vvteye

Nice one fella... Feels like I was almost there!

I felt I had a good service from them (they reckoned they use the best lubes and coolant etc.)and they changed the reasr discs and pads which work excellent. They weren't able to remove the cam pulley to change the belt as they didn't use (or trust using) the special tool and wanted to drop the gearbox to hold the flywheel (£450 labour extra and risky). I removed it with the tool and a scaffolding tube without a hitch. I think that sums them up really. General work is good but don't expect specialist level service on the Supra. On a seperate note you two guys going to the Welsh motor show tomorrow? I have a spare club pass going.

Hi Guys, just back from Holidays and sadly, the Supe isn't ready for me to pick up today as arranged. I have arranged to meet Gareth (CARDIFFSUPRA) in the public carpark around 0845 to give him his green club car pass, and on the wales motor show web site I noticed there is a space reserved for the MKIV Supra club. So I will park the ASTRA in the public area and wander over to meet up with you guys. This means I won't be joining the convoy in Newport as planned and will probably be wandering around sulking most of the time!!! See you tomorrow... Cheers Jon

Tobes has included a club car pass for you as well (in my ticket application). If you look through the thread you'll see a green and red map which shows where that is and if you ain't got a pass..... you'll be parking over the road at the mercy of the hoodies! But you have to be there by 9.30 otherwise the gates shut. Got it!

That'll be an 8.30 start and I'll join you in Newport at around 8.50. Giet us to Chepstow before they colose the gates at 9.30. It's a great plan if you stay off the Vodka Gareth!

I only posted my form today.. the link is on one of Tobes mails. It gets you in the car paddock with car pass... (must be there by 0930 though). I think there is a car park cost for Gareth now he's chosen to go 'single'. The cost then for the driver is £6 instead of £12 or £14 on the day, then it's the same for passengers or £8 for kids. I think under 9's get in free. Christ feel like I could get a job at the entrance gate now! Alternatively you can get your tickets odff the website link but thats £12 plus admin charge so just as well buy at gate. Gareth, you are a scream.... sell out of tickets indeed!!! Have you seen how big Chepstow Race course is!!! If they do sell out of tickets all Mark has to do is walk about 4 miles around to the back and nip over the fence! Editted... Markie...No extra stuff but with a motor like yours you should seriously be aiming to put it in the modified paddock... then the entrance is free and you can go for show and shine etc... You will need to follow what LeeT did to sort it out though.

Welcome Sl8ter, beautifully presented evo I must say. I would put a smiley on here now but theoretically, thats an even more cut- down version of txt spk

See what you mean. Well now we're not strangers.... tent for 4?

Having taken a load in my time as a nurse....(That's blood not the other sample on the thread) It's purple coz it's deoxygenised. Arteries carrry the bright red stuff to your bits and you're better off if you never see any of that. When the needle comes out it's better to keep your arm straight and press directly on the swab for about 2 minutes. This bending your arm just folds up the vein and when you open it again you open the vein hole, blood seeps out into the tissues and your left with a painful bruise. Too late for you of course... ((Exits stage left to put Nurses uniform on... returns)). Did you bang your head luvvy?

OR but If both points are of similar importance, is it then a case of: Long term performance and efficiency V Engine life expectancy? If this is true then how can I get the best out of both worlds? If the following scale epitomizes general driving habits then: 1 = parked 5 = quiet cruising (no second tubby) but up circa 4500 revs 10 = Ferrari Kill So what number do you all think I should be driving at? I can then take an average (reduce it by 3 if Martin is watching:eyebrows: ) then drive according to that, Yeah? I'll start then.... eh 7 (C'mon Martin... put your score where your warranty is! )

So you won't be parking in the club car park either for free then! I think Martin is on track with the timetable.... so fingers crossed. There does seem little point in ordering a club pass now especially as one of the 3 will be parked over with the riff-raff LeeT We live about 25 minutes away from the racecourse if you need somewhere to stay.(Abergavenny) Can't promise a song around a campfire ... unless you are an arsonist that is.

