Happy trails. Your spyder will miss the salt-free south!
Rampage's Super White
NOTE: If you read through this thread from start to finish then you will notice that it is a little disjointed and fractured. That is because my entire account was accidentally deleted by a moderator in the early months of 2015 and all my post were lost including this entire thread. The Administrators had to recover and replace all my post from archives. Unfortunately, all the post that other members made in this thread were lost. You will see some of them quoted in my responses. It makes the thread read a bit weird but I was just happy to see most of it restored. Thanks for reading!
I decided it was time for me to do a build thread on my 2000 Super White:
First, a little history; I decided that I wanted to buy a hard top Spyder in March of 2011 after having admired them for years. Originally, I wanted a Mica Blue but once I saw Casey's white hard top equipped car for sale on Spyderchat, I changed my mind. After a couple weeks of negotiation, I booked a flight up to Burlington Vermont and drove the car the 715 miles back to Ohio. It was a homecoming of sorts as Casey had bought the car in Ohio a year earlier.
The first mod was one of necessity. I opted not to purchase the Works wheels and BF Goodrich KDWs that Casey was running on the car. The car made the trip home on stock wheels and Blizzaks.........on June 30th. A week later, the 16x7 Moda MD13 wheels and the Yokohama 205/45-16 S Drives arrived and went on the car.
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2012 look:
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I also added the TRD front strut brace and adjusted the JIC Magic FLT-TAR coilovers. The TRD bar made a huge difference in the feel of the car.
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The car already had the TRD rear strut brace and Che under chassis bracing.
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I have continued to mod the car over the last 18 months. My goal has always been to build a MR-S the way that I believed that Toyota should have built it from the factory. Other mods:
Black cloth Celica GTS seats
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LPX rear lip
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LPX front lip
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2ZZ and 6 speed swap done in April 2012. LR/DDP Header added September 2012
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Genuine TRD exhaust with BFT
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JNZ stainless steel catted downpipe with two O2 sensors
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GT86 6 speed shift knob on TRD short shifter
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The car came with the soft top gutted which saves weight and adds some much needed storage space under the hard top
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That brings us to how it sits today posing for a few fashion shots:
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The car now has the look that I wanted and has the performance that I dreamed it would. It is close to perfect for me. Future mods.........................................................................................................................?
New mods and updates: March-April 2013
Dev Demplator
Red painted calipers
Flat black Plasti-Dipped lower front bumper
Modified 1ZZ baffled oil pan
Ishihara-Johnson oil pick-up extension
Photo from the Tail of the Dragon April 13th 2013
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New Mods 2014
FR-S Pioneer Head Unit
Padded leather door armrest
Padded leather center console armrest
2003+ Rear bumper inserts
2003+ Taillights
Corky's Breast Plate
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One of my few pieces of pure BLING. Thought the engine bay needed a splash of color:
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Photos from Tail of the Dragon SADAS XV April 2015
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I decided it was time for me to do a build thread on my 2000 Super White:
First, a little history; I decided that I wanted to buy a hard top Spyder in March of 2011 after having admired them for years. Originally, I wanted a Mica Blue but once I saw Casey's white hard top equipped car for sale on Spyderchat, I changed my mind. After a couple weeks of negotiation, I booked a flight up to Burlington Vermont and drove the car the 715 miles back to Ohio. It was a homecoming of sorts as Casey had bought the car in Ohio a year earlier.
The first mod was one of necessity. I opted not to purchase the Works wheels and BF Goodrich KDWs that Casey was running on the car. The car made the trip home on stock wheels and Blizzaks.........on June 30th. A week later, the 16x7 Moda MD13 wheels and the Yokohama 205/45-16 S Drives arrived and went on the car.
2012 look:
I also added the TRD front strut brace and adjusted the JIC Magic FLT-TAR coilovers. The TRD bar made a huge difference in the feel of the car.
The car already had the TRD rear strut brace and Che under chassis bracing.
