Stu's Twozz.....

Started by The Other Stu, May 15, 2016, 19:27

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The Other Stu

PAGE 3..... a new two!

So I'm finally a fully fledged bona fide member and have a car!
Doesn't have a name yet, but it's fairly standard - has some side, front and rear sills.


Originally came out of the factory apparently with a hard top, but someone bought it and immediately traded it on because that was all they wanted from it.

Other than 2 deep scratches near the petrol cap, the paintwork is in excellent condition.
Engine sounds great too - it's only covered ~64k so hopefully a bit of life left.

So... having owned this for 24 hours, travelled around 150 miles (I drove from the seller to my Mum's in Norfolk yesterday, then home to Bedfordshire today) as well as having quite a good look everywhere, I've got some ideas. Some are easy, some are achievable. Some are slap and tickle.

And about me? Well, I'm mid 40s on my 2nd marriage. Have 2 kids from the first (one lives with me, one lives on his own) - 15 and 19.
It's not my main driver. It's strictly a toy - I am fortunate that I have a company car. SWMBO has a 57 plate Panda with about 3 miles on the clock (she doesn't drive anywhere). OK, I exaggerate. It has 10,600 miles on and is 10 years old in October.

Things to do. I'll start with the easy and the achievable.

  • Clean and tidy inside - it's not messy, but it could do with a good polish and a proper hoover. Might get the wet and dry to the carpets too.
  • New ICE. The Fisher Price radio is awful. But I'll keep hold for when I want to sell. I've ordered an android based head unit. Fixed
  • New speakers. See above. I'll order them when I've worked out what size they should be
  • Get it detailed (well, as much as I can). When my son gets off his behind, I've asked him to get a clay bar kit, traffic film remover, tyre kit and so on. He works for the orange place and gets discount. I'll buy him a fridge / freezer in return (It's a bad trade, I know)
  • Fix the leather seats. They're cracked. Have to work them hard (Have some leather restorer here for sofas I used to own)
  • Order up a proper scissor jack Done
  • Get the right wheels Done


Now the slightly more difficult. Definitely achievable by me though.
  • Fit a K&N filter system. I like noise. Not Cobra exhaust noise, but a rasp in my ear.
  • Find the rattly heat shielding that starts when the engine is warm at around 2000rpm
  • New rear light (I missed that one discussed on Facebook) - it's cracked and glued. So won't fail an MOT, it's just I would like it fixed.
  • Change the steering wheel. Preferably to a smaller one, with volume control if nothing else.

And the stuff I'm not entirely sure of, was mentioned as an advisory on the MOT and I'd like to get it fixed before the next MOT in 2 weeks
  • Handbrake has no spare travel - it works brilliantly. But you can pull it all the way to the top. I have a feeling it just needs tightening slightly rather than a calipers job these normally need
  • Offside road wheel has a slightly distorted bead rim (?)
  • Front coil springs are corroded. Firstly, they look pretty new to me, but they might not be. But that might be why it's ticked.
  • Rear brakes imbalanced - now I'm concerned about this. But it brakes very well.....

Now, there are ticks on the MOT certificate against those 4 items. That doesn't necessarily mean they've been fixed though. I've a place lined up for the MOT so I might just not tell them and put it through. They're a fairly good bunch and generally have far too much work on at the best of times so not the sort to make stuff up to make money.

I might have a slow puncture on the rear right. The tyres are, well, cheap. One of the front ones looks like it's starting to show signs of degrading.
Might be an opportunity to put some branded tyres on. After all, tyres are not as expensive as they were 15-20 years ago!

I have a want list too.
  • New hood. This one has a few little splits and the odd fixed hole. I quite like the sound of these mohair ones
  • hard top. I'd like a silver one I think
  • Twin exhaust. Not really necessary, but if I decide to spend a bit of money.
No Longer Here

1979scotte

#1
Sounds pretty good tbh.
Rear brakes can be a problem most of us get it.
100% fit some quality tyres.
Toyo t1r and falken 914 are used by a fair few but if it is just a toy and you have the funds go Yoko AD08R.
Also make sure you are fitting the correct sizes.
Exhaust TTE/Remus is probably the best twin but expensive so go for a fox a few guys have fitted those.
Enjoy
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Free Ukraine 🇺🇦

MRob2

#2
Nice car.

I've got the same with my handbrake and it's due for mot Saturday so I'm hoping it goes through otherwise I'll let you know what's needed to sort it!

StuC

#3
Looks like you have a ducktail spoiler too.
Good luck with those rear lights!  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Interesting that you eat the hands brake is ok, but the brakes are imbalanced. Worth having a quick check with the wheels off that the handbrake is working and there isn't something else going on with the caliper.

Oh and the best thing is that you bought blue and not ran with the silver crowd!  s;-) ;-) s;-)
URBAN CUSTARD COLLECTIVE FOUNDING MEMBER

Ardent

#4
hello and welcome.

Well done a finding car with the GB body kit skirts n spats.

64K miles. Plenty of life. But whilst new to you, just keep a close eye on the oil for the first month or so.

The Other Stu

#5
Thanks all. So obviously the ducktail is something else I need to go find out about then.
Particularly as the rear light needs replacing   s:shock: :shock: s:shock:  

Strangely, the Missus has come to accept it will be a moneypit.
No Longer Here

jinxedkitten

#6
Quote from: "Stu"Thanks all. So obviously the ducktail is something else I need to go find out about then.
Particularly as the rear light needs replacing   s:shock: :shock: s:shock:  

Strangely, the Missus has come to accept it will be a moneypit.
Sounds like she's a keeper.

And the car, too  s;) ;) s;)

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
Custard Tart of the Urban Custard Collective<br />Yellow '00 - Frenzy style bar, TD Type LED spoiler, H&S quad exhaust, Zero manifold, Markiii Pipe, Toyo Proxes T1-Rs, Matt Brace, front brace.

madman

#7
Hello
Nice mr2 did you buy it from gumtree cat d repaired still was a good buy.

The Other Stu

#8
Quote from: "madman"Hello
Nice mr2 did you buy it from gumtree cat d repaired still was a good buy.
Yup, see my previous thread about insurance. Can see where it's been repaired - it's a very good job too - the whole frame was cut out at the weld, new frame put in and welded and treated. Everything else (including rear subframe) has been replaced.
No Longer Here

The Other Stu

#9
So ..... update. She's still un-named btw.

First couple of jobs. One I'm very, very confident with - electrics.

Tonight, ripped out the standard Fisher Price radio. Thanks to all who have contributed to the "how to". I read it this afternoon, it all made perfect sense as soon as I started to take it apart.

Radio came out really quickly. Then a shock. The Fisher Price radio has a number of connectors in the back. The 2 regular toyota looms, plus 2 more. I have absolutely no idea what they do, but I don't appear to need them.

Bought one of these

Well, except that it didn't come with a surround (At least I don't think it did). So it looks rather odd because it's a bang on fit for a double din, whereas the OEM actually fills a huge area. Sorry no pictures, it's 11pm and it's rather dark. I'll sort some out over the next couple of days.

EDIT: Found a surround from China. It's advertised with the same radio in it, so clearly I'm not the first person to have the problem


I've attached the GPS mouse on the front of the car, hidden in the plastic under the window and wired under the edge of the frunk.

The rear camera   s:shock: :shock: s:shock:  

What a royal PITA. First bit was fine - took out the glove box, ran it tidily around that, using lots of tie wraps. Then ran it along the loom, using the same method until I got to the back. Out came the bins behind the seat. Then ran it underneath and through the hole. Went to take the battery out.

I'm sure you've all done it, but is it me, but the battery is really close to metal, particularly the positive side. So every time I went to undo the terminal, I was getting really close to the body and that made me uncomfortable. I'm going to have to do something clever in the future.

Anyway, eventually pulled the wire through, along the side of the loom, along the rubber grommet.
I saw Shnazzle (I think) had run his round the side of the battery and the relays. I did the same, again with lots of tie wraps. Ran down the back, and took all the number plate and surround off. Managed to screw it to the underside of the surround.

I've not wired it up to the rear light yet, although I've done this before (On my self-build camper, I had a full reverse camera).

I'll take some pictures tomorrow. I'm dead impressed with the unit. It's really, really easy to use. Because it's android based, you can install your own Sat Nav program (I have TomTom for Android, so I'll be using that). It's got built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. It has a USB port which you can actually put a 4G Dongle on if you wish! Also has a USB on the front (it's a mini USB but provides an adapter). Also has a line-in, microSD card, DVD player and even a TV (although I have absolutely no idea where you would get an Aerial and I think it's only Analogue which doesn't work in the UK anyway).

Electric aerial works fine with it, as do all the speakers.

The only other thing so far is that I got the Scissor jack delivered this morning. The one that came with the car is the worst piece of rubbish I've ever seen - it had a screwdriver covered in paint to help it go up.

Going to pick up some wheels tomorrow (I'll take the big car) and then I'll take it out tomorrow night. SWMBO has asked to go out in it on Sunday too.

