The Tips and Tricks thread

[andrew_mx83]

Hmm food for thought, thanks.

Usually i keep the big bar as a level/drift/attitude adjusting bar and bin the rest, i might have to pay more attention next time.

[TERRA Operative]

I know that the stock AE101 super strut struts are rebuildable. I contemplated doing it myself, but ended up installing TRD coilovers instead.

[BLSTIC]

Well it's time to test this trick again. Apparently my car passed a road worthy when it really shouldn't have. I really hope the rear struts (toyota part numbers) aren't sealed units. I'll take a few happy snaps on the way.

[greywolf]

Anyone got a tip for removing graphite powder from tools ?

I had a bottle explode a couple years ago, in a bag I was carrying some tools in. So now everything is STILL covered with graphite powder, would love to get them clean finally.

[TERRA Operative]

Contact cleaner, brake cleaner, carby cleaner, etc, etc?

[sc400]

ultrasonic cleaner ?

[greywolf]

I'll try grabbing some carby and brake cleaner next time I'm down the road. The contact cleaner can wait, last time I went to grab a bottle of that it was pretty expensive.

[TERRA Operative]

If you can get it from Chem Tools, it's really cheap in comparison to everywhere else. We buy it by the box at work.

[andrew_mx83]

Brake cleaner then compressed air seems to clean almost anything

[VA61DETT]

Came up with this nifty system to install those pain-in-the-ass valve collars the other week:



Worked like a champ once I got the hang of it.
Took around 30sec per valve & way less swearing then fumbling with needle nose pliers and screwdrivers.

-A

[alan.chalkley]

I have seen photos of 7 gen celicas with rubber seals between the headlights and the corners of the bonnet and my 2003 V6 camry has these seals.
Tried to buy them from the local toyota dealer and not in stock.
So the closest thing I could find is moroday special seal D shaped EPDM rubber for window and door frames , but it is grey , not black.
6mm thick , 9mm , wide - for gaps 3-5 mm , from bunnings hardware.
So far I managed to dry out the drivers side headlight and fitted the seal.
Still trying to dry out the passenger side headlight.

[George]

A simple tool to reliably test your ignition system. I recently fabricated and tested one and thought it may be useful for others.

Some background. There're some ignition system failures quite hard to detect, cause you can actually see a spark, even engine would idle fine but miss under load, or even have a bit poor driveability and mileage. That usually occurs when there's not enough power for spark. The tool is used to make sure that your ignition can fire 25kV arc. That's enough for n/a and most TC'ed engines.

The tool consists of 2 spark gaps: one to generate "weak" spark and the other to test for maximum power. These are 7mm and 17mm, correspondingly. It's made of carby thermal insulation plate and 4 rods, but there're many other designs, you just need a gap and a good electrical insulation.

To run a test, you connect one rod to one high voltage output (that normally goes to a plug) and the opposite rod to the negative battery terminal, then crank the engine. Note that every other ignition output should be connected as usually, do not leave them unconnected, that would damage coils/igniter/whatever else. If you can see spark in 17mm gap repeatedly, then the lead under test is fine (as well as its coil, igniter and wiring).


http://a.d-cd.net/7a020c8s-960.jpg

[EDIT] added video clip
http://youtu.be/29pUlhIwm_s
here, first coil output is shorted, the other one (that with HV wire) is tested for maximum voltage

[greywolf]

Nifty George. I like it !

[cresslux]

dont have a a slide hammer and need to get a spigot bearing out? wet paper and a bolt. stuff wet paper in the hole and hammer down with the end of a bolt. Keep going and it will come out.

[sc400]

dont have a a slide hammer and need to get a spigot bearing out? wet paper and a bolt. stuff wet paper in the hole and hammer down with the end of a bolt. Keep going and it will come out.

or fill the backside with grease and use a drift just make shore that it's not one of those crankshaft with a bung in it