Ahh so it was you who bought my old one I'm gonna drive it real slow for the 1st 1000 miles then build up bit by bit... and then Bam... Will take on every snippet of your advice wholeheartedly

Hi Mate, I don't thiink the club are going to bother with only 3 interested plus LeeT but there are other clubs registered with a smaller presence so who knows. I have just filled in the forms for tickets (£6 option is pre-filled in)so wondered if you did this or did you order them online? I'm also looking forward to it... If Martin (MKIVSuprastore) keeps everything going smoothly I'll have my car back. Perfect timing.

Reminds me of the two occasions I had something similar. 1st time the problem got worse then my wheel fell of at 30mph!!! two sheared studs etc... 2nd time took it for balancing and noticed that a weight had come off which had caused the sudden change. Once replaced went like a dream.. Couldn't believe how bad an unbalanced wheel would feel on a car TBH. Hope it's nothing more expensive than that!

OK guys here are some piccies of the rebuild... Looks like the turbos survived after a some TLC by one of Martins guys.... and the Pistons can stay. Still on schedule for the Welsh Motor Show.

Hi Markie, I don't think a hammer and a chisel would have removed this let alone flusher...it wasn' like tar... it was solid grit (like the small in a coal bucket if you can go back that far!). Martin will be trying to meet the deadline for completion on the Friday before the show so hopefully on the Saturday I'll be back panning it round Chepstow racecourse at full throttle.... oh sorry, I mean running it in gently!

Take up paragliding. Once you've started falling from the sky when half the wing collapses, get spat out of a thermal and get caught in cloud suck you'll realise that anything a plane gives you is just tame in comparison. Anyway.. I thought you guys were used to flying driving the Supes!

Thanks for this Gaz, but the work is in progress. The engine is completely stripped which probably accounts for a 3rd of the labour costs and the bottom block has come back successfully honed which means the pistons can stay (new rings of course). I know all the parts that will be replaced (the bearings are already in the bin) and am actually looking forward to having a completely rebuilt engine now. I am confident that Martin will ensure the engine is immaculate before it goes back in and he may even answer some of the points raised in this thread as he has with me. He is an absolute top bloke with this explaining all the options at every stage and ensuring I was aware of the costs of these options and the cheaper alternatives etc. It does leave the turbos and time will tell regarding their longevity but I don't see the risks are any different from getting a second hand set tbh. As I said before though, thanks for all the support. I've told the missus that the budget for the new drive has now gone but we will be able to cover it up with the Supe on it's return. Cheers guys!

Thanks Chilli, it's scary enough as it is and I really want to stay with the VVTI engine. If I imported one from USA there would be no guarantees so I am expecting everything thats knackered to be replaced and trust Martin implicity. It's not in his interest to leave anything risky not just from a warranty point of view but because he is a professional. That said I do value everyones point and their experience. If I had a bigger wallet I would go for it but it is about balancing up the risks with the costs. I have to be prepared to go single at a later stage (as this must have had an effect on the tubbies) but it doesn't have to be a big one and I am making choices now which will ensure that the engine is ready for this in the future but within the confines of my wallet, not my desires. I'd love to have a beer with Johna sometime but I'd hate to hear him say "told you so". Cheer guys... even the missus is impressed with the way you guys have supported me on this.

Thanks for the advice (and all the commiserations etc.) but the bank'll never take it Cap'n. The engine is now totally stripped so I think some bearings will be replaced... Not being mechanically knowledgeable there doesn't seem much left which isn't going to get changed on the rebuild anyway. What spare parts could I use??? The best thing is to wait for Martin to answer this one. I'm wholly reliant on him for advice as he will be the one issuing a 1 yr warranty. On a seperate note I'm surprised there hasn't been any advice on preparing the rebuilt engine for a future 'single' conversion!

That's what the missus is threatening I'll be!!! With the BPU as it stands Martin is suggesting I'll see 400+ bhp when it's completed and as it leaves only another £20K of components to go wrong it'll be like having a brand new car!

It had a a full service in January 2005 then done 8000 miles before I bought it (or so I was told - given a 3 month warrantyfrom torque imports). No paperwork at all and torque were reluctant to ever give me access to the previous owner or service garage preferring to act as intermediary...

I am upgrading the bolts butnever predict wanting more than 500 BHP so will hold back on the pistons if I don't end up needing a rebore. If this is the case then I will uprate them but that's an extra £550 +. One more thing... the oil strainer was completely caked except for about 15%. MArtin said this would seriously reduce the oil flow and cause major localised overheating.