Last year

Made romp down to Los Angeles Convention Center to attend the Anime Expo

Got my groove on at All Star Bash at Streets of Willow

This year I worked at the shop.  Very hot, no fun.

Beat the heat.

It's gonna be a hot one down in socal, gonna pick up some watermelon for later. Happy 4th of July and be safe out there.

Kombi stance

Tired of the slammed stance of the JDM cars, need to be unique and try something new?  The next possible trend to come from the land of the rising sun.  Slammed volkwagen vans, hippie vans for those who grew up or knew of that era.  But would it still be considered JDM or GDM?

Related articles

• A to Z of Kombi Life in SW France (holidaycampers.wordpress.com)

Used electronics

When it comes to buying used parts, people should take caution.  Most of the time it's basic parts that don't really go bad.  But when it comes to electronic devices, there have been times that i've installed them and they end up being junk. 

Now i'm back redoing a setup for a car cause the above ecu was bad from the get go.  Unfortunately, the owner is serving our country and can't get a hold of the seller of the item.  It really sucks for buyer who spends hard earned cash to purchase something that ends up being an expensive paper weight.

Related articles

• Beware iPad Scams on Facebook (pdresources.wordpress.com)

Gymkhanna MR2

I really like this mr2.  Moves with quickness and finesse of a water strider.  Simply a beautiful piece of work. Though the driver needs to work on his finishing move at the end.

AE86 Tech #86-22: Like Boxer engine

For some of us who like to use aftermarket spark plug wires may have experienced this at one point or another.  Spark plug wires slipping off the cap.  The way you can tell is when it starts to sound like the distinctive boxer engine of Subaru.  Unfortunately, it doesn't include the power.  Zip tie the leads, before a romp on your favorite piece of tarmac, is a must.  Though I wonder when the FT-86 arrives on our shores will it sound like a WRX.  If it does, at least you know you can make your AE86 sound like an FT-86 by disconnecting a spark plug lead. 

Related articles

• Subaru Impreza To Evolve Separately From WRX And STI (ridelust.com)

Dancing Tail

I like these lights.

Related articles

• "Steve Jobs To Announce iOS 5, Mac OS X Lion, iCloud At WWDC 2011" and related posts (huffingtonpost.com)

Corollas and Starlets

Cramming it all under one roof.

Related articles

• "HTC Sensation 4G Launching June 12th at Walmart, June 15th at T-Mobile" and related posts (gottabemobile.com)

RWD Meet

I don't know who may even remember this meet, since it was small.  A few years back, it was all about Honda, drag racing, and shows.  A small number of rwd enthusiasts decided to make a meet dedicated to import rwd cars.  It was mainly Toyotas with a sprinkle of Nissan.  I found a couple pics I took at the event.

Aiming for the top

When I first got my Corolla, canyon runs were quite the norm.  But then initial D began seeping into America.  Then all these chinese kids started showing up and crashing.  Cause the first bootleg copies were subbed in chinese.  Then I left and my dream of becoming king was left on the mountain.  But then I discovered track days.  It's much safer.

Related articles

• SlydeLife Trueno Meet 1 (slydelife.wordpress.com)

Like a Smart car

But way cooler.



For those who are curious on what it is. Daihatsu Midget II. That name would never fly in america.

OMG

I always thought the most boro drift cars were in So Cal. But then Japan seems to always step up their game. I wonder who's gonna step up to plate and beat that.

This a Toyota Carina AA63. With a 4AGE turbo, with a very interesting blow off valve.

Related articles

• Star Wars + Muppets = OMG Awesomeness (holykaw.alltop.com)

Love from Japan

It's nice to have a relative from Japan.  Every once in awhile, she sends the family a care package with nice goodies.

Though she never forgets her roots.  mmm the mango.

Even with the disastrous events a few months back, she is still in good spirits.

Related articles

• Love from Japan and TO Japan (gutzbrenners.wordpress.com)

Yard hopping: not again.

 I never really like going to the yard much, but when you need parts, it was now a must.  And it seems i've been on a binge for a few weekends.  So this past weekend, I stopped by the Pick a Part on Katella ave. in the city of Stanton.

V12 hotness

It was cool until I saw this big cat on the hood. If it were me, i'd put an aztec queen on the hood. That's how you do it.

Counter steer

I notice everyone in the bay knows how to countersteer.

Star Wars & bicycle drift

I have no clue what the introduction is all about, but it had the Star Wars theme and had to watch it.

Junkyard hopping: Rapture edition

The day after rapture, I went to the yard.  Found this guy hiding from the rapture.  No corollas were found, I must be in hell.

Related articles

• Rapture rescheduled: Now it's October (boyle.newsvine.com)

AE86 Tech #86-21: A Cheater's Roll center

As I continue my quest to finish the 7.5in project.  I came across a way to modify the roll center.  Usually there's the weld on pieces from manufacturers like Cusco.  If you race on a competitive basis, usually the sanctioning body rules disallow any changes to the suspension points of the vehicle.  But what if we skirt under the radar.

Silly pet tricks

Can't even get the neighborhood cat to do that.

A day at the pool

Reminds me of a school of fish swimming in a pool. May be an angry school of fish.

Exploring the Bay

I've been up to the Bay area few times, but this is the first time I decided to stop and smell the salty fresh air.  My first time in the bay was when I was in a ROTC shooting competition at the Presidio, that's so long ago.  Unfortunately, we were restricted on base and couldn't get out to explore.  Other recent times I've been here, was for either participating track days or watching the races.  Once it was over I immediately headed home.  Since I was here for a friend's wedding, I made it a point to take in the sites.

