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Last time I drove it, I noticed steam coming from the engine bay. I took a look and it appeared to be coming from, I assume, something dripping onto the rear headers.

Also, I'm getting a lot of tapping noises from the front valve cover and a lot of blow-by in the plenum.

Right now, I'm considering whether to repair it or swap in a new motor. Anybody have any suggestions?

Rear leak is likely a bad valver cover gasket.

Tapping noise, get it checked. As for blow by, unless you've cleaned your plenum before, it's goign to look like an oil slick from hell.

I've cleaned it quite often. I'm assuming its blowby because it's fresh oil that has coated it.

I just redid the rear valve cover but I am going to do it again.

Well, I figured out why it smelled like coolant...

Hooray for having no coolant in my engine

lol

No coolant? For how long?

Ilovemylara wrote:No coolant? For how long?

Luckily, not that long. I ran the engine today to further figure out where the smoke was coming from and it quickly dissipated. That's when I knew to stop (luckily). So maybe ten seconds.

3mz hybrid!

That's how it's looking right now...

So, while waiting for money for parts, I decided to go ahead and do a full wire tuck. I (for some stupid reason) thought it would be cool if the battery and the fuse boxes were moved from the engine bay into the trunk. I have no idea how much wire I've had to go through so far because of that damn idea.

I'll post some photos of the project in a bit.

Rear valve cover is a fun one. Then again, that's nothing compared to a wire tuck. Good luck, James!

JamesT wrote:So, while waiting for money for parts, I decided to go ahead and do a full wire tuck. I (for some stupid reason) thought it would be cool if the battery and the fuse boxes were moved from the engine bay into the trunk. I have no idea how much wire I've had to go through so far because of that damn idea.

I'll post some photos of the project in a bit.

haha looking forward to the pics

same here man!

Alright, I took some photos today:

I decided to move the fuse boxes into the back. I'm running everything that went to the boxes in the driver's side fender.

Yeah, I know it's a faux pa to have vinyls on the car but I have to represent my business! (not that anyone is going to see the vinyl anyway).


Following the path of the other cables on the drivers side, here is where the new wires route into the trunk (I'm so glad this part is done!)


Also, since Gibson posted his SAFC mount, I thought I would show mine even though it isn't finished yet.


I decided to suede wrap all the upper pillars as well.


The bottom portions were re-wrapped in black vinyl.

Rewrapped my steering wheel (again). This time is black leather


A closeup:


And now, the scary photo:

It really doesn't look as jumbled over by the ECU as this photo makes it out to be.

Some more photos:

The passenger side fender. Some of these sensors I need to re-feed into the engine bay through a hole I made behind the engine. I'm really glad I labeled all the sensors!


Custom fitting the fuse boxes into the little pocket area on the driver's side of the trunk.


Also, I don't know if anyone else has done this but here is the TRD muffler on my Camry. I think it fits in there pretty well.