If it wasn't legal I wouldn't be doing it. Updates!!! Have done a bit to the car again, focused mainly on the hatch. Worst part of the car, full of issues but luckily they're common issues with fixes! A few posts ago I ordered some new stoppers for the hatch, but I couldn't remove them as the screws were loctited in. I mainly had trouble with the ones on the driver side, you'll see why... There was so much on the one screw. Since I was stripping the head of the screw more and more I took it to my mechanic. He got the screw out with a lot of force, however the screw was so fucked at the end it couldn't be used again. Next stop is back to Toyota for a replacement, luckily they're a standard part. 1 out of 4 screws ain't so bad Next thing checked off the list was my hatch light aka 3rd taillight. Very first post I think I mentioned my lens was cracked, and LEDs were flickering since water was getting in. Board likely corroded a bit. It bothered me quite a bit, and everyone noticed it. Certainly those in my mirrors I began this by removing the plastic trim inside the hatch. It's clipped in by quite a few strong clips. Takes a lot of force, if you're a weak fuck like myself - you'll be tired after it! After searching, and searching. Emailing wreckers around my city, an import wrecker had one... Buuuut there was dead LEDs in it. He usually sells these for $70 which is the normal going rate for a good one in working order without defects. So he offered the one with 'dead LEDs' for $30 shipped - I thought that it's a win either way, no more cracked lens and I could likely replace the LEDs. Mind you, the LEDs died for the seller at testing. Arrived on Monday I noticed the housing was cracked at the back of it, the black brackets which hold the light in place when installed was actually keeping the plastic on. While getting that annoying fucking screw out, I just asked my mechanic what tool I could use to remove the nut+washer on the light as my sockets were quite shallow. Long story short here, mechanic grabbed my spare light and it came apart after he removed the brackets. I was shattered. He stuck it together with some kind of paste or sealant and installed the light for me. I noticed after he installed it the paste or whatever he used was in the lens! FFS. As he did this for nothing for me and the amount of time he spent getting the fucking screw out for free. I didn't hassle about it. All things happen for a reason right? I ended up having a deep socket tool, so I got to it. Removing the light is simple once you wrap your head around how it works. Black brackets loosen as you undo the nut+washer. When it's loose enough, you can pull the light towards yourself from the outside of the hatch. So I didn't drop the brackets, I just let them drop to the back of the thread then squeeze them so they fit through the mounting slot of the light. Lens came apart again when I removed it, so I took this time to make a new seal. This time with Chinese superglue!! I let layers dry before adding another. While doing this I didn't even think of replacing the LEDs that were dead. I'm such an idiot. Anyway, with the assembly all sealed up and strong again. Back in it goes! Much nicer! And yes... I did scratch the paint a bit, but it's shit paint anyway Oh look! NO DEAD LEDS! I WIN! The housing just needed to be sealed and tightened up. $30, and this. I was over the moon!
Well, in Brazil it was illegal to have an lowered car and yet many gearheads did it, in fact appearently there still a lot of things that are suposedly ilegal and they do it. I think it's something that is not being looked at the transit fiscalization everytime, so they probably end with no fines. About the screws, the Supra MK3 3.0 Turbo ironically had an wrong factory torque applied to them, that's how he got one of his reasons to be the worst generation and blown head gasket problems.
There's lots of cars with illegal mods around, I'm not one of those people who run the risk. A defect is around a $340 fine, along with 3 points on your license. Then you have to get the mods removed and verified before you can drive again.
Small update. Bought some C-West Smoke Tail Lenses This was just a test fit, haven't washed the car or the lenses. And yes, my Supra was hit when it was at the workshop shop has admitted to the damage and is going to fix it at some stage.
Well, get fixed soon, i've just got my Shamemobile from the workshop today as it was scratched as hell.. Also, DAT WIDOWMAKER BOOTY.
I don't see it often, but these places need to put padding when they're working on cars. My previous mechanic wouldn't and would be scratching my paint with the tools. Also wiping the car down with his shirt, really bothered me. Still waiting on security feed or something along those lines. Hopefully i hear back.
Is padding some kind of protection to the car while in maintenance? Well, didn't see this in the workshop, my dad was using my car as his was at the same one to fix an small crash damage in the rear, and he simply decided to leave mine there after he got back his car, since it had a lot of scratches in the bumpers.
Yeah they drop over the engine bay and the guards, so when you put your tools down they don't mark everything. Dealerships do this, possibly small mechanics don't simply because they don't care for paint.