TOPIC: 1985 Toyota corolla 1300 carbureted

Number 6!!

Bugger! The spacer is not made of metal! My flapper wheel dug holes in it trying to remove the stuffed gasket
Had to sand a new surface, fix a crack and some damage done to a small partition with JB and cut 2 paper gaskets.

Cut the groove with the medium bit, very small throat. It looks worse on the photo then I remember it...

The car runs well even though it has a sticky valve. Exhaust almost smell-less. Had to turn idle down.

When I asked the driver if there was any improvement he said "I hate to admit it but yes, it goes better". He'd made a bet with his boss that it wouldn't do anything LOL.

Looks like metal doesn't it?

You should run out into the hills, charcoal in hand, and make a new set of pictographs for future generations to ponder over!

Congratulations, Rino! That's more mods from your shop this month than have been reported throughout the entire planet by everyone else combined! (Tim Talbot is second.)

I guess someone is finally taking this "Groove Thing" seriously!

Great work!

Ron

Rino, here's something that could have helped:




Spray gasket remover helps loosen and soften gaskets, works pretty fast too. If ya can find similar down in NZ. Wow, an '85 eh, the whole Emissions gig in NZ must have been looser than for US. That one is simple compared to typical other Japanese carbs that era I've seen. Suzuki Samarai and others here look like sumthin' from a Godzilla movie! IF there are still a lot of 80's and 90's vehicles in NZ in decent enough shape then you are a Lucky bloke! In USA the EPA mandated lotsa extra Gargoyle gizmos those years on carbs, pages and pages of vacuum hose maps for Fords from 80's....

Lucky one this, the TB screws I spoke of were far enough away to allow for a decent Groove. That water-heated plastic TB spacer is also typical for Japanese carbs, you did a nice save w/ it!

Maybe Ron's Castrol ATF trick could free that valve.

You're a Commando, Rino--
you're in/out of the job Fast, and get dis-entangled from problems fast too...

So are older cars typical there, or are ya picking them on purpose? Just wondering of the connection of owners and cars. Most really old cars I see here driven by down-and-out types, wonder if people there keep and care for cars longer and better? Maybe it's just my area, maybe it's just me? Maybe I'm just too isolated in my job-rut world. Angst in Reno!

Anyhow Good on You Again, Rino!

Good tip Tracy! I will buy some today

Thanks for your compliments to, you've made my head swell

I did suggested the trans fluid to the guy and he diligently wrote it down. Will be interesting to see if he follows up.
He's my accountant so I will see him again..
Re the old cars, in his case, he just doesn't care about having a fancy car. As long as it goes he's happy. Walks around in shorts and t-shirt.
Mind you, he uses it in his other business (heating) so it's not per se an 'accountants' car

You don't see a lot of cars that old as they tend to get rust issues which gets them rejected on their Warrant of fitness test.
New car sales have gone down, as all around the world, and a lot of folk make their old one last.
When you're on minimum wage, and loads of people are, about $350 / week, a new car is way down the priority list.

My wife just checked our 'Ebay' equivalent ( Trade Me

Thank you Ron!

Are you saying I'm a cave man??

Ha Ha Rino you make me laugh! a good thing best thing we can do!

Down and out is common here, though often "invisible" To a point I understand them, been there or close myself before. Down to earth are my kind of folks, not enough of them here. To many Merricuns stuck in the Matrix, TV, sports and all the other distractions IMHO. Think of the movie The Wizard Of OZ. People whose heads are still financially above water have newer vehicles costing equal or more than a house did when I was a kid.

I can't Grok that, personally. Basically I would love access to more older vehicles where the owner wasn't a couple steps from living in it. There is a wide variety of vehicles of differing ages makes and types where our Groove has succeded. Perhaps a Poll among us to ask what vehicles we each have seen best results with, and the worst as well??

Think I've seen a couple of those Prelude dual-carb setups, and I agree, no Easter Egg! Could be done of course, but a pain.

Time for truth for me. I have done most of my Groove jobs on freind's cars for little or nothing in order to learn the craft. I have done work as a private mechanic for many vehicles over the years, but have limited myself to just a few for 9 years now, cause I lack a real shop, and have a full time job. I have a small shed/shop and access to part of the driveway where I live. No garage. I had a shop business with an ex-freind that ended in financial disaster and much personal pain for me 9 yrs ago, I basically lost near everything. So I've been playing with my own and a few other cars for several years, and have learned a Lot here, from Ron, from all the Gadgetfolk and from studies and Internet searches. I don't watch TV, forgot how to turn the one 25 ft. away on.

