Bashful Blue Babe joins the NT Family

I got a call from Chun that another buddy will be joining the Norther Touge family with hurried intent. I arrived to the sight of a bashful blue babe hidden in a dark corner waiting for its engine mounts to be fabricated and installed.

Our new buddy will be running a 4A-GE 20Valve Blacktop under its bonnet! (As you can see from the overexposed picture below) I've always only imagined how this setup will run and here it is, right before my eyes. It should be a super smooth touge monster with its lightened internals and its advanced VVT-i system should pose more than a worthy threat to the usual touge kaki.

Check out all 4 of the ITBs (independant throttle body) just gleaming to be opened WOT (wide open throttle). Can't wait for a test drive! See ya soon buddy!

An old friend re-visited

My pal Hao gave me a call recently and he'd want to meet up for drinks and some automotive banter. So we decided to meet up at my fav accesories shop, Smart Tint, since I was getting my sub installed (A guy's gotta enjoy his every automotive experience right? Check back for updates).

Minutes into the install and Hao showed up in his pristine condition KE70. The reason I say his car is pristine is that each and every panel was welded, repaired and fully painted inside and out, he even replaced all 6 glass panels including the side mirrors. The interesting thing about his car is that its engine and drivetrain, as well as the baffled petrol tank was scavenged (ironically) from my TE (nicknamed Pooh)!

A short drink later and some chit-chat warranted a drive and where else than to take it to my fav test route. It handled beautifully and there were slight clunks and clatters everywhere but that's what old school rides are meant to feel like right? I enjoyed it thoroughly as most parts were scavenged from Pooh, this rebuilt KE handled almost exactly the same albeit with a slightly snappier tail.

Pristine condition 20-Valve Silver Top 4A-GE from the Pooh (TE). The entire engine had been rebuilt with all belts changed out and modified to fit into the RWD platform. I missed its roar for the longest time.

Monster Auto Meter tacho for keeping shifts spot on. Believe me, without that cap, the shift light is blinding... Fantastic effect, even during day time drives.

It's been months since I last drove a RWD and the experience was a nostalgic and emotional one. I miss my TE badly. Anyone wanna venture a build? *evil grin*

Thank so much for the drive, Hao, and hope to see you on the touge again soon.