Good times   s:mrgreen: :mrgreen: s:mrgreen:    s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:
No Longer Here

MRob2

#10
In relation to your handbrake mine failed the mot today for similar with insufficient reserve travel so woth getting it set up/adjusted.

StuC

#11
Think we need a separate thread for the naming.  s;-) ;-) s;-)
URBAN CUSTARD COLLECTIVE FOUNDING MEMBER

Ardent

#12
I'm waiting for a glimpse of the plate for inspiration.

Until then I shall offer up
Betty. (Betty blue from Beds)

Over to you Stu

The Other Stu

#13
Quote from: "Ardent"I'm waiting for a glimpse of the plate for inspiration.

Until then I shall offer up
Betty. (Betty blue from Beds)

Over to you Stu
I'm still waiting for the V5 (to be fair, it's only been a week)
No Longer Here

StuC

#14
Some of us are impatient fella. Don't mind us!  s;-) ;-) s;-)
URBAN CUSTARD COLLECTIVE FOUNDING MEMBER

Ardent

#15
Doh!

Just for clairty. My "over to you Stu" was meant for StuC as my post followed his.

Sorry for the confusion

The Other Stu

#16
Quote from: "Ardent"Doh!

Just for clairty. My "over to you Stu" was meant for StuC as my post followed his.

Sorry for the confusion

Worst thing is, I'm also a StuC

I really need a name change don't I. Well, if the car gets a name, I'll ask for a name change  s;) ;) s;)
No Longer Here

StuC

#17
Quote from: "Stu"Worst thing is, I'm also a StuC

All the best ones are!  s;-) ;-) s;-)
URBAN CUSTARD COLLECTIVE FOUNDING MEMBER

Ardent

#18
Well played!

The Other Stu

#19
Updates so far.....

I had a rattle around the exhaust area. Fortunately, searching through the forum, I found other people had also had trouble with a 2000RPM rattle.
It was indeed the cat heat shield. One bolt was entirely missing, the other was a blob of rust which pushed out with a screwdriver.
Replaced both with stainless bolts, although I'll get some proper brass locking nuts. I've got some spring washers too which might also help.

Today, I had these delivered.


Tomaky has kindly offered a couple of old keys so I'll get the inserts.   s:bowdown: :bowdown: s:bowdown:  
Someone else very kindly offered me an ears strap too   s:bowdown: :bowdown: s:bowdown:  

Some really kind people on this forum. I hope that I can repay the favour some time (If anyone needs any small decals doing, I'll start offering them out)

Sorted the tyres out - I'm getting some Bridgestone Potenza RE040s fitted to the spare rear wheels tomorrow.
I'm thinking I might hold onto the original alloys that came with and put cheapo winter tyres on, but I'm unsure - I might need a few quid back yet.

Hopefully I've sorted out a hard top too with fitting kit - I decided in the end silver would definitely work with the silver wheels.

Took the nappy off. The previous owner had it replaced, so I was worried that it might be hiding a multitude of sins underneath.
So good and bad. The clips that hold the nappy on had been put upside down, so it was all hanging off a self-tapping screw   s:crazyeyes: :crazyeyes: s:crazyeyes:  
The good though was that it looks like the cross member has been treated and it could well be that the subframe was replaced at the same time - it's very, very clean with no rust and looks like it's been treated too.

I'm away this weekend camping, so I'll not be up to much, but the next plan is the bit of rust around the front arch as it meets the bumper. It's going to be a bumper removal, but I'm not thinking this will be a bad thing because it's slightly loose on that side anyway, so there might be a missing screw or pin!
No Longer Here

frootloops

#20
did you buy the keys from toyota?

The Other Stu

#21
Quote from: "frootloops"did you buy the keys from toyota?
Blimey, no!

Aliexpress - although I believe you can buy them from eBay.
Car is looking very happy today, she has some new rear boots to put on later
No Longer Here

frootloops

#22
was hoping so, got a link?

jinxedkitten

#23
You should call it the cookie monster - bright blue and a big grin.
Custard Tart of the Urban Custard Collective<br />Yellow '00 - Frenzy style bar, TD Type LED spoiler, H&S quad exhaust, Zero manifold, Markiii Pipe, Toyo Proxes T1-Rs, Matt Brace, front brace.

The Other Stu

#24
Quote from: "jinxedkitten"You should call it the cookie monster - bright blue and a big grin.
That's a very good point. I love cookie monster too!

Hey, a little cookie monster hanging from the mirror? job done!
No Longer Here

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