SiCaln&Jeff

I need more Power!

2009-04-16T11:24:00.007+01:00

This update starts with this little chap

A kindly donated spare 4e-fte engine, so this could be modified whilst my car was still on the road. I wasted no time, the head was sent away to have work done, as was the throttle body, inlet manifold, block and rocker cover.
Here are the results of that labour, check this headwork out! I reassembled the head with the Cruise uprated valve springs to take higher revs safely.

The head was port-matched to the inlet manifold which was also ported and polished, then sparyed silver by me.

Attatched to that was the Headtune modified throttle body, which now went perfectly flat, had smoothed down bolts and was chemically cleaned and polished to allow maximum airflow.

This was all connected together with new gaskets and an Attain KSP Hi-Throttle, ok its probably just cos its blue but I did want one ever since I saw it in Hyper Rev, thanks RHD for getting them re-made!

The block was fitted with Pauter forged rods and 74.5mm (+0.5mm oversized forged Ross pistons), so all in all was a good package, here are the development pics and the finished assembled engine (minus sump and few other bits still on Jeff).

I quickly painted it matt-black and prepared for assembly

Here is the rocker cover, powdercoated in anthracite matte, this will go on last though, so as not to damage it!

In the meantime my ORC309 clutch had arrived, all I need now is an LSD oh and a turbo kit to run this setup...

...will this do?

A K24 with a Secret Sport manifold and a soon to be added Tial wastegate (black the blue one was sold on).

Again, quickly stripped and repainted with an EGT sensor in the exhaust housing for my Defi gauge

We also heat-wrapped the mani and downpipe to keep engine tempertaures down

My apologies for this but...that about wraps up this update, next time got a few more preparatory additions before the swap!

Cheers for reading.

Soldiering on...

2008-11-24T17:27:00.009Z

He was back on the road, sadly with a poorly foot but soldiering on none the less...

...and it didn't take long before I was modding again!

The shocking speakers I had were to be replaced by some JDM goodness in the form of some completely refurbed Nakamichi SP-50s, SP-10s and PC-100 crossovers hidden under the seats

and in the back some Nakamichi Sp200s on the parcel shelf, far better than the standard 6x9s

The factory Recaro interior was also to change...I found some awesome Recaro SR seats on ebay, repaired some of the foam in em and got them in the car...

...they were a perfect match for the rears and I couldn't be happier with them!

I couldn't stand the TE37s taking a battering in the summer, so I had a plan to get some winter rims, so I was exstatic when I spotted these Weds SA90s. I have subsequently added some centre caps to these beauties.

A few little colour coded bits were added under the hood next in January 08, namely the Blitz rad pipe so I can add my Defi sensor in when the time comes, the SARD rad cap and NGK spark plug leads

and inside the Defi controller was fitted along with the BF boost gauge!

So I could now keep a good eye on what was going on, I felt it was time for a nicer tail pipe to protrude from under that JAM bumper...cue Keith, who got Zisco of Malta to fabricate a straight through piece of mechanical art to couple to an Apexi Megaphone backbox I already had - without ever seeing it or my car!

It looked lovely and I wasted no time getting it on the car

March saw this welcome addition to Jeff's bum, a Toyota O/E factory option duck spoiler - not in black for long lol, in the last pic you can also see I added a Punto rear wiper, as that Mechano set Toyota used was looking like crap!

I thought the Defi controller looked lonely on its own like that, so ordered up a GReddy turbo timer and Profec B-II boost controller to keep it company

I felt Jeff needed some pampering and Meguiars seemed like a good choice, that clay bar made such a difference to the condition of the paint thats for sure!

In the same month (June), I also upgraded the shifter bushes with some TC trading ones to improve shifting performance and Jordan helped me fit the Whiteline anti-lift plates. The D2 coilovers have also been replaced with TRD shocks a RS-R Ti2000 titanium springs.

I think that is a good place to end this post, no dramas, no damage - just the anticipation that is the next section - Stage 1 of my engine mods!

Be safe kids!

Not giving up!

2008-11-03T15:29:00.006Z

Jeff failed the MOT three or four days after the accident and he was off the road while I got the money together to fix him. Which sadly took until october 2007! He did have a few extra bits to add to his spec list at the time tho, namely some Cruise Power and JAM bodyparts!

In the mean time, I has stock piled some serious parts ready for his rise from the ashes. First to come was a set of Defi BF gauges and controller, I had turbo, water temp and oil temp and pressure. These were later to be joined by a EGT gauge too.

At the same time, the template I was using for the cooling panel for Funky Styling was looking worse for wear to say the least.

Which was okay, as I received this bad boy

Pretty good improvement, I would say

My SARD RRFPR came too, so fuelling could be sorted to be future proof.

Here it is fitted, along with the dump valve and newly painted rocker cover

I cleaned the car to access the exterior damage, things werent looking great, the boot was rubbing against the rear of the car and rust was forming.

The chassis itself wasnt bent and I received the last 2 Cusco braces Jeff needed, the front OS strut to match the rear, and the rear panhard rod.

