JPDDEP

Got everything back together! Gotta say, I'm pretty happy with it. Here's hoping the clips and glue hold 😅

This weekend's project: replacing my 24yo dead rat-looking fake leather shift boot with... This is a cheap Amazon replacement boot for a 1995 Corolla with manual trans. It's veeeeery close...I ended up trimming the full circumference of the base, and also cutting out 4 little slots for the retaining clips for the metal trim ring. Took a lot of scissors, screwdriver poking, and mild swearing, but I think it's in there. I might hit it with a little rubber cement or something just to make sure it doesn't pop out when driving, but overall I'm pretty satisfied. Pics in the car coming soon!

New picture in the daylight! Man, I am totally in love with these wheels...and I also really need to get my lowering springs put on...I think I actually *gained* fender gap

Cheers, sir! These are Gramlights 57 Maximum by Rays They look to be basically the same as a 57DR, just with those extra little reinforcing ribs on the rim, which I think look super cool.

Holy sudden unexpected updates, Batman! So I was browsing UpGarage randomly after work this afternoon, and lo and behold, stumbled upon these at one of the locations nearest my house: Rays Gramlights 57Maximum 15x6.5+38 with 185/55R15 Dunlop SP Sport LM705s. 90 minutes later... After 4 years I *finally* have some decent wheels on the car!! XD Better pictures to follow when I have some half-decent lighting.

OMFG, an actually meaningful update????!! 😲 New parts days are always good days, and I finally have a proper exhaust on the car. Ended up going with a Kakimoto Racing kit when Super Autobacs had 10% off on their web store. Gotta be honest, I really don't love the 115mm tip, but the sound is exactly what I wanted. Sounds almost stock at idle, no drone between 2,000~3,000 for sitting on highways, but when you lay into it, sounds way tougher than a 1.3L has any right to. High recommended piece, although it did take about 2mo for me to actually receive after ordering. Obligatory "pics or it didn't happen" attached below. Also had a set of Project Mu Bestop pads put on while it was in the shop. Nothing terribly special there, but they were cheap, in stock, and I don't know when the last time the pads were done was, so...yeah. Anyway, in life news, expecting our first kid here soon, so as per usual, car updates will happen...kinda god-only-knows-when. But I'm planning on probably sending the car back to the US sometime next year to sell for something a bit newer and safer and bigger for family...so I intend to live it up while I've still got it; because, man do I ever love this little rattle-trap.

Thank you! Will be sure to do that; very curious myself to see what they look/feel like. Currently looking for a workshop that will let me do my own wrenching.

FINALLY the culmination of several months of accumulating parts - my suspension setup is all here! Also JFYI to anyone looking to buy, KYB has discontinued the front New SR Special dampers for the Starlet...ended up ordering a full set of KYB Excel-G's for a Tercelfrom Summit Racing in the US.

Holy gosh, I have been gone for a long time! Apologies, all! Got a fresh set of 185/55R14 Falken Ziex 914E's to go with my renewed roadworthiness certificate back in March and had big plans for this year...and then certain global events occured, haha. But! Currently have parts on the way from the US and locally; got BIG things in the works soon. Well...average things, but they feel big to me. Here's a bit of a preview of 1 part: As well as a couple of roadtrip photos from last summer I forgot I had taken XD Stay tuned for excitement and (finally) some actual, meaningful upgrades!