Sunday DIY session!

Every Sunday is a DIY session for the gang and this time around, I finally made it to one. We all met up around lunch time, some ate, some of us didn't, but all were hungry to learn more of DIY (do-it-yourself) and gaining knowledge while having hands-on experience.

I had to change out my cam cover gasket as it was leaking like mad since the last rebuild and engine oil was freaking everywhere!!! Soon had recently just changed his gasket as well, so he'd already have the silicone, I just had to buy the gasket. Sharing is caring ma :P

Tommy had an outstation friend over so he took leave first wilst Soon and I began "operating" on the 4G63 lump under the guidance of Fer Fer (Chris' nick).
Lookit my precious lube...
Staining me beaut engine and dirtying it up... Down lor...
The new Mikado gasket and gasket maker.
Versa Chem, Mega Grey Gasket Maker, is one of the better ones out there.
New spark plug port gaskets installed.
We took our own sweet time washing it clean and "kap-siao-ing" whilst deciding what to do with the cover since it was already off :) We finally landed on a decision to paint it so it'd have the clean look and to refurbish the 13 year old stains and varnish.

Lots of colors and suggestions came to mind and I had to put my foot down (for the greater good) on silver.

Here is the cover painted and plastered with more stickers! (Thanks Tommy)
Mega Grey is generously applied on all sides as a safety precaution and as extra assurance.
Overspill after the gasket is installed is wiped clean.

Bro Soon was also helping out on his day off. Thanks bro, your experience is much appreciated :)
Soon asking for some tools.
The munkey Dan-Dan and his new found "victim", with nothing to do except to indulge in his t-shirt humor, the cunt ran around disturbing everyone. Heh, I told you I'd get you back... Words are eternal ;)
The clean looking engine bay after cleaning, painting, and reinstallation.
Cute choice of words, thanks to Daniel and Tommy.
Fer Fer also brought out his old war barge to have some speakers installed since its seeing much less "street" use anymore.

This old girl used to step to the beat of a twin Weber carburetted 3A engine, and used to run with B16As anytime! But due to the infrequency of use (since the VR4 was bought), and the cost to maintain such an engine, it has since been converted.

Battle damage and effects of nature's wrath.
Do you see that huge muffler? Chris was explaning the finer sides of the Corolla LE to Soon.
Silver Banana sneaks a peek.. Camwhore moment.
See the dashboard? Guess what's in it now... Corolla fans would have known and are drooling by now.
More teasers... That is an original leather wrapped AE92 Levin steering wheel.

Hmm... What if... *wonders*
Sadly, the bonnets are pinned down...
With proper locks...
OK OK OK... Here's the engine... You likey? I likey berry mooch!
The day came to a close around dinner time and everyone went home satisfied and well relaxed.

Sticking it up! Tommax goin' big y'all! (Pics Added)

Tommy from Tommax Stickers is going big y'all. A couple of friends' project cars needed decals where their owners will pay Tommy to defile... er... beautify their cars! Hahaha... (Pardon the pun). Tommy has done many full car sticker jobs since he'd opened a year back (initial project was my Pooh as can be seen here), and these will be a series of HUGE stickers with lotsa decals and a loads of stacking.

The first of such cars arrived yesterday around lunch time.. We were enjoying a roll-up by the "longkang" (drain in local slang) when a loud, pearl-yellow monster trundled in to loom behind us. It's breath heated the air accompanied by a slight nasal whine... Its roars shook up the shack we were in and its huge eyes stared us into oblivion!

A middle-aged man stepped out of this beast and with a soft spoken voice, approved of the commencement to decal his pet!

I'll let the pics do the talking now... Hehehe...

The men brag of decals and turbines. Actually Eric (more popularly known locally as Ah Loy) is making some final decisions on the color scheme and placements.
Eric handing over the keys and I left for work.
But still managed to take a moment to camwhore first... Hehehe...
Evening kommen: Tommy hard at work with his tools-of-the-trade. Sticker placement was immaculately measured so not even a single rev counter was outta place.
The final outlook and Eric arrived soon after to approve and admire :P Northern Garage's the place to be at if you're a petrolhead and in Penang. High performance parts ready in stock, 2-wheel dynamometer (dyno) on hand and they also perform general repairs ;)
For the more 'net savvy/oriented, you fellas can e-mail Eric for a consultation at northerngarage@yahoo.com (as seen on his boot lid above :P)

Eric Woon (Ah Loy) : 012-4980904

Last night Tommy went to Northern Garage to install an additional decal Eric had requested.. As usual, I go kaypo-kaypo and take pics lor...

The Dastek is a nice addition to the body "work" done so far :P It brings a little contrast to the picture.
Stay tuned for more "body coverage" coming soon...

New decals

I went over to Tommax Stickers after my morning touge session and a good bath. He was lazing around and designing a few decals for kicks.

