Over the last few years, I've wanted to do a target area on the car. Something mechanically and something cosmetically. After the partial paint + clutch in 2014, this has been ongoing since.
In 2015, I put together the entire A/C system from part outs and did a complete 93 brake upgrade.
slotted cheap rotors, porterfield r4s pads, 93+ dust shields with the air duct (not in photo), and ATE fluid.
Cosmetically, I swapped to euro markers and purchased the entire hardware kit for the front lip. It only took about 2 years for the 93 lip to weigh down the bumper and start sagging so it was time. Below at the bottom, above up top.
In 2016 the mechanical project was timing belt side. OEM everything - tb, wp, oil pump gaskets, both cam seals (total bitch to do in car), crank seal, tensioner, accessory belts. I was dumb to do this AFTER installing a/c. This was okay though since I replaced the compressor due to noise to a 94+ R134a compressor. The whole job took 4 days, 3 of those days were trying to remove the crank pulley bolt. I tried every trick but in the end it was a 20gal air compressor, pumped that sucker up to 120psi + ingersollrand gun + 5lb weighted socket that did the job.
Minor repairs were done to the sway bar mounting point in the front (thanks to kakucaekz's dad @ Acutech Auto) and added a reinforcement plate
Then cosmetically, the car got a genuine 94 trunk lid and spoiler. No need to fill holes in the trunk! Temporary red paint (as it was white) just to last the summer.
2017 rolled around and mechanically, this was tough. This was the year where I experienced the never ending "well I'm in there anyway" spiral.
It was something like this for me:
- Install new downpipe
- Might as well do HFH and HFHOE
- Find that turbo has shaft play so bad that the compressor housing is scuffed. Send turbo out for rebuild
- Might as well remove exhaust manifold and replace leaky manifold gasket
- Breaks one stud in head. linger on it for weeks then decide to drill and tap head.
- with manifold off, might as well replace the coolant hoses that go under the distributor
- ends up replacing every single coolant hose all the way around the head all the way to the back of the block under the intake manifold.
I did end up with a sweet 46 trim billet wheel ct26 upgrade from Spectrum Motorsports here locally. Hits full spool nearly identical to stock, say 100-200rpm difference, but it hits harder and holds boost way farther than stock.
Cosmetically, my car got hit in a hit and run, destroyed my wheels. Car was sent in for a rear half paint job. Bumper and side vent was insurance paid, and I wanted to paint the trunk/spoiler as well, so "might as well" fill the holes in the quarters and paint the quarters+roof. Thanks to Ross Dunnet and Destination Toyota.