samad-jdm

[samad-jdm]

Blog 9: Were We Are Now Currently At

January 2020 - March - Present

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Blog 8: To The Point Giving Up & Letting Go

November 2019

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Blog 7: The Journey So Far, The Friends I Have Made Due To This Car

March 2019 - September 2019

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Blog 6: Blog 5: Hunt Down For Parts (Part 2)

December 2018 - January 2019

But in order to use them I needed seat frames, runners as spacers I did have on hand so that wasn’t an issue thank you to Eddy for that.

Luckily around the same time I was tagged in a post by Eddy himself as he told me what I need to run the seats in my car but I did feel that it would be a difficult search to find them. He tagged me in Dans post and I bought them from him a few weeks later they were posted.

This was back in December.

January 2019

The next steps were sourcing more parts I found a T Sport bonnet that had makeshift Vents installed on it they were also functional. The car it was from was going to be scrapped so I bought it just in time. Around the same time I bought a carbon fibre engine cover and bought a set of T Sport badges to be resprayed in gloss black

3 days later I celebrated Maria’s first anniversary little did I know the progress I would make so far little steps but it was getting there slowly but surely.

The next day the parts I bought were finally installed. Including getting my brake discs, pads changed and my alloys changed to the set I bought from Luke (Originally from Leo’s Vitz RS Turbo).

3 days later the badges were finally ready to be put on the car and improved the look massively.

5 days after the C-One Motorsports Front Bumper Lip Spats (Reps) arrived after ordering them from Zac of ZG Vlogs.

Some photographs of Maria within a frosty morning. As it was heading towards the end of journey I decided to take a 2 month break from buying parts due to Uni work.

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Blog 5: Hunt Down For Parts (Part 1)

September 2018 

The spec list all written up it was now time to source the next sets of parts I could find. 

Little Note: Parts I have bought were from members of Yaris Club UK (YCUK) just saves me having to write it every time.

In September I bought the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Front Strut Brace from Gary Mohan from his Toyota Vitz RS Turbo a really rare part to get a hold of. I was quite lucky when I spoke to him as it was over a month or so speaking to him in regards to it, He sent it shipped from Ireland and came to the UK in good time safe and secure. 

I heard really good reviews on this strut brace compared to other ones used so it was my turn to find out the difference it would make to Maria’s handling and overall drive.

A couple of months later I bought a Rear Kode Tow Hook from Elmz a good person as well very humble. it wasn't a bad price either and I saw his post on the group just at the right time and bought it, it came posted securely and was ready to use.

Another two keep parts I bought was the TRD/Vitz RS Front Bumper Lip (Genuine), Sparco 3 Point Harnesses. that I collected From Cam Toman in Wigan although the lip ended not being used and sold sadly due to change of direction down the line.

I bought some alloys from Luke Parnell from Yaris Club UK - (YCUK) in November 2018. Originally I was supposed to buy them from Leo Georgeau another member of Yaris Club UK - (YCUK) as I was interested in them. 

However due to uni commitments the month before I ended up being busy and by time I got back to him he sold them with his car as they were from his new project that he imported from Japan that were on the Toyota Vitz RS Turbo and he switched them on his Yaris T Sport Ph2 and used his Buddy Club P1 alloy wheels for his new project instead.

Pictures of how the alloys looked on the Vitz RS, Yaris T Sport Ph2 (Prior to my ownership of the alloys.

Whether it was just pure luck or perfect timing contacting him his car that he was selling was being test driven little did I know it would be Luke who would be buying it.

I asked Leo if he could speak to whoever it was as he said the new owner wasn't keen on the wheels and would change them, as I really wanted to buy them and have them on Maria ideally as winter wheels.

Luke contacted me sometime after in November and said that he would sell me the alloy wheels, as he wasn't keen and his friend wasn't either which also perfect for me as I needed them.

On a Sunday within early November before work I met him at a service station in Derby loaded the wheels up had a quick chat and drove straight back to Leeds but not without seeing how fast his T Sport flying past me was which was motivating for me going forward in the long run.

I got back home in time dropped off the wheels and went straight to work.

But planned to get the alloys put on soon enough.

