Log in

View Full Version : Project: Restore Glory


eTiMaGo
04-09-2018, 01:30 AM
Between a lack of funds, electrical problems, and having a new daily driver, my poor old Yaris has been gathering dust for the past couple of years.

But that is starting to change! I actually recently got an offer from someone who wanted to buy the car off me, but it was really low, and I just could not bear to part with that silly old lump of red-painted metal :biggrin:

So, I decided to slowly restore the car back to its former glory, as time and budget allows.

First step was to get a battery charger. The battery drain issues are a lot better now since the battery was moved to behind the passenger seat, but after several months, it was still flat. Now at least I can bring it back to life from the comfort of my own home, and I have been driving it a few times already :smile: Engine still runs solid, and the smile on my face comes back every time :burnrubber:

The next step was very important... My lovely Momo aluminium and leather shift knob has not taken kindly to years of palm sweat and just crumbles in my hand. So I looked around the local version of eBay for a good replacement made of plastic (hot weather + metal knob, kinda painful sometimes), and today I received it!

It's a very small thing to do, of course, but it just restores my confidence in this car, and I think we can look forward to many years of fun together again :biggrin:

eTiMaGo
04-09-2018, 01:34 AM
There's still a lot of things to be done, which of course I will update here:


New tires, they are starting to crack quite badly
Headlight restore, lens is yellow and foggy now
New headlights, one of my high beams is dead


And probably a lot more :rolleyes:

Kaotic Lazagna
04-09-2018, 05:15 AM
Did Russell Peters offer to buy the Vitz?

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/44601840/ill-give-you-best-price-3450.jpg

LOL


I got a Noco Genius charger for the FR-S since I don't drive her too much after getting the Yaris.

Nice to see that you're giving her some TLC again. =P

ern-diz
04-09-2018, 11:58 AM
Nice! I'll be following this for sure...

eTiMaGo
04-09-2018, 01:38 PM
Ah I forgot about this too... I actually sold my gauges to a friend at very very good price, and he gave me something else in return, an electrically activated exhaust valve... So eventually will have the exhaust re-done, with a quieter, more restrictive muffler, and this valve teed-off as close to the turbo as possible and probably sticking out behind the front wheel :D

ern-diz
04-09-2018, 02:09 PM
:thumbup:

eTiMaGo
04-09-2018, 03:00 PM
Warning! Graphic images of stripping!

Got bored, removed some more useless weight (if only it were as easy to do on own belly)

Keeping the carpet on the driver side, no good place to put my feet without it... for now?

Kaotic Lazagna
04-10-2018, 04:23 AM
You can always say, "becauseracecar." hahaha

zimmer
05-03-2018, 05:16 AM
Nice to hear you are giving her some love. Enjoy the build

eTiMaGo
05-03-2018, 01:20 PM
Thanks :smile:

Had a talk with the GF the other day, it turns out that if you have something called "a budget", you can actually save up some money to get parts... Gonna have to give that a try!

So, next stage will be some tires, best bang for my buck over here seem to be Dunlop Direzzas DZ102's, and I might even go a bit crazy and get them in a nice phat 205/50R15! :biggrin:

zimmer
05-04-2018, 12:40 AM
Can't wait to see the final result.

eTiMaGo
05-07-2018, 12:09 PM
"Baby, I don't like to sit in your car, it's too noisy and smelly..."

Problem solved :biggrin:

Actually swapped the passenger seat on my side, the driver's seat was pretty work out and saggy...

Kaotic Lazagna
05-07-2018, 04:55 PM
A good steam cleaning and some noise-cancelling headphones is all you need. LOLOLOL

ern-diz
05-07-2018, 05:37 PM
:biggrin:

eTiMaGo
05-09-2018, 01:10 PM
A good steam cleaning and some noise-cancelling headphones is all you need. LOLOLOL

Might get them re-upholstered while saving up for a proper seat and harness... Also I put back in the silencer that came with my exhaust, it's not too bad, way quieter :)

kimona
08-10-2018, 11:57 PM
I wonder what's happening with project restore?

eTiMaGo
08-19-2018, 02:41 PM
nothing to report, sadly... finishing a work project which will bring a welcome cash injection, then we can get started :)

DarkShadowFox
08-19-2018, 07:37 PM
"Baby, I don't like to sit in your car, it's too noisy and smelly..."

Problem solved :biggrin:

Actually swapped the passenger seat on my side, the driver's seat was pretty work out and saggy...

dynamat

eTiMaGo
10-01-2018, 02:14 PM
dynamat

ew, extra weight :thumbdown:

Runethecursed
10-01-2018, 02:43 PM
"Baby, I don't like to sit in your car, it's too noisy and smelly..."

acquire New life partner :thumbup: