ToyotaFest 2015 T.O.R.C. Part 3

Here are at part 3 of our coverage of the 2015 Toyotafest by T.O.R.C.  There was such a wide variety of cars that we can't help but have multiple parts of coverage!

Toyotafest 2015 T.O.R.C. Part 2

Here's part 2 of our coverage of the 2015 Toyotafest. 

ToyotaFest 2015 T.O.R.C. Part 1

Another year has come and gone, but the annual Toyota Owner's and Restorer's Club event in Long Beach is a car show we will never think about skipping.  ToyotaFest 2015 was a great show, and the headliner for the event was the FT1 prototype on display along with all the other beautiful Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles.

We'll post the coverage in a few parts to avoid having a huge amount of pictures slow down loading of the page.

DIY Fix: How to Install a Greddy Boost Cut Controller (BCC) on a 2JZ-GTE with VVT-i (Lexus GS300/Toyota Aristo)

A Greddy Boost Cut Controller (BCC) will allow you raise the boost pressure without hitting the factory boost cut.

Our project Lexus GS300 (Toyota Aristo) has been running great, and we love the flexibility of the VVT-i 2JZ-GTE engine around town.  Boost comes online at 1500 rpm in sequential operation to provide adequate torque, and the 2nd turbo comes on at about 4200 rpm to provide additional power up top when needed.  We switched the car to a parallel setup aka True Twin Conversion (TTC mode), which has a bit more lag with the turbos providing boost starting at about 2800 rpm, but there is no dip in power between 3800-4200 rpm when the 2nd turbo would spool up in sequential mode.  This gives the car a more linear feeling powerband with more midrange punch, albeit at the expense of low end torque. 

We recently installed a bleed valve style manual boost controller to increase the boost from the factory setting of 12 psi.  One thing we noticed with the installation of the boost controller was the immediate increase in low end torque.  Noticeable boost (~5 psi) would come in at about 2200-2400 rpm depending on the gear we were in, which made our GS300 much easier to drive around town at low speeds.  We wanted to set our boost to 16 psi, however we were running into boost cut at 14.7 psi (1 Bar) of boost.  Boost cut is a safety feature where the computer cuts the ignition to the motor if the manifold pressure exceeds a certain threshold (1 Bar in our case with the 2JZ-GTE engine) for more than a second or two. 

To bypass the factory boost cut, we went with Greddy's Boost Cut Controller (BCC).  This device caps the voltage signal coming from the manifold pressure sensor, so the car's computer will not invoke boost cut.  Since Greddy does not make a 2JZ-GTE specific BCC, you will need to source one for a 2nd generation MR2 (SW20 chassis).  Follow along as we show you how to install the BCC on a Lexus GS300/Toyota Aristo 2JZ-GTE VVT-i engine. 

DIY Fix: Increasing trunk tension on a Lexus GS300 or Toyota Aristo (preventing decapitation!)

The Lexus GS300 (Toyota Aristo for our overseas readers) is a great luxury sport sedan, and it has been our ongoing project car for the past 18 months.  There are a lot of things we love about the car, and a few things we don't like.  One annoyance is the fact that the trunk closes way too easy, and it comes down with enough force to leave a bruise on your back or head, such as when were installing the rear strut tower bar on the car. 

On a recent trip to get groceries, a small incline was enough to keep our trunk from staying open.  Juggling groceries, packing a stroller, getting rained on, and caring for a toddler don't make for a great mix.  We decided enough was enough, and took a look to see if we could do something to keep the trunk from being so easy to close.  Thankfully, there is a remedy to increase the tension on the trunk, and it literally took a few minutes to do.

Coronado SpeedFestival 2014: Celebrating 50 years of Mustangs; Vintage Car Racing; Car Show Part 1

It's been over 50 years since the original Ford Mustang was debuted in New York.  The iconic muscle car ushered in a war of horsepower as other car manufacturers created their own interpretation of Ford's creation.  The Mustang may have been outgunned in horsepower as the 60s came to a close where the Hemi and other big block motors reigned supreme, and the 70s brought about the oil crisis which ended the muscle car period, but in the end it was the pony car which had the last laugh.  The 2+2 sports car is the only one which has stood the test of time, with it's arch rival the Camaro taking a brief hiatus after 2003. 

