87 NA from SoCal

hexapus · 03-14-2009, 05:09 PM

I just picked up my new Two about 2 weeks ago. It blew a head gasket the first day I owned it, and has been in a friend's garage ever since! He's more a Detroit iron guy, so it's been slow going (with lots of guidance from me along the way), but I can't wait to get Taz back (that's my car's name) and get behind the wheel.

This is the 2nd AW11 I've owned, and since losing the first through an unfortunately set of circumstances, I've lusted after one for years. FINALLY, I've got one, and I'm thrilled with it. Here's the relevant info:

3 owners (not counting me)...first one babied the hell out of this car. Obviously it's been meticulously maintained with everything intact, and in working order for the most part, and even the owners manual in the glove box, and a boxed set of Toyota-branded customer-appreciation-type cleaning supplies from 198x (fabric shampoo, vinyl cleaner, tire shine, etc...).

The second must've been younger, and a bit of a ricer, because it has a badass stereo, passenger-side sub, amp and crossovers mounted in the frunk, momo steering wheel, 17" konigs, and a shiny shift-knob. All in all, maybe not exactly my taste, but it looks decent, and the work was of good quality.

The third was who I bought it from...they bought it for their mentally handicapped son who never got it out of the driveway, because he couldn't get the hang of driving stick. So it pretty much sat, save for occasional runs by mom as a second, backup vehicle. Sold it to me with 225k on the clock, for $1100.

Brought it home, drove around most of the day (with various moments of sheer joy as I re-experienced the thrill of downshifting into 3rd to take a freeway off-ramp at 70, taking off from a stop and feeling the engine starting to pull at 3500rpm, etc...), drove my wife to the book store late afternoon, and on the way home, took a small hill pretty hard, and that was it for Taz.

Blew out a head gasket in a spectacular manner, and parked it immediately at a gas station to be towed away to my friend's garage, where it sits now.

I want my Two back, but it'll be nice to have a fresh, sturdy gasket in place, as well as a pretty thorough tuneup, since everything is torn down. On a side note, my wife is a living saint...since she rolled her eyes at me from the get go when I was shopping for this car, and she simply didn't "get it". ("Why would you buy a car when you have one that works??"). When Taz blew, and left us walking a mile home, (after I was done cursing) she didn't say "I told you so"...she looked in my eyes, gave me a hug, and said "I'm sorry, honey". Now THAT's a woman worth keeping.

ebouwman · 03-14-2009, 07:45 PM

Man, that IS a woman worth keeping!

Sorry to hear about the head gasket :'(

That happened to me on new years eve, i had to stop at an intersection to take a left hander to get off, and the cloud of steam was so big that it obscured the intersection, so i couldn't really see the oncoming traffic, meanwhile its not idling worth s**t and i know i'm going to have to get out and it was cold outside.

I kinda had a laugh of it though, cause i knew that one day the car would give up (based on how the previous owner maintained it) and ya, i kinda took it as a chance to bring the engine back to it's former glory, and learn a lot about it in the process.

It's too bad it had to happen to you on the day you bought it, that is just harsh.

BTW what's up with toyota's and blowing head gaskets? Or is that just me?

hexapus · 03-14-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebouwman

Man, that IS a woman worth keeping!

No kidding! I bought the car against her advice (and I still can't say I regret it), but she's been more than gracious about the whole thing...not even giving me a hard time about driving her car in the interim.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebouwman

BTW what's up with toyota's and blowing head gaskets? Or is that just me?

I don't think it's any more common on these cars than any other car that's a lot of fun to drive...we push them harder, and they will fail eventually. Especially mine with over 225,000mi on the odometer, and as far as I know, original gasket. It had to go some time, right?

In any case, I love my Two, and hopefully it will eventually see an engine swap (visions of a Blacktop 20v mated to a C160 6spd are dancing through my head), but CA smog, cost, and other factors are all considerations. Who knows? I just know this car isn't just a car...it's a relationship...And it's the closest thing to motorcycle the wife will let me get!

ebouwman · 03-14-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hexapus

I just know this car isn't just a car...it's a relationship...And it's the closest thing to motorcycle the wife will let me get!

So true

And ya, i guess you're right about pushing the cars, i always push my car, that's what it's meant for

EDIT:

Are you getting anything else special done while it's apart, like cams? Porting?

When i pulled my head off the valve seats were starting to get carbon deposits, and the whole thing was starting to go, based on what the valves and stuff looked like, and some of the stuff the machine shop told me, i really think that even if i hadn't blown the head gasket, i would have been tearing that engine apart in about 6 months to replace other stuff.

Post some pic though!

hexapus · 03-15-2009, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebouwman

So true

Are you getting anything else special done while it's apart, like cams? Porting?

