Tuesday, December 22, 2015

It begins with L

IMG_20150928_131458_501

Santa san dropped off a package for the next adventure.  The dark side is strong with this one.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Buying a Palm Springs AE86

f build_09-29-15_32

I used to comment, about never getting cars from Oakland, now I should add Palm Springs to that list.  It shouldn’t be no surprise, as the AE86 is traded hands by many bandwagon enthusiasts.  Cars are violated modified by many hands.   With a unique set of problems, I think this is only the beginning.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

My “buddy” rebuilt it

rear sus_15

Buying stuff sight unseen has always been a gamble.  Owner bought this on the net and brought me it to for installation.  The seller informed him it was rebuilt by his “buddy”.  Upon initial inspection, everything looked in order and function properly.  Disassembly revealed something completely different.  While taking apart the differential, all the bolts were loose.  Bits and pieces of the LSD were falling out as I continued the disassembly.  My guess is that the LSD was subjected to a lot of horsepower.  Then the “buddy” took it apart for inspection, found out it’s been grenaded, put it back together and sold it off to an unsuspecting buyer.  That’s why sometimes it’s better to pay a little extra and buy local so that parts can be physically inspected.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Turf and Tarmac

More like wet and cold

Some say trouble comes in threes.  Others may look at it as third time’s the charm.  For me I got the latter.  After failing 2 times to attend another F1 event, since my last one in 2012.  It took me a third try to get it right.  It was an austin trip to remember.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

30 years in the making

IMG_20150721_161153_287

A stack of tags from the Grey Hound’s 30 year life in California.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Enter the Neo

80-90 Neo Classic

As the 80’s Japanese cars enter their mid 30’s, the people who brought you the Japanese Classic Car show, have done it again, with the Neo Classic Car show.  Bringing out the next generation of Japanese classics from the 80’s and 90’s.  I figured it would be cool to check 80’s cars with side markers and fuba antennas and 90’s cars decked out in ridiculous amount of stickers and colored vinyl interior.  But that wasn’t the case.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Back to the future day

b2f2 2014_01

In commemoration of Marty’s arrival, I picked up this kit for my collection.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Mazda RX-7 race car | evo REVIEW

Maybe they'll make one for a racing AE86.  One can only hope.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Some things never change

IMG_20150827_134103_814IMG_20140506_124038_090
Trunk/fuel door latch:
1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S on the left.
2005 Toyota Corolla LE on the right.
Even after 20 years something's were never meant for change.
Flickr Tags: ,,,

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Production line

IMG_20150201_150627_254

I seem to be getting a lot of requests to get differentials built.  These guys didn’t have a solid pinion spacer.  But that won’t be the case after I’m done with them.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

JCCS 2015 Fo' Sho'

Visiting car shows is not a yearly pilgrimage, for me, unlike others in this automotive game.  Just seems boring see same cars and people year after year.  So when I can't remember when the last time I went to a JCCS show it's about time.


Sunday, September 27, 2015

How I feel about the Corolla (sometimes)



Maybe it’s not as prestigious as the M3, but it invokes the same feeling.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

It’s bent

DSC_0019

As greater number of fans/drivers acquire the most sacred Corolla GT-S.  Parts are becoming more and more scarce.  One such part are the rear end axles.  What to do when one gets bent?

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Yamaha XSR 700


I found my dream bike



Sunday, September 6, 2015

The salesman



Selling exhaust system with a smile.



Monday, August 31, 2015

Restomod RX3




Nicely done up 73 Mazda RX3 sets foot in Jay Leno’s garage.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

AE86 Tech #86-32: Who are you and what is your function.


There are things that we'd always wonder it's function. But for the AE86 owner, there's 3 little plugs that hang on the harness.  What the do these plugs that hang on the bulkhead do? Since I was bored, I decided to do a bit of digging.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

86 flash back

Back in the late 90's, the trend was hondas and FWD drag racing.  The 86 owners were a tight knit group back then, and were more or less doing their own thing and keeping a pretty low profile.  Here's an old flash back of Moto's supercharged coupe at a Hollywood park autocross.  This was taken back in the late 90's.  Happy 86 day.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Sunday, July 19, 2015

D-Van GP 2015



Will this be a new stance trend?



Sunday, July 12, 2015

Anime Expo 2015

While attending the Robotech panel and Anime Expo 2015, a visitor I'd never expect to be here.  Sitting in front of me was Takumi Fujiwara.  Didn't know he was such a big Robotech fan.  No I didn't ask for his autograph.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Rascally Rabbit



Sometimes old cars do kick ass

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Zip tie and the tire

Just like duct tape, no tool box should be complete without some zip ties.  Never know when you'll need to replace a tire.








Sunday, May 24, 2015

Rebuilding weber


This isn't about the weber carburetor, so click that back button if that's what you were expecting.  This is about BBQ.  This is a small side project that I've been wanting to do, ever since I've returned from Texas.  When it comes to BBQ, Texas and the midwest has the west coast beat.  I have yet to find a "BBQ" joint here in Socal that even compares.  Unless I make flights out to the midwest to get some BBQ, i've taken it upon myself to build my own smoker


Sunday, May 17, 2015

Russian women



Here in the States we complain about women drivers.  In Russia they complain about women crossing the street.

Monday, May 11, 2015

This ain't in San Diego



Even though I don't own a Z car, I always try and make it a point to check out the Z car west coast nationals.  Put on by Motorsport Auto in the city of Orange every year in April.  What I always loved about the show is the different styles of builds that are displayed.  Compared to other events where it's usually cookie cutter styling, following everyone else's styling that different cars start to look the same.  


Sunday, May 3, 2015

Happy Star Wars day

327 days til The Force Awakens.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

AE86 Club Nights

On a chilly night in April, on the Longo Toyota back parking lot.  The not so secretive members of AE86 Fight Club, the old and graying Club4AG members and the nocturnal members of AE86 nights, get together for it's annual meet.  Where all things corolla happen.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Top Gear Korea



When it comes to boobs, England's Top Gear has Jeremy Clarkson.  But Top Gear Korea has a different concept on what it should be.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Topak 2015



A brisk friday in late March brought me out to Streets of Willow for another Team Topak track day.  The last time I drove with this group was in 2013, sigh can't believe it's like 2 years ago.  Even though I was more of a spectator/observer this time around, they do put on great events.  I think i'll need to start renting a car or something to get back into it.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Tie Fighter Anime



Watching reminds me of the Japanese mecha animation of the 80s.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Outlive cockroaches

The most over built spacer I've seen for the Toyota 6.7 diff is made by Weir Performance.  Compared to the others i've come across over the years of building diffs for AE86, I truly believe this will out live the cockroaches.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Oxwall, XXR, and steel


The recipe for making a vise stand.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Because stance

What is the reason for chopping springs?

Sunday, February 8, 2015

AE86 tech #86-31: Idler bearings

Those who still rock the power steering, there will come a time when the idler pulley will finally give in to age.  I rarely see these things go, i've only had 1 go out since the owner ship to silver moon.  It used to be I can find a spare at the yard.  Nowadays not so much.  But don't chuck the system just yet.



Monday, February 2, 2015

Late night canyon run

Bring lots of credits.


Monday, January 26, 2015

Friday, January 16, 2015

Mini project

Just changing out the alternator on this Mini Cooper.  It requires removal of the front end?!?! Lame.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Brake is life

Something i've always been meaning to do with the Corolla was make brake cooling ducts.  Even though Barney has moved on, I still make time to tinker with the parts of AE86. The stock brake system hasn't never given me much trouble.  Though it's ~9in diameter brake disc doesn't really give much of a fight.