DAD Posted October 23, 2017 Author Share Posted October 23, 2017 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAD Posted November 20, 2017 Author Share Posted November 20, 2017 Done! (for now...) This thing is starting it's journey back to the UK tomorrow, so a last push saw the final jobs sorted. Took it for a buzz down the road, and other than sketchy (not bedded in yet) brakes, it was good! Nice to see it in sunlight, now to seal it in a box for a few weeks until it pops up in England! 8 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DAD Posted April 9, 2018 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 9, 2018 Spot the difference! 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAD Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 Got papped at the Bicester Sunday Scramble last weekend. Awesome varied turnout of cars at an old ww2 bomber airbase. Have a peek here for more pics, really good show! http://www.speedhunters.com/2018/04/the-perfect-spring-at-sunday-scramble/ 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAD Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 I painted up the rear spoiler before this show. It was a plain aluminium one from T3 originally, but I wanted to make it look like it belonged on the starlet. I built the paint up in the same colour layers as the original, age worn paint, then rubbed it back to try and get it to match the rear hatch. Pretty pleased with how it turned out. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAD Posted April 26, 2018 Author Share Posted April 26, 2018 Doort. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAD Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 Long overdue update. Essentially I've just been driving this on sunny days. It's great, it's been very well behaved so far, and I love it. Plans over winter include a head-off tickle up with new valve stem seals, a thinner 0.8mm TRD metal head gasket, and a new VVT pulley (the old one is worn and rattles like hell). Chuffed really. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAD Posted November 9, 2018 Author Share Posted November 9, 2018 Oops, missed one. This is it next to one of my dad's Triumphs, and my brother's MX5. Fun little family jaunt! 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DAD Posted March 19, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2019 This was tucked away over winter having some tickling. It was running really well last year, but was drinking a bit of oil, and would let out a puff of smoke when opening the throttle wide after a period of pootling. Compressions were good on all 4, symptoms pointed to valve stem seals, which is a common issue for these engines at this age. As a 'while I'm here' job, I decided to replace the inlet cam VVT pulley, as this had developed a rattle (again, extremely common due to wear of the internal teeth that engage to actuate the vvt timing change). NOS pulleys are available, but expensive , but the only other choice would be going standalone management and aftermarket vernier pulleys with a VVT delete - something I wasn't particularly keen on as I like that it runs so sweetly on stock management. I bit the bullet and bought a pulley and set of Supertech valve stem seals from Battle Garage in the US. Oh, and also a TRD 0.8mm high compression head gasket. Got the head off: Cleaned up the block surface. Take a look at the top of the pistons and take a guess at which ones have been burning oil... Head was in good nick, but the valve faces were all quite badly coked. Pulled these out, and cleaned them back to being mint, then lapped the valves/seats, reinstalled stem seals, valves, springs, clips, shims and buckets. All moved nicely and looked much fresher than when it came off. Refitted the head on the block, using the thinner HG - this is supposed to raise compression ratio to approx 11.5:1 (from 11:1 stock). Minimal gainz expected as it's on stock management, but is good futureproofing and is a small enough bump to not worry about detonation (I only put Super in it anyway). Replaced the VVT pulley, fitted cambelt (kept old tensioner, as this has only been on there for 1yr/1000km and was still mint), and got it all timed up and back at factory specs. Have driven it several times since and it feels just the same, seems to be using a negligible amount of oil (i.e I haven't noticed a drop at all so far, win!), and doesn't produced an annoying VVT pulley rattle at idle. Quite happy all in all! Have a recent snap from a local breakfast meet: 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAD Posted April 4, 2019 Author Share Posted April 4, 2019 When I was slapping everything together back at the end of 2017 to get this thing on the boat to the UK, I did a bit of a hash job splicing the wiring looms (4age engine and ECU loom, and the Starlet body loom) together, just to get it into a running state to load. It worked, so I left it as it was for 12 months and just enjoyed the car, but it bugged me knowing what a shitfest it was under the dash. Take a look at this mess: So I ordered a nice fuse/distribution box and set about shortening wires, routing them properly, and generally making the whole thing easier to troubleshoot and less of a fire risk and OCD nightmare. Made up a simple backing plate for it that I welded to one of the dash braces: Tucks away under the dash nicely, conveniently close to the body fusebox: The thing I liked about this box is the ability to run 2 +12v busbar lines; one permanent live and one ignition switched. Nice to keep everything in one place and minimise connections. Much happier. Oh, was overdue another run out to Caffeine and Machine, so went there for some demon nachos last Friday 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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