I have continued to mod the car over the last 18 months. My goal has always been to build a MR-S the way that I believed that Toyota should have built it from the factory. Other mods:
Black cloth Celica GTS seats
LPX rear lip
LPX front lip
2ZZ and 6 speed swap done in April 2012. LR/DDP Header added September 2012
Genuine TRD exhaust with BFT
JNZ stainless steel catted downpipe with two O2 sensors
GT86 6 speed shift knob on TRD short shifter
The car came with the soft top gutted which saves weight and adds some much needed storage space under the hard top
That brings us to how it sits today posing for a few fashion shots:
The car now has the look that I wanted and has the performance that I dreamed it would. It is close to perfect for me. Future mods.........................................................................................................................?
New mods and updates: March-April 2013
Dev Demplator
Red painted calipers
Flat black Plasti-Dipped lower front bumper
Modified 1ZZ baffled oil pan
Ishihara-Johnson oil pick-up extension
Photo from the Tail of the Dragon April 13th 2013
New Mods 2014
FR-S Pioneer Head Unit
Padded leather door armrest
Padded leather center console armrest
2003+ Rear bumper inserts
2003+ Taillights
Corky's Breast Plate
One of my few pieces of pure BLING. Thought the engine bay needed a splash of color:
Photos from Tail of the Dragon SADAS XV April 2015
26
121 - 140 of 142 Posts
70 degrees in Ohio today so I headed down to my brother's place to do a couple things to the Spyder. He has been hosting the car while we get the house (and garage) that we bought in order after our move back to Ohio from Florida. He has a four post lift so I took advantage of it to get the serpentine belt changed and take care of an issue with my clutch hydraulic line wearing as it rubbed against a fitting. The serpentine belt is the original one from when the 2ZZ swap was done 10 years ago this month. Surprisingly once I got it off, it did not look that bad. No cracks or evidence of wear. Changing it was a B**** and I was glad for the lift and the extra set of hands. Of course, it got easier once we used the right size belt. I had two in my frunk. As Murphy's law would have it, I chose the wrong one and wasted at least 1/2 hour trying to make it fit before getting the right one which slid right on.
It will not be long before we can start enjoying the back roads here again. I snapped a couple photos. First, is my car sitting outside its temporary home. Second is all the vehicles Terry had to move for me to get my Spyder on his lift. Thanks again, Bro!
![Wheel Tire Car Automotive tail & brake light Vehicle]()
![Wheel Car Tire Automotive parking light Land vehicle]()
It will not be long before we can start enjoying the back roads here again. I snapped a couple photos. First, is my car sitting outside its temporary home. Second is all the vehicles Terry had to move for me to get my Spyder on his lift. Thanks again, Bro!
After 11 years, it is time.
![Grey Tints and shades Silver Circle Pattern]()
Picked the car up from my brother's place where it has been housed since February 12th and finally brought it home. It is now snuggled in its own garage. I have a few minor things to do to it. The local Cars and Coffee and car show scene has started back up so I will start hitting some of those soon as well as doing some drives in southern Ohio. I have missed those roads badly during the time I have been in Florida. I have to transfer the title back to Ohio and get new plates for the car first though.
![Wheel Tire Plant Vehicle Car]()
Well, the car has been back in Ohio since Feb 12th and arrived at our new home Apr26th. Yesterday, I gave it its first bath since leaving Florida. Today, I took it to its first car event since coming home. Cars and Coffee Cleveland sponsored an event in Chagrin Falls. Turn out was good with 300+ cars of all types there. There were lots of exotics, lots of mid-engine cars and lots of people. On the way out of the venue there was a gauntlet of 100s of people watching all the cars leaving the meet. The meet ended at 12 noon and until about 11 o'clock people were doing full throttle exits. At 11 two Chagrin Falls PD SUVs showed up and things got a lot more sedate. On my way out, as I passed by the crowds of people, I could hear over and over again "What kind of car is that?" Finally when I stopped to wait for traffic some one asked and I said "Toyota". Even so as I was pulling out onto the street I heard others discussing if it was a Porsche. Lots of Porsches, Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs. 4 McLarens, 2 Lambo, 4 Ferrari, 3 Lotus, 5 new Supras, lots of Miata, One Nissan GT-R. nice selection of 60 and 70 muscle cars. It was a good time. The Spyder was one of the rarest cars on site and got more than its fair share of attention.
