My smile generator

[andymillenium]

It's been 4 years now since I've own my first 2. It's a very tidy red auto Rev3 Sw20, slightly high Ks (due to previous owner using it as daily) but well taken cared of. I got the auto so that my Mrs can drive it as well as she can't drive manuals. I don't really tinker with it as I don't really have the know hows. Luckily we have this awesome forum and legends like Phil and Jason offering their help to me with the cambelt replacement. Since then it's just been normal servicing and maintenance. My aim is to keep it relatively factory, reliable and most importantly to enjoy it with a huge smile.

So time passed and my Mrs got her own car (roughly 2 years back) which eventually became our daily. Since then there's been an itch to get a manual 2 instead but my first 2 set the expectation bar quite high for me, I want a Rev3+ manual in good condition. You guys should know that it will be hard to get as good ones will be held tight by current owners, unless I import from Japan.

Roughly a month ago, one popped up in trademe with a fair asking price so I bought it. Introducing you to my new smile generator!

A 96 red NA manual hardtop Rev4.

I've been told that this car was brought in by one of the ex-member(or maybe still a member?) here. For those who have been lurking here long enough may recognise this 2. It's very tidy, mechanically it's factory stock with some bits here and there. Currently siting on staggered 16" Vesta(now Rays) BH wheels.

It has what it seems to be rather rare Phoenix Power Type 1 side and rear skirts. (could be replicas, I have no idea how to identify them)

TRD exhaust for NAs which is single outlet. Not really a big fan of single outlet look but it does sound way better than my other 2 which has the stock exhaust. The pod filter instead of the stock intake could be helping with sound as well.

Stock intake has been replaced by a pod filter.

IMG_20200712_103043_resized_20200712_021642657.jpg (541.19 KiB) Viewed 4191 times

Interior is pretty standard and in good condition.

IMG_20200712_103324_resized_20200712_021643105.jpg (461.1 KiB) Viewed 4191 times

Some minor things in my to-do list for this 2:
- replacement for the missing left wiper cowl screw cap (borrowed from my other 2 for photo shoot)
- replacement for the missing rear left suspension tower cap
- get a new key made as the current one is too worn to be duplicated
- investigate the knocking sound from suspension (knocks when hit pot hole or crossing shallow water channels on the road)
- replace worn shifter boot and shifter
- maybe a respray further down the track as the front bumper and skirts seems to be on a different red tone. My OCD side finds it annoying.

They said double the 2s, double the smiles..... at least for me that is. Probably not so for Mrs as her car now sits on the driveway.

My first 2 (YG6664) will be up for grabs soon. If anyone here is interested, give me a PM. Cheers.

[Crawls]

Daaamn that looks good. If i had some spare money i would buy your other one.

[4CylinderSpecial]

Nice find. Looks real clean! Suspension knocks are usually from the strut top hats going bad, but might be worth doing a bolt check and seeing if there's anything else that looks a bit old (esp rubber things).

I'd say you've got a car which someone has put a fair bit of love into. Don't get rid of that TRD exhaust! Rare as hens teeth. Any pictures of the interior and engine bay?

[Benckj]

Very nice find. Unlike myself I'm glad you have a decent garage to keep it under cover.
Ditto on the interior/engine bay pic request.

[ClanFever]

Nice score! Your Rev 3 Auto will probably go for a bit more than you originally paid for it, so make sure it goes to someone who will care for it as much as you did

[andymillenium]

Nice find. Looks real clean! Suspension knocks are usually from the strut top hats going bad, but might be worth doing a bolt check and seeing if there's anything else that looks a bit old (esp rubber things).

I'd say you've got a car which someone has put a fair bit of love into. Don't get rid of that TRD exhaust! Rare as hens teeth. Any pictures of the interior and engine bay?

Yup, the earlier owners did a fantastic job of keeping it in tip top condition. Good idea on the bolt check, I'll have a look at it. I'll try to get a photo of the engine bay and interior once I have the chance to drive it out for better lighting, too dim in the garage to get any nice ones.

[andymillenium]

Nice score! Your Rev 3 Auto will probably go for a bit more than you originally paid for it, so make sure it goes to someone who will care for it as much as you did

Fingers crossed.

[GDII]

Great find! Definitely one of those rare cars with some nice parts. The NA TRD mufflers are quite rare too, it would be interesting to see how it sounds vs the turbo version slapped on an NA like mine.
The bumpers were probably painted at the same time as the kit. The plastic/urethane/fibreglass parts seem to fade at a different rate to the metal parts on the car so always hard to match.

Feel free to drop by to get a diagnosis on the suspension knocking, I think we live close by, flick me a PM.

Your REV3 is definitely a nice example. It drove nicely too.

[andymillenium]

Great find! Definitely one of those rare cars with some nice parts. The NA TRD mufflers are quite rare too, it would be interesting to see how it sounds vs the turbo version slapped on an NA like mine.
The bumpers were probably painted at the same time as the kit. The plastic/urethane/fibreglass parts seem to fade at a different rate to the metal parts on the car so always hard to match.

Feel free to drop by to get a diagnosis on the suspension knocking, I think we live close by, flick me a PM.

Your REV3 is definitely a nice example. It drove nicely too.

Thanks Phill. Yea, I live nearby, will drop by your place one day to let you hear how it sounds compare to the twin outlet TRD on yours.
Will flick you a PM if I can't figure what's wrong with suspension.

[MR2PWR]

hi nice looking car

[andymillenium]

hi nice looking car

Thanks Dixon.

Any pictures of the interior and engine bay?

Ditto on the interior/engine bay pic request.

Photo of engine and interior updated on first post.

Went out for a drive earlier to try to identify where the clunking sound comes from. Found out that there are 2 different sounds at different situation. One is a clunking sound from front right during uneven road, the sound is quite rapid. The other is louder knock from front when whole car drive through a small drop on road (almost sound like a hard knock to something, like a seized suspension). By the way, how do I identify what spring my car is on? I've just noticed that it's using OHLINS shocks.

[GDII]

Always hard to diagnose over the internet. Need to take it for a drive or move the suspension when it's sitting still.
Based on the ride height it's using standard springs.

[andymillenium]

Always hard to diagnose over the internet. Need to take it for a drive or move the suspension when it's sitting still.
Based on the ride height it's using standard springs.

Might need your help to diagnose the sound. So far, I've taken the wheels off to check the tie rod end and drop links, don't see any obvious plays there. Will flick you a PM.

[andymillenium]

It's been awhile, my car has been mostly a garage queen at the moment. Finally got sometime to send it for a proper diagnose to find the clunking sound which is getting more obvious recently. Tie rods are fine, sway bar is okay, other bushes are fine, bearings are fine and doesn't seem to have any plays. The only thing left are the shocks and all of 4 of them are pretty worn. Hopefully that's where the sound comes from. So my next mission, try to get some shocks as similar to the OEMs as possible as you all know we can't get any Bilsteins from Toyota anymore. What's the next best option I should be looking at aside from going coilovers? Koni? KYB? Rebuild my Ohlins?

[GDII]

Rebuild the Ohlins! If you can. I think we can still get Bilstein but they are just very expensive vs what they used to be.