He got inspired when I arrived and he designed a "Support Touge" sticker for my Silver Banana. He based his design on the "In Support of AIDS" ribbons that have been around. He drew up the ribbon and letterings then decided on a color scheme... Which he was to make in Orange.

I thought it blew and we had a debacle on what color scheme to cut the decal out in. Finally, both of us agreed on black on chrome to make it all formal and stylish! *bah*

Here's Tommy cleaning up my "super clean" rear :P And prepping for the install.

Positioning is crucial to the final outlook.
Here's how the decal looks with the chrome letterings looking all splendid and shiny.
Then I saw these cute little couple in Apple Green! Aren't they just cute?!?!?! Fuel-sippers... Have to love them :P

Breathing troubles

Tommy was still facing some induction woes and the engine felt a little choked up. After some self-tuning (Tommy's quite the brains now), screwing around (literally) and testing, it was concluded that his throttle body (TB) was farked!

As usual, Chris was the mech to look for in times of automotive plight. We sought his advise and Tommy had decided to go for modification instead of the replacement route... HUGE TB will be installed in place of the little choker!

New TB installed and ready to go.

Lookit' the difference in the TB diameters... Phwoar!
New TB gleaming in all its glory :)

With the new TB installed and running, we decided to give the Wira SE a test run and try out the breadth of it's new breath.

Surprisingly, there is much better throttle response and acceleration was much smoother with a broader torque band. Sweet!

Water bane and soggy pistons

In these times of erratic weather, I'm glad that our fair land is blessed with a monsoon season every third quarter. There are those however that dread this season of heavenly cool and shower. One such person is Tommy of Tommax stickers.

You see, Tommy had mounted a direct cold air intake from his throttle body right down to the bumper. So you can imagine the catastrophe when monsoon comes and he runs over a puddle! This exact scenario was enacted last Tuesday and Tommy had successfully blown/drowned his 4G15 :(
However, not one to be discouraged, he gave the thumbs-up for a rebuild by Wednesday and work commenced throughout the weekend with much sweat and grime.
Yesterday was the unveiling of his new, improved and super clean engine. Chris (Fer Fer) as usual, did some final adjustments to the tappets (rocker arms for you automotive types out there) and we were ready to rumble... But it poured on us, so we went for a slow drive and eventual dinner.

Check out his super-duper clean engine, the engine oil had been running in (whilst testing) for 2 days and it still looks crystal clear!
Close-up pic of the rocker arms.

Congrats Tommy on the great rebuild and we'll see you at the touge soon ;)

p.s. Readers : Chinese 7th month almost over liao! Can't bear my excitement~!!!

Blackout touge!

I'd just thought of an interesting story of a touge run I did just a little while back.

I'd gone up the touge with Tommy and Daniel just for shits and giggles as we were bored outta our skulls.

We'd taken the usual forward route past Batu Feringghi and into Teluk Bahang, and as usual, we'd stopped by the dam for some smokes and a chat. Just shortly after, it was getting late and it was a weekday, so we took the Balik Pulau route home as it was nearer and convenient for all three of us.

Tommy was in the lead as he'd wanted to try the feeling of being the lead car, I was lined up behind him and Daniel followed suit.

After turn three, Daniel thought it'd be funny to follow me in the pitch black darkness without any lights on. Daniel suddenly dissapeared from all my mirrors as he switched off the lights (ala Initial D), even though he was right behind. I could hear him, but I couldn't see anything!

Just a few corners on and I thought, "Hey, it'd be fun if Daniel couldn't see me as well. My.. My... What fun we'd have!". So I switched off all my lights too. Poor Tommy had a shock and had slowed down, ever so little, just to realize we were fooling around.

I followed suit as Tommy continued to gun the touge and Daniel was in the darkness behind. I had a shot as Tommy understeered and an opening was available. We did it Initial D style and I switched on my lights just as I was passing Tommy, if only just for kicks!

It ended with me in the lead (lights on liao la!), followed by Daniel (still persistent with his lights off), and Tommy was happily cruising at the rear.

We stopped by the curb for a smoke and some story telling, reaccounting the events that had just taken place. Sweet!

New stickers!

It was after work and we were just too darn free yesterday evening, hanging out at Tommax Stickers, and some funny ideas of decals popped into my head and discussions went on and on and on about what to put on. Myvi club was there as well.

Finally, a decision was made that we would make a layout of Dato Sagor Track and put it on my Silver Banana. This is how it turned out!

Tommy of Tommax Stickers skillfully installing the decal while Isfendy of MyviC looks on, awed :P Decals successfully installed and Tommy-san was tearing off the transfer tape with much distress due to the sticker's thin design.
A track layout of the Dato' Sagor Track or Litar Dato' Sagor on my third quarter window. Sweet right?