A Wedding Gift

Your friend who's a Corolla guy, is getting married.  What do you give the newlyweds?  TRD shifter, Japanese bumpers, or maybe some new Volk TE37Vs, the new wife may not approve.  Since they're Chinese and you're cheap, what's more correct than 86.00 dollars in cash.  Too bad I couldn't find 1985 circulation currency.  Congratulations to Andrew (86Fever) and his new wife Cynthia on their marriage.

Related articles

• Gift giving: For modern brides and grooms, give cash (thestar.com)

LPG tanks

Cause recycling old LPG tanks makes the world a better place.

Junkyard Hybrid

Even though the Lexus SC was available with a V8 engine.  Someone decided it wasn't enough and decided to drop a Ford 5.0 power plant.  Is this another shop vying for Formula D glory?  Obviously it failed since it's now at the yard.

Suislide Girls Drift

 
After some wholesome break in time at the dyno.  It was time really test Barney and it's cleaner emitting tune.  Signed up the the Suislide Girls drift event at the balcony at Willow Springs Raceway.  It's cheap, low number entries and there's girls.  But they didn't have any tattoos as far i'm aware of, but they do like to drift.

Junkyard Concept Car

Can you guess what kind of car this is?  Definitely taking the Fast and Furious Route.

Bike Engine Flat Bed

1100cc and in itty bitty flat bed j truck is cool

Lemon and Lime

Obey your thirst with a Starlet

Happy Easter

Rather than hunt for eggs or chill with the Easter Bunny.  Spent part of the day at SR Motorcars.  The goal was just for engine break in and tune check.  Ended up spending a bit of time getting the tune reworked.  I guess dirty tunes only work with dirty engines.  Since this was a fresh build, with some cool parts this time around, the current engine wasn't having any of it. Thanks to Matt and the gang for spending a beautiful Sunday afternoon with the very Easter colored corolla.

Related articles

• Beware of the Easter Bunny (ericglover.wordpress.com)

when 4 is not enough.

4 is nothing to write home about. 8 can get you through the door. 12 is so you.



For those who may doubt it moves.

Back at the shop

I don't know what it is.  The smell of melting solder.  The cute colored wires.  Or is it cause I fiddle around with other peoples cars and get paid for it.

It sucks when you get a harness that's all janky.  But if it wasn't challenging then I probably won't be touching it. 

Related articles

• The Sex-Positive Purchase (suggestivetongue.com)

AE86 Nights 4: the saga continues

photo by hbomb @ club4ag

Spring is in the air and what better way to start it off with AE86 Nights meet.

Bulgarian drift scene

A place where the driver is built. The car, not so much.

Let the rumble begin.

Being the motorsports spectator that I claim to be. The season of motorsports is in it's early blossom and I must head out to the smell of race gas and burning rubber.  I love the rumble of the V8 with cars tidy paint jobs.  But thanks to Steve C. for the ticket, I am able to fulfill my motoring passion.

Copy this

As we all know, China loves to copy others. But when it came to drifting they took it a step further,

Related articles

• Pls do not copy (bestfreind09.wordpress.com)

Seeing double

Because one cannot live on one corolla

Related articles

• Is it worth keeping a car for longer than seven years? (telegraph.co.uk)

Another do over

For some reason, I can never be satisfied with the suspension. Kinda like owners who can't seem to hold on to a car for at least 3 months, i'm already back changing my suspension.  As cool as the car looked, the hella stanced look just doesn't cut it with me when I need it to perform more than to look tiite.

Temple of Doom

Warning to all who enter this car?

After trying to meet with some people unsuccessfully earlier saturday morning, I swung by the shop to say hi and ask the chief on machining some parts for me. Unfortunately for me, the wagon of doom comes back to haunt me. I thought it was done and been received by it's owner. But I guess it came for some extra work.
 

Is this o.k.?

If you're lazy it probably justified.  I hope i'm not a cat in my next life.

Serious in the Middle East

A Nissan Patrol that's really built.  Drag racing SUVs in the sand is serious business.

Related articles

• I think I can dance? Stop! (nostalgiadr.wordpress.com)

HKS back then

Swung by Richard R. to move a POS so he can make room for another POS.  Scoping out his one of his latest projects, painted valve cover for JZ engines.  If you"ve been into cars long enough, you may recognize this paint scheme. 

This was the paint scheme for many of the HKS race cars from Nissan GTR's to Honda Civics.  He's got these babies for sale if anyone is interested, or if you want your valve covers painted like that or any theme you can dream of, hit him up.  Get more points for sho and be the envy of everyone at the meet.

Related articles

• Jury mulls US woman's fate in HK milkshake murder (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Dubya transmission

Realizing that putting together a 13B turbo transmission setup maybe a bit more money than I have to spare, I decided to go the dubya route.  Recently acquired a bellhousing to install the stronger W5X transmission into tired but still battle worthy barney.

Calling the tech line

Usually i'm fielding different tech calls about how to install an engine on an engine stand (yes it did happen) or do have any HKS valve covers for sale (no they are not so don't bother).  It's rare of me to call outside for assistance since i'd rather do and learn on my own.  But when the computer takes a crap and you take days trying to figure how to fix it.  One must learn to throw in the towel and call a greater power.  Thanks to friend nino, who usually calls me about car questions.  This time the tables are turned and I called him to pick his brain on fixing my computer.

Related articles

• The Sad Decline of Tech Support (theatlantic.com)

Dancing LED

Some JDM goodness, HIN here I come!