The interior of the 2001 Solara, as some of the CL folks have pointed out, exceeds our expectation. It appears to be smooth milky tan, lighter than the interior of our 2000gs300.

Pictures will be up after HID is installed(sorry about the tease), tentatively scheduled *edited- next week, thanks to Bryan (LexAristo) and his friend.

So here's the mod list planned by our very novice car modding experience. Please feel free to chime in and help to complete.

1. leopard furry steering wrap
2. HID
3. TRD supercharger
4. ?? Nos, or brake upgrade? We are naively praying the mod parasite will perish after #3.

For TRD supercharger for this 01 Solara automatic transmission, we are getting some offers ranging from 3000 to 3200 kit and installed by: a well known toyota dealership, and a friend's shop which helped to correct and fine tune the previous supercharge setting on his Navigator.
How fair do you guys think the price offers are? Are there hidden fees?

 

if you are getting charger already, no need for nos imho, it's good enough

get wheels before you get brakes imho

 

Back in the day when the TRD S/C came out 2001, there were a few places that were doing group buys on the S/C's for about $2500+tax and shipped. toyotaparts4u.com was a big help in that arena...but those days are long gone. When and if you do go with the TRD S/C, make sure you change out the stock dual tipped denso platinum plugs to a colder firing range. It would be best to go with the Denso iridium plugs preferably the IK22 or SK22 if you can find a set. Install for the TRD S/C can be a weekend shadetree mechanic project. One of the hardest parts of installing the TRD S/C is sliding the belt onto the pulleys and making sure you have the EBC installed properly.

 

I don't normally recommend synthetic oil except in extreme climates. I've always used regular petroleum (dino) Castrol GTX without any problems, but in your case I am going to make a rare exception even though you live in mild-climate California.( though some parts of interior CA can get hotter than hell in the summer ).
Given the tendency of this engine (especially before 2002) to run hot, with narrow oil passages, the tendency for dino oil in this engine to gel and sludge if not changed regularly, AND....most important....... your plans to supercharge it which will add even MORE engine heat, I'm going to recommend either a semi-synthetic or a full synthetic rather than the regular stuff. If you don't supercharge it you could probably get away with dino oil if you change it regularly, but I'm a little uneasy at the thought of using dino oil with the supercharger AND the natural tendency of this engine to make the oil run hot.

Regular dino oil starts to cook around 260-280 degrees or so. Full-synthetic usually is good for between 400-500 degrees depending on additives, and it will also flow freely at much lower temps in the winter.....but of course it costs about 3 times what regular dino stuff does. if you don't want to go the full synthetic route, you can go with a less-expensive semi-synthetic blend which is about twice what regular oil costs. Castrol, unlike some other companies, makes both a full-synthetic and a semi-synthetic as well.

 

a turbo

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/409753/1

 

I know nothing regarding #3 and #4, but what's with #1?

 

 

hahaha, personal customization at its best

 

To update. HID is going on this weekend, tentatively. It seems like a set of dual fitment will be purchased from krawyzazn from solaraguy.com (1SICK, you posted 5300k vs 6000k in that thread too, you are everywhere man ) Pics will be up after installation.

Regarding the supercharger, thankfully several used kits have been located as TRD ceased producing it. Thanks for many good people and friends, you know who you are. bow*

 

Keep us updated.

HAve you located a leopard yet for your steering wrap?

 

looking good man, so get all the mods on now

so, you want to meet up before or after the SC? i am driving my sc430 regardless

 

i got p3wned , sc'd or not sc'd

mine's a rag top and yours only a hardtop convertible the ownage is abundantly clear, but I know we'll still be having lots o fun and some good food.

Chris, are you down for meeting or r u taking a rain check; I’ll "let" you experience the powerful presence of mr. leopard

 

What meet? Are you talking about meeting with rominl?
I'm pretty oblivious when it comes to meet
I would like to go to a meet, if time permits
Thanks for the offer because I can picture Mr. Leopard

 

 

Your avatar says it all amethysc: