Awesome, brother from another country. I will get to engine issues in due time, or should I say, eventually.

I've decided I am going to take both racks apart and make a hybrid but functional new rack. I understand there is a service kit for the steering rack which includes all the seals and fasteners etc..

The deeper I delve into the inner workings of these cars the more I love them. I can't wait to drive it again.

 

Unless my eyes are deceiving me, according to the following service manual the pressure control valves are interchangeable.
The first is the 98-00 and the second 95-97.
I'm gonna give it a shot.

 

Sway bar is out. The shiny bit on the sway bar is where it was rubbing against it's worn out bushing. Worn out strut bar bushing. Old and newer ball joint comparison. It will have to do for now. The pile of suspension parts removed from my car is growing steadily. Wait until I do the rear.

 

More carnage. Various destroyed joints and things. Apologies for the horrible photos.

 

I put the 98-00 mirrors on the 95-97, reconnected the battery and tested them. They went haywire. They wouldn't adjust sideways and vertically. The RHS mirror swivelled it's housing all the way forward when I was trying to adjust the mirror upwards. The LHS mirror housing swivelled backwards.
I will have to figure this out.
The diagram in both service manuals (95-97 and 98-00) showing which contacts on the plug are for which function are identical. My 98-00 is missing the defrost heater function though. I have searched the forums and it seems like nobody else has encountered this.
If anybody can give some pointers on this I would greatly appreciate it. Otherwise I will use my battery and some leads to check which points in the plug do what and then swop wires around.

 

Tried out some matte white diamond pearl vinyl wrap on a body molding. Looks good, especially in the sun. I can't wait to cover the whole car with this. I keep being told how difficult vinyl wrapping is. I bought a 30m (98ft) roll of the stuff so I'm ready for trial and error. I want to finish up the suspension swop first and then onto the vinyl.

I also swopped over some nice trim pieces from the 98-00 with 'Celsior' engraved in. it looks good.

 

My radiator grille is messed up so I decided to see if the grille from the 98-00 would fit.

 

With some slight cutting and gentle (rubber mallet) persuasion I got the 98-00 grille to fit in my 95-97 chrome grille surround. I also rattle can sprayed it matte black as I really like that look. It didn't turn out too bad and one has to look really close to notice anything amiss.

 

I moved the donor car next to my car to clear up space and appease the wife.

 

I replaced my back left outer light with the light from the 98-00 and found that it fis with no modification. Only the top bulb has a different fitting but a bit of tlc will fix that.
The inner lights will not fit as the 98-00's are wider and as I have been informed by other members. I then had the thought that the trunk/boot lid should be interchangeable. Once I get tired of how the different lights (crystal and old school) look I will give it a shot.

 

yep, it's been known that the outers fit without issue, it's the way the inners fit that is the issue.

re: 98-00 lights in a '96-97.

 

My JDM is the same ! Its a total shame, knowing the beast thats under our hood

 

sell me your center toyota piece that goes over the airbag in your donor =] lol

 

Great progress This is quite a good rebuild tread and we appreciate all the pics.

 

How bad does the rust affect the cars down there?