A Build in the Mitten State...

[Space Monkey]

Man you rival Broadfield for cleanest car on Nico! I have been looking at the PBM Cobra myself. Any chance you can snap some good pics of it installed an set up? PBM makes some great stuff! Keep it up man, it looks awesome!

[SolaraOnBronze]

^ Ohhh man... how I WISH my car rivaled Toby's! haha, it usually looks a lot better in pics than it does in real life- but thanks!

Last night I was able to reinstall the rear bumper, test fit the rear valences, and test fit the painted front end. I still don't have my wheels back from paint, so bear with the nasty wheels/tires/lack of drop. I'm really happy with how the front end looks and fits though, I'm looking forward to installing the rest and putting the front on for real!

*The fenders are held on with two bolts and the bumper is on with two zip ties.*

Sorry about the cell picture quality- it was really tough to capture with the phone in the sun and the car in the dark shade, lol:







Tossed my new AEM gauges into my gauge pod with Autometer angle rings (terrible pic, sorry lol):



I know I should wait until I have my camera with me and the car is finished, but I am too impatient. More updates soon!

[zach-Ka]

That front bumper is looking really good.

[n.r.wyatt]

Nice build man. Keep it coming!

btw your cat cracks me up... he seems to find his way in almost all your pics

[SolaraOnBronze]

^ yeah, he's a funny little dude, haha.

Just picked up my hatch and side skirts on my lunch- they look sooooo much better!



Installing the hatch for sure after work, hopefully I can do the side skirts too. I'll take some better pics with the wife's camera tonight.

[sleeper180]

it's a toss up. Anyway, the car was in good shape but neglected when i got it- didnt have a front bumper, paint really needs some work to shine again, interior was all gross, and the engine bay was filthy.

sounds like a typical hatch for sale lol

[SolaraOnBronze]

^ Pretty much, haha.

I installed my rear valences yesterday just before the thunderstorms rolled in. Hatch is back on, as well as the position lights and turn signals. Hoping to leave tonight with the side skirts and rear spoiler installed.









(Got a bracket to fix to pull in that gap...)

[SolaraOnBronze]

No going back now... installed the spoiler and side skirts tonight. I also put my "new" turn signal and wiper stalks in, since mine were faded and worn out pretty badly:









I decided to run the OEM vent visors on the windows as well. New seat arrives today.

[SolaraOnBronze]

I'm talking to myself in here, lol. Here is my new seat!



Installing it on Saturday.

[bllabong89]

lol. were all here but were lazy...

Im diggin the car. It is lookin good for sure. How do u like the Bride? My buddy has an AP2 S2000 with two Bride Low Max's and I love those. They fit very snug and you can fly through corners with out having to hold on to the door or hold your body in place with your legs. I will definatly get some Bride's once I have free cash

[SolaraOnBronze]

Dropped these off for paint today:



Current interior pics with the seat and new gauges installed. Still a mess at the moment...







Wheels should finally be painted and installed next week some time. Hoping I will have time in between closing on the new house.

[Idahos13]

It's looking great man!

[SolaraOnBronze]

^ Thank you!

I helped a couple of friends with an SR swap this weekend, so I didn't have much time for my car. It did make me feel a lot better about getting mine back together though, since we got it swapped in and running in a day for the most part. I did get to mess with mine a bit last night though:

Finally installed my clear headlight lenses... had some stripped screws to take care of. The intercooler is just mocked up- I was checking fitment of the front bumper with the intercooler there:



Put the hatch panels in a friend gave me. I just need to clean back there and make a floor board so that I can haul stuff back there without it sinking into the spare tire well:



Door panels went back in. Still need to put some trim pieces back when the engine/trans are back in and the Power FC/gauges are fully installed. I'll redo the suede this summer since it didn't come out very well:



Installed the JDM vent visors as well:



This Week: Ganador mirrors should be back from paint and installed. The wheels are prepped and should hopefully be fully painted by this weekend. We are moving into the new house this weekend as well, so I should move the car there shortly.

[ZootedS13]

Still lookin awesome. cant wait to see it with the wheels on.

[zach-Ka]

Looks good. What kind of headlights are you using?

[SolaraOnBronze]

I got them from a vendor on Zilvia... I can't remember what the name of the company was. They were $40 or something and use H4 bulbs. Nothing special or anything, I just wanted something that looked a little newer.

