Red 2000 PFL - NOT A PROJECT

[Justin.D]

Hi and welcome to my Readers Ride

My Little Red 2 – Definitely NOT a project (maybe...)

It's my first Japanese car. Should have got one years ago. My first experience of the roadster came in the late 90s when a friend bought one of the first to be sold in this country. At the time I was more impressed with the single din slide out screen – I was young and naïve. The reason for getting one now? Well, I have a company car and haven't had personal car insurance for nearly 2 years. If I didn't get some soon then all my NCD would expire – There's justification to the 'Custodian of the Purse'

When bought - 30/4/17

Exterior - Standard PFL with hardtop. No visible or known changes from Standard. The alloys had been badly refurbed in the past. They don't look that bad but up close they're awful. Someone decided on Toyota stickers on one spoke of each wheel - That'll be coming off soon!!!

Interior - Standard leather, A/C, Sony double din thing, various rattles

Engine - Standard 1ZZ

Just less than 84k on the clock, 13 stamps in the book and loads of receipts for various work over the years. There's 2 years missing from the MOT history, but the car was in Northern Ireland for that time before being re-registered back in England. It even came with a personalised reg (Valued at £350 if I decide to get rid)





Work done so far

Exterior

Not a lot. Hardtop in storage at the 'In-Laws'. There's a couple of bits of bodywork needed. Probably work for the winter, I'm too busy enjoying driving the car for now
Drain holes checked for blockages – they were OK but some crud came out
TTE twin exhaust fitted. 13/9/17
Debadged rear

Interior

Single DIN conversion to my Pioneer DEH-80PRS which has been in the loft for the last couple of years. F/L surround and storage tray completing the look. Bluetooth mic on steering wheel shroud. Also fitted a button to control the electric aerial separately, More on that in a bit
Red floormats – they look a bit orange, but I'm pleased with them
Moved the little red light for the alarm to the F/L position left of the steering wheel. I can have a coin holder each side of the steering wheel now if I want
Replaced a load of missing screws from the trim (Centre console etc) which has cured almost all rattles. Many coins found while doing this (almost a fiver in total)
Small foam pads on the back of the interior mirror where it connects to the stud on the windscreen. Vibration cured
Doorcards replaced. Now fitted with Red Leather inserts - 16/8/17
Facelift heater control surround fitted - 16/8/17



Engine

Oil and filter change. Wynns engine flush used. Air filter changed, plugs replaced

Next up

Electric aerial fix. It nearly works. I've seen a write up on the forum which looks to be the same issue I have. Should be an easy fix when I can be bothered. I hardly listen to the radio anyway - Fixed - July 17
NathanMR2 ultimate gear shift cable bushings. They are on my desk now – could be a job for later today - Fitted 25/6/17
Check and replace Brake fluid if necessary. Sort handbrake – it works but not all that well - Fluid replaced August 17
New gearknob – the horrible rubber one it came with is awful. Maybe an Ebay short shift kit too. Gear and Handbrake gaiter replacements with subtle red stitching is also possible - Rhons refurbished gearknob and gear gaiter fitted September 17
Soft top ear strap refurbishment. The Velcro was perished and the poppers crushed. New poppers and Velcro on both the strap and the bits on the car. Just waiting for the 'Mother in Law to stitch the Velcro and hopefully I'm on to a winner – no more ears -DONE - July 17
Remove and replace the rusted screws/bolts on the nappies

I'm getting a small aluminium plate made up which will have 2 panel mount USB's both connected to the headunit. 1 is powerful enough for charging, the other will just have music on a USB stick. This plate will also have the button for the electric aerial. I'm hoping it will sit just below the ashtray. I'll be creating a template from card and a friend can make it up – laser cut and everything!!!

A forum member has very kindly offered to give my car a good once over as I really have no clue mechanically. As long as I get the all clear (subframe, pre-cats etc) then I'm on for a bit more spending over the winter to get 'Little Red' up to my standard

Hopefully to be done

Bodywork – There's a bad fix to the windscreen surround which has a small rust bubble and shocking paint. More on this in a bit
Facelift rear lights – This is a maybe as I think I'm now preferring the PFL ones
Alloy refurb including new tyres. Current tyres aren't all that great. I can't justify a new set to the 'Custodian of the Purse' yet. Maybe a couple of rusty nails will help
I'm thinking of re-painting the hardtop Black. I think it will suit the red car well, especially as it's a similar colour to the soft top. How would it look with a black windscreen surround and black alloys? Any thoughts? I'll post in Photoshop help too
Replace doorcards for ones with the Red Leather insert - DONE
New door speakers. I'm not after loud, just a crisp clear sound. Possible under dash sub to help with this

There will be more pics to follow. I'll update this original post as things progress. Opinions welcome on the plans

[Essex2Visuvesi]

Well, I say not a project, it may just happen...
"just waiting on the facelift trim to tidy it up before a pic goes up. Red floormats also fitted"

And so it begins.... this slippery slope into modoholism

[stu h]

nice looking car justin - hope u know what you have done - wallet beware it,s not a when it,s a certainty add on,s here we come ya hoo

[shnazzle]

No matter how many times we've seen them, we still love seeing pictures of new ones to the fold  s:) s:)

[StuC]

I reckon that because we don't see so many on the roads shnazzle.