So I'm a different sort. Bit of a Hermit. No Wife would put up with this much online time, I think! I'm the sort who when I find something new or relevant (to me at least) or see the chance to turn on the light for someone else, I do it. I'm pretty good with language and have off the wall humor. (who could guess?)


Maybe I've got Grass is Greener Over There complex. People are People everywhere.

From what you've said Rino, I think you are in a great market for the Groove. Lots of smaller older cars, with simpler emissions issues and probably dumber computers, and if the folks will listen to you and can afford it, that's all you need! It's already evident to me the tech. side of the Groove is going into your pocket so to speak! Here we have similar issues, but lots of bigger heavier vehicles and high % of OBD11 ones as well. OBD11 itself is OK, to me it's the inefficient vehicles-big and heavy. The American auto market pretty much walked away from fuel efficiency as the years have gone by.

Oh and the assault boat, well I could register for gov't auctions, but I'd wind up on several watchlists, probably a no-fly list. then I would HAVE to drive to NZ!! LOL

Tracy

Hey Tracy
I had typed a lengthy reply and the **** site went down, lost it all grrr

I reckon you're a shining treasure hiding from humanity! You know how to do the grooving so now you should extend your helping attitude to real cars for real people. Those critters need to be relieved from their petrol burden and you have the means and skills to do it!
Go on, put your gear in your boot and do it at their place, you'll both be glad you did as Ron would say! (goes for smiles and grooves). You could do at least 2 every saturday and still have sunday off
You're a cool influence and presence on this forum already, should be no problem for you!

I reckon most of us hit the bad times somewhere along the line. It seems there are so many things that can and do go wrong, life can be hard..
I do think the groove is a tangible way to help us to help our selves and others. I'm certainly going to give it a good go! Nothing to lose! I'm grateful for the opportunity

You got our NZ car fleet reasonably well sussed.
Kathy, my wife (she's the best!), just looked at our Trade Me

Thank you Rino, you're the Best!

By asking for some results you made me realize I've had a few real success stories w/ Grooving.
I don't know why I went down Mopy Road like that, just felt like it for a moment, but it was good to unload a bit. I appreciate your freindly thoughtful response, really do Mate!

I think my biggest hurdle is just finding and chatting up people about the Groove. I'm pretty modest 'bout my own work I do, but excell extolling others' virtues. When I met Ron in Phoenix last year I was in awe of his way of talking to strangers, he could sell seawater to dolphins, LOL! Now that isn't to say that the Groove needs a hard sell, it doesn't. I think it's like lighting a fire, sometimes takes several matches or strikes on the steel. You gain confidence w/ success, more gives more in an upward spiral.

I think peoples' energy or "vibration" is increasing, as well as awareness. Not all, but many are waking up to a newer paradigm. This is 2013...so many technical advances, why should it be a surprise that we have our own, and that it should be so simple? So many things falling into place today, on so many levels, at a faster pace than ever before. Often less is more, I need to remind myself of that, I do get stuck in details a lot.

I'm gonna go find something to feed MY Dremel!

I like your blog idea, very useful! Yank tanks, I've heard that before and it fits too! Sometimes driving on freeways here seems like the middle of one of General Patton's Sherman tank companies charging across France. Big trucks and SUV's dwarf my 85 Subaru wagon, but those folks suffer at the pump, I still wonder why so many have bought those rolling battleships?? I mean if ya need carrying capacity, OK, but so many use 'em as cars.

Great scene for what's on the road there Rino, sounds like what I saw/worked on in Reno back in mid-90's, used to do a lot of tune-up's and carb rebuilds all from referrals. Once you get a few happy customers, they send their freinds your way.

I think a new way for us to think of ourselves is as Efficiency Specialists, isn't that what we do? Regular Mechanic/repair shops are all fine, but where do you go (really) if you want better than stock results and it's not a hotrod or some import tuner ride. Regular mechanics are trained to focus on stock OEM or equivalent replacement work, not taught to think outside the box.

WE are the "outside the box!" If you want more than frozen pie or canned ravioli, but don't wanna drink Tabasco either, then this is what You are Looking for. Something Better for your Wallet, your Car, and the Air we breathe. Something that works.

Re; the Amphibian, I wonder how much the Navy wants for the Sea Shadow, don't think they're using it anymore...

Thanks Again, Rino

Tracy G

You're welcome buddy. You can kick my backside when I need it to

Hmm, might be awkward to cast from that thing.. I suppose the stern might be ok for that

Did you get my email?

Cheers
Rino

No canned ravioli for me, Kathy's a great cook!