JTRON's ZRE

[jtron85]

Finally posting my facelift ZRE152.

I received my ZRE in late Jan 10 whilst my order was made Sept 09. I wasn't sure if I was going to get the current 09 model or the possible facelift everyone was talking about. BTW this is my first car.

Update: Mrs now drives this as a daily so I won't be messing around with it too much... for now.

Thanks Charlie for the pics.

The controversial rear end. At first I didn't like it, but I think it's grown on me. I had the same reaction with the Corolla sedan.

As for now it's stock apart from the muffler.

Currently have:

Xforce Twinloop exhaust

30% tint

Front weather shields

Headlight protectors

As for now I'm looking at the following to install:

Whiteline rear sway bar

Cusco front strut bar

Eibach Pro-kit springs or Lovells

Rear LED reflectors

Slimline weather shields

Premium horn

Injen CAI

17" wheels - Still trying to choose and will probably come last.

Sportivo front lip

[flipsta24]

awesome plans John! to bad you cant make it to the annual but we'll definately catch up when you get back to sort out those mods :P lol

[jtron85]

Thanks Charlie. Looking forward to coming back and finally sorting all these out, choosing which parts is driving me nuts haha.

[dutchie101]

Nice shots, nice car John. I freaked when i felt how high the seat was too, im used to lounging almost in the back seat :) but you do become a custom to it... 'til you start throwing the car around then you will find you need a new seat... but hey, just grip that steering wheel tighter!!

I have a quick question, just under the face lift tail lights, is that lower edge of the tails flush with the bumper or do the tails poke out a little? I see a little shadow under there..

Good list of mods planned too, the car will be great once they are carried out!

[jtron85]

Nice shots, nice car John. I freaked when i felt how high the seat was too, im used to lounging almost in the back seat :) but you do become a custom to it... 'til you start throwing the car around then you will find you need a new seat... but hey, just grip that steering wheel tighter!!

I have a quick question, just under the face lift tail lights, is that lower edge of the tails flush with the bumper or do the tails poke out a little? I see a little shadow under there..

Good list of mods planned too, the car will be great once they are carried out!

Haha yeah I still freak out at the roundabout at times and do my best and hold on.

If I understand you correctly, yes the tail does stick out just slightly.

Not sure if you can notice in this picture, but the edge slopes down and the tail slopes out a little more.

[jtron85]

While every other ZRE almost has an Injen intake, I ended up getting a second hand K&N Apollo. I had a good look in my engine bay and realized that it wasn't a completely universal kit. I realized that my MAF sensor was actually on the airbox. That was a fail on my part, so the K&N is just sitting at home at the moment. I may sell it on Ebay later on.

ZRE airbox with MAF sensor, I guess this was Toyota's way of being clever with the ZRE152 facelift.

[dutchie101]

You can still remove it from that airbox and use an Injen, thats easily done.. I cant for see any problems doing so.

[jtron85]

You can still remove it from that airbox and use an Injen, thats easily done.. I cant for see any problems doing so.

Looks like installing an Injen CAI will be fine... It's just that the K&N Apollo is just simply a pod with an enclosure which should replace my the facelift's airbox. Unfortunately that also means removing the MAF sensor from the original set up and using a MAF sensor adapter/custom mount. Although the K&N Apollo should install quite easily on the pre-facelift.

Edited June 6, 2010 by jtron85

[jtron85]

Not liking the look of these welds, Such a noob for not having a closer look when I had them done.

Thinking of getting them done correctly, anyone recommend a place?...

Edited July 21, 2010 by jtron85

[Kenneth.]

Why's it like that? Did you get a custom muffler welded on?

[jtron85]

Why's it like that? Did you get a custom muffler welded on?

Yup I had twinloop welded on, it was a little short as you can see.

[jtron85]

Tried to install a Stebel horn. Fail due to my lack of knowledge of electronics. Apparently it's suppose to be really simple.

Edited October 31, 2010 by jtron85

[jtron85]

Finally got around to installing a Cusco strut tower brace. Coming out of corners feels a lot better now.

[johnnieboi]

Good work on the front strut. A must have. I now know. lol

[pezzie]

Hey jtron, how's it feel with the front strut now? im thinking about getting it soon as well

[Kenshin X]

Hey jtron, how's it feel with the front strut now? im thinking about getting it soon as well

a must have ;) when i sat in johnniebois car almost creamed me pantz. :D

[jtron85]

Hey jtron, how's it feel with the front strut now? im thinking about getting it soon as well

Cornering feels more stable and responsive, it's got rid of the wobbling feeling out of corners. I'm still running stock suspension so there's still a lot of body roll (mostly felt by the passengers).

Unfortunately I slightly bent the base on the driver side, I must have tightened it a little too hard against the groove found on top of the strut. I might loosen it a little this weekend as the car slightly steers to one or either side.

Somehow a slight nudge affects the direction, anyone tell me if this is normal? Feels like I just need to go for an alignment...

[Noodle Boy]

at least you've made an improvement with the cornering...great plans though.

[johnnieboi]

Hey jtron, how's it feel with the front strut now? im thinking about getting it soon as well

Cornering feels more stable and responsive, it's got rid of the wobbling feeling out of corners. I'm still running stock suspension so there's still a lot of body roll (mostly felt by the passengers).

Unfortunately I slightly bent the base on the driver side, I must have tightened it a little too hard against the groove found on top of the strut. I might loosen it a little this weekend as the car slightly steers to one or either side.

Somehow a slight nudge affects the direction, anyone tell me if this is normal? Feels like I just need to go for an alignment...

You need wheel alignment, dont think it'd be your front strut affecting your steering. Front strut brace stiffened my steering and reduced bodyroll.

If you get front sway, it improves your steering response and makes your front more flat around corners, but we all need more work on the rear, front is fine with just strut brace if you dont have coilovers.

[itsmehuey]

Hey man nice ride. See you were looking into installing a CAI on your facelift. Any luck so far with the MAF sensor and airbox being a single unit?

Looking at getting a CAI installed in my facelift too :S

[jtron85]

I've been very tempted and close to grabbing a CAI. I think the Injen CAI should be fine on the facelift, I think the 09 ZREs have the single unit as well (Ask Dutchie). Decided not to install due to a few members rides throwing the error. I have a feeling that the CAI caused the engine to run too lean, you may get around this by running on 98RON.

[Ascendant Rice]

I've been very tempted and close to grabbing a CAI. I think the Injen CAI should be fine on the facelift, I think the 09 ZREs have the single unit as well (Ask Dutchie). Decided not to install due to a few members rides throwing the error. I have a feeling that the CAI caused the engine to run too lean, you may get around this by running on 98RON.

Hey mate, i installed a takeda sri onto friends facelift no problems no engine light

[L.M.F.]

Hi jtron85, I was wondering where did you get the cusco strut brace?

[itsmehuey]

@jtron85: yeh I usually fill up on 98. Haven't used 95 or 91 since I got my car.

@A.Rice: how did you get around the MAF/airbox thingy?

[Ascendant Rice]

@jtron85: yeh I usually fill up on 98. Haven't used 95 or 91 since I got my car.

@A.Rice: how did you get around the MAF/airbox thingy?

The takeda sri intake has a hole to mount sensor, so i just unscrewed sensor from stock housing and put it into pipe