Homer Posted July 25, 2022 Author Share Posted July 25, 2022 4 minutes ago, Big Supes said: Must have been satisfying cutting out that monstrosity of a trans tunnel. Very much so… all the while cursing the buggers that did it!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 Another good day on the car. That welding on the tunnel was a complete mess. But worth getting it out and doing our best to clean it up and revert it back to a manual tunnel, Also a UK spec auto gear selector mech came out the car so worth messaging @Homer Onto finishing the tunnel on my step Supra 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 59 minutes ago, Big Supes said: Must have been satisfying cutting out that monstrosity of a trans tunnel. I did say to Homer that if this car had feelings, it would be so relieved to have that botch cut out! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Is the garage still in business that did all these bodges ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPG Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Really enjoyed catching up on this thread, great work guys. That tunnel was interesting, although I prefer looking at it cut out . Is this an invite only, or can anyone pop along to give you a hand? Would love to help or even just have a chat next time I’m down that end of the country (visiting relatives) . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted July 26, 2022 Author Share Posted July 26, 2022 Today we finished cleaning up the trans tunnel. Lots of grinding, filing and hammer/dolly and its back in more or less the right shape. Kev also sanded the underside applied epoxy to get ready for rsp paint later in the week. Kev is also in the process of painting the new manual trans plate so it matches with the rest of the car. He has also taken the damaged spoiler back to his place to repair it and epoxy it so it’s ready for when the car goes for it’s respray. Kev also made a replacement loom for the w58 so the speed and backup sensors can be wired into the UK loom. All important flywheel bolts, pressure plate bolts and some other odds and ends are ordered form Toyota sand should arrive in the next couple of days. All being well we should be able to start getting the tunnel back in and then install the gearbox and rest of the drivetrain. One BIG issue: the abs driveshafts I bought were also for a big diff I needed ones for a small diff… does anyone know of anyone doing a big diff swap that might want to exchange some with me? I’ve now got three pairs of the wrong driveshafts! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted July 26, 2022 Author Share Posted July 26, 2022 11 hours ago, Dnk said: Is the garage still in business that did all these bodges ? I’m not sure. I believe the people responsible for botching the car and stealing Jason’s parts left the garage. 10 hours ago, SPG said: Really enjoyed catching up on this thread, great work guys. That tunnel was interesting, although I prefer looking at it cut out . Is this an invite only, or can anyone pop along to give you a hand? Would love to help or even just have a chat next time I’m down that end of the country (visiting relatives) . Any spare pair of hands is very welcome, drop by anytime you’re in the area Sunny I’m in Northampton, not too far from the M1. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Cannot wait to see the RSP tunnel all painted, and so far everythings going well apart from the driveshaft fiasco, but someone out there will have what Homer needs im sure 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willson Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 Loving this thread, great progress! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share Posted July 27, 2022 Kev has been cracking on with the trans tunnel plate this morning, looks amazing! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share Posted July 27, 2022 First batch of parts from Toyota and other places. This should be enough to get the manual conversion mostly completed. Had to laugh at the local dealership having a trade account for ‘Kevs autos’ 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted July 29, 2022 Author Share Posted July 29, 2022 Now it’s time to start putting things into the car rather than taking it apart Not too many updates from today, we’re taking the time to do everything properly so it takes a bit longer than just bolting stuff in. 1) The trans plate is in and bolted to the trans tunnel. Mastic is also completed. Rest of the paint and undercoat will be sprayed on tomorrow by Kev. Such a relief to see that bodge gone! 2) Auto pedals are removed and replaced with the manual ones. The divs that botched the car put the throttle cable bracket on upside down. Always wondered why it didn’t work I’ve still got to finish up the clutch pedal but ran out of time The accelerator pedal I put in is labelled No7, which is manual, however the car had a No5 pedal in it. Anyone know what that was from? 3) Snipped off old clutch line is removed and replaced with a newish one. Clutch mater is also in 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted July 30, 2022 Author Share Posted July 30, 2022 Quick update for today, today I did almost nothing but Kev brought his compressor over to do the under seal and then paint the rest of the trans tunnel. Turned out really good. It was never going to look oem but it’s as close as it’s possible to get especially considering the mess we started with! Kev spent a lot of time making this look as stock as possible and he’s done a brilliant job It’s now fully seam sealed and undercoated and that job is finally done We’re now stalled as I’m waiting on several huge parts orders from Toyota and other places before we can move forward. However next steps are to replace the rear main engine seal (it’s got a tiny leak but might as well do it while the gearbox is out) and install the drivetrain. Hopefully next weekend we can restart. I’m still trying to source abs driveshafts but hopefully have found some with Kerons brother, Kyle. Just waiting on measurements to confirm as they look like yet more big casing ones! I honestly surprised the “rare” big casing ones seem common but no one has the small casing ones 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted July 30, 2022 Share Posted July 30, 2022 Today was a good day, the Bacon sarnies hit the spot As @Homer said the tunnel came out as best as it could considering what what we had to begin with. Making good progress. Cant wait to get back on it. Few days off the RSP as mine needs a few little jobs doing 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Supes Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 You guys are ploughing forward with this. Cracking effort and it's awesome to see the old girl coming back to life. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted August 5, 2022 Author Share Posted August 5, 2022 During the week Kev has been working on repairing the spoiler. This was extensively damaged by the dodgy garage and was only just about saveable. As always Kev stuck with it and did a brilliant job fibreglassing the various splits and then filling, sanding and high build primer. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted August 5, 2022 Author Share Posted August 5, 2022 We managed to get a few hours on the car this afternoon, if all goes well we should hopefully be ready to get the drivetrain in at the weekend. 1) Rear main seal is replaced. We used Kev’s seal tool for this, bought from someone on the forum who makes these. Brilliant bit if kit and worked perfectly! We cleaned up as much oil and gunk as possible from the back of the block before installing. Used ARP flywheel bolts as they’re cheaper than stock and have easier supply. 2) Flywheel installed. It’s a low mileage used one but perfectly serviceable. Will obviously be replaced when the final gearbox goes in 3) Competition stage 2 clutch kit from Keron fitted. I have one of these on my other supra. Feels almost like stock, just can take a bit more torque. Also added a pic of the underside of the trans tunnel as I forgot to take a picture last time 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 So a bolted in 6 speed tunnel is a normal thing? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted August 5, 2022 Author Share Posted August 5, 2022 17 minutes ago, Swampy442 said: So a bolted in 6 speed tunnel is a normal thing? I don’t know if it’s normal or not, seen it quite a few times before though. The trans tunnel plate is not structural and is only there to hold the shifter, hand brake and dash support in place. It’s probably near as strong as the spot welds (they’re not particularly strong welds from the factory as they can be split with a screwdriver) I did the silver car the same 10 years ago and I’ve not had any issues with it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 I ask because mine is exactly the same lol 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Supes Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 It was probably easier for toyota to spot weld the trans tunnel over bolting it, tbh. Nice bit of refurbing of the spoiler @evinX. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 6 minutes ago, Big Supes said: It was probably easier for toyota to spot weld the trans tunnel over bolting it, tbh. Nice bit of refurbing of the spoiler @evinX. Cheers mate, that poor spoiler defo had a few hard hits to split it like that 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted August 5, 2022 Author Share Posted August 5, 2022 2 hours ago, Swampy442 said: I ask because mine is exactly the same lol Edited to add: It’s a fair question though mate. From the factory they’re always spot welded in, if it’s got bolts it’s not OEM. As with most JDM cars of the era, the tunnel is part of the crush area. They’re intended to collapse in the event of a serious accident, it’s the floor either side of it that has all the strength (the thick metal where the seat and seat belts bolt in). It works well unless you’re unlucky enough to hit something side on and immovable like a tree. Welding in a new panel would be tricky and very time consuming because one side of the sheet metal will have a hole in due to drilling out the old spot weld. Unless you’re an experienced welder (and I’m not!) it would just be a massive amount of work for no gain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 33 minutes ago, Swampy442 said: So a bolted in 6 speed tunnel is a normal thing? To be fair the bolts will do just as good as a job as the oem spot welds. The sub tunnel that determines if its auto or manual is 1mm if that, thick. so in a big crash where the tunnel could get bent, that panel will do near nothing. The main tunnel/ floor pan is where the strength and stronger metal is 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted August 6, 2022 Author Share Posted August 6, 2022 Gearbox is in! We struggled a bit with this today, probably due to being too cautious with the install. Didn’t manage to get too many pics. First issue was the new release bearing had the wrong spring clip supplied. Somehow I had a spare one with the correct spring clip. Second issue was getting the box aligned. Even with the gearbox jack it was very difficult on the sloping driveway. Trolly jack on the crank pulley helped get it all aligned. Once again thanks @evinX for keeping at it! New cross member support rubber is fitted along with the NA cross member. All is now bolted and torqued up ready for the rest of the drivetrain tomorrow. Theres also a whole load of other smaller jobs being done at the same time so I’ll list them out when they’re all complete. Also Good to catch up @Guigsy who dropped by today. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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