Toyota BB - rare JDM box on wheels
Discussion
TommoAE86 said:
Can't believe how cheap your insurance is! Although annoying at least the EML is now sorted.
I'm also glad the guys undersealed mine too, including a full cavity job (oooh-err) especially with the way the local council is throwing that crap around at the moment - they even did it on Saturday night when it was hovering around 7-10 degrees
Right?! In Herts they keep gritting when it's only dropping to around 1c-2c and forecast to rain, so it stays on the road for all of one night before getting washed all over the place... they must be wasting huge amounts of money on it!I'm also glad the guys undersealed mine too, including a full cavity job (oooh-err) especially with the way the local council is throwing that crap around at the moment - they even did it on Saturday night when it was hovering around 7-10 degrees
I wish Hants would make sure they do it before it rains more often, they've been trying to get rid of the stockpiles for years when they overbought after the last really cold snap.
Still super infuriating trying to find the time to wash mine and I don't have much time at the moment so been a couple of weeks, also makes me with my Toyota was smaller
Still super infuriating trying to find the time to wash mine and I don't have much time at the moment so been a couple of weeks, also makes me with my Toyota was smaller
swampy442 said:
One of the best things I bought for my garage? A Karcher chassis washer 
These do look great, unfortunately i share a 1 bed flat with the wife with little storage, so it wouldn't be mega practical.I settle for getting on hands and knees with a spray attachment to the communal hose! Works well enough tbh, if a bit grim at this time of year.
So the bB has mostly been tucked away since the council decided to start salting the roads around here every night despite it rarely touching 0c.
It had it's big 60k service a couple of weeks ago, valve clearances still well in spec after 20 years! All fluids changed along with some fresh ATF in the gearbox. It certainly feels to be driving better, and wasn't bad at all before. New belts too, and a general health check, seems to be in good shape for the Spring and a few road trips.
Seem to be averaging about 34mpg in it during this colder weather, not bad for a 20 year old automatic really.
I've got a couple of little projects lined up for it when the weather improves, managed to source a few parts over winter... not sure what i'm fitting yet but it should keep me occcupied.
Of course it needed washing again after a run out, so a good excuse for a pic-
It had it's big 60k service a couple of weeks ago, valve clearances still well in spec after 20 years! All fluids changed along with some fresh ATF in the gearbox. It certainly feels to be driving better, and wasn't bad at all before. New belts too, and a general health check, seems to be in good shape for the Spring and a few road trips.
Seem to be averaging about 34mpg in it during this colder weather, not bad for a 20 year old automatic really.
I've got a couple of little projects lined up for it when the weather improves, managed to source a few parts over winter... not sure what i'm fitting yet but it should keep me occcupied.
Of course it needed washing again after a run out, so a good excuse for a pic-
It seems mad this winter given how wet and mild it's been, my only conclusion is that the County council has a set amount of salt they need to use up regardless of conditions?!
Having had my share of rust issues on previous Japanese cars I am probably a bit OTT in winter with hosing it down after every drive, but as this is my first rust free JDM I want it to stay that way...
Unfortunately I don't have a garage to stick it in, that would be the dream!
Having had my share of rust issues on previous Japanese cars I am probably a bit OTT in winter with hosing it down after every drive, but as this is my first rust free JDM I want it to stay that way...
Unfortunately I don't have a garage to stick it in, that would be the dream!
Well, it happened again... something shiny and JDM caught my eye- this time it's a brand new discontinued HKS racing suction induction kit. I put a cheeky offer on it through ebay without expecting much, and to my surprise they accepted. Pretty rare to find stuff for the bB outside of Japan and the USA so I get a bit trigger happy!
Should look great in the engine bay when fitted and sound decent, and it's a nice accompanyment to the HKS backbox which was one of my earlier lucky finds.
HKS filtration isn't the greatest so I'll be swapping out the wet 2 layer filter for a 3 layer dry one, then getting the spanners out to fit it all when this weather improves.
Should look great in the engine bay when fitted and sound decent, and it's a nice accompanyment to the HKS backbox which was one of my earlier lucky finds.
HKS filtration isn't the greatest so I'll be swapping out the wet 2 layer filter for a 3 layer dry one, then getting the spanners out to fit it all when this weather improves.
