Hi guys,

I've cut and pasted the most pertinent parts of my 19pg project thread from the OC. Hopefully some of you may find it interesting.

It may seem a little disjointed in places and some of the pics may not be chronological but you'll get the idea

Hello all,

I've been meaning to post up here for a while. Nothing too revolutionary but it's all there. This is what it currently looks like









89' Lightweight version with E152F gearbox. Box for everyday driving is pretty terrible imo. I'd never get rid of it as it keeps the car authentic, I'm having it rebuilt soon by wolfiehere. It does just about 80mph in 4th @ around 6000rpm. I don't like revving on too much but 80 is simply too slow for pressing on; even in lanes. The jump to 5th is bizarre as 5th is the standard E150F ratio; therefore it goes from all the revs to bogging down and coming off boost.

I pitted the LW against an E30 touring with a 328i M52 conversion and we we're equal until 80mph. I went into 5th - he sailed past and I gave up. A weird Toyota choice on ratios.

The Lightweight also differs from the standard model with

manual windows
no elec aeriel
no telescopic on steering adjust
grey cloth interior-lighter (replaced with sr3 recaros)
thinner headlining
no abs
no elec fold mirrors
no led rear spoiler

It has the following mods

Mines p&p ECU
CT20 turbo from a 205 WRC with manual boost controller running a few psi over standard
Golpher rad with twin Spals
Late spec single pot front callipers with Pagid pads and grooved discs
7X17 ET47 OZ Roulettes. These will soon have 25mm H&R hubcentric spacers fitted
Momo Competition Steering wheel
Excel G suspension
custom 2.5" turbo back stainless system
new 205 rear subframe and diff + arms and 205 hubs

It spends most of its time sat in the garage and normally comes out during good weather (assuming we have any in a given year)

Plans in the next 3 months are

BC coilovers
bespoke uprated braking system front and rear
rebuilt E152F box
the above mentioned roof scoops

lots of service items replacing on the engine such as leads, distributor etc

orignal post edited with a bit more info.

and a few pics relating to the above

firstly my old ata (air to air)





as I found the LW



The N/S rear bearing had seized in the hub so the car was off the road due to excess play. The hub was removed, put into a bucket of diesel for a week then put in a 40 tonne press, it mullered the end of the shaft. Solution was to replaced the entire back end after freshening it up a little









getting ready to strip the rear end





old subframe dropped



notice the ratchet strap onto the rear towing eye. I was undoing a nut with a power bar and lifted the back end of the car off the lift



wrapped decat



how it looked a while ago



can't remember what was being done here



2.5" stainless being fitted





Rad going in, the air con rad was removed at this point



The Recaro(s) before fitting



wheels going on



and how it looks now



and dyno print out



All the pictures I have of the interior



didn't notice my thumb when I took this









older pics with standard wheel and seats









Some random pics

on Vixpys rollers in Surrey









Having a compression test done @ South Wales Tuning in Caerphilly



190 across all 4 cylinders. Most importantly the readings were consistent however 190 is too high a ratio, should be around 160 which leads me to believe the heads been skimmed in the past and a standard head gasket used. Not ideal but hey ho.

pulling out the AC gubbins



exhaust being fitted @ Prospeed in Cardiff







Few pics from a while ago









Having alignment done @ A&A Tyres on Hadfield Road Cardiff





Things were pretty out before hand



changing the rear arb drop links



Thanks for reading

Welcome to the Club and thanks for sharing looks like an interesting car

_________________
GT4DC Events Co-ordinator
1996 ST205 UK

Welcome to the club

Looks a lovely car, if I ever went back to a 185 it would be white one lol

I'd love a passenger ride in it sometime, must really shift in 1st to 4th!

Thanks both

It really goes well in the first 4 gears Animal I mention box isn't ideal for every day but I'd never change it, when your flat from 1st to 4th it's rapid.

It's currently layed up and running on 3 cylinders. I've had the plugs out and they look fine. After the new year I'll be inspecting the ignition system. Then I can sort the hot start problem she has

Actually I lie I'll probably leave that job to Warner

Hi & welcome to the club.

Great to see a lightweight being looked after. They're one of the rarest versions to start with and loads have been broken for the gearbox. Given another decade I suspect these will be worth more than any other 4.

_________________
If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

Lets hope so Nibbles.

Reading through some of the other threads here I only hope I can one day lavish the attention and skills required to bring her up to a really good standard. I came very close to selling it not long ago but the deal fell through at the last moment.

In hindsight I'm pleased it did, the 330ci that was to replace it would have given me far less headaches however I do feel I would have lost something almost irreplaceable.

Here's to continued headaches..