Newgendesign Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 I have revently become an owner of gleaming white 10,500 mile jap import Mkiv. The car is stunning apart from two things: the passenger headlight has dulled (but I see a guide on how to improve this) and also the rear reg plate is an incorrect size (they have put on a large uk plate). This leaves a cutout gap in the bumper where the original plate existed. The bumper has a cutout where the reg plate goes, it seems to be the same shape as a jap sized rear plate but everywhere i go I cant seem to buy one to see if it fits (most places only stock uk width ones). In the meantime Im using a white piece of plastic thats secured behind the Uk plate (it looks a bit tatty). Does anyone know of a decent plate maker that sepcialises in these odd jap sizes? I also want to put my personalised plate reg on one row (rather than two). I undertsand that jap plates can utilise smaller lettering (which is still legal in the uk) - Do you think i can get 7 letters on one row easy enough? Has anyone expereince a similar "cutout" problem with their import? I havent even seen another car with teh same problem! jez [email protected] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_B Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 Hi Jez. I had a similar problem with my headlights becoming dulled. This affects only the Jap Spec versions as they use plastic rather than glass in the UK Spec Supes. There is a process which I used involving removing the head lights, heating them in an oven (carefully ! ) then prising them apart and using some Silvo or Brasso on the inside of the lense. Worked a treat. Bit worrying though watching your headlights cook in the oven. As for the number plate issue I am not sure ? My J Spec came with no gap at all.. Do you have the black number plate surrounds either side of the rear number plate ? Rgds, Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyJawa Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 http://www.fancyplates.com will make up plates in any size you specify I used them to make a slightly larger one for the rear of mine to cover the hole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willson Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 I have seen the bumper cutout on other jap supes including my own. I got a plate off of the internet. Sorry can't remember the company but I think most of them will make them to your specification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyJawa Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 Or if you wanna use the standard Jap size, I have a set of the bumper wedges I removed from my car if ya wanna buy them? Like this: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.ambrosen/platesurr1.jpg looks like this: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.ambrosen/mysupra1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W2 Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 With the headlight thing you need to get some turtle wax stuff from Halfrauds. I vcant remember what its called now but if you do a search on here you might find it. Alternatively you could to Halfrauds and just buy it! Its in a bright yellow bottle the same shape as all the T-cut stuff. Hope this helps and welcome to the BBS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newgendesign Posted November 24, 2003 Author Share Posted November 24, 2003 Thanks for all your comments guys. Ive been on fancy plates.co.uk and Im going to have to measure the plate as I have no idea what its dimensions are - I figured that it would be a standard jap size...looks like they should be able to help... In terms of the headlight: I was contemplating buying a new replacement unit 174.45+VAT from Fensport. Obviously this is quite expensive bearing in mind the unit still works great. Why do the lenses tarnish? Mine also clouds up a bit when its damp outside so I assume moisture is getting in. I assume the lenses tarnish in time yet again even after they are polished up? I must try the DIY approach to see how successful it might be - bit scared of the oven process involved!!!! How long would teh process take? Let me know any tips and tricks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
far Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 I would try the turtle wax treatment first dude - this should remove most of your yellowness,if this fails then try and bake em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newgendesign Posted November 24, 2003 Author Share Posted November 24, 2003 Aha - so the yellowing is on the outside of the lense you reckon? Any idea what this yellow bottles stuff is called? I might bomb over to Halfords after work and get some! The other drivers-side headlight is crystal clear and looks 'new' so I hope I can get them both to match (it lets teh car down!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 If you look in the Technical section there's a complete step by step guide to headlight restoration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willson Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 http://www.mkivsupra.net/resources/lights/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newgendesign Posted November 24, 2003 Author Share Posted November 24, 2003 Thanks for the help again - you guys are very useful (I used to haunt the IMOC MR2 forums/email list) and it appears you guys are as helpful as they are! I also have another problem: My rear lights warning indicator is on constantly and I cant work out why - nothing appears wrong with the rear cluster at all. Any ideas? Im also on teh look out for a replacement MKIV dash (for a manual) as I want to spray it up white to match the paintwork (Im too chicken to attempt such a manouvre on my exiting dash!) Why is it that the MKIV dashboards are so prone to scratches?It appears that Mr.T decided to coat the dash in a thin rubberised coating that wears terribly.... Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W2 Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 Jez, a fair few people including myself have sparyed their dashes because they look crap as standard with the rubberised coating. You can either: 1. Go to Halfrauds get some primer, paint, laquer and do it yourself. I have done this and found it very easy to do once you've got the rubber stuff off. or 2. Speak to Dude at Miami Rice (on this BBS) who will do it for around £100, proper job. To be honest I would get him to do it if you live anywhere near Brighton. HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newgendesign Posted November 24, 2003 Author Share Posted November 24, 2003 Yeah that rubber coating is going to be problematic to get off Im sure I should be able to do a good job myself as I was a trained modelmaker/industrial designer at uni and played a lot with custom modelling materials and paints etc. Just spend a long time layering the paint and a nice coar of clearcoat/lacquer and it should look great. I was quoted 100 quid + postage for a replacement dash from a breaker last week but was wondering if anyone had any Supra that they were breaking etc.. Ive also seen some Supras with chrome looking rings round the dash area - now I assume these are aftermarket rings you stick on (am I right?) Anyone have any? Anything to jaz up the interior! I must admit the Supra is quite dull inside compared with other (more modern) cars. Typically Japanese regardless of the supercar status the Supra has... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W2 Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 Jez, the rings were one of the many optional extras you could get when buying a new Supe. If you check out Miami Rice or ENVY Performance' websites you can find some nice 'bling' for your car. One of them also sells these dial surrounds in solid machined Aluminium. Much better than the crappy plastic things I've got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonB Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 Originally posted by Newgendesign My rear lights warning indicator is on constantly and I cant work out why - nothing appears wrong with the rear cluster at all. Any ideas? What sort of rear fog light setup have you got, is it a stick on one or has someone converted the rear lights somehow? If so they've probably done it in a crap way. There's a better way using relays so you get four rear lights with them both acting as brake lights normally, and the inner two become fogs only when you turn them on. Details on Pete Betts site here . It's under Supra/Supra down the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 I found that nearly all of the cr@p on my lenses was on the outside, i used a specialist perspex polish from a plastics supplier to clean mine up, worked a treat. The rear light warning may be related to any foglight conversion carried out perhaps. I know the trl conversion can cause the brake bulb warning light to come on when fogs are on and you brake. Possibly same sort of problem....just a suggestion. Hope you get it all sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willson Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 You don't have facelift rear lights on a pre-facelift car do you ? I believe this will cause the lamp sensor light to come on (can be fixed) If not, the lamp sensor fix is the same as............ http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/failed_lamp_sensor_fix/index.html Could be something else as the others have said but I did this to mine a couple of weeks ago and it did the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willson Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 Have you looked at http://www.supraforums.com and http://www.mkiv.com ? They are good for lots of info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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