Hi, My car's engine under-trays looked like bits of shuttle debris. This is not uncommon as standard filter change technique in some Japanese workshops consists of tearing the back end of the tray off the car without undoing the bolts and then using a rattle gun to obliterate the plastic under the bolts when you chuck it back on. A massive pissplosion of power steering fluid glued gunk and crud from a leaky high pressure hose added to the generally shredded melted torn tattered filthy effect (the shame, the shame). Toyota (ever hopeful) keep these in stock in Australia and for not much less than a thousand dollars you can have 2 new ones (as if). While finding myself unable to feel comfortable about driving around with the automotive equivalent of a set of shredded filthy Y fronts that had been worn unwashed for months, I also found paying Toyota that much for two bits of black plastic unconscionable.
One day while working under the car on a hoist I mentioned this to my hoist host. He said he had at least 10 sets "over there" and to go and pick some good ones. Apparently the Bomex Snow Plow Look is mandatory with a certain section of the local Soarer population. Sadly, but not for me you have to remove the under-trays to fit the Bomex Kit and they are usually discarded. After all they are only there to sort out underbody airflow, cooling, down-force, wind noise and keep road spray out of the engine ect.
The obvious lesson is if like me you like clean underwear but don't want to pay a thousand dollars a pair, try whoever fits Bomex kits in your state first. They usually have lots of spare bolts and washers as well. I still crack up watching the local population trying to negotiate the speed humps at Macca's, angled approaches, passengers lifting the wheel arches and much graunching and grinding of fiberglass. If only they had bought UZZ31/2's they could have flicked a switch.
As your mother would probably tell you, if you have an accident you don't want to get caught with disgusting under-trays. At least it looks like you GAF. For some reason I can't find a smiley that conveys anally fixated.
Seriously, to all those who have Bomex Kits, I salute and thank you for you dedication to style and unwitting contributions to Soarer restoration.
Roger, My undertray also looks a bit second hand and I was thinking of investigating the possibility of replacing it with something similar to what they use on 4WDs. I haven't really looked into it yet, but surely it wouldn't be to hard (or expensive)to get something made up if enough Soarer owners were interested.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 08:30 am, by: Steve Latimer
As your mother would probably tell you, if you have an accident you don't want to get caught with disgusting under-trays. } "But Mom, if I've had an accident I've probably already dirtied my under-}trays}". }Sorry Roger, couldn't resist- no offence, keep your great posts coming
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 03:55 pm, by: Jeff Wilkins
My under-tray came loose at 180 klicks, made a very disturbing noise let me assure you. Upon pulling over and inspecting what the hell was wrong I determined that the kindly Jap's had chosen to fit only 2 mis-matched undersized screws in the front of said tray, one on the left and 3 on the rear side. I think 2 of the screws actually came from the same application though I belive NONE of them were actually used to secure the tray originally.
Ive since fitted an entire compliment of MATCHING screws, using drilled out chassis shims as washers (the extra width of the shims will hopefully prevent any screws pulling through the tray as some of the holes are looking a little scruffy round the edges).
And all this time I thought the TT just didn't have one. Well then, I guess that explains why I have a lot of bolt holes under the car with nothing in them then. Another piece that my car is missing, along with the drivers door trim, centre console, etc, hmmm I think I shall refer to it as stage 3 weight reduction
What's wrong with taking the filter off from above? It never occured to me to take the tray off anyway (and I'm not getting under the car with Toyota jack either).
Sunday, August 28, 2005 - 05:50 pm, by: Ben Kelly(Ace)
I had a similar problem, one of my trays is missing and lexus of parramatta wanted $600 for a new one. I went to the local jap wrekers and they tried to sell me a scabby looking bit of rolled up plastic which they claim is what i needed for only $140. Needless to say i still dont have one. What i was thinking is getting a drawing of one, like a trace...and then cutting it out of some type of sheet metal. The original looks very flimsy anyway so i thought anything i could make would hardly be much worse.
Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 07:50 am, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
Ben, they don't appear flimsy. If they are mounted correctly they should be tough enough. Once the mounts get buggered there's more stress on the remainder. Especially if there are enough missing to allow the thing to flap around, the movement/mechanical stress on the plate would cause cracking.
A steel tray would not only be much heavier, but the mounts would have to be changed to cope. I can say from experience that if an undertray (in this case a sump-guard on a 4wd) isn't mounted correctly and/or from a decent grade of steel, they will fracture. I had my sump-guard welded several times on the Tata (garbage steel).
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