In December I got some parts from Eddy Yaris Club UK - (YCUK) Legend in Barnsley he told me he was moving to Australia and was going to be selling his Yaris T Sport Ph1. While I was there I noticed a perticular set of bucket seats in the colour way similar to the ones I wanted minus them being a fixed back.

They were the Recaro JDM EP3 seats which would work perfectly for what I wanted looks and comfort wise.

I spoke to him about them and got a price for them which was set and he saved them for me, a week before he flew to Australia I bought them.

Pictures of the seats in his Yaris T Sport Ph1

On the night I collected them he gave me some free parts which was very kind of him. He also helped me fix the harnesses within the seats as well

I dropped them home and got to work on them the next day.

[samad-jdm]

Blog 4: Ideal Spec List I Wanted

January 2019

Juggling my final year of uni I decided to make my ideal spec list for Maria in my downtime to relax from the pressure.

This was the plan little did I know it was a green light from the word go.

Although the list was slightly modified and changed slightly as time went on

(Spec List as of January 2019) 

Exterior: 

* Nirvana Brand 14″ 14x185/55R14 Alloy Wheels * Window Tints                                                                                                  *Team Heko Wind Deflectors (To Be Changed In Due Course)                              

Interior: 

* Sparco Seat Belt Covers * Toyota Yaris T Sport Mats

Engine Bay: 

* TRD Oil Cap * TRD Radiator Cap * NGK Spark Plugs

Ideal Spec List: 

Exterior:

* C-One GT Wing Rear Spoiler * C-One Spats Front Bumper Lip (Reps) * Headlight Inners To be Resprayed Gloss Black * Team Heko Wind Deflectors (To Be Changed In Due Course) * Toyota OEM Wind Deflectors * Kode Tow Hook * C Style Carbon Fibre Bonnet (C-One Rep)  * C-One Side Skirts (Real or Reps)  * C-One Eye Lids (Genuine) * C-One Rear Bumper Lip Spats  * HKS Hi Power Jasma Exhuast Backbox * Badges & Sticker Decals                                                                                      * Saitoworks Sunstrip

Brakes/Suspension

* Pagid Front and Rear Brakes and Disks * Blue Print Brake Pads front and rear * Standard Front and Rear Shocks, Polyjoints

Interior: 

* OMP 330mm Racing GP Steering Wheel * OMP Boss Kit * TRD Gear Knob * Sparco Seat Belt Covers * Toyota Yaris T Sport Mats * Recaro JDM EP3 Bucket Seats * Sparco 3 Point Harnessess * Bride OMP Frames, Fixings & Seat Rails * Centre Console Parts Changed to the VXR Blue Ones (original console resprayed in Vauxhall Astra VXR Blue) * Badges, Sticker Decals  * JDM Broadway Mirror 300mm  * Pionneer Stereo System Flip Out Screen

Engine Bay: 

* TRD Strut Brace * TRD Carbon Fibre Engine Cover * TRD Oil Cap * TRD Radiator Cap * Apexi Air Filter * NGK Spark Plugs

However my work was cut out but I was still determined to get things moving after a disasterous year that last year was. 

After getting parts from Zac in summer 2018, I kept the ball slowly rolling.

[samad-jdm]

Blog 3: Back On Track Lets Do This

July 2018

in July 2018 I got some parts from Zac Gill (Yaris Club UK - YCUK) as he was taking parts off his T Sport Ph2. Sadly I couldn't get more things that were on my list so had to make do but they were worth it going forward. 

The parts were:

(1) Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Gear Knob

(2) Original Toyota Yaris T Sport Centre Console Parts Resprayed in VXR Blue

(3) TRD/Vitz RS Rear Bumper Lip (Genuine)

(4) TRD/MK2 Spoiler (Rep)

(4) Toyota Yaris Yaris T Sport Car Mats (Mine didn't have any)

(5) Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Oil Cap

But the upside he gave me a free engine cover he didn't need anymore I ended up keeping it as a spare part.

He was keen for me to keep going with my project and make it the best it can be and at the time I needed all the motivation I could get.

