My most recent Mann oil filter was labelled “Made in Bosnia-Herzegovina” I guess some mystery Eastern European republic is better than the PRC? My Bosch wiper refills were from Belgium.
(0)Archive for the 'car' Category
Page 7 of 39
So with our recent mountain bike revival where we’ve actually been riding those contraptions again, I’ve been transporting my bike by taking off both wheels and cramming it into the back of the FR-S. To it’s credit it fits without too much finagling. It’s still annoying, scuffs the interior, and woe be the day when I get poopy tire. So I started working on the external bike rack, there’s already been people who’ve done it. The one that I was going to try for is to use the large threaded holes in the bumper that normally is for the two loop. The FR-S fortunately has two, which you then make something to thread two rods into. Then any typical roof rack mount should work. People have gone as far as having machine shops machine something out of stainless rod. The other method was to go get a pair of the OEM tow loops, cut off the loop, then weld on a tube/pipe. I investigated that. Toyota parts wants over $35 per, and they were not in stock. So I ran around to various shops in Mapunapuna. Industrial Hardware had the big arse metric bolts that match, 16mmx1.5. I bought a pair of the longest ones they had for $11 the pair. Then went across the street to Moos Machine Works to look for tube. They had nothing that would fit the bolts. Back across to Hardware Hawaii where some 3/4″ conduit happen to fit. I wasn’t going to trust this to be strong enough, but bought some for mock up work.
So first thing to do was to chop off the heads. Few minutes with the grinder and cutoff wheel took care of that. 
Threading it into the bumper immediately reveals that it’s too short. The actual threads are recessed far behind the bumper/ There is a metal face right behind the plastic, but the actual frame as way back there. So if I tried to attach a tube to the bolt it would have to be small enough to fit inside this outer hole, which would be not much more than the 3/4″. Hmm. I proceeded to fit up the 3/4 conduit the test fit everything.
Ckucke had mentioned during his voluminous research for his Taco timing set that the OEM Toyota timing belt was made in the USA by Gates. That made sense, since the truck itself was made here. What came as a surprise to me was when I got the latest set of V-belts for the FJ-80, these too were labeled as “Made in the USA”. All the belts I got since 1991 and up until now were Japan-sourced Mitsuboshi belts. The new belts looked exactly like the previous ones, with the standard Toyota part number colored field and Mitsuboshi label, but the cardstock packaging sleeve had the US origin indicated. I would have thought with the relative rarity of the 3F-E motor and associated consumables, it would be more cost-effective to still source the belts from Japan, as opposed to going through the whole design/test/contract procedure with a CONUS third-party factory. I don’t think these belts are common with any other Toyota engine, with the exception of the 2F and F, which possibly might use the same alternator belt. Gates must have given them a really good deal. Heck, they’re probably exporting these USA belts back to Japan and worldwide! Next time I have to replace them, I’ll get all Gates belts, since the pricing is better. Continue reading ‘Genuine Toyota Parts – Globally Sourced’
Saturn Ion going about 75 up Ka’ahumanu weaving in and out of traffic, running the red at Moanalua. This can’t end well.
(0)Wherever you are in the world, there is someone in an Acura MDX who is in a rush to get somewhere. If you arrive at a red traffic light and there is an MDX alongside you, you can bet that when the light goes green, she/he will floor it to get in front of you in your lane, regardless of whether yours is the fast or slow lane. It must be out of some feeling of inadequacy for thinking they left the dealer with a performance crossover like a Infiniti FX or BMW X5 that are built on RWD sport sedan underpinnings, but discover that they bought something built on a FWD Honda minivan platform.
(0)I have yet to see someone driving a Smart who doesn’t drive like a pompous ass-hat. If they have the Brabus styling package (no performance difference), or have sticker-tuned their car with AMG emblems from some other vehicle, then doubly so!
(0)Mercedes Benz GLK dealer shuttle broken down in front of Servco Lexus – you can’t buy advertising like that!
(0)The mid-cycle refresh on the current 9th-generation Civic (FB) makes is look a lot less like a 5th-generation Toyota Camry (XV30) from behind.
(0)Saw a paper-plated brand-new Ford Fusion today. The vertical alignment of the trunk was 5mm to 8mm off. The misalignment was clearly visible where the taillight clusters extended from the unibody onto the trunk lid. It was even more apparent when the lights were turned on and the thin perimeter lights accentuated the offset.
(0)Does everyone with a Genesis Coupe have something to prove? Guess what? I don’t care what the numbers say: Your car is still lame.
(0)