Nope...barely had enough money to swing the parts for the HG job...so other than cleaning it up a bit, throwing some new spark plugs in there, and a new timing belt for good measure, it'll still be a stock motor with 225k on it. I'll worry about making things faster when I have enough saved up for a blacktop mated to a 6-spd. *drool*

ebouwman · 03-16-2009, 01:38 AM

i'd make sure you take a look at the head though mine had some pretty nasty valves when i pulled it off

hexapus · 03-16-2009, 04:14 AM

Well, it's already bolted back on, but my mechanic did look at and clean things up while he was in there. Right now, I'm just concerned with getting my ride to work back on the road...but there will be lots of planning and mods in the future...and like I said, mmmm, blacktop.

Also, one fairly significant change took place...I was shamed by a friend into renaming the car (it's only been on the road one day under my ownership...I'm still allowed to waffle!) after she said "If you're going to ride something, it should be of the opposite sex"...as such, "Taz" is now "Mai", after a scantily clad video game character, usually wearing red, known for being quick and nimble...and Japanese. Seems fitting, and I don't have to feel awkward about the car's name OR gender. Out go the Tazmanian Devil floormats!

03-14-2009, 05:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
hexapus No Skills Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 43 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	87 NA from SoCal I just picked up my new Two about 2 weeks ago. It blew a head gasket the first day I owned it, and has been in a friend's garage ever since! He's more a Detroit iron guy, so it's been slow going (with lots of guidance from me along the way), but I can't wait to get Taz back (that's my car's name) and get behind the wheel. This is the 2nd AW11 I've owned, and since losing the first through an unfortunately set of circumstances, I've lusted after one for years. FINALLY, I've got one, and I'm thrilled with it. Here's the relevant info: 3 owners (not counting me)...first one babied the hell out of this car. Obviously it's been meticulously maintained with everything intact, and in working order for the most part, and even the owners manual in the glove box, and a boxed set of Toyota-branded customer-appreciation-type cleaning supplies from 198x (fabric shampoo, vinyl cleaner, tire shine, etc...). The second must've been younger, and a bit of a ricer, because it has a badass stereo, passenger-side sub, amp and crossovers mounted in the frunk, momo steering wheel, 17" konigs, and a shiny shift-knob. All in all, maybe not exactly my taste, but it looks decent, and the work was of good quality. The third was who I bought it from...they bought it for their mentally handicapped son who never got it out of the driveway, because he couldn't get the hang of driving stick. So it pretty much sat, save for occasional runs by mom as a second, backup vehicle. Sold it to me with 225k on the clock, for $1100. Brought it home, drove around most of the day (with various moments of sheer joy as I re-experienced the thrill of downshifting into 3rd to take a freeway off-ramp at 70, taking off from a stop and feeling the engine starting to pull at 3500rpm, etc...), drove my wife to the book store late afternoon, and on the way home, took a small hill pretty hard, and that was it for Taz. Blew out a head gasket in a spectacular manner, and parked it immediately at a gas station to be towed away to my friend's garage, where it sits now. I want my Two back, but it'll be nice to have a fresh, sturdy gasket in place, as well as a pretty thorough tuneup, since everything is torn down. On a side note, my wife is a living saint...since she rolled her eyes at me from the get go when I was shopping for this car, and she simply didn't "get it". ("Why would you buy a car when you have one that works??"). When Taz blew, and left us walking a mile home, (after I was done cursing) she didn't say "I told you so"...she looked in my eyes, gave me a hug, and said "I'm sorry, honey". Now THAT's a woman worth keeping.

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03-14-2009, 07:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,390 Thanks: 18 Thanked 48 Times in 48 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Man, that IS a woman worth keeping! Sorry to hear about the head gasket :'( That happened to me on new years eve, i had to stop at an intersection to take a left hander to get off, and the cloud of steam was so big that it obscured the intersection, so i couldn't really see the oncoming traffic, meanwhile its not idling worth s**t and i know i'm going to have to get out and it was cold outside. I kinda had a laugh of it though, cause i knew that one day the car would give up (based on how the previous owner maintained it) and ya, i kinda took it as a chance to bring the engine back to it's former glory, and learn a lot about it in the process. It's too bad it had to happen to you on the day you bought it, that is just harsh. BTW what's up with toyota's and blowing head gaskets? Or is that just me?

03-16-2009, 01:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,390 Thanks: 18 Thanked 48 Times in 48 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	i'd make sure you take a look at the head though mine had some pretty nasty valves when i pulled it off

03-16-2009, 04:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
hexapus No Skills Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 43 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well, it's already bolted back on, but my mechanic did look at and clean things up while he was in there. Right now, I'm just concerned with getting my ride to work back on the road...but there will be lots of planning and mods in the future...and like I said, mmmm, blacktop. Also, one fairly significant change took place...I was shamed by a friend into renaming the car (it's only been on the road one day under my ownership...I'm still allowed to waffle!) after she said "If you're going to ride something, it should be of the opposite sex"...as such, "Taz" is now "Mai", after a scantily clad video game character, usually wearing red, known for being quick and nimble...and Japanese. Seems fitting, and I don't have to feel awkward about the car's name OR gender. Out go the Tazmanian Devil floormats!