Toyota BB - rare JDM box on wheels
Discussion
Courtesy of the headsup from iMitchy, i now have a set of energy suspension rear arm bushes on the way.
Delivered straight to the in-laws in LA for 8 bucks
wasn't too keen on throwing cheap pattern bushes on, and these were only a tenner more.
Delivered straight to the in-laws in LA for 8 bucks
wasn't too keen on throwing cheap pattern bushes on, and these were only a tenner more.Edited by designforlife on Tuesday 18th December 12:58
designforlife said:
Courtesy of the headsup from iMitchy, i now have a set of energy suspension rear arm bushes on the way.
Delivered straight to the in-laws in LA for 8 bucks wasn't too keen on throwing cheap pattern bushes on, and these were only a tenner more.
I hope you definitely checked they fit! Delivered straight to the in-laws in LA for 8 bucks
wasn't too keen on throwing cheap pattern bushes on, and these were only a tenner more.Edited by designforlife on Tuesday 18th December 12:58
I like these things too. Was looking at getting one of these or a Nissan Cube for a daily recently but needed a car too soon, so settled for a much more boring Civic instead. May still get one next year though.
A friend of mine had one for a bit, but only got rid due wanting something powerful. I'm not sure I'd bother with power mods on them, depends how long you want to keep it for I guess.
They rarely stay standard too...
A friend of mine had one for a bit, but only got rid due wanting something powerful. I'm not sure I'd bother with power mods on them, depends how long you want to keep it for I guess.
They rarely stay standard too...
To be fair the 1.5vvti really isn't too bad power wise as standard...it bundles along well enough once it gets going. More than adequate for the car, although i wish the auto box had a 5th gear. I reckon 30-35mpg mixed driving should be easily achievable. Power to weight is about the same as a 1.6 mx5...although the auto box definately slays a few horses in terms of performance, along with the brick like aerodynamics 
I've heard the 1.3 is very sluggish by comparison, and have been in a friends 1.3 cube that was very slow.
Certainly not a performance car, and i'm quite enjoying the refreshing change just bumbling about in it.
I've heard the 1.3 is very sluggish by comparison, and have been in a friends 1.3 cube that was very slow.
Certainly not a performance car, and i'm quite enjoying the refreshing change just bumbling about in it.
New year means time to get cracking on a few jobs for the JDM box.
It's off to my tame underseal guy tomorrow for a week to have the underside and arches dinitrol'd, also getting him to refurb the brush painted wiper arms and fit the polybush kit.
while I was in LA i picked up a couple of bits, had to buy a bigger suitcase to bring it all home, much to the wife and MiL's bemusement!
JDM/USDM optional mesh grill. Great rare find from a guy in Long beach, and around half the price of ordering one landed to the UK. Pretty much just needs the black rear metal panel sanding back and touching up where it has rusted a bit on the bottom edge.
JDM OEM lights, absolute steal and hard to find, wanted a backup set...will polish them up and set them aside if/when I want to switch the clusters over on the front and rear.
It's off to my tame underseal guy tomorrow for a week to have the underside and arches dinitrol'd, also getting him to refurb the brush painted wiper arms and fit the polybush kit.
while I was in LA i picked up a couple of bits, had to buy a bigger suitcase to bring it all home, much to the wife and MiL's bemusement!
JDM/USDM optional mesh grill. Great rare find from a guy in Long beach, and around half the price of ordering one landed to the UK. Pretty much just needs the black rear metal panel sanding back and touching up where it has rusted a bit on the bottom edge.
JDM OEM lights, absolute steal and hard to find, wanted a backup set...will polish them up and set them aside if/when I want to switch the clusters over on the front and rear.
Got the bB back yesterday, feeling rather pleased. It was just as clean underneath as I hoped...hardly a spot of surface rust.
Pre-underseal
Post-underseal
Thats a full steam clean and dry underneath, coated with a clear rustinhibitor then topped with dinitrol...and waxoyl in the cavities for good measure.
Also took the opportunity to have the wiper arms sanded back and repainted...these were in a fairly sorry state before due to Japanese sunshine.
Finally had those rear arm polybushes and front poly droplinks fitted...it's really tightened up the handling and hasn't made the ride much harder at all. Totally bugger of a job apparently, the guy had to burn the old ones out of the rear arm.
Pre-underseal
Post-underseal
Thats a full steam clean and dry underneath, coated with a clear rustinhibitor then topped with dinitrol...and waxoyl in the cavities for good measure.
Also took the opportunity to have the wiper arms sanded back and repainted...these were in a fairly sorry state before due to Japanese sunshine.
Finally had those rear arm polybushes and front poly droplinks fitted...it's really tightened up the handling and hasn't made the ride much harder at all. Totally bugger of a job apparently, the guy had to burn the old ones out of the rear arm.
Xaero said:
Good effort. I've been thinking of doing similar to my 80's Honda, but it doesn't go out much in winter so no rush too at the moment. How much did all the undercarriage protection cost if you don't mind saying?
It was about £400, varies depending on size of vehicle and the level of protection, and if any existing rust needs treating. Should be good for about 4-5 years if you don't go offroading...CSK automotive in Hoddesdon is who i used, they can turn it around in 3-4 days usually.FInally had a clear day to do some car bits. Fitted the aftermarket grill I picked up while in California...simply a case of popping the bonnet and removing htree plastic clips by hand on the oem grill, literally a 3 minute job!
Baby range rover now I may whip it off again and spray it satin black, i'm as yet undecided.
Gave the car interior a clean and discovered some JDM design genius... switchable floor mats! The carpet sections popper out so you can run rubber mats in winter to stop the carpet getting grimy.
Baby range rover now
I may whip it off again and spray it satin black, i'm as yet undecided.Gave the car interior a clean and discovered some JDM design genius... switchable floor mats! The carpet sections popper out so you can run rubber mats in winter to stop the carpet getting grimy.
Good weather on the weekend so i set about claying and polishing the bB... didn't even need a great deal, the paint on the car is excellent for its age.
Finished it off with in2detailing ceramic wax which is brilliant stuff for applying and buffing by hand, smells good too.
New wheels should be on inside a couple of weeks...i think they'll definately be an improvement over the current ones looks wise. Also have some 3mm spacers for the rear, for some odd reason (handling dynamics i assume) the bB and yaris have a narrower rear track, so when you run wider wheels it starts to look a bit odd relative to the arches.
Wife snapped this pic of my usual grin when driving and working on this thing, it's really gotten under my skin.
Finished it off with in2detailing ceramic wax which is brilliant stuff for applying and buffing by hand, smells good too.
New wheels should be on inside a couple of weeks...i think they'll definately be an improvement over the current ones looks wise. Also have some 3mm spacers for the rear, for some odd reason (handling dynamics i assume) the bB and yaris have a narrower rear track, so when you run wider wheels it starts to look a bit odd relative to the arches.
Wife snapped this pic of my usual grin when driving and working on this thing, it's really gotten under my skin.
I've become a full Japanese car convert since the Skyline, loving the updates for this. I diy'd my sorry looking wipers in the garden and the finish ended up be really good! I was shocked.
What wheels are you going to put on? My own Toyota is still at the importer waiting for some extra work but they have undersealed it very nicely!
What wheels are you going to put on? My own Toyota is still at the importer waiting for some extra work but they have undersealed it very nicely!
TommoAE86 said:
I've become a full Japanese car convert since the Skyline, loving the updates for this. I diy'd my sorry looking wipers in the garden and the finish ended up be really good! I was shocked.
What wheels are you going to put on? My own Toyota is still at the importer waiting for some extra work but they have undersealed it very nicely!
Now i'm wifed up, and trying to save for various things, I couldn't justify going out and buying the set of JDM wheels I would really love (Work Meisters), so I've gone budget and got another set of Stuttgarts, ST1 this time.. £345 delivered.What wheels are you going to put on? My own Toyota is still at the importer waiting for some extra work but they have undersealed it very nicely!
For the price they are pretty decent quality, and given that the car isn't a performance machine, weight isn't a huge issue. Fitment and size is also identical to the set on the car currently, so i know they'll sit well.
Matt black lips with bronze centre
I will most likely get some toyota/bB gel badges made up to go over the silver centre caps.
OpulentBob said:
Yes keep the existing wheels, they're awesome!
As much as i don't exactly hate them, I'm a bit particular when it comes to mods, and they just aren't what i would have chosen...objectively speaking they don't look too bad on the car, but i think the new ones will look better, to me!Good experience though, they turned me on to a budget wheel brand i wasn't previously aware of.
I need to start looking for some springs now, ideally i would like to drop the bB an inch or so, just for looks without making it a speedbump nightmare.
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