Fitted and looking smart under the bonnet.

These turned up around the same time too, Blitz rad pipe for the water temp probe from the Defi and a Japanese Starlet manual (love my JDM literature I do).

Even though he was living in the garage, felt I had to represent the club, so...

and some 25mm H&R spacers had arrived so I could get the front sitting right for the Cruise fenders.

He went in for repairs on the 11th September 2007 and he was on his way to looking his best again.

My bodyshop had all the parts ready to go on and wasted no time in doing it...

No way was I gonna fit ugly side repeaters to those beautiful wings, but thankfully with Toyota giving the 'Let wrap-around lenses I didnt have to!

Here is how he looked completed...

...unfortunately though, due to the stupid routing of the GReddy FMIC piping the bonnet could not be shut, as the pipe would've gone straight through the mesh area! But when I received him back he was proudly wearing the nicely installed Cruise fenders and JAM rear bumper, here he is after his first wash.

While he was away, I bought a Toyota optional arm rest and some Recaro fabric to re-trim the top and inside floor with...

even the stereo install was back, and the seat backs covered with black fabric

...just as I thought it was all back on track, this sickening thing happened:

Thats enough for this post anymore pics like that and i'll cry lol!

Jeff: A New Beginning or is it the end?!

2008-10-16T21:42:00.027+01:00

It was a sad day that Geoff left me, but it was an awesome day that I got Jeff!

I had a few bits set aside for Jeff that I had bought from group buys and stock piled to go on when I got him, but just look at him he had to be left to his beautiful self for a while...well plus the winter Speedline wheels and Uniroyal Rainsport tyres from the SR and the Recaro interior that I had substituted from the SR, as well as the previous audio install.

You can see he still has the rear fog light needed for the SVA on the bumper and the rear late-spec Glanza lights.

He did come with a few nice options from JDM land, namely:

Factory Front lip
'No Smoking' ash tray
In-dash Cup holders
Illuminated ignition barrel
Toyota mats
Clear brakelight in spoiler
Wind Deflectors for front windows
JDM safety Flare
and UV cut glass

Course it would be wrong not to add to that list and I did.

When I picked the car up I did a few little jobs to the dealers' other cars for him so I got a few goodies out of him, namely the clear brake light in my spoiler and a Cusco rear strut brace.

and here are the Recaros in their new home (for a while anyway)

Among my inventory of parts for the new Jeff were a set of D2 coilovers that I had fitted by Shelly's cousin

Before

After

Yeah it looked good and it satisfied the masses, but speed bumps became a terrifying ordeal every lump and bump was felt and I wanted a more fogiving ride tbh, but that will come later.

After a few months, I felt I had left him alone long enough - a few little tweaks were needed and July was here, summer was upon us (ish) and it was time to test drive my new wheels wrapped in Toyo T1R fineness. At the same time as Elite of Essex blanced them for me they added my Cusco under strut bar.

It was also the time for a nice little trinket to adorn the bay and to clean Jeff's bum!

The TRD oil filler cap was in and Jeff had new Reflet light covers with that horrible fog light wired into the cluster.

He was looking just how I wanted him too now, my colour scheme was in action, white & red were the only colours on him nice & simple.

Interior wise I had some neat additions too

The GLS/Carat interior binacle surround and centre console made the interior far smarter and in keeping.

Shortly after this I was asked to take photos of Jeff for Funky Styling to use for an ad in Banzai woo! (Featured in Issue 59 09/06 page 141)

This

became this

Still in the interior, I received a TRD short shifter kit and a Toyota handbrake cover

This sexy arsed car had got me thinking, Cruise was the way forward that bonnet and fenders just did it for me, so they were ordered...

...liked the open-mouthed FMIC approach but wanted to keep the Toyota lip, so this happened

By now I had a few mods in hand ready for the future of Jeff

TRD gearbox and engine mounts

Cruise 256 cams

Cruise Valve springs

Ross pistons, Samco radiator hoses and a Whiteline Anti-lift kit

but my favourite bit of all

the bung that held the drivers floor mat in place - Wow!

I felt Jeff's new agressive front needed something equally impressive inside it, so I logged onto RHDJapan and ordered up a GReddy front mount intercooler, surely enough a week or so later this sexy little box arrived.

Inside that box hid these wonderous items of modificatory excellence.

Well that saturday me and a mate set about putting the smile back on Jeff's face.

When we were putting bumper back on I decided to test the template for a JAM racing cooling panel that I had been testing for Funky Styling, helped to finish the look off nicely.

Here he was put back together

With that extra grunt from the FMIC, I felt it was time for a brake upgrade. I decided upon the twinpot conversion from the Levin Superstrut AE111.
On receiving the brakes and attempting a trial fit I realised that the mammoth discs 275x25mm (standard discs are 253x22mm) were going to be too large for the standard setup so I had to have them milled down to 260x25mm. This size was spot on, a 8mm spacer is also needed inside the rear of the disc to move it into the centre of the calliper.

