colc 5173 Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 8 hours ago, Gerrymcd said: Not much to update probably because I suck at remembering to take photos. Changed the spark plugs. I was fearful that this was going to be difficult but it was infact a piece of piss. No dismantiling half the car, just remove the airbox and the gearbox dipstick for easy access. Purchased an engine cover that was missing and fitted. Controversial install...1x rear and 1x front arch had the beggining of some bubbling on the wings. I rubbed back to clean metal and zinc primered/ covered with some silver spray paint I had. Rather than pay a bodyshop to do a proper job I went full 90's Mercedes and fitted some chrome arches. Not the mahoosive ones you see but slim ones that are thick enough to cover the silver paint. There is oodles of chrome on the car already so I don't think they look too bad especially under natural light. Happy to be told otherwise though. Pulled out the rear seat squab to check for rust near the seatbelt anchorage points(thankfully none). Only found 51p so I was a tad disappointed. Next? New rear tyres. The existing triangle brand tyres have lots of tread but they are old, beginning to crack and are skitterish as anything. Weird size (225/60/16 and W rated) though so £120 a corner for something decent. I think that actually improves the looks....lovely cars, but always looked a bit slab sided in standard from..........you might have started a new styling trend ! Jerzy Woking and Gerrymcd 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Spottedlaurel 7269 Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 Very nice. I tried one once when I had my Mk3 version, the VVTi and extra ratio in the auto 'box made it feel notably brisker. I think you get more toys too. Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Flat4 1132 Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 Rather like the trims on those arches! They kinda follow the line on the doors. Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
dave j 307 Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 The chrome trim doesn't look too offensive, if it was a dark colour car then it wouldn't work. Also, I have garage envy! Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
omegod 5164 Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 Lovely looking example. I need to scratch the Lexus itch, chap near me has an LS400 with some form of straight through exhaust, sounds like the god of thunder when he gives it some beans but I guess that's the opposite of most Lexus owners taste. Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted October 31, 2020 Author Share Posted October 31, 2020 Pug cleaned and away to pastures OLD@SRi05. dome, SRi05, juular and 1 other 4 Link to post Share on other sites
SRi05 3702 Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 Cheers Gerry for picking me up, managed to get the seat sorted 🤣 Forgot it had a daft pin thing that popped out to adjust the height. Car is every bit as lovely as it was when I had it, well done to the few shiters that have owned it the past year . Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
SRi05 3702 Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 Also that Lexus is LUSH. Gorgeous thing Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted October 31, 2020 Author Share Posted October 31, 2020 Nice to meet you dude, glad you got up the road awrite. A sailboat would probably have been a more appropriate choice of transport today! Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted November 13, 2020 Author Share Posted November 13, 2020 Fleet update - scope creep. Car gets a wobble on when breaking. Main thoughts are it'll be the front discs that are warped.... Ordered 2x 315mm dinner plates and pads - done. This has turned into... - Caliper rebuild (4 pots = 4x the fun) - done Started to vactan the front suspension before redfitting....oh look the front spring is snapped..... Additions to the shopping list: - 2x new springs - 2x new arb drop links (because seized. They always bloody seize so i bought them in advanced) - 2x upper control arms (because seized into the main upright/ arm thingy) Swithering if i should buy shocks too and replace whilst I'm in there but I'll wait until I pull them as no doubt the top mounts will be fubar....if so the springs are going back and im buying cheapy coilovers instead. raging..😂 davehedgehog31, Split_Pin, Jim Bell and 2 others 5 Link to post Share on other sites
davehedgehog31 5519 Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 Cars are an ungrateful shower of bastards. HMC, yes oui si, Gerrymcd and 1 other 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted November 13, 2020 Author Share Posted November 13, 2020 😆 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted November 22, 2020 Author Share Posted November 22, 2020 Update. Not done much of late as I was waiting for ball joint splitters to arrive to maintain my sanity. Pile of bits creeping up: Removed both front dampers and springs. Passengers side damper good. Drivers side damper bad - can push it back with no effort. In discovering this joy, in the process i managed to strip the thread of one of my spring compressors when untensioning the drivers side spring. Artist impression: Felt like bomb disposal loosening the other spring compressor with an angle grinder as the other compressor was now jammed solid (I sat the spring inside the middle of my half full wheelie bin and surrounded it in carpet offcuts to offer some protection to my face when the spring finally went BOING 😂). No pictures sorry as I was too busy avoiding death. So long story long. I've ordered a set of coilovers to refresh the lot as I'll need to wait for my baws to drop again before I attempt to use another set of spring compressors in the future. Hopefully there is enough slack in the coilovers that I can build without them. Suspension bits tidied up. Will start the rear suspension in a few days as I've drowned it in plus gas. Got another incoming addition to the fleet so I really need to get this out the garage. Plus I really miss driving the thing! Coprolalia, spartacus, mercedade and 11 others 8 6 Link to post Share on other sites
