Torn on whether or not to do appearance mods
01-11-2012, 09:40 AM
#1
Torn on whether or not to do appearance mods The car is in my sig, interior is totally gutted with only the two front seats, the shifter, and the gages zip tied to the firewall. HVAC is now gone, crash supports gone, radio gone, emissions are gone, and it has an LS1 lid. Weighs 3010 without me, runs 12.5 at 110 NA, no times on the nitrous yet. (100 shot for now)
That picture is before the HVAC removal.
The engine bay is filthy, with 140,000 miles of grime, as well as oil residue from the leaky front timing cover seal. The body has scratches everywhere, from belt buckles, to when I accidentally bounced a keg off of the rear fender, or where someone backed a trailer hitch into my hood, as well as orange peel all over the hood, and faded paint on the tops of the front fenders, rear bumper has cracked paint from getting hit twice. I have never, in the 6 years Ive had this car, done ANYTHING for appearance on the car other than washing it, trying to keep it looking as stock/slow as possible. The salad shooters have the stained in brake dust and I cant get them clean anymore.
With rebuilding a house, saving for the wedding this coming summer, paying student loans, and buying us a new a car, I dont have much money left over. Now the car is sitting in the garage, and looking uglier than ever, and Im torn as to whether or not its worth it at this point to do anything for appearance. It sits like a 4x4 now and I have an eibach pro kit sitting in the garage but cant convince myself to put it on fearing it screwing up my launch at the track. The car has become 100% a toy, only gets driven to and from MIR, and some weekend driving. It started out 6 years ago looking nice and clean, but being my DD for 4 years in college kinda ruined that.
Short of fully tearing the car apart, which I cant do until after the wedding, does anyone have any advice? Or should I continue to just enjoy it as it is until the wedding is over and I have the money to finally tear it apart?
I also dont really like the idea of painting any of the engine parts because of the minuscule effect it has on heat transfer, as well as added weight, and that when I pop the hood at the track people might realize its not a 14 second LT1. (especially if I can hide the nitrous well enough). Are there any cheap/free appearance mods that anyone suggests for me to try?
What will get rid of the grime in the engine bay? Ive tried Super Clean and WD 40 but it didnt do that much. What about the wheels? Is there any trick to getting salad shooters to shine again? Or does anyone have any picture of black painted salad shooters that actually makes the car look good?
I dunno...Im bored at work and looking at some of these gorgeous cars here in the appearance section has got my wheels turning...
That picture is before the HVAC removal.
The engine bay is filthy, with 140,000 miles of grime, as well as oil residue from the leaky front timing cover seal. The body has scratches everywhere, from belt buckles, to when I accidentally bounced a keg off of the rear fender, or where someone backed a trailer hitch into my hood, as well as orange peel all over the hood, and faded paint on the tops of the front fenders, rear bumper has cracked paint from getting hit twice. I have never, in the 6 years Ive had this car, done ANYTHING for appearance on the car other than washing it, trying to keep it looking as stock/slow as possible. The salad shooters have the stained in brake dust and I cant get them clean anymore.
With rebuilding a house, saving for the wedding this coming summer, paying student loans, and buying us a new a car, I dont have much money left over. Now the car is sitting in the garage, and looking uglier than ever, and Im torn as to whether or not its worth it at this point to do anything for appearance. It sits like a 4x4 now and I have an eibach pro kit sitting in the garage but cant convince myself to put it on fearing it screwing up my launch at the track. The car has become 100% a toy, only gets driven to and from MIR, and some weekend driving. It started out 6 years ago looking nice and clean, but being my DD for 4 years in college kinda ruined that.
Short of fully tearing the car apart, which I cant do until after the wedding, does anyone have any advice? Or should I continue to just enjoy it as it is until the wedding is over and I have the money to finally tear it apart?
I also dont really like the idea of painting any of the engine parts because of the minuscule effect it has on heat transfer, as well as added weight, and that when I pop the hood at the track people might realize its not a 14 second LT1. (especially if I can hide the nitrous well enough). Are there any cheap/free appearance mods that anyone suggests for me to try?
What will get rid of the grime in the engine bay? Ive tried Super Clean and WD 40 but it didnt do that much. What about the wheels? Is there any trick to getting salad shooters to shine again? Or does anyone have any picture of black painted salad shooters that actually makes the car look good?
I dunno...Im bored at work and looking at some of these gorgeous cars here in the appearance section has got my wheels turning...
01-11-2012, 09:53 AM
#3
holy crap that looks good, I have the blackout light covers sitting in my garage too, I think you just convinced me to do the lights, the lowering kit, and the painted salad shooters. Anyone ever do a black berger on the polo green Zs?
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haha i win 
01-11-2012, 11:10 AM
#12
it is a shame, I wish it was still in the condition it was when I got it, but it was my DD through college, I had on street parking, and WVU has alot of drunk ignorant people walking around, hence the key marks on my car, broken passenger mirror, and scratches all over my bumpers and doors.
01-11-2012, 11:18 AM
#14
What's plastidip?
I am going to put the dash back in and cover all interior surfaces with the cheap thin walmart black fabric, find some black cloth seats or some other light seats from some factory car, like a S2000 or miata or something (anybody know of any good ones?). Wire mod and cleaning of the engine bay I guess will be next step. Maybe I can start this weekend if my honey-do list gets done first.
I am going to put the dash back in and cover all interior surfaces with the cheap thin walmart black fabric, find some black cloth seats or some other light seats from some factory car, like a S2000 or miata or something (anybody know of any good ones?). Wire mod and cleaning of the engine bay I guess will be next step. Maybe I can start this weekend if my honey-do list gets done first.
Last edited by bufmatmuslepants; 01-11-2012 at 11:24 AM.