With the disc proportions sorted I toned down the bright red of the callipers with a less conspicuous matt black finish. To help with the overall system, I used braided lines and DOT 5.1 fluid, pared to a set of Endless SSS pads for the Levin, once reassembled the system was ready for bleeding and running in.

A full installation guide can be found here on the UK Starlet Club

I was very happy with my latest additions and had even received a Blitz dual drive dump valve to improve the sound and look of the engine bay...

...when disaster struck, I was stationary at traffic lights when I was hit by a Ford Galaxy doing about 35mph, the rear of the car was a mess, the rear chassis leg has crumpled on the RHS, the rear bumper was cracked and bent and the alignment of panels was all wrong.
To make matters worse, the guy who hit me had changed his number, failing to tell me he was untaxed, uninsured and the car should have been crushed in the November of 2006, this being February 2007, I wasnt best pleased.

It was too be a long time before Jeff was looking right again, after failing an MOT he was off the road, it didnt look good, it could be a write off - I will leave you with the pictures of the accident damage.

From Geoff to Jeff

2008-10-16T17:34:00.000+01:00

It all started on the 21/09/02, the day I passed my driving test and also the day I first met Geoff (hmm...why the different spelling you may ask). My choice for first car had been made a few months earlier when I spotted a Toyota Starlet SR at my local Toyota garage when my Dad was checking out the new Corolla. Sadly this one was sold by the time I bought mine.

I had already done my homework and spotted a mint example white Toyota Starlet SR on a forecourt in Gravesend (about 15mins from my house). Completely standard, complete with TTE rear spoiler, TTE backbox and 15" Speedline alloys - I was all set money paid and he was mine.

Makes me wonder why I ever modded him looking at that picture!

It didn't stay that way for long though, I had the tuning bug and before long he was undergoing modifications. But before I get to that, why the name Geoff you may ask?! Fair question. It isn't anything gay sorry to disappoint - simply a slip of the tongue. At school when I first had a car someone asked me what it was, to which I replied a Toyota, yeah which model they said; at the time we had a habit of saying the first thing that came into our heads if we couldn't think for a sec and guess what came out, yep Geoff. So for ever more he was known as Geoff. Here was my planned look for him:

Now that's cleared up onto the mods. Well it wasnt long before I had got tired of the standard seats inside him so out they came for a set of Cobra Daytonas (we trimmed the doorcards to match).

These were short lived though and were soon traded in for the standard option Recaros that you could get for the Glanza V (what I had wanted ever since seeing one at JAE 2005 (Japanese Auto Extravaganza), they fitted a treat and cleaned the interior up nicely.

They were soon joined by the Honda S2000 start button, colur coded dash and MOMO accessories, I was on a downward spiral.

That snazzy Sony headunit was the start of my audio system, what followed was this rather mammoth setup that stole my boot, well the floor of it anyway.

which hid this under floor setup:

Unfortunately they were matched to the standard 10cm speakers in the dash, 6x9s on the parcel shelf and some crappy Sony tweeters on the dash. I wasn't quite there yet.

When I turned my intentions to the exterior I had a mixed response, again I took styling queues from the Japanese tuner version for the side skirts, and mirrors, the rear lights were from the n/a JDM starlet the Reflet (first in country I believe). The bonnet was from my original idea of look and style for the car but with some 'bad boy' light covers on them, looking back now not my finest hour.

The SR decals had to go after a nasty bump on the RHS, they did not return because of the extortionate cost of replacement ones! The indicators changed to clear with Silvatec bulbs pretty quickly too, the versions from the UK spec GLS model.

The bonnet scoop came from a GT and I had it custom welded into the frame of the standard SR bonnet.

and yes those are 18s (again I think a UK first), not exactly built for speed or comfort anymore lol

Sadly HIDs happened too

The lack of power was too much now, I had bought a 4E-FTE engine from a Glanza V to go into Geoff, all systems were go until...I phoned for insurance, it was actually cheaper to insure a real Glanza V than a convo! So I made the final decision, I cleaned up Geoff, sold the 18s got some more Speedlines and fitted a Toyota Previa lip to the front of him, he was ready to go.

Pic from the last Bluewater meet he attended:

The engine I never touched, ah bless:

and how he looked the day he left me:

and inside, with the seats from my newly purchased 1998 Glanza V! Jeff gained the Recaro interior, including the rear bench which never made it into Geoff. Above you can also see the wheels that Jeff came with from Japan, I kept the Speedlines for a while as my winter Rims to the summer use of the Rays TE37s.

Here were some pics of the Rays before they went on the V, tiny compared to the 18s and oh so much lighter.

Here he was at JAE '05:

...and the car that started my fascination with Glanzas:

But after I sold Geoff the story didn't stop there, I kept in touch with the new owner. Who later that year informed me Geoff had a slight accident (painful pictures lie ahead).

He later lived on (well mostly) in this non-SR 'Let...

...but for me this new door had opened as of the 09/03/06...

the legend of Jeff begins...