yes oui si 4350 Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 YES COILOVERS spartacus and Jim Bell 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted November 28, 2020 Author Share Posted November 28, 2020 Minor update: Maxcheapingsods coilovers fitted so I'll see how they hold up. For the money (£195) they surprisingly look alright. I've spent much more on far worse! Not going to lower it too much because I have no interest to partake in the "V.I.P" look. New arms, drop links and brakes rebuilt at front. Took forever to drill out n/s main upright as the ball joint seized. (Barsteward remnants of the bolt) Rear brakes stripped and parking drums adjusted (thought why not since it's in bits anyway) at the back. (No drugs found only 70p in smash) Tidied up the subframe and drowned it in dynax UB (probably not right stuff but by this point I was beyond giving AF). Just need to: 1) Bleed brakes. 2) Stick wheels on. Put it back on the ground. Check height. Jack back up. Wheels off and tweak coilovers. Repeat number 2 Skin my knuckles Repeat number 2 Skin my knuckles 3) Wash it and take photos. /FIN. big_al_granvia, dome, juular and 9 others 10 2 Link to post Share on other sites
big_al_granvia 1116 Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 nice work mate, hope mrs gerry kept you going in tea and butties HMC and Gerrymcd 2 Link to post Share on other sites
dome 9626 Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 Excellent work. Be keen to hear how you get on setting up the coilovers, I've got a set coming for the MR2 Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted November 28, 2020 Author Share Posted November 28, 2020 11 minutes ago, dome said: Excellent work. Be keen to hear how you get on setting up the coilovers, I've got a set coming for the MR2 Ach, I'm just a whinge bag really! These ones don't have adjustable dampers so not much to go wrong really. So as long as you preload the springs and get the tape measure oot it should hopefully only take me 1x round of dropping and raising to get it nice and level. juular 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted November 28, 2020 Author Share Posted November 28, 2020 10 minutes ago, big_al_granvia said: nice work mate, hope mrs gerry kept you going in tea and butties If only! 😂 Tim_E 1 Link to post Share on other sites
yes oui si 4350 Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 MPR coilovers are great value tbh. Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
juular 1674 Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Gerrymcd said: Minor update: Maxcheapingsods coilovers fitted so I'll see how they hold up. For the money (£195) they surprisingly look alright. I've spent much more on far worse! Not going to lower it too much because I no interest to partake in the "V.I.P" look. New arms, drop links and brakes rebuilt at front. Took forever to drill out n/s main upright as the ball joint seized. (Barsteward remnants of the bolt) Rear brakes stripped and parking drums adjusted (thought why not since it's in bits anyway) at the back. (No drugs found only 70p in smash) Tidied up the subframe and drowned it in dynax UB (probably not right stuff but by this point I was beyond giving AF). Just need to: 1) Bleed brakes. 2) Stick wheels on. Put it back on the ground. Check height. Jack back up. Wheels off and tweak coilovers. Repeat number 2 Skin my knuckles Repeat number 2 Skin my knuckles 3) Wash it and take photos. /FIN. Nice. I'm keen to hear how it rides on these. I might need a full set of springs and shocks for the old Ovlov and this is good value. Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Schaefft 4389 Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 Yeah, I've seen these pop up all the time in my search alerts as they are stupid cheap. The problem is that I haven't heard many good things about ride quality or longevity. Apparently you really need to keep them at the max height setting as well since even then they drop the car considerably, but that might be different on an LS400. Definitely wanna know how the car will ride as they could be a good temporary fix for my Celsior's destroyed suspension. Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 Will let you know how it goes. I expect the ride to be firm. Anything softer is a win. Would have loved to buy some BC adjustables but just can't stomach the price! Tim_E 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Conan 897 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 I still think Maxpeedingrod is a ridiculous name no matter how much marketing promoting various events they tries to appear more a legit brand. cobblers 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 Done!(ish). Needs some further adjustment to lower on the back..but looks alright I think! Quick spin around the estate. Ride doesn't seem any harsher but further testing required to confirm. Tim_E, dome, Jim Bell and 9 others 12 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerrymcd 565 Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 Split_Pin, NorfolkNWeigh, yes oui si and 4 others 7 Link to post Share on other sites
NorfolkNWeigh 23447 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 When you say chrome arch trims and lowered on coil overs , it sounds shit . Luckily in this case , at least, it looks great. As others have mentioned the colour helps , on a black one this could look awful. But, remember , just because you’ve got away with it this time , don’t think it couldn’t all end in tears on another car/ colour/ rim combo! Jerzy Woking, spartacus and Gerrymcd 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Schaefft 4389 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 The ride height definitely looks good, is it as high as it can be or lowered already? Curious about the ride quality, too. Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
big_al_granvia 1116 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 looks spot on, dont forget allowing for the weight of passengers and messages in the boot Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Split_Pin 12658 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 I'm still marvelling at the 4 pot calipers from a few posts back up the page! Gerrymcd 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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