Konrad

Apologies for gettting a bit off topic, but how exactly was the headgasket fixed? I blew mine twice aswell, the first time it was done by a 'reputable toyota specialist' that still follows toyota recommendations and didnt use genuine parts. Second time around i did it all myself and like i said, new bolts + washers torqued to a higher setting, genunine head gasket (redesigned), head surface faced for straightness. After that it never gave me any troubles. The 7M is a strong engine, and quite good for its era (okay, its a pos these days...).

Wrong compound? What type of pads you got? Did the brakes get bled properly when the pads were changed?

dont believe its insurance friendly tho cos wiring is still coloured..

This isnt ADR/Insurance approved is it (external relays, coloured wiring etc...)

how exactly do you SAFELY weave through traffic?

Yeah i agree. No point in bad mouthing the tradies, we all got jobs to do. Besides, we all pay what they charge, whos the dumb ones them or us Although i will say there has been more than a few times i've been pissed at them- say you take the morning off work (or a couple of times i've taken a whole day) and they dont turn up, dont even get a courtesy call either. I understand that jobs can take longer, but honestly how friggin hard is it to ring your customers and let them know you'll be a coule of hours...or days, or whatever. Anyway, wasn't this post about bad drivers??

Try falken azenis. I got 265/35/18's and they seem to be holding up good.

I put a fairly liberal amount of water on my engine last weekend and it was fine. Didnt blast the top of the motor too much and obviously kept direct pressure away from the fusebox and pod filter...was all good.

Cool, thanks for the info gel I was wondering what it was, as my car had the same tick tick noises. Knew it was something a/c related.

Sera is certainly a unique car dunno if it would be what you want tho. Certainly not a performance car at all...amongst other problems you'll be sick of all that glass. I imagine it'd heat the car up pretty fast, on hot days you'd wanna have some dark dark tints and good a/c. And as for the cressida, yep has the 7M-GE from the supra. Parts are actually getting harder to get, you pretty much have to go genuine, and get raped by toyota in the process. They're a great car and very well equipped, and yes can certainly keep up with VN/P commies... Blown head gaskets were common in the 7M, but by this stage of its life that probably would have been fixed, or DIY its not that hard. Toyota redesigned the headgasket and their factory torque settings for the head bolts were too low. I just used a genuine headgasket, new set of bolts and washers and torqued to 72ft/lbs (toyota recommends only 55 or so). Never gave me any trouble. And remember, the cressida shares the same platform as the JZX80 JDM chaser/mk II/cresta, with the 1jz-gte engine (as seen in the soarer). Conversion is very simple and 12 sec passes are only a few mods away i shit you not. Incase you were wondering yes i used to own one, sold it for the r33

Motovation imports in southport are also a good mob. Didn't get my 'line through them but they have a few on the floor, very clean and VERY stock cars (mostly). Go and check them out, they're open saturdays too....

I would also recommend, 1989-92 MX83 Toyota Cressida (147kw, 3.0L RWD)- but yeh autos... N14 Nissan Pulsar Q/SSS with the SR20DE (102or so kw). Insurance for Q i've heard is cheaper than SSS and has SSS running gear....in manual form would be my choice. (good handling, good power and bonus torque of 2.0L when others have smaller engines, decent size too- 4 door, but not TOO big..).

ahaha gold. If for nothing else than the saying 'wigga'. :lol:

what sort of aluminium is that you've used to cover it??? and can i suggest some foam rubber around the AFM to help seal off the box??

You have to take the timing belt off to change the waterpump?? isnt that strange? Most cars arent like that.. waterpump runs off the alternator belt. Excuse my ignorance (only just got my 'line and havent had a good chance to have a sticky under the bonnet )

...i'll just add my whinge about 4WD owners. Some of them are anti-hoons. Drive slow as hell, especially off the lights (main culprits are FJ60 series landcruisers i've found, not just cos they're tractors anyway), yet always will change lanes to grab the far left side free lane at the lights, that ends 50m down the road, proceed to slow the rest of the traffic behind them to their tortoise like speed whilst they cut back in line. ...all the time pouring diesel/oil smoke all over my nicley polised white duco, and killing penguins with their emissions

Thanks Ska, will let you guys know when i wish to go foward with membership.

Hi guys, just wondering how long would it take for my membership to clear once i've submitted the forms and transferred fees. Just need the card, as i'm getting some work done at mercury and it'd be good to get the discount

Oh sure... i mean i wouldn't like to loose 10K off my salary but i could get by if it was ony for 12 months or so. I try to plan a buffer in my budget... lol then i got a skyline, buffer is shrinking tho

N/A manual supras are quick just for the record... would surprise many a r33 in the right hands.

50K jobs are nice work if you can get it mate. Im your age and i dont get anywhere near that (even tho i went to uni doing 2 science degrees) Why not grab a 35-40K per year job that has better conditions in the short term? Surely you can cut back abit on your lifestyle options??

Well dont know any places in brisbane, sorry. I'd only advise you getting a 'dodgy' roadworthy for your own use, never if you're going to sell a car. Yeah wreckers is good idea, also the small workshops that are attached to servos are often staffed by some shady characters... Whats wrong with your bonnet anyway?? Carbon?

Yeah man go a charade!! he had the big bore model, mine was a '80 1.0L 3cyl :lol: That was replaced by a '93 charade. Seriously tho, i have much respect for those cars. Okay not the fastest, but absolutley bulletproof, reliable, and IMO look damn good for a hatchback of that era. Plus used to cost me NOTHING to run. If i had that sort of cash back then i'd probably look at spending say 6K on the car, then saving the rest. THEN depending on what route i wanted to take. If you're handy with a spanner try an old zed, s2/3 rx-7- sexy looks, classic car, decent resale, parts ok, goes and handles quite well. I'd be more inclined to go for something a bit newer- agree that a telstar TX5/ mazda 626 is good, or an AE92 corolla/seca, N13 pulsar... they're all good cars. Or do what i did for my third car - 91 MX83 Cressida. Rear wheel drive, 3.0L 142KW (same engine as N/A supra). Enjoy the luxury and comfort, excellent ergonomics and heaps of space, whilst having the abilty to still stick it to the VL/VN boys if required Just be prepared to change a headgasket or two if you're buying a cheapie one. But yeah, if i'd had my skyline as a first car i WOULD have crashed it, end of story. May not have written it off or anything but definatley would have gotten myself in trouble. Not because i was a shit driver or a massive hoon, but just because i was inexperienced and couldn't read the road as well as i do now. Plus back then, i definatley wouldn't have been insured, so if/when i crashed, i probably would have been forced to sell off the wreck to cover costs and buy a $2000 runabout anyway...

Well what happens when u flush radiator?? Would need alot of buckets the way i do it :lol: And dont really know alot of people down here, only one mate with a garage at his flat and he'd probably say no.

uhh good luck with that. Have access to a $50,000 lawyer do you??