The Coronado SpeedFestival is open to everyone. 

This year, the Coronado SpeedFestival paid tribute to the Mustang and its various iterations, and there was a parade lap with nothing but Mustangs during the afternoon lunch break. Aside from the focus on the Ford Mustang, the main stars were the race cars dating from the early 1900s all the way up to late model ex-NASCAR race cars.

DIY Fix: Remove and Replace Cabin Air Filter Lexus GS300 (Toyota Aristo JZS161)

What is a cabin air filter?  We all know that an air filter keeps dirt and grit from entering the engine, but what about the for air entering the inside of the car when you use your fan or a/c?  The cabin air filter is similar to an engine's air filter in that by design it is to keep pollutants and pollen from entering the cabin while driving.  Follow along as we show you how to replace the cabin air filter on our project GS300. 

DIY Fix: How to Remove and Replace Steering Rack Bushings (Lexus GS300 / Toyota Aristo)

This the is the bag that contained our urethane steering rack bushings.  We got them from Sewell Lexus.

The 1998-2005 Lexus GS (Toyota Aristo in Japan) is a great luxury car that is quite affordable now on the used market for many car shoppers.  The car was billed as a sports/luxury sedan, and if it was optioned as a GS400, it was one of the quickest mid-sized sedans at the time in 1998 with a 1/4 mile time in the low 14 second range.  Straight line prowess aside, the car was also quite capable of tackling winding back roads too.  The Lexus did have to make compromises though, especially in the area of steering feedback.

To keep drivers who prefer luxury comfort happy, Lexus chose to use rubber bushings in the steering rack.  These rubber bushings do a commendable job at keeping vibration and harshness to a minimum.  However, they also dampen out most of the information the front tires give to the driver during cornering.  To make things worse, as the bushings age, they allow quite a bit of flex and movement of the steering rack.  This flexing of the rack gives the steering wheel a "dead zone," an area where even if you turn the steering wheel, nothing happens.  The dead zone lasts for a split second or so until the car will actually begin to turn, but it's enough to reduce driver confidence.  In worse case scenarios, the bushings can degrade to the point where the steering wheel will have side-to-side free play even while driving straight!  Not safe if you needed to do an emergency maneuver.

Our project Lexus GS did have some noticeable steering rack flex during cornering, but the dead zone wasn't as bad as on other GS300s we have driven.  Follow along as we show you a basic guide on how to replace the steering rack bushings for a GS300 to restore driver confidence.  As always, we do not have any responsibility for the work you do to your car.  If in doubt, have a professional do the job! 

Car shows/events for September 2013

It's now September!?!  Where did the summer go?  It seems like the fun in the sun days went by in a flash.  With fall coming up in just a couple weeks, there are a few shows here in Southern California that car enthusiasts can check out.

2013 ToyotaFest car show: A definite must attend for Toyota, Lexus and Scion fans Part 4

Here we are to wrap our belated coverage of the 2013 ToyotaFest.  Enjoy the pictures and we'll see you there next year! 

DIY Fix: How to Remove and Replace Lower Ball Joints and Outer Tie Rods (Lexus GS 300/Toyota Aristo JZS161)

Ball joints and tie rods are critical for maintaining steering control and safety.  A broken ball joint or tie rod can result in a catastrophic accident.

In recent weeks, we've received quite a few questions from people asking if we can help them identify odd noises coming from their vehicles.  While we cannot guarantee we can help them pinpoint the exact cause of the noise, we generally ask them a few questions or ask them to send us a video to help us get an idea of the general location of the noise. 

The most common one thus far has been odd noises coming from the front end of a person's car, and aside from shocks or wheel bearings, we noticed that ball joints and tie rods are the usual culprits.  Follow along as we explain how to check for bad ball joints and tie rod ends, and show a general how to on our very own project car.

