My interior paint order showed up from Superior Restoration yesterday, so I gave my little gauge pod a makeover. I wasn't digging the smooth black, so I sprayed it with some 'spray grain', that is normally used when restoring leather. It's basically diluted Elmer's glue in a spritzer bottle. I hit the pod with that and then re-sprayed it with SEM color coat satin black. I'm happy with the results. It matches the dash quite well. What I'd like to do is actually integrate the pod into the dash and skin them both in leather, but that's a ways down the road. Here's the textured pod (click for larger image to actually see the grain):
I also installed an early 7M A/C pump top today. The later ones have a nipple
on the back that interferes with one of the 1JZ pump bolts. Here is a comparison of the two top plates, early style top (with R134A adapter) and later style bottom:
In the car, top right bolt installed:
I didn't think I'd get it installed tonight, since I couldn't find the bolt and I have it on order. It just happened to be that a bag of bolts on the shelf caught my eye while working on the car. I had searched the garage up and down last week in search of that bolt before placing my parts order. I figured that since I hadn't seen the bolt since I did the 1JZ swap over 2 years ago, it was long gone. Well, I was wrong, and now it's all installed
. Good thing the new one I ordered was only $1.34 or something like that.
Ever wondered what you get in the $125 R134A conversion kit from Toyota?
That's it. (Well plus the other adapter that is installed on the top plate in the above pics.) I got the kit for like $10 on eBay. I wouldn't have paid $125 for it! This one would be best sourced aftermarket unless you can swindle one for $10 on eBay
Despite being from Toyota, It's not even Supra specific. You have to buy the other O-Rings separate since it only comes with the discharge hose ones.
By the way, if anyone needs a Receiver-Drier cheap, look
here. You might want to buy yourself a spare or two at that price