disc's ordered -

indeed have ordered the new 315x28mm Lexus LS400 discs so hopefully they'll be here soon. Also got some standard caliper bolts from Toyota but alas they are too short to fit through the adaptor bracket into hub / new caliper's. So will need to source some M12 x 1.25 x 30mm 12.9 screw bolts just to make things a bit more secure. Can't have the brakes bolted on with a wing and a prayer. Seems to be the season for brake upgrades though I'm doing it the hard way

Not going to be able to fit all this together til Feb at the earliest, got a few things on with work so no time to do anything else.

cold slimy roads + 2nd gear at 16ish psi =

wheelspin and the tail sliding out. Mmmm I won't be doing that again with quite the same free and easy not paying attention attitude. This was in a straight (wasn't so straight afterwards) line lol. A quick feather of the throttle and it came back into line. Funnily, the beemer behind me stayed a lot further back from then on. Ho hum

Messenger Live Multiple logins at once -

having been forced to update to Live Messenger I started the trawl round the internet to find how to get more than one login running. Turns out MS already provide a way to do this without using third party software. Perfect! All that's needed is a registry hack.....er ok I can do that. It is very simple and I found it on this blog and yep it works. The steps are listed below but check out the blog for more info. Obviously you need to have more than one login account otherwise why would you need to have more than 1 messenger running :-)

Run Registry Editor (regedit).
Navigate to the following registry key:
KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Live\Messenger

For 64-bit (x64) OS, go to following registry branch instead:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Live\Messenger

In the right pane, right click on any blank space, select New on context menu, and then click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name the new registry value entry as MultipleInstances.
Modify the MultipleInstances and set its value data as 1.
Start as many Windows Live Messenger windows as you want from Start Menu.

MOT passed -

brakes still feel a bit funny but it's pushing me to get the bits for the BBK together and then in the new year get it fitted. Got a bit on over the next 2 odd months with work so messing with the car isn't an option. That and the pish weather we have!

Kumho KU31's? yeah the 255x40 certainly are sitting good on the wheel and do fill the arches. Obviously haven't had a chance to push them yet but will bed them in nicely and see if they rub with cornering load. Not likely in this weather though at least I have a full tread to lean on!

excel tip for changing month text to integer -

indeed found this little gem to change Jan into 1 and it goes like =month(1&A1) where cell A1 has Jan in it. Full acknowledgement and explantion found on this website . Has a nice description of what that code is doing and why and we all like to know why something works!

MOT time -

er it failed lol. Rear tyres on / below legal limit which is fine I have no complaints about that at all. Coming into the winter with on the limit tyres is plain dumb and it's forced me to actually pick a tyre brand / model! So after much deliberating and trying to find someone with tyres I've plumbed for a completely new brand to me but recommended by folks running the same car as me.

Choices were for widths

245x40x17 - I know they'll fit without rubbing but waste of a 9 inch rim
255x40x17 - now you're talking and it **shouldn't** rub - note the use of shouldn't

Uniroyal Rainsport 2 - couldn't get them in any size I wanted
Goodyear F1's D3 - not impressed with the last set I had
Hankook RS'2 - not on sale anymore
Falken 452 - got good feedback from folks using them


Kumho KU31 - again good feedback from folks using them and I know someone running them


Bridgestone SO2 - Porsche fitment with the real aggressive tread wear


So I plumbed for the Kumho's in 255x40x17 so hopefully they'll be good - usual new tyre warnings apply - they'll grip like a wet bar of soap on lino til they wear away the mould releasing film!

Steering gaiter split and front brake balance dangerous. Ho hum, all getting fixed as we speak. Bloody cars

amazing day out! -

was such a sunny day I had to go out for a drive. Jet washed then polished car then drove it for 180 miles. 100 of which were in brilliant sunshine though not always warm, that's what the heater is for eh! Bunnet and sunglasses were used, I must have looked some state hehe. The drive back was in the dark, car behaved perfectly throughout the trip, ripped past traffic when asked and gave me one hell of a ride. The A85 from Tyndrum to Dalmally is an amazing stretch tarmac

Some pics below
on the road to Crainlarich



beside Loch Fyne




front fogs have been refitted, front end looks great

some pics -

taken from the caravan after the rain in Inveraray



after a jet wash and polish

rain X and sun -

before the IMOC drive I put some Rain X on the windscreen and boy was it fabby. Really makes a huge difference to when you need to put the wipers on. Weirdly the slower you go the more likely you are to need to put the wipers on. Go faster in the rain and it's all clear. Reality 1 logic didn't


Been sunny today so I went for a wee drive. Loved it. Jet washed car, wee run stopped up and gave the car a quick polish. Then drove home hehe. Sad but I enjoyed it

on another note -

seems like some people like linking to other websites pictures and claiming them to be their own, or at least own the item in the picture. Due to this I've had to add some copyright info to the pics and that's a real bind. I don't have the software to make it neat or tidy or even quick so it's all manual. I am however tempted to change the pic that's being leeched to something off the scale. Any suggestions, keep them clean but Carry On style most welcome....

And all because folks don't credit the original source, pah

Trip to Inveraray -

just before I did the IMOC run I spent some time in Inveraray. Usually I chill for a bit then head into Oban one day and the other head to Crinan. This year I decided Oban and Keillmore, except the road doesn't go to Keillmore. it kinda stops before it but how was I to know. Anyhow, it was a sunny day out which was nice and I took some of the usual dodgy pics, see below

trip to Ullapool and Skye -

a wee trip away to the sunny delights of the North of Scotland. First off meeting the guys at the Carnigorm carpark which of course was shrouded in mist pretty much all the time we were there but I got some pics, usual disclaimer - I take crap pics :-)





a three drain of water from the mountain


the 2 miles away in the carpark


After a run to Ullapool, put the tents up and then went to the pub. Woke up in the morning to this view, darn it was pretty with the sun cutting into the day


A beach on the coastal! road to Applecross


Applecross beach


er no more pictures as I kinda didn't take any. Bad me, but I had a great time away and as usual the folks from IMOC were a great bunch to hang out with for a few days.

valeted and polished - weather pants

been a while since I posted updates but that's because the weather has been so pants I haven't done anything! Anyhow I decided to get the car valeted and I've even treated it to a polish. Scary I know. My camera skills are still rubbish but I'm sure you'll be able to appreciate how clean the paintwork is, apart from the usual scrapes and city dings. Full set of pics can be found at the usual website but I've included a few below. Car feels good, really good since I changed the dizzy car and rotor arm. Boost heh heh







I will be removing the wiper arms taking the rust off and giving them a paint as they really bug me! I can see through the screen

new number plates added -

the rear which was lost in action has been replaced, looks near enough the same as before lol. The front has been replaced with a more er obviously legal double lined plate. Still only 13" wide and not the 20" UK style but then I have an Import Officer. Hopefully the fecker will stay on as it does hang down a fair bit past the holder. Darn having a full length number plate with full width lettering. Grrr

Trip to Skye May 09 -

hubba hubba. Weather was perfect, I mean perfect. Scorching hot weather for 3 solid days, clear blue skies ( hehe ) and bone dry roads. T-bars out first thing in the morning and only back in when we parked up for the night. Stunning stunning stunning. So anyways, on with the story.

Left Friday am and drove to Portree via Tyndrum and Cluanie Inn, where we had to stop for a lager shandy, it really was that hot. Stopped in Portree for the night, had a chippy by the harbour. Bloody brilliant. A couple more beers then off to bed.

Some photos of the friday







THE pint at Cluanie complete with condensation on the glass. Ahhh





Up early for breaky then over to the Applecross. Stunning stunning, first time I've done it in clear brilliant sunshine and it's awesome. Worthy of a special trip in anyones holiday.












then onwards to Ullapool via Gairloch



All in all, just fabby. Burnt me scalp as I didn't wear the cap I took with me. 2 days of sunshine, realised I was burnt then wore the cap on the 3rd day. Now as I type this I have flaking skin from my head, nice mmmm you like? No I didn't think so :(

fugging brakes! -

sigh, the front calipers are giving me some grief. Front passenger one is sticking which is er not so handy. Both fronts getting stripped down and rebuilt this bank holiday monday so hopefully solve the issue for a while. Plans are in motion for er upgrades........... Should be interesting to see how the ABS works that lot out lol

ignition all fixed - for now at least

indeed a temporary fix until I can source a newer coil ignitor. Original one was well dead as below. Cheers for giving up your Friday evening Calum, as ever a star.





Just to fix the brakes

a funny thing happened on the way to dinner -

was meeting a friend for dinner and was driving there, nice evening for it so was happy enough. Was stuck behind some slower moving traffic so first chance I got to power past I took it, er then it all went a bit funny..........

Down into 3rd, pull out and nail it 17psi. Got past the first car then a huge POP / BANG then the dash lights up.......... then nothing. So I dip the clutch and the revs just drop to zero. Clutch back up and the car just kinda farts and not a lot else. Clutch down turn over starter, nada nothing zip neit. So with that, I look over my shoulder at the car I just overtook and thought right I'm clear so I pulled over and flicked on the hazard lights while trying the get the darned thing to fire up again. Nope, it was dead :( Kinda embarrassing and the guy I overtook didn't look too happy either. Not like I planned it pal! Lucky I had enough momentum to get some distance and going by the pops and bangs from the exhaust he'd have known all was not well.

Single carriageway back road no laybys but at least it was on a straight section. So I get out and check under the car - no leaks, no oil and no shiny broken metal bits either. Try to start the car, just spinning over so I know the batteries fine. So after a bit I realise it's electrical but something serious. All fuses check out then I smell burning - then I see smoke

So I phone my dinner companion and explain the situation, phoned a friend for advice / options and then AA. AA man turned up in about 40 minutes and yeah the ignitor has gone = no spark no go fooked. So car gets towed back home, the shame of it all. Hopefully it's just the ignitor that's died in a very smoky fashion and not something else that's caused it to check out. Hopefully get it sorted this week but yet another expense just when I'm looking at new toys...........

and that fecking passenger front caliper is still sticking.

car manky - had to clean it

then went for a wee drive. No banging from the rear of the car, front brakes felt nice and strong though a tad juddery. Front discs still looking a bit marked but hey ho. 17psi is bloody strong lol, cars feels really good and peppy. Need to get the front fogs in and then undertrays on. Also need to keep checking the rear tyres, they are wearing down fast but then it can't be helped with the power going through them.

exhaust fixed - kind of

turns out it wasn't the exhaust banging on the subframe. It was the passenger rear caliper moving around on the top pivot. As it happens the bottom bolt that locates the caliper onto the pads and carrier was er missing. The clunking was the caliper moving about on the carrier. Ho hum. It's now sorted and no more banging.

Sunny day so got the t-bars oot. Bliss