Betty White's build thread

[Flakbadger]

This is my build thread for my 2009 Toyota Yaris sedan. Don't expect a lot of updates, unfortunately life gets in the way of ecomodding; it's taken me a year and a half of ownership to install a grille block for Pete's sake. Also I'm lazy. Maybe I should have said that first?

This first post will be updated as I add mods.

Grille block V4 now installed.

Link to post


This has been an Ecomod for a while, but haven't uploaded a pic until now. It's added at least 2 MPG


Installed smooth hubcaps 7/19/2014.

Link to post

Update on smooth hubcaps after ~5 months.

Link to post

[Daox]

Well for not having many mods you are certainly doing a fine job with the car. Congrats.

[Flakbadger]

Made some new hubcaps after losing one of the old Volvo ones.


Looks pretty good, I'd say.


Six Neodymium magnets spaced evenly around the wheel. Each is atop a small piece of 3m tape to keep it from sliding. Three strips of thin insulation fill the gap between the rim and the wheel cover, to keep it from sliding/moving. You can see the insulation peeking out just a bit.


The eventual plan is to paint them white. They are very secure. Requires a screwdriver and a bit of effort to get the magnets to let go.

Total cost was ~$35

[Cobb]

Ah, the 4 door saloon. I saw the little hatch back the other day and it was rather sporty looking from what I recall in 06. Yeah, those mods will add up fast on that car.

[jedi_sol]

let us know how the magnets hold up!

I don't think i've seen many wheel cover/magnet covers hold up very well on EM.

[fullofsol]

I like the look of the hubcaps, it will be something I'd like to test on my vehicle down the line as well

[Baltothewolf]

What did you use for the wheel covers...? Can you list parts specifically.

[Flakbadger]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Ah, the 4 door saloon. I saw the little hatch back the other day and it was rather sporty looking from what I recall in 06. Yeah, those mods will add up fast on that car.

Well so far my best mod is the Ultragauge, for sure. I figure it's just flushing money down the toilet to not go for a few aero mods at this point.

Originally Posted by jedi_sol

let us know how the magnets hold up!

I don't think i've seen many wheel cover/magnet covers hold up very well on EM.

Will do. I tried to reduce any slippage and use more magnets than I thought necessary. I figure it should do as well as the regular hubcap, which I lost one of anyway.

Originally Posted by fullofsol

I like the look of the hubcaps, it will be something I'd like to test on my vehicle down the line as well

I like the look too. Looking forward to painting them white to match, it'll look really cool then. You should do it.

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

What did you use for the wheel covers...? Can you list parts specifically.

Sure. Besides for the 4 pizza pans from Wal-Mart (About $4 apiece), I used:

1) Double sided 3M tape; often used to hold automotive trim on your car. A roll is like $8 and I had one lying around. I used small squares and spaced 6 of them equidistantly around the rim.

2) Neodymium Magnets; found at the hardware store, about $4 for a package of 6. I used 4 packages. I put one magnet atop each piece of the previously mentioned 3M tape. The magnet would stick to the rim on its own (VERY POWERFUL) but would likely end up sliding whenever the wheel undergoes a change in acceleration. The tape will keep them from sliding, and the magnet holds the tape firmly to the rim as well. They're not going ANYWHERE.

3) Window Insulation; I used the thin, self-adhesive, D-profile insulation you'd use to seal your windows to fill the gap between the pizza pan and the rim. I did this for two reasons: To keep the pizza pan from sliding atop the magnets and becoming off-center, and to provide friction to keep it from rotating atop the magnets.

I have a crap ton of the insulation left and am going to tackle the gap between the front fascia and the hood next.

Each wheel has 6 pieces of 3M tape, 6 magnets, 3 pieces of insulation, and one pizza pan.



Thanks everyone for the replies.

[California98Civic]

Nice pans! Sometimes the pans rust after a while in the elements. With all the moisture in Oregon, maybe seal the pans somehow. ...wax 'em?

[Flakbadger]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Nice pans! Sometimes the pans rust after a while in the elements. With all the moisture in Oregon, maybe seal the pans somehow. ...wax 'em?

Was planning on using white oil-based paint... Specifically an outdoor paint so that I could color match it with my car, and it would last and last and last. Figuring I'll apply it with a roller.