Welcome along Justin  :-) :-) :-)

[Justin.D]

Quick pic of the red floormats now it's stopped raining long enough. They look a bit orange in the pic, but they are definitely red. Please excuse the wiring around the headunit - it's work in progress. Couple of bits should arrive by the weekend to tidy it all up

[Justin.D]

Original post completely edited and updated. 25/6/17

[m1tch]

Welcome in  s:) s:)  I am guessing the precats have been removed?

[Justin.D]

Welcome in  s:) s:)  I am guessing the precats have been removed?

Not to my knowledge. Probably is going to happen in the none too distant just for peace of mind

[m1tch]

Welcome in  s:) s:)  I am guessing the precats have been removed?

Not to my knowledge. Probably is going to happen in the none too distant just for peace of mind

Sounds sensible, its not really a 'mod' as per say, but more peace of mind, could be worth unscrewing the O2 sensors to check the precat condition?

[Justin.D]

Time for a little update. Quite a few small jobs done, just not documented. Original post edited to add back in the pics which were hosted on Photobucket. Now using Imgur so hopefully no more drama

Interior changes

Factory speakers replaced with Pioneer TS-E171ci - WOW. What a difference. Original speaker gutted for the fitting rings. Foamed where the plastic meets the metal. Sound deadening in the doors, and a foamed speaker ring which touches the doorcard to stop sound being lost into the door cavity. Passive crossover not used. Headunit has 'Network Mode' so additional speaker cable run into the doors to power the tweeter and mids separately. Tweeter mounted directly in the doorcard. No pics to really show anything as it all looks factory apart from the tweeter.



InPhase USW10 mounted under the steering wheel to look after the lows - Sorry, no pics here either, but the bass knob is mounted on a switch blank



Electric aerial fixed. Also added in a button so I can select when it raises and lowers. Button hanging loose in the glovebox currently while I work out a permanent mount for it and various other 'bits'

TRD badge for the steering wheel - now the interior of the car is "De-Toyota'd"



Gear Knob and Gaiter by Rhon. Black leather, Red stitching

[Justin.D]

Exterior changes

Debadged front and replaced with a Red screaming chicken sticker (Pics to follow)





Apologies for the fly splattered front end. I've been enjoying driving the car, not cleaning it

Debadged rear - I prefer the clean look

TTE Exhaust bought from and fitted by Dean - NICE (Pic shows TTE and debadged rear - Number plate has been refitted properly too)



Screaming Chicken Centre Caps fitted. Thanks Shnazzle (I'm embarrased by this pic - See below)



While I was at Rutland getting the exhaust fitted I noticed a breaker with new Toyo T1R's. Wheels were in a mess, but the tyres were like new. They came home with me so now the mismatched cheapo tyres are banished. Hoping for an alloy refurb soon - they really are in a mess

I also made a Hardtop stand out of various bits of wood I had knocking around - nothing special, but it works

[Justin.D]

Under the skin changes

After an MOT fail last month I needed a new main Cat. Cats2U to the rescue - Fitted, new MOT and a happy Justin again



Sarah's car made a good workbench while I was working on the Cat replacement and other bits



As the main cat had failed I used this as an excuse to "The Custodian Of The Purse" that decatting the manifold is justified - Whoops!! lol



I also had a Lambda sensor down. A local motor factors had Denso ones on special so I grabbed 2 - might as well treat the new manifold eh?



An impulse purchase a while back - Not sure what I was thinking. Should I? Shouldn't I? Thoughts people - I'll go with the majority (Pic to follow with clarification)



Mid and rear nappies currently sat in the shed. Need to drill and tap the mounts so they can be refitted

[Justin.D]

I still maintain that this car is NOT a project

The spending needs to stop for now as I've just spent a fair whack of our savings on this



To replace This which I was spending about £10k a year on to never actually own



Oh, and just for giggles - This could be fun eh???

[Topdownman]

You would get lots of business if you used the 2!

[1979scotte]

Worst condition wheels I have ever seen.
Nice find.

Not seen red badge on a red car before black or yellow are more usual.
Nice to be different.

[delhusband]

You've been busy, looking great

[Justin.D]

You would get lots of business if you used the 2!

I'm not sure I trust anyone else with the 2

Worst condition wheels I have ever seen.
Nice find.

Not seen red badge on a red car before black or yellow are more usual.
Nice to be different.

Agreed. Wheels are shocking - tyres however, with the hardtop on I wasn't keen. Hardtop removed and the tyres seem to have come alive

I'm not sure about the red badge. I think I'll grab a blue one to match the centre caps

You've been busy, looking great

Thanks Del. It wasn't all in one go though - Took a few months of spare time. Might see you at Ding Day (I'll be a day visitor on the Saturday if I make it at all)

[delhusband]

Thanks Del. It wasn't all in one go though - Took a few months of spare time. Might see you at Ding Day (I'll be a day visitor on the Saturday if I make it at all)

I'm coming down so hopefully see you, be good to catch up!