My 04 CTSv Needs Help
08-16-2015, 01:48 AM
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My 04 CTSv Needs Help I just got my hands on a all original & unmolested 2004 CTS v with 103k.
The prob is that this poor thing was ran into the ground. The guy I got it from def had his reasons to push the car to the side.
Anyway, the interior is perfect - just the upper dash pad has one crack. The exterior will need one large dent taken out of the quarter panel, driver's headlight & paint.
I already got a new set of tires & new breaks on their way - Yeah, they were straight metal to metal.
The car has not been ran for 5 years, the oil looks straight black as tar.
It threw a check engine light for a driver side cat. But, I cleared it and it hasn't came back in a few days.
The only thing that is not stock on this car from what I can tell is the LS7 clutch the guy had installed with a remote bleeder.
So far, the only thing I came up with is to restore it back to original & get the rims powder coated black. I am def on a budget, any other suggestions would be much appreciated(my main concern is a semi budget friendly exhaust & the cheapest way to delete the rear oxygen sensors).
This is my 3rd LSx car, 1st being a 98 z28 & the other is my 04 GTO.
And here she is in all of her glory, sure doesn't look this nice in person.
The prob is that this poor thing was ran into the ground. The guy I got it from def had his reasons to push the car to the side.
Anyway, the interior is perfect - just the upper dash pad has one crack. The exterior will need one large dent taken out of the quarter panel, driver's headlight & paint.
I already got a new set of tires & new breaks on their way - Yeah, they were straight metal to metal.
The car has not been ran for 5 years, the oil looks straight black as tar.
It threw a check engine light for a driver side cat. But, I cleared it and it hasn't came back in a few days.
The only thing that is not stock on this car from what I can tell is the LS7 clutch the guy had installed with a remote bleeder.
So far, the only thing I came up with is to restore it back to original & get the rims powder coated black. I am def on a budget, any other suggestions would be much appreciated(my main concern is a semi budget friendly exhaust & the cheapest way to delete the rear oxygen sensors).
This is my 3rd LSx car, 1st being a 98 z28 & the other is my 04 GTO.
And here she is in all of her glory, sure doesn't look this nice in person.
08-16-2015, 11:42 PM
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If the headlights aren't cracked, and just oxidized to all hell... Pull em off, sand em, and coat em.
As for your cat converter check engine light... Purchase some headers (if car doesn't already have), get a tune and delete the cats altogether. Worst case, get yourself some HPTuners software and a PC and delete the rear o2s. The headers and dyno tune can you run about 1k or less. Pacesetters with offroad extensions can be pretty cheap. I saw someone on here offering a set of PC for something like 100+shipping. Dyno tune normally runs about 500 depending.
Change oil, pull valve covers, inspect valvetrain. Change sparkplugs and while doing so, do compression test. Just worth knowing.
As for your cat converter check engine light... Purchase some headers (if car doesn't already have), get a tune and delete the cats altogether. Worst case, get yourself some HPTuners software and a PC and delete the rear o2s. The headers and dyno tune can you run about 1k or less. Pacesetters with offroad extensions can be pretty cheap. I saw someone on here offering a set of PC for something like 100+shipping. Dyno tune normally runs about 500 depending.
Change oil, pull valve covers, inspect valvetrain. Change sparkplugs and while doing so, do compression test. Just worth knowing.
08-17-2015, 11:37 AM
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Not terrible if the interior is in good shape. 104k isn't too bad, but the tar oil sounds a little suspect. Definitely do a 2nd oil change if you didn't flush that out already. Hopefully the lifters aren't gummed up.
Once you take care of those headlights with a good polish and clear coat you'll start looking at the car differently. Just make sure to do the clear coat immediately, otherwise the lights will quickly return to yellow without a UV protective layer. You're also lucky, it's not black. So the silver paint should clean up nicely.
Once you take care of those headlights with a good polish and clear coat you'll start looking at the car differently. Just make sure to do the clear coat immediately, otherwise the lights will quickly return to yellow without a UV protective layer. You're also lucky, it's not black. So the silver paint should clean up nicely.
08-18-2015, 08:11 AM
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Not terrible if the interior is in good shape. 104k isn't too bad, but the tar oil sounds a little suspect. Definitely do a 2nd oil change if you didn't flush that out already. Hopefully the lifters aren't gummed up.
Once you take care of those headlights with a good polish and clear coat you'll start looking at the car differently. Just make sure to do the clear coat immediately, otherwise the lights will quickly return to yellow without a UV protective layer. You're also lucky, it's not black. So the silver paint should clean up nicely.
Once you take care of those headlights with a good polish and clear coat you'll start looking at the car differently. Just make sure to do the clear coat immediately, otherwise the lights will quickly return to yellow without a UV protective layer. You're also lucky, it's not black. So the silver paint should clean up nicely.
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08-24-2015, 12:04 PM
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Ha, I thought so - since I had a AC thread a way while back and it kinda mixes them up at the bottom of the page
Either way - Drained all of this crap, it had to be gear oil that they used after swapping to an LS7 clutch. Seem to go in gear smoother with less resistance.
08-26-2015, 11:23 PM
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The front end is all done
Got a pair of OEM Halogen lights & converted them to HID's.
Lined everything up, removed and blocked off the headlight washers, added new clips to everything.
Got a pair of OEM Halogen lights & converted them to HID's.
Lined everything up, removed and blocked off the headlight washers, added new clips to everything.
08-27-2015, 04:00 PM
#16
Wow, that peeling clear coat is pretty bad. I just had a thought though--Considering our hoods are aluminum and your car is silver, it would be interesting/different/cool if you were to take that down to bare metal, give it a brushed effect, then clear coat it.
08-27-2015, 05:43 PM
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Lol
Nah, she's going back to stocker status
Got the exhaust done today by the local Mexicanos. Had me scared for a min - I'm like how much - They're like 290 - How random is that
I'll post a pic - looks real good underneath, ran to stock tips
Nah, she's going back to stocker status
Got the exhaust done today by the local Mexicanos. Had me scared for a min - I'm like how much - They're like 290 - How random is that
I'll post a pic - looks real good underneath, ran to stock tips
08-30-2015, 08:46 PM
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Got more **** done to this thing. Got the o2 sensors tuned out, fan temps knocked down and skip shift(or whatever it's called) removed. Punisher logo center caps & touched up the rims.
Only piece that I need now is the top dash defrost vent - And of course the full body done.
Only piece that I need now is the top dash defrost vent - And of course the full body done.