Since then 4 months after getting the parts from Zac and the month before my engine replaced after its disaster and 1 month without a car during the engine replacement. 

Maria was finally back on form now and it was time to get down to business.

More to follow

[samad-jdm]

Blog 2: Could Of Been All Over Before it Started

19/05/18

Just after I finsihed my first Japfest event with Maria on my way home my coolant light flashed luckily though I managed to top the water at a petrol station, head back home. But just as I was near the car cut out and wouldn't start. So it had to be roll started and upon parking it up I discovered I had a radiator leak. 

The garage I used to take my car and Maria previously ended up messing her up over something so simple and a cheap fix but making it out worser then it was and that it had to be replaced big mistake. Claiming that they couldn't get a new radiator for the car they said they will get a second hand one  plus when a radiator is replaced all the water, coolant, anti freeze needs to be refilled due to what was lost.

I regret trusting them because I took there word for it and when I started Maria up she wasn't sounding healthy and I needed her for drive to Blackpool for a weekend break with my ex and her family at the time. I asked why the engine was sounding the way it did, the mechanic said to me “its the head gasket is on its way out”, I said “will the head gasket need to be straight away or later” he said it will be okay, not to worry” I wish I didn't believe him and leave the car home.

But little did I know what was about to go down on the way not even getting there either. The coolant light came back up and I couldn't believe it but couldn't stop as I was on a section of the motorway where I couldn't stop I kept going and wish I didn't the engine started knocking and then Maria slowed down and cut out. On the hard shoulder I tried to start the car but she wouldn't turn over so I was stuck got the recovery after nearly 2 hours of waiting the recovery came and then dropped it off to a local garage but they discovered that the head gasket exploded and water leaked inside flooding the engine. 

So now no car and stuck and in Blackpool for the weekend didn't help luckily I was following my GF’s (Now Ex)’s parents so I wasn't stuck for getting back home.

Maria ended up having to be parked at a local garage where she was dropped off, then taken to a garage 30 minutes from home to a family friend who is a mechanic and could fix it but the engine would of needed to be replaced. But due to not having contacts and connection to parts quickly for my car at the time it was costly and dented my project plans which was to last for some time. So no progression could be made for a while.

Moral of the story:

Stay with your car and watch what the mechanics are doing and that they are actually working on your car and not taking the piss (Sorry for my foul langauge)

Make sure to get quotes from other places but that are rupturable as I discovered this garage had a negative rep despite the amount of customers that come to them.

check the car over before and after being at the garage but best to be with the car if you can.

Have contacts for parts you need as you never know when you need them.

[samad-jdm]

Blog 1: So It Begins (Maria & Her Adventures)

10/1/18

it begins welcome Maria 

She is my Toyota Yaris Ph2 T Sport 1.5 VVT-I, and perfect choice to start this journey off with, for the long term too.

(A bit of lengthy trivia) 

She was always one of the main dream cars from my bucket list that was meant to be being a secondary one, when I was in high school I’d used to see her around my hometown through out the years and odd times locally even in college until I did see the car again.

She moved to a couple of other places within the U.K but finally came back in with my next door neighbour (literally) when they picked it up in 2014 I passed my driving test that year a month before my 22nd birthday. The night I heard her park up I went out and admired the look and then it clicked what car it was as I remembered the reg and look.

I spoke to my neighbour and asked if he would ever sell it he said “not in the current time but when I do you will be the first to know”

True to his word and 4 years of waiting and hard work patiently saving up on the 10th of January 2018 Maria was finally mine. 

I still couldn't believe she was to be mine, once my insurance and ownership etc was sorted a few days before. it was now time to be given the keys and take her home not before I had taken her for a good drive that night with my GF now ex and was at my most happiest I have ever felt in a long time. 

I joined YarisClubUK around the same time but still regret not doing so when I drove the 1.0 Yaris at the time but better late then never I guess. Maria in December 2018 the start of what was to come within the coming year.

[samad-jdm]

Welcome to Samad-JDM (Blogs & Project Bulids)

Hi there

Welcome to my blog through this you can follow my journey and adventures in a more in depth detail as I progress with my current project, future ones as they come up.

:) 

Stay Tuned

Samad