The Platypus's Slow Build.

[The Platypus]

Hi.
Super bored so I thought I would start a build thread or something like that. Basically a couple things about me/this thread :
1: Senior in HS, low-income. Most of my money that I get every paycheck is dedicated to my car.
2: I have a tendency to want the best, and since the best is usually expensive, this will probably slow the build down even more.
3: I am supportive of all criticism.
4: This will also be a dump-spot for pictures of interesting things I might do.

So with that out of the way, let's get started.
June of 2011, I bought this car from my mom's boyfriend :

_DSC0841.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


_DSC0845.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr

Before I bought it, I actually hated the car. But then I drove it a couple times and actually really liked it. At first I really did not like the tan interior/top but now, I honestly love it.

After that, I started work on maintenance. I changed the oil, spark plugs, air filter, and cleaned off the valve cover. I also changed the tranny fluid and fixed an oil leak. This was all over the course of about 2 or 3 months. Then I bought these ATS DTC Complites with RT615 tires :

_DSC0884.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


_DSC0887.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr

Now, it was probably the end of October, and I wanted to get coilovers. I had plans of autocrossing and possibly road racing the car eventually and was already doing mountain runs. I wanted the best, so I talked to Shaikh, the owner of Fat Cat Motorsports, about my suspension and future plans. He took every little thing into account and by the end of the conversation he had me sold. I purchased custom coilovers from him with spring rates of 600 F / 375 R. They were going to take a while to get valved so I did some other stuff while I waited.

I got this RB hollow bar and a pair of 949 adjustable endlinks.

_DSC0912.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr

After that I got my hands on a Nardi 330 Deep Corn and a NRG Quick Release/Hub.

Nardi by Some Platypus, on Flickr

My interior then looked like this :

Interior Shot by Some Platypus, on Flickr


Interior Shot (B&W) by Some Platypus, on Flickr

My car then looked like this :

_DSC1323.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr

Then the time arrived. I picked up the coilovers on Friday, Jan 27. This is what they looked like :

FCM Coilovers by Some Platypus, on Flickr


Fat Cat Motorsports by Some Platypus, on Flickr


Fat Cat by Some Platypus, on Flickr


Fat Cat by Some Platypus, on Flickr

Installed :

_DSC1484.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


_DSC1485.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr

and my baby now :

_DSC1510.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


_DSC1507.