![Wheel Tire Car Automotive parking light Land vehicle]()
If you zoom way in you can see the Spyder about dead center in this mass of automobiles.
![Car Sky Vehicle Tire Wheel]()
The above photo shows only a small portion of the cars present. There were 3 separate parking lots full of stuff to look at.
This last photo is of a coming home present from a friend of mine. He is the same guy that made my custom coil cover for the 2ZZ years ago. This little badge is all hand made by him and will soon be displayed on the upper grill opening on my rear bumper cover.
![Motor vehicle Automotive design Automotive exterior Vehicle Font]()
If you zoom way in you can see the Spyder about dead center in this mass of automobiles.
The above photo shows only a small portion of the cars present. There were 3 separate parking lots full of stuff to look at.
This last photo is of a coming home present from a friend of mine. He is the same guy that made my custom coil cover for the 2ZZ years ago. This little badge is all hand made by him and will soon be displayed on the upper grill opening on my rear bumper cover.
I got the garage all set-up and then did a little maintenance on the Spyder. Replaced the timing chain tensioner o-ring gasket. It took a little longer than I expected because I did not realize that it will not come completely out of the block on the 2ZZ due to not clearing the back of the serpentine belt tensioner. The 12mm nut on the belt tensioner was easy but that 17mm bolt was so tight that I was afraid I was going to shear the damn thing off. JB Blaster did not help and all I had was a 12 point 17mm socket so after a trip to Harbor Freight for a new set of 6 point metric impact sockets and some heat from a butane torch along with an 18 inch breaker bar, I finally got the thing loose. I did not have to take the bolt all the way out. I just loosened the nut and bolt and then tapped the back of the bracket with a ballpeen hammer and that gave me enough clearance to get the chain tensioner out.
Next, I fixed a minor exhaust leak that had the thing sounding like a beater VW Bug. Then I took it out for a nice pleasure drive to enjoy the proper sound of the 2ZZ at WOT.
Here is the car in the newly set up garage. I have since added some more lighting over the workbench and more hooks and parts to the pegboard beside the car which is dedicated to it.
![Automotive tail & brake light Tire Vehicle Wheel Car]()
Also met my son and his FR-S at the theater to finally see Top Gun: Maverick. It was good.
![Wheel Tire Car Vehicle Automotive lighting]()
Next, I fixed a minor exhaust leak that had the thing sounding like a beater VW Bug. Then I took it out for a nice pleasure drive to enjoy the proper sound of the 2ZZ at WOT.
Here is the car in the newly set up garage. I have since added some more lighting over the workbench and more hooks and parts to the pegboard beside the car which is dedicated to it.
Also met my son and his FR-S at the theater to finally see Top Gun: Maverick. It was good.
Whatcha got under the hood? errrr trunk?
![Car Automotive tail & brake light Vehicle Vehicle registration plate Grille]()
TerBit and I headed out to the Canton Cars&Coffee at Dock's Brewery this morning. We were surprised when another Spyder also showed up and we got to meet the owner. He is running a 1ZZ turbo which is an always improving project. Very clean green with the tan interior and top.
![Car Vehicle Land vehicle Wheel Tire]()
When was the last time you saw one of these (if you ever have)? That is a Mazda Cosmo and it would cost you about $100,000 to buy one these days. Last time I saw one I was stationed in Okinawa in 1974. This was the start of the Mazda rotary engine cars.
![Wheel Tire Car Land vehicle Vehicle]()
When was the last time you saw one of these (if you ever have)? That is a Mazda Cosmo and it would cost you about $100,000 to buy one these days. Last time I saw one I was stationed in Okinawa in 1974. This was the start of the Mazda rotary engine cars.
121 - 140 of 142 Posts