Quite a bit of activity on the bB front in the last couple of weeks.
3 or so weeks ago during one of the weekend storms, i very charitably drove the OH to Heathrow so she didn't have to mess about with TfL... my reward for this was a nice big crack in the windscreen on the drive home courtesy of a stone on the m25.
bB wiindscreens are very vulnerable due to their massive size, relatively upright position, and curvature, so any windscreen chip is pretty much a crack from the outset...most owners have been through 1 or more replacements in their ownership.
Autoglass managed to get an OEM replacement screen and trim surround within 3 weeks of phoning them, not too bad for a 20yo JDM import.
Roll on fitting day, and I got to try my hand at windscreen fitting, as the technician needed a hand positioning it due to the awkward size and shape of the car and windscreen.
No rust hiding away under the old windscreen which was a bonus-
Fitting went well, just need to get the tinted sunstrip re-done at some stage now. Whilst this was going on I also replaced the worn out and wonky rear wiper arm, those wiper pullers really do work, was literally a 2 minute job!
3 or so weeks ago during one of the weekend storms, i very charitably drove the OH to Heathrow so she didn't have to mess about with TfL... my reward for this was a nice big crack in the windscreen on the drive home courtesy of a stone on the m25.
bB wiindscreens are very vulnerable due to their massive size, relatively upright position, and curvature, so any windscreen chip is pretty much a crack from the outset...most owners have been through 1 or more replacements in their ownership.
Autoglass managed to get an OEM replacement screen and trim surround within 3 weeks of phoning them, not too bad for a 20yo JDM import.
Roll on fitting day, and I got to try my hand at windscreen fitting, as the technician needed a hand positioning it due to the awkward size and shape of the car and windscreen.
No rust hiding away under the old windscreen which was a bonus-
Fitting went well, just need to get the tinted sunstrip re-done at some stage now. Whilst this was going on I also replaced the worn out and wonky rear wiper arm, those wiper pullers really do work, was literally a 2 minute job!
TommoAE86 said:
Wow you got a windscreen sorted, what is it shared with? I am so fearful of mine going and the cost of trying to sort it out as it's not like any of the others in the Toyota/Lexus range 
for no rust!
literally just the bB, new windscreen came over from Toyota in Japan and even has the window etched logo... still widely available, just takes a couple weeks to arrive for no rust! So after getting the essential windscreen job out of the way, I was able to fit some parts i've had kicking around.
First up, an AVS bug/stone deflector for the bonnet... given the bBs tendancy to destroy windscreens, i figure it would be a practical modification.
Ordered from the USA off ebay (£95 all in, not too shabby), arrived promptly 5 days later.
Fitting couldn't have been easier, 6 plastic screw rivets, and two minutes later-
First up, an AVS bug/stone deflector for the bonnet... given the bBs tendancy to destroy windscreens, i figure it would be a practical modification.
Ordered from the USA off ebay (£95 all in, not too shabby), arrived promptly 5 days later.
Fitting couldn't have been easier, 6 plastic screw rivets, and two minutes later-
Haven't updated this in a while, but had a bit of a frustrating spring with the car.
On my birthday in April, the EML issue came back with a vengeance, so I ordered a replacement used speedo cluster off YAJ.
installed that, same issue, so packed the car off to the garage for more diagnostics in April, we eventually figured out that the replacement cluster was also duff, so I ordered a second one from Japan and touch wood that seems to have sorted the issue.
Been pottering around since and all seems well, so hopefully that's sorted the problem for good this time! Pretty bad luck that I ended up with a duff replacement cluster with the same issue, but always a risk when buying used parts I guess.
On my birthday in April, the EML issue came back with a vengeance, so I ordered a replacement used speedo cluster off YAJ.
installed that, same issue, so packed the car off to the garage for more diagnostics in April, we eventually figured out that the replacement cluster was also duff, so I ordered a second one from Japan and touch wood that seems to have sorted the issue.
Been pottering around since and all seems well, so hopefully that's sorted the problem for good this time! Pretty bad luck that I ended up with a duff replacement cluster with the same issue, but always a risk when buying used parts I guess.
Updated pic after a wash, just cos
I had a couple of very small dents pulled out of each rear door as well, annoyingly after 7 weeks at the garage, when i went to fill the car up for the first time after getting it back, the petrol pump nozzle didn't clip back into its recess properly and as I walked away it fell against the door... fortunately it didn't damage the paint.
My brand new windscreen also picked up a chip whilst out on test with the garage, so had to get that filled... it was literally one thing after another with the car for a little while there!
And here's that HKS filter fitted, shiny. Car now sounds a bit racecar, which is hilarious.
I had a couple of very small dents pulled out of each rear door as well, annoyingly after 7 weeks at the garage, when i went to fill the car up for the first time after getting it back, the petrol pump nozzle didn't clip back into its recess properly and as I walked away it fell against the door... fortunately it didn't damage the paint.
My brand new windscreen also picked up a chip whilst out on test with the garage, so had to get that filled... it was literally one thing after another with the car for a little while there!
And here's that HKS filter fitted, shiny. Car now sounds a bit racecar, which is hilarious.
Edited by designforlife on Thursday 30th July 14:33
An understandably quiet few months in boxy JDM car world... the bB flew through it's MOT in November which is always a relief.
Just coming up 59k miles now, should be a relatively minor service in Jan after getting the bigger jobs done last year.
I was pleasantly surprised to find my insurance renewal has dropped too, £240 this time around for the coming 12 months.
Few little jobs for the Spring once the world wakes up again, I had a look at the windscreen wiper arms today and they definitely need properly powdercoating, the wet spray job hasn't lasted too well.
Beyond that I'm not really sure on future plans past using it to bip around in, will largely depend on what comes up parts wise! Coilovers would be ace but the car is at a very practical ride height as standard and I don't want to fall down the stance rabbit hole and ruin that!
Just coming up 59k miles now, should be a relatively minor service in Jan after getting the bigger jobs done last year.
I was pleasantly surprised to find my insurance renewal has dropped too, £240 this time around for the coming 12 months.
Few little jobs for the Spring once the world wakes up again, I had a look at the windscreen wiper arms today and they definitely need properly powdercoating, the wet spray job hasn't lasted too well.
Beyond that I'm not really sure on future plans past using it to bip around in, will largely depend on what comes up parts wise! Coilovers would be ace but the car is at a very practical ride height as standard and I don't want to fall down the stance rabbit hole and ruin that!
May I ask who you're insured with? I have to do a song and dance every time with the Crown - I'm full NCB over 30, parked on driveway.
Glad that it sailed through it's MOT - such a cracking car. I'm wondering if I should drop the Crown abit, they do look good in "bippu" stance - but as it's my everyday car I don't want to lose the ride comfort I already have.
Glad that it sailed through it's MOT - such a cracking car. I'm wondering if I should drop the Crown abit, they do look good in "bippu" stance - but as it's my everyday car I don't want to lose the ride comfort I already have.
2.5 years since the last update?! I've been slacking. Such is the life of a Toyota owner that there hasn't been too much to report. The bB now sits on about 68k miles, and is still seeing regular use, this year more than most actually.
It's had some Tein yaris lowering springs (2" drop, ish) and Rota slipsteam 15" wheels, and also a new set of rear tail lights. As far as mods go it's gone as far as I want to take it really, very happy with the look so it's main priority is road trips and the occasional show.
Taking it to Pod in October for Japshow finale, i'm going to take it down the strip for a laugh, if I can sneak under 19s I'll be stoked!
The bB has now been relegated to daily status as I have a new sheep in the flock. After years of wanting to get back into something a bit quick, I picked up a WRX STI a few weeks ago, having gone through the import process and buying it in Japan back in January. Might start a readers cars thread on it, but here's a taster.
It's had some Tein yaris lowering springs (2" drop, ish) and Rota slipsteam 15" wheels, and also a new set of rear tail lights. As far as mods go it's gone as far as I want to take it really, very happy with the look so it's main priority is road trips and the occasional show.
Taking it to Pod in October for Japshow finale, i'm going to take it down the strip for a laugh, if I can sneak under 19s I'll be stoked!
The bB has now been relegated to daily status as I have a new sheep in the flock. After years of wanting to get back into something a bit quick, I picked up a WRX STI a few weeks ago, having gone through the import process and buying it in Japan back in January. Might start a readers cars thread on it, but here's a taster.
Edited by designforlife on Wednesday 23 August 09:43
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