Pontiac G8 2008-2010 - G8 makeover weekend

A buddy of mine came over on Weds night, to help me finish wiring lights and cleaning out the garage in prep for this past weekend's install.

Thankfully he was able to stick around until Sunday when we finished everything up, having a second set of hands, and someone to cart me around to get tools and parts along the way was priceless.

Parts list for install
-Kooks 1 3/4 long tube headers
-Kooks high flow cats
-Corsa cat back exhaust
-Roto-fab intake
-Pedders xa coil-overs
-BMR trailing arms
-BMR rear toe links
-Hawk ceramic pads
-Power slot rotors
-Hub centric spacers
-Taylors 8.2mm spark plug wires

Pile of parts waiting to go on
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07913.jpg

Got her up in the air
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07915.jpg

tearing her down
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07922.jpg

Headers and wires installed
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07924.jpg

Rear coil-overs in
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07928.jpg

toe links, trailing arms, and rear rotors
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07931.jpg

Front coil-overs rotors and spacers
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07935.jpg

Headers, cats and exhaust in
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07938.jpg

car almost ready to get wheels and put back on the ground
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07940.jpg

completed engine bay
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07943.jpg

Cleaned, clay bar and waxed
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07955.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07957.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07958.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07960.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC07961.jpg

All things considered everything went pretty smooth, it was weird the stuff we thought was going to be a PITA went really smooth ( header install, coil-overs brakes ) and the stuff we thought would be a cake walk kicked our ass, had to drop the rear subframe to get one of the toe link bolts out, then had to drill out one of the bushing inserts in the toe link because BMR shipped it with the wrong sleeve (thankfully I have a drill press) the Corsa was also a bit of a chalenge to get lined up at the headers and get the tips straight. (nothing time and patience didn't fix)

Alignment was done yesterday, weather hasn't really let me have fun yet. hope to get some better pics soon also.

looks amazing man! makes me want a G8 now!

Wow!!! Awesome work.

I would have to agree with you. The G8 is definitely an easy car to work on.


Congrats on all the new speed goodies!

omg sexy, defiantly jealous!

I love the engine cover, wish mine was an LS3.

Very nice write up.

Very nice! What type Enkei wheels do you put on her?

EB

Damn that looks bad a**,I want a G8 now!!

Looks good!!!

Looks awesome. That is a big transformation for a weekend. The suspension makes a huge improvement in handling and the exhaust makes a big difference in the performance/sound. It is definitely rewarding to drive after the install. Congrats on the upgrades.

Can you two comment more on the Xa suspension? I would like to purchase it. Didn't think my car was firm enough before and now with the added weight I need to upgrade as it feels like the vehicle leans too much in corners.

Does it make the car feel harsh on the highway speeds going over roads with bumps/notches in them?

Looks good!! Definitely alot to do in a weekend! But probably was fun!

the XAs are worth every penny, can tell the time spent in engineering during install, and the ride is firmer without being stiff ( if that makes sense ) I will probably mess with the setting a bit yet to fine tune it, but today was really the first day it hasn't rained.

here are a few better pics my friend took
Some pics a friend took.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3675.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3674.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3673.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3671.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3670.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3669.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3640.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3638.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3634.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/exesivefire/09%20gxp/DSC_3629.jpg

Since the weather finally broke today, I got to lean on it a little bit this afternoon. Amazed at what letting the thing breathe a little will do, It feels like a different car. (in a good way)

Beautiful. The stance on that car is perfect.

also forgot I had a short vid of the first time we fired it up.

I'll work on getting a better vid. I'll probably have my buddy hold the camera next time. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v9e8nLofvI&feature=player_profilepage

Sounds good need outside vid :D

Very nice GXP!! I wish we had gotten a GXP instead of the GT.

I love how it sits, how much of a drop was that?

I love how it sits, how much of a drop was that?

I forgot to measure before, but I'm inclined to say 3-4 inches. With room to go in either direction still.

Whats the official drop on the ride height?? Thats got a great stance there.

Whats the official drop on the ride height?? Thats got a great stance there.

Not positive, I forgot to wrote down my before measurement..

It's probably at least 3 inches?

Measurement from lower wheel lip to wheel well lip is 24 1/4 on all 4 corners

I love the stance. Might have to bite the bullet and order the xa's!