JCCS 2012, A Gathering of Vintage Japanese Automobiles

JCCS has a wide variety of classic Japanese vehicles that come such as these Toyota Celicas.

The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California is not only a haunted, floating tourist attraction.  It is also the location of several prolific car shows too.  One such show is the Japanese Classic Car Show or JCCS which takes place each year in early September. 

Nisei Car Show Part III: Show, Go and Some Exotics

Here's our final set of pictures from the Nisei Festival car show.

Nisei Fest Car Show 2012 Part II: Show, Go and Some Exotics

If this year's Nisei Fest was any indication, it was that the car tuning culture is still very much alive in Southern California.

In case you missed Part I of our coverage of the 2012 Nisei Fest car show, you can view the photos here:  Nisei Fest 2012 Part I

Even with the temperatures soaring in the mid 90s, it didn't prevent a steady stream of spectators from attending the show.

Nisei Fest 2012 Carshow: Show, Go and Even Some Exotics Part I

The Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ were some of the many cars on display at this year's Nisei Fest car show.

Nisei Fest is annual event held in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles, California in August each year.  The festival allows visitors to enjoy Japanese culture such as their music, food, martial arts, and dance.  Another attraction that accompanies the Nisei Fest is the car show.  The show is held in a lot adjacent to the festivities.  This year, there was a wide variety of cars present.  Everything from classic Chevrolet Impalas to exotics like the Audi R8 were on display. 

Toyotafest 2012 Old school meets new school

ToyotaFest 2012 featured many rare and unique Toyotas like this S800.

Turns out it great when the weather forecaster is wrong.  The clouds were nowhere to be seen, and it was nothing but sunshine, music and of course the cars.  This year's 17th annual Toyotafest held at the Queen Mary in Long Beach was a great event.  There were cars ranging from the ultra rare Toyota S800 coupe, to the newest Scion xB and tC on display.  Lexus was also on hand, letting attendees pick out a design to have screen printed onto a t-shirt for free. 

Toyota Motor Corp. Tops in Vehicle Dependability

Toyota took top honors in a reliability report by J.D. Power and Associates.  Logo is registered trademark of Toyota.

J.D. Power & Associates released its findings on overall vehicle quality for cars from the model year 2009.  The report was made from a sample size of 31,000 vehicle owners with 3 years of ownership of a vehicle from 2009. 

Toyota Annouces Prius c Pricing

Toyota's Prius c is priced under $19K.  Photo courtesy Toyota

There is no doubt that hybrids are becoming more mainstream in America each day.  While we here at Car and Writer prefer vehicles with an emphasis on maximum cornering and driving enjoyment, we do recognize that others prefer vehicles with mpg numbers that are well above the nation's current combined average of 27.2 mpg. 

Motoring Evolution: Toyota's take on remembering its roots

1957 was a year when the Chevrolet 150, 210 and Bel Air models with the tail fin styling were very popular with the general public.  It was also the year many Elvis fans claim was his most pivotal in propelling him to become the "King" of Rock and Roll.  However, 1957 was also significant for a company from Japan.  This company introduced their first vehicle to the U.S. called the Toyopet Crown.  It's been nearly 55 years (officially on Oct. 31st this year) since the first Toyota drove onto U.S. streets, and quite a bit has changed for the company from their early days. 

The original Toyopet Crown.

The Toyopet Crowns were powered by 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine with approximately 60 horsepower, and it simply was not able to provide enough power to maintain speed on the highways.  The car had a MSRP of $2300, which was expensive for a manufacturer with no previous history.  (Average vehicle prices were $2200)  Needless to say, the Toyopets did not sell well, and it was not until 1965 that Toyota began to make an impact on the U.S. auto market.

San Diego Auto Show 2012 Coverage

Happy new year motorists and enthusiasts!  The new year has started, and the San Diego Auto Show has ended.  While nothing new was unveiled at the show, there was plenty to see.  The venue was very crowded too, with show goers, vendors, and manufacturers crowding the floor.  Click below to view the photos from the show!