What did YOU do to your Gen 1 or 2 Camry today?

[hairball]

Okay, I'll admit, I stole the idea for this thread from another generation's thread, but I really like this idea. It's a great question, and most of us do at least something to our cars each day. So, why not share what you've done to your 83-91 Camry in this thread? That way, I won't have to keep posting in the other thread and have someone slam me. LOL!

So, what DID you do to YOUR Camry today?

[hairball]

Yesterday when I was at the wrecking yard, I picked up two "24 Valve" engine emblems and two "V-6" emblems. TODAY, I put a V-6 emblem on my trunk lid, next to the DX emblem. Hey, I already put a V-6 grill emblem on, so I figured what the heck, why not put one on the back? But rather than drill holes for the emblem, I shaved off the stub things and superglued it to the trunk. Here is what I picked up yesterday...

Two of these... (gotta clean the grease out of the other one)


And two of these...


(But only used one V-6 emblem.)

Hey, now I have a V-6 emblem on front AND back, plus a V-6 LE instrument panel with tach. Geez, I instantly added 2 cylinders without even turning a single wrench under the hood! LOL!

[Darwin686]

Stats: 91 Camry Base with upgrades, 3SFE 2.0, 263,500 miles ,34 MPG

Owned the car for 12 years it was a gift on my 16th birthday.

Today I had my alternator checked. My original alternator with 263,500 miles is on its its knees begging for a viking funeral. Its been a great trooper. Gonna replace that in the morning.

In the past three weeks.

1. Distributor
2. Starter
3. Neutral Safety Switch
4. Oil Pressure switch
5. Ignition coil
6. Rotor
7. Instrument Cluster Swap Out " I love my tac" Now to just correct the 5MPH difference.
8. replaced Dash trim around instrument cluster
9. replaced and rebuilt Gear Shift Indicator "Thanks to Doctor J"
10. all bulbs in instrument cluster expect the 74s are now 194 Cobalt blue glass bulbs for white effect. hehehe they never fade!

And an oil change with 10w-40 high mileage oil and a wee bit of Lucas oil stabilizer for good measure.

The rebuild continues...........

[hairball]

Sweet! Sounds like you're making progress! Keep us posted!

As for my 90 DX with 2.0L 4-banger and A/T, you probably read a lot of my posts as to what I've done lately. But if not, this is basically everything I've done to the car since I got it...

New tires first day!
Disabled door dinger second day. (was VERY annoying!)
Installed both visors (originals gone for some reason)
Installed alarm with door lock/unlock, shock sensor, & proximity sensor.
Replaced hood, core support, grill, headlights, corner lights, & bumper after wreck.
New mags back in August.
Newer dome light fixture (now super bright!).
Instrument Cluster from 89 LE, with tach. (Really cool)
Replaced combination switch (but wiper delay STILL not working!)
New front pads and 1 rotor.
Both outer tie rod ends.
Both lower ball joints.
Adjusted driver's window finally. (Now it closes every time!)

Added some cool V-6 emblems (all in fun). (Today)

Not much else, because the car is in really good shape and runs great!

[Darwin686]

Hairball,

I've got a lot more work to do to the old gal before its all said and done.

This is my original thread on my car:

Recommendations for Restore

People think I'm nuts for what I have already done and I drive my partner crazy with Toyota chatter.

Near future projects.

1. Radiator fan switch. I have a doubt about mine.
2. Radiator hoses.
3. Repaint my heat shield I used the wrong paint!
4. Power steering hoses.
5. EGR modulator valve.
6. Pull and inspect vapor canister. If in good shape paint job!
7. New rear windshield

The one mod that i haven't seen anyone do is high mount turn singles on the side of the car next to parking lights.

and for Xmas

NEW Struts and bake hoses!

Wooo Haaaa!

[zppeacock]

Looked at my gas leak wondering how long its going to hold up.

[hairball]

GAS LEAK! OMG! Where is it leaking from? If the gas tank, that's usually an easy fix. Anywhere is might be tricky. Just don't light a match to look for the leak in the dark! LOL!