[zach-Ka]

Was it a good improvement. I have night blindness so I cant use H.I.D.'s.

[Seanzyyy]

the recent pics remind me of the video that makes me want a hatch.
http://www.stanceworks.com/canibeat/?p=11925

[SolaraOnBronze]

lol yeah, he's my idol, haha. I love that car... such a clean build! I don't think mine will ever be that clean unfortunately.

My cousin just got home from Montana today with her Dodge Ram Diesel... if all goes well, this thing should be towed to the new house and tucked away nicely in the garage by mid next week. Then the engine install can FINALLY get under way.

[SolaraOnBronze]

Painted:



I'll try to install them after work today.

[SolaraOnBronze]

Moved the car into the new garage yesterday! And it only took four people and a four wheeler to get it on the trailer. :lol:





The Rig taking up my whole driveway, lol:



In her new home:





I think I will install the mirrors after work today. Maybe start washing down the engine bay if I have time to go buy a hose and nozzle tonight. Still have some unpacking to do, but I am SO stoked about my first garage!

[Bumnah]

congrats.

Make coating your floor your next project:

best move i ever made in my garage.

[SolaraOnBronze]

^ Good deal... that's on the wish list for sure. How was doing it yourself? I need to paint the drywall/ceiling in there as well... as soon as the car is running.

[roadboy240sx]

any news if your are going to the d!ck scott meet? its comin up quick.

[SolaraOnBronze]

^ Unfortunately I will not be there. The car won't be running and I will be helping out at my sister-in-law's graduation party. I should make the July one though- at this rate, who knows.

[Riq]

MOAR UPDATES!!!!!


The more I see this car the more I like the build. Broadfield and you have the two builds that I like most on here. I can't wait to see some numbers from the engine build. One question, im sure I missed it somewhere but are you still using the CF hatch with your wing?

[Broadfield]

Moved the car into the new garage yesterday!

That's awesome man! It's going to be great to be able to work on your car anytime you want. Just step out the door in your pj's and bam.... you're turning wrenches.

I always wonder what my car would be like if I didn't have such easy access to my shop and an absurd amount of tools.

[SolaraOnBronze]

^ It's very awesome, thanks Toby! We are so lucky/blessed to have this place at our age... it really is very cool!

And Riq- the CF hatch is gone. I sold the hatch and hood after deciding to go back to stock for a little cleaner look. Thanks for the compliments!

I finally had a little time to mess with the car last night- and I took pics with an ACTUAL camera instead of a phone! :lol: These pics really show how dirty the car is. I installed the Ganador mirrors and got the front end out of the way. My mirrors are for an S15, so it required some drilling. It was annoying and I wish I had kept the first set I had initially, but oh well!







I also managed to remove my stock engine mounts, which I have been worried about for a while. Those bolts were really on there, but I managed to break them free! Those things are going straight in the garbage... they were smoked! Should be much better with the Cusco units.



I was able to start tearing into the wiring a bit so that I can start sorting out and cleaning that up. I'm probably going to remove some of the stuff that I don't need, but I am no wiring expert- the main reason for doing this is to get the wiring organized and out of the driver's side wheel well to avoid rubbing. I hammered a bit more of the metal lip on that side as well to try to help with this issue.



I'm not sure if the fuse boxes will be tucked or not. It's a lot of wiring and time to be getting into at this point. If Shane can give me a hand with cleaning the wiring up, I'll get as much out of the fenders and engine bay as I can.

Here's how she sits. I started adding screws to the side skirts to secure them under the car, so I'll probably finish that up next. Other than that, I'll be cleaning up the pay and painting the strut tower rust and battery tray to be ready for the engine to drop back in!







I'm booked for the next two weekends, but should be able to spend the weekend after that dropping it back in. I will shoot for sooner of course, but I am guessing that is how things will go!

[SolaraOnBronze]

Wheels were painted last night! Here is a pic of one of them finished that my friend sent me:



SO STOKED!!

I also installed my D-Max catback and Poly exhaust hanger bushings. It's sort of propped up since the rest of the exhaust/motor aren't in the car yet. My stock tow hook was interfering with the angle of the canister, so I pulled the rear bumper bar so that I can chop it off.

[Lonismos14]

Dude i want your resonator testpipe its 3 inch right? whats your paypal addy?