chris_bramley

rad blew in major overheat so it's very likely to be fucked - hence need to change :s wasn't any easier with rad out that I could see...

What's the best, quickest and easiest way to change the damn thing? It seems to be RIGHT in the middle of the engine, I can't get at it easily from below or above! Please tell me I don't have to take half the engine apart...

ok, two things of great importance: first, i discovered when I took the crash bar off that the rear two bolts are partially stripped. I think it will go back on fairly firmly... however, what's the best thing to do? I don't know how to rethread them and they are sorta WELDED on... 2) I'm suspicious that the original issue with my matrix may be in the joints - they don't seem the best design to me, and I've tried replacing the rubber etc but I don't trust the brass clamp things. Any suggestions ona quick easy way to make sure this will be good? Anyone know a way to pressure test off the car? Once I am convinced it is pressure proof it won't take too long to reassemble to driveable point. I HAVE to have this car running this week. It is needed for a wedding next saturday. Help!

DAMMIT! Another year till the next one I guess... I MUST have finished my heater matrix by then. Just about.

I have a few! I'm still stuck on those BASTARD pipes in the engine bay. old style clamps, impossible to get a grip on...

portsmouth road, just head for esher from cobham

without fear does not mean with enthusiasm!

I'll be there given a bloody miracle. Still wrestling with the climate control unit to replace the heater matrix. if the meet was monday, perhaps - but I have a horrible feeling it's not gonna happen tomorrow. I don't even know what I'm doing!!!!!

Hehehehe Put it back together? that'll take DAYS! lol Actually it'll be quicker than that to redo, but I am being careful and making sure it's all redone properly... plus then I still have the thermostat to do, and I just put a new rad in so I need to fill the system and check it and blah blah blah. Argh! I'm impressed I've managed to work it all out tbh. I'm nowhere near a mechanic!

I can't make it I'm in the middle of doing the heater matrix (having never done it before) and also need to change the thermostat and do compression checks. I was really lookin forward to this, it's local too Hard to drive this!

Got it! Thanks to Jez for that. Freaky stuff.... I have pics that are scary :s you guys weren't joking when you said EVERYTHING. the only prob so far is athat somehow one ot the nuts on the steering wheel column has rethreaded and it's loosened but will not undo - it goes reound easy enough but it wion't come down! extreme measures called for >

Argh! lol well I'm being DAMN careful and labelling stuff all over. Hopefully it'll be ok when I put it all back, very carefully. I'm just wary of pulling it around and damaging things... Someone MUST be able to give me a few pointers!

yes, the matrix was issuing steam. However... be that as it may, I KNOW it needs replacing, regardless of problem. I just need to know how to finish taking the dash covering off!

ok, top is loose. it still seems held in neasr the back by mysterious forces. I'm suspecting all the wires bolted to it - please don't tell me I have to somehow unbolt them all.... :s the left is free but mainly the centre and a bit the right it seems a little held down. I've labelled the wires I can see....just need to get it far enough off to get to the crash bar n so forth Look at this the positive way - once I've done this I can probably do anythin gon the supra without fear! lol

I've got a LOT of it out now, I'm down to the dash cover, the crash bar and the climate control box itself. Everything is ok cept I can't get the FUCKING cover off at the top! ARGH! it seems loose and I can't see any hidden screws but it seems loosely held at the top near the windscreen. I need to get this damn thing off, I'm going nuts and it's gonig to take forever to fix at this rate! I can get it back on one I know how it comes off without damaging it gonna have another go, help me sooooon! thx guys!

OK, I have a few weeks to spare before I need the car running and I know a few of you have done the matrix before. Yes, I know it's a nightmare job, but I have some time and I don't fancy spending that much for something the size of a litre of soya milk to be installed - since I don't have the money right now. The rad doesn't look too hard to replace, the thermo is in a BASTARD spot - is it best to go at it from underneath? As for the rad, does this also need to be ramped? The matrix will be a bitch but I'm ok removing everything as long as I have a general guide through it, and I'm willing to spend the time. Lastly... is it worth doing it all together or just the thermo and rad for now to get it running and the matrix later when I can stomach it? Thx C

Thx Matt, I just bought one which will hopefully do the trick... and thx to all you guys for your help and suggestions! Wish me luck on the engine being ok, we'll put the rad in and matrix and see how she goes...

Here's a thought - how much more powerful is a vvti? or is there not much in it once you begin tuning?

I love you dude, in a totally non gay way, but I don't think I can justify the cost of an alloy one... I can barely cover the stock one second hand at the moment! lol unless it's got a scratch and has some kind of insane low price deal on it

I wouldn't do that to you Roy you've had a bad enough month as it is!

Right, I bit the bullet and had a look. The radiator has a large hole in it - at a guess the underlying problem with pressure and the rad cap letting pressure out was prolly down to some kinda blockage? either way the rad is dead and I need a new one by saturday as it's the only chance I'll get to play with it properly. Anyone got any ideas/prices? :s

No problem, I'm too healthy to have much sugar in my diet I guess we'll see, I just got a thermo and the guys next door will run a pressure check. if that stands up and the leak is easily fixed, we can look at what caused it - they think it was a faulty thermo to begin with that could be at fault. sounds fair, it could be the original looking at some of the engine parts... wouldn't surprise me! If I have to buy a new engine I'd be tempted to grab a UK/US spec one. bigger injectors to start with unless there's some kinda funniness about fitting one, can't see how there would be...

Ah. A Hari Kiri moment then. (cries) well, I'll expect nothing - perhaps I'll be ok, but we'll see. first thing is to get the thermo in and the compression checked, if that turns up ok how do I tell about the others? And how much is a new engine? Not to mention the money to fix all this, I can't afford it at the moment

Thank Terry, roy has recommended you many times I need to win the lottery and give you the car and say just do EVERYTHING possible you can rebuild it! Make it faster, stronger, better!

Hehe thanks for the replies... I AM aware of the bad idea behind cold water in hot metal... warmed the water as much as poss before putting in but i think it's moot anyway as it pissed a lot back out! my friend went to refill it tho and I HOPE he put warm in as well. i was looking under the car at the time as it pissed so I have no idea. I'll assume he was sensible. I'm HOPING it's nothing serious. The reason I kept on was that the car has sprayed a bit from the rad cap before and been ok, and I thought it was the same again - this time I was moving so it hit the screen, plus I was in the middle of nowhere and a majority of the rest of the journey was coasting out of gear down hills. I should have looked but I was already 2 hours late and combined with it having done it b4, and the temp returned to normal on the dash, I wondered if it was a bubble of air or something. luckily I have a garage literally next door and they said it was all possibly down to a thermostat issue and first thing is to get a new one, then they'll look at the leak and then run a compression check on the block. as to hoses, the hose that was used all the way through the turbo assembly was fuel line, so I replaced like for like (just for now, planning to upgrade later to proper lines), which I was comfortable with as it says it will withstand up to 9 bar and I doubt the air pressure will get there...! There have been niggle s with this car since I bought it, it had stuff upgraded and "tuned" by tuning japanese, and since then I have been told that's not necessarily a good thing as they may have fucked it. if nothing else when hybrids were installed they should have changed all the damn hoses. cross fingers for my my friends, I am not looking forward to another engine!