Installed a sport hood picked up at the junk yard yesterday in good condition of a same year black 2002, got it for $150.
Either I can remove the entire crossmember, or the center transmission bracket to the crossmember or just the transmission from that bracket.
Any suggestion as to which is the way most people choose?
Just remove the whole crossmember. Don't be surprised if it rusty and really stuck on there. Oh and obviously you want your transmission jack in place and secure (with straps) before removing the crossmember.
Oil change last night, they always run better afterwards don't they? 5k int with Mobil1 Syn. Flushing out some of the PO small neglect, bit by bit.




How's that dial indicator treating you? Would you recommend someone purchase the same one? If so, could you please provide a link to where you purchased it? Thanks!
My motor for the lumbar adjustment had a dead spot in it so it didn’t work so I, like you, didn’t install the switch again.

Installing the leather would go much easier if one has access to a steamer , to stretch the leather. I didn’t even use hog rings for installation but instead opted to use zip ties. It isn’t factory but works well for me.
Remove the 4 bolts up into the mount (first picture) and the four bolts/nuts into the crossmember (third picture). Make sure the transmission is supported before you remove the crossmember bolts (third picture ones). Looks like you have a 2WD! You'll have it a lot easier (by 100+ lbs) than most of us on here.The choice is either the four bolts on the rear mount, or the four bolts on the rearmount bracket, or the four bolts on the entire crossmember.
See pictures below.
Also, do you locktite the clutch bolts when going back in? (What color?)
Just to clarify, I did keep the lumbar switch function (it makes a big improvement in terms of back support) - I just moved it from the seat back location (where it was for '96-00) to the side of the seat cushion, in the plastic trim piece, where Toyota finally put it in '01-02:
Yup, I saw that trick. Not having a steamer, I put the leather out in the hot sun for an hour, so I think it did the same thing. I really had no trouble stretching the leather over the foam, my issue seems to be the opposite - too much leather, hence the wrinkles.
Yup. 2WD.Remove the 4 bolts up into the mount (first picture) and the four bolts/nuts into the crossmember (third picture). Make sure the transmission is supported before you remove the crossmember bolts (third picture ones). Looks like you have a 2WD! You'll have it a lot easier (by 100+ lbs) than most of us on here.
Flywheel to engine should have thread sealant (if the bolt holes go into the crankcase like some toyota engines) or blue loctite. Pressure plate to flywheel shouldn't need loctite, they have lock washers. You can use blue there if you really want though.
Switched the turn signals from the silly ones at the bottom of the bumper to the corners and replaced all the signal bulbs with LED's. The LED's caused hyperflash so bad that the lights wouldn't even shut off haha. For those interested, the Novita EP35 flasher relay fixes the hyperflashing with all LED bulbs.
The LED reverse lights I put in are brighter than my old headlights haha