol
 



 
After this all was working bar the speedo, not sure what's wrong with it, but I know the sensor works  - as I have been using the electronic read out on the steering wheel mounted turbo timer for now, trying to sort out a TRD item but funds have been tight this last year or so (been saving for a house) been living with the digital output on the turbo timer for now. Got the suspension sorted by pedders and got her regoed about a fortnight after purchase.

Since then I have acquired a few bits and pieces, and sorted out other little issues as they arise such as front wheel bearings, new tie rod and power steering ends, new sun visors, new splits, fixed up dogey wiring in various places too, fitted a Boost Cut Defender and turned the boost up to 14 psi from 11psi, got rid of the dodgey AFM Pod adaptor and fitted a proper Apexi intake. Also fitted a fan to the aftermarket intercooler, and just recently paid to have the front of the engine freshed up, with new cam and crank seal, new timing belt kit and new water pump. Also changed out the old sub box for a one more suitably shaped for the passenger. Fitted original antenna back in, need a new OEM wiring plug though as mine has rusted.

I'm sure there is more im missing, but probably minor. Plans for the future is to update the look from the "Fast & Furious 1" Veilside kit to either a Border body kit, or a TRD wide body kit at the front and something different at the back. Not sure as off yet, but there will be a bunch of carbon fibre items added to the build, which ever route I go.
 
Next up Power Phoenix Engine Hood and fans to be fitted as well as an oil catch can I have kicking around.

Here are some shots from a photoshoot a mate did that he used to promote his business




 
Thanks for reading

Kind regards,

Ryan
post edited by Rhyno - Wednesday, September 09, 2015 12:19 AM
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8 Replies Related Threads

    Rhyno
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    Re: My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back Wednesday, September 09, 2015 12:25 AM (permalink)
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    Started to paint my rims with a product similar to Plastidip, EasySkin, ment to peel off if you don't like it

    RDon't what the rims are but they have ANZ center caps (like the bank haha) and Velvet recessed in one of the spokes




    Chrome needs a good polish but im happy with the results so far, and yes I tried one of the white out pens on the tread, and it looked good - for about a week.

    Next to do the other two rims

    Cheers 
    #2
    Phiz
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    Re: My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back Thursday, September 10, 2015 1:44 AM (permalink)
    +1 (1)
    Can't believe no-one commented. Apart from the body kit it's quite a clean car. And that wiring was messed up, can't deal with that lol.
     
    Keep it up buddy, any info on the camry build also? Rims look nice. :)
    #3

    Rhyno
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    Re: My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back Thursday, September 10, 2015 3:51 AM (permalink)
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    Hi Phiz,

    Thanks for your comments, really appreciated :-)

    I really liked the kit when I got it back in feb 2013 but since then the paint has faded on the fiberglass and I now look at it like the first Fast & Furious movie - somewhat dated but still has some charm. New kit will be the next big job I tackle. Yeah the wiring was real messed up, but nearly got rid of all the gremlins, everything seems to work as it should (as far as I know haha) and I got it for a steal of a price so in some ways it has been good as I now have a pretty good idea of how some of the wiring system works, gotta look for the positive in the negative i suppose

    Here is a link to my camry thread, its a little outdated, the ct26 I rebuilt kept leaking oil so I got the ****s with it and I am in the middle of droping a gt3071 with a steam pipe manifold. Will get around to updating this thread one day: http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/threads/63287-SV21-3SGE-and-a-(soon-to-be-18RG-Turboed)-81-RT132

    Thanks again,

    Ryan



    #4
    rikkir
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    Re: My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back Thursday, September 10, 2015 9:33 AM (permalink)
    +1 (1)
    Keep the updates coming...
    #5
    Rhyno
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    Re: My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back Saturday, September 12, 2015 5:06 AM (permalink)
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    How I got rid of that horrible spoiler about 6 months ago


    A bit of primer and vinyl wrap and she is all done

    Changed out the sub box for one that fits better, and I like the sound of ported subs

    Slight mod to fit




    Did this one last fortnight, scored a TRD cluster but the bottom clips where broken so I swapped it all over to my housing





    Replaced the crusty leather gear stick cover too last month, photo does not do it justice, sorry again about my crappy phone pics


    Didn't get a chance to do anything but drive it this weekend, had a bucks party and wedding to go to

    Will get round to painting the other two rims through the week

    Cheers
    #6

    Rhyno
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    Re: My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back Monday, October 12, 2015 2:51 AM (permalink)
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    Haven't been onlineFor a while as I've been busy with weddings 30th birthdays Being sick And joys of work

    Still haven't found time to paint the front wheels not sure if I'm happy with them may consider going gloss black instead ofBez skin product I have been using.

    Did manage to get around to finding some LED lighting To replace the old interior lighting I ordered 5000 k blue But instead receives what looks to be blue LED lightingHere are the before and after results not sure if I'm 100 percent happy with them I think I may go something whiter moving forward into the future

    Here is a shot of the old lights This is a shot of the new lights This is a shot of the low setting During the day Hi Sowden during the day, And low setting at night Lowes hi sitting at night it's actually not too bad Besides the rice look. And finally a quick shower Mr2 from the balcony love getting up to go to work and seeing this every morning

    Will edit with picture linksand fix grammar tonight
    #7
    Rhyno
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    Re: My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back Monday, October 12, 2015 2:54 AM (permalink)
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    Call changed out Grey t top shade covers for Black coversAnd finally got a piece of ducting to replace the drivers side Aircon duct Was missing from previous owner So good to have Aircon on the right hand side and on your Bits and pieces haha
    #8
    VERBO
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    Re: My whistling banana - bringing "VERBO" back Monday, March 09, 2020 11:58 AM (permalink)
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    Sadly the two young boys I sold it to didn't care for it.
    It was a regrettable sale but nessessary at the time.
    Glad to see it's finally found a good home and being restored.
    Strangely it used to run 14psi when I had it and only ever had the occasional boost cut in the dry season.
    #9
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