Barbary

Its going to be a while before I get down there, maybe a month, if I do
the signature pic is the ballpark
thanks

Barbary

taken on 5/5 on Route 66, Holbrook Az w the new coilovers

Barbary

Got a full suspension inspection today. I need a lower passenger side ball joint. I have to have all my mechanical work done by a shop because I'm not a mechanic or mechanical. I was told told they can't find one for the car

So does anyone know where I can get one in fair to good shape. Don't need one that will last me another 20 yrs
Another thing. I seem to be having tire balance problems. Never heard of this, but I've read here in the forum, there seems to be right weights and wrong weights for the car.
I have Yoshihara reverse wheels, if that helps 🤷‍♂️

By now most of the suspension is new
New wheels, new steering, new Tien adjustable coilovers, new control arms and new upper ball joints
It doesn't feel like all these have settled in and have gotten comfortable w each other yet. I think the wheel balance is a problem. No one up here seems to be getting it right
I've had it done 3 times since I got the coilovers
But it handles much better up here in the mountain curves, now if I can get the straight aways smooth, I'll be a Happy camper

ObSCessed

Just looked at good ol rock auto, they apear to have balljoints with upper control arms, brands are nothing special though, this may be splurge time and order some oem ones from lexuspartsnow or mylparts

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

Normally the lower control arm ball joint starts to go bad on the SC by 150k miles and have some play.
The ball joints are built into the arms so most people install supra lower control arms as they are a better deal than the lexus arms and a direct replacement for an oem feel and solution.
The upper control arms don't go bad as often, you probably just need new lower arms and the car will feel tighter and handle better with new lower joints.

Barbary

Thanks guys
Have all new upper control arms and ball joints, both sides,
The shop says I need a, passenger front lower ball joint.

Never have done this stuff before, rock auto as far as I can tell only has uppers (not sure). The only thing I've found so far, w ur help is $650 which seems way 2 much. I don't need one that will last another 20 yrs.
Didn't find anything for the Supra only uppers. Anyone know where I can get this?

Barbary

cleaned up my almost 30 yr old 1UZFE a little
another 4,500 miles and Lord willing, It will have 300,000 miles and hopefully a lot more by the end of fall

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

^^ Your 1UZ looks immaculate, Barbary! : D

RudysSC

It looks killer in there - way to make us all look bad!

Barbary

Thanks Kahn, Rudy
But its always looked like that
I think the only trick is don't let it get too dirty in the 1st place
I used to hose it down at the car wash til I got water in the cylinder and that cost me $100 something a few years back

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

^^ Staying on top of keeping the engine bay clean is the best way-- and you've been doing it so the praise is much deserved

Getting water or coolant in one of your plug-wells is no fun. The last time that happened to me a small vacuum was needed to to get the majority of it out before blotting heavily with disposable shop towels.

Barbary

I was told: I need to put all my posts in this thread
Photos
This is what its like traveling w me and the Bullet. These next 4 photos were taken within this last 1/2 yr






















this one in 2015




2019






the Bullet is no garage queen

I'm workin hard getting the Bullet to having a new car ride_______(Getting close)

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Beautiful pictures!!! Are a couple of those from south Arizona? I've yet to see the rock formations in the south near Tucson but I am looking forward to being able to at some point.

These views remind me of the times I've been through the beautiful, desolate areas in southeast California, Nevada and Arizona. It's absolutely amazing to be on those long drives in an SC grand tourer cruising through the middle of nowhere

It brings to mind the feeling of this scene from Daft Punk's 2005 film "Electroma" (out of print unfortunately but it's on youtube and eBay) in which the duo drives across the California desert in a 70's-80's Ferrari 400 or 412 coupe set to an edit of Todd Rundgren's song "International Feel". An SC is much easier to maintain and keep reliable than one of those but I'm sure you, like me, have felt a similar rush as depicted in the scene while cruising across the desert in your SC, Barbary

Barbary

Thanks Kahn
Heavy Duty vid. captures the rush really well l. Hope I'm a little more human than that. But me and the Bullet have been together so long and on so many trips, all over the place, that when we are out there runnin, we are "1".
Guys who hop from 1 SC to another probably can't understand that but in all these yrs it has never died on me or left me stranded anywhere
and I do what it wants to do; run hard, fast and long!. The harder I drive it the better it runs. Thats the Bullet and I think all SC's at build. IMO the Japanese hit on exactly the right formula

Yeh Kahn most of the photos are in southern Utah
The one w my shadow is in the middle of Nevada Hwy 50, officially known as the "Loneliest Road in America". I actually drove it twice (yikes)! The 1st time I told myself - I'm never going back on that road again. A few yrs later I found myself back on it 🤷‍♂️. Drove it to Denver.
I think most recognize the "Forrest Gump" road. That was a must do for me, then the other one w the flag is the Navajo Nation flag.
Done the SoCal deserts, Tehachapi's, Mohave, etc. Was In Tucson to see the Air Force "Boneyard" as well as the civilian one in Mojave

I can tell you understand this stuff, good for you. The 400 was built as a Gran tourer, your supposed to drive these things. Every minute I'm out there w the Bullet I feel alive, the rush of No Limits and Speed!
All the Best

RudysSC

I've made similar trips through Utah in the blazing heat back with I had my 400... Nothing like doing triple digits with the AC on and feeling like a cloud running across the road. Awesome pics Barbary!