[zppeacock]

Some place on top of the tank has a hole in it. It doesnt leak if you don't fill it over half. You just smell it when stopped from the sloshing in the tank. Its my second car/winter beater. It will be gone by summer or when the tank get too bad. lol

I do love it though, many repairs/upgrades over the years and its a wagon. 260k original motor and trans, burns no oil leaks none. Rusty but trusty. Needs struts, gas tank, filler kneck, timing belt+kit, water pump. But whos listing.

[hairball]

Bummer about the gas tank issue, but it's an easy fix.

I got lucky on my car. I discovered that the previous female owner had gas struts and shocks. They're blue, so I'm thinking Monroe? And engine needs nothing. I have a slight exhaust leak up front somewhere, and the engine vibrates REAL bad, but it runs like new and hasn't broke down once in the 15 months I've had it.

[zppeacock]

The gas tank is a easy fix but I would need to spend $200 on a tank, probably $80ish for a new pump, $150 for the filler tube, then $250 for the timing belt and water pump and $200 for rear struts.

Close to $700, if it was less rusty I would consider it. But I do love it. Never has left me stranded.

[Darwin686]

Originally Posted by zppeacock

The gas tank is a easy fix but I would need to spend $200 on a tank, probably $80ish for a new pump, $150 for the filler tube, then $250 for the timing belt and water pump and $200 for rear struts.

Close to $700, if it was less rusty I would consider it. But I do love it. Never has left me stranded.

$700 or two car payments?

[hairball]

Yeah, I've wanted to replace my back window since I got the car. The previous owner for some reason decided to remove the tint from it and in the process ruined most of the defogger lines. Now it's got a sticky film and no defogger! In fact it's about the only thing that didn't work when I got the car.

[Darwin686]

Originally Posted by hairball

Yeah, I've wanted to replace my back window since I got the car. The previous owner for some reason decided to remove the tint from it and in the process ruined most of the defogger lines. Now it's got a sticky film and no defogger! In fact it's about the only thing that didn't work when I got the car.

I feel ya there buddy. I had to remove my tinting for my last inspection because it had bubbled up so badly you couldn't see through the window any more. I soaked it in acetone to loosen the tinting unfortunately i still had to scrape it off. I damaged every line in the defroster but one. So I am attemping to repair it but have had no success in doing so thus far.

You can attempt to repair it like I am if you want to try.

As for your sticky film acetone will take that right off!

As for this thread! New alternator installed today. By far the easiest alternator to install! And I worked on a leaky power steering hose.

I can't wait to steam clean my engine now. And working with my alternator I have a new idea for more engine painting!

[hairball]

I have some of that repair liquid that I got from the Ford Dealer to fix my Taurus rear window. But it's silver! They should have made it brown or black! You could see EVERY repair spot, but hey, it worked. Apparently you're supposed to painstakingly put masking tape up against each line before using this stuff. But I didn't have the patience.

Thanks for the tip on the acetone. Where do you get it? Hardware or Paint store? Can you get a small bottle/can/jug of it? And it won't ruin the grid lines?

[Darwin686]

Originally Posted by hairball

I have some of that repair liquid that I got from the Ford Dealer to fix my Taurus rear window. But it's silver! They should have made it brown or black! You could see EVERY repair spot, but hey, it worked. Apparently you're supposed to painstakingly put masking tape up against each line before using this stuff. But I didn't have the patience.

Thanks for the tip on the acetone. Where do you get it? Hardware or Paint store? Can you get a small bottle/can/jug of it? And it won't ruin the grid lines?

I'm in the process of globing mine on. I got my defroster paint at auto zone and its a lighter brown that what my grid lines are so i feel ya with seeing every spot. I'm going to attempt repairs and trim with a razor blade.

I get my acetone from the hardware store, genenrally ace is like $2.50 for a can. I will not hurt the defroster at all, it just concentrated finernail polish remover.

I had tried automotive good gone before and it didn't' make a dint. It did make the car smell like citrus for a few days though