Southern California Meet Up

[Grego 92]

So as not to hi-jack the thread that this idea came from I'll start a new one.

A few of us in southern california think it would be fun/educational to meet up sometime at a pick-ur-part yard. Although I wouldn't have much to contribute educational wise (I rely on guys from here!), I'd enjoy the opportunity to learn some things from you guys in person. I think our interest are common in being that we want to keep our Gen 1's and 2's (Toyota Camry's/Lexus 250's) on the road.

Of course everyone from everywhere is welcome, but the chosen location will be somewhere in Los Angeles or Orange County.

LATEST INFORMATION (11/19/11):

TIME, DATE, LOCATION SET FOR: 10:00AM Saturday, November 26, 2011, ECOLOGY AUTO PARTS - 13780 E. Imperial Hwy, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 - (562) 404-2277 http://ecoparts.com/index.htm

Try and park toward the rear of the lot, so we'll meet in the parking lot around a bunch of Camry's and ES 250's. There's a taco stand there, or we can go grab something afterward. I don't know the area well, so don't ask me where else there is to eat. If you're late just cruise the area where the Camry's are.

Planning to Attend:

1. Doctor J - ?
2. Lexus_805 - Edwin
3. Grego 92 - Grego
4. *maybe* empersons - Eric
5. *maybe* sfjen - Glen
6. Bee-Rad - Bernardino
7. Atobe - ?
8. loyotanrb - Garrett
9.

Here's a picture of me, I'll be wearing the same hat - it's a light olive green with a 101st Airborne Division patch on the front.

[atobe]

I was at the monrovia pick-a-part a few days ago. There was like 10 gen2 camry there.

[Doctor J]

Ecology auto wrecking in Santa Fe Springs would be my choice (large yard, Large seclection 2nd and 3rd generation Camry cars).
Advantages
relatively clean yard
shopping carts
more space between the cars
the drawbacks:
the gas tanks are removed
Cats are cut out using torch
part prices are not displayed

The Pick Your Part is like 7-eleven; Ecology is like a swapmeet

[empersons]

I've been wanting to road trip for a while. This would be a rad reason to go.

[sfjen]

Aloha Grego-
Just saw your posting. If I could get away, I would come from the Northern, CA area. Will you give some advanced notice?
Mahalo!

[Doctor J]

Can we do it some time around Thanksgiving?

[Grego 92]

That would work for me....besides, Nov. 24-27 is 50% off at pick-ur-parts...will ecology have a sale during that weekend also?

Let's decide on a date of Nov 26th or 27th (Sat or Sun).

[sfjen]

I will try to get that following Monday off if you folks pick Sunday.

By the way Greg, which parts from the Lexus ES250 did you put in your car? Any dash molding, auto-shift area or just the door panels? And does these salvage yards that you mention have the lexus parts that will swap over to our cars?

Mahalo!

Originally Posted by Grego 92

That would work for me....besides, Nov. 24-27 is 50% off at pick-ur-parts...will ecology have a sale during that weekend also?

Let's decide on a date of Nov 26th or 27th (Sat or Sun).

[Bee-Rad]

This sounds like a great idea!
I'll certainly try to make it on wherever day is chosen.

Originally Posted by sfjen

I will try to get that following Monday off if you folks pick Sunday.

By the way Greg, which parts from the Lexus ES250 did you put in your car? Any dash molding, auto-shift area or just the door panels? And does these salvage yards that you mention have the lexus parts that will swap over to our cars?

Mahalo!

As the owner of an ES. I can tell you that the dash design is actually different form the Camry, save for the cluster area, and adding the wood would require changing the dashboard out. The door panels and seats as far as I know do match, and are swappable.

The ES250 is very difficult to find in salvage yards, and is almost always a hit or miss.

[Doctor J]

What 90 Lexus model with 2.5 V-6 has the doors witout the glass frame and plastic panels below the belt line?

[Grego 92]

The only things I got off of a 250 was a strut bar and the front door switch panels, not the entire panels. I've seen a few 250's over the past few months at different locations in los angeles and orange county. I haven't been paying too much attention to the sedan section lately since I'm done with mine...I'm looking for grey 90-95 4runner sr5 seats and center console for my truck which are in a different area of the yards usually.

[Doctor J]

Bee-Rad, last week I saw the ES250 on Ecology; the car was clean and complete, but this was a week ago

[Bee-Rad]

Originally Posted by Grego 92

The only things I got off of a 250 was a strut bar and the front door switch panels, not the entire panels. I've seen a few 250's over the past few months at different locations in los angeles and orange county. I haven't been paying too much attention to the sedan section lately since I'm done with mine...I'm looking for grey 90-95 4runner sr5 seats and center console for my truck which are in a different area of the yards usually.

Originally Posted by Doctor J

Bee-Rad, last week I saw the ES250 on Ecology; the car was clean and complete, but this was a week ago

I've seen one at the PYP near me. Also, ecology usually has cars untouched for a long time, so I'll hazard a guess that it's still intact. I'll try checking soon, since my car needs a few odds and ends that seem to have broken or gone missing over time.

[sfjen]

Aloha Bee-Rad:

Thanks for the good info. I saw some ES250's that looked like they had door panels with that wood design on them, I thought those looked nice. Also, are the seats the same but usually in leather or do they come with more bells and whistles as they say?

Thanks again, hope I can get done your folks way!
Mahalo,
glen

Originally Posted by Bee-Rad

This sounds like a great idea!
I'll certainly try to make it on wherever day is chosen.



As the owner of an ES. I can tell you that the dash design is actually different form the Camry, save for the cluster area, and adding the wood would require changing the dashboard out. The door panels and seats as far as I know do match, and are swappable.

The ES250 is very difficult to find in salvage yards, and is almost always a hit or miss.

[Bee-Rad]

Yes, the wood on the doors are a direct swap, and you will also get a more modern switch design for the windows (AFAIK they are the same as on newer Toyotas).

The seats have a different pattern, and some of the seats are cloth, and some are leather (a $950 option.) Some seats have a power driver's adjustment (a $250 option,) although I'm not sure if it's leather only.

What has always irritated me about the Camry, ES and Cressida is the ridiculous seat angle adjustment knob (power adjustments are only fore/aft, and cushion height). It is incredibly difficult to use, and I would like to know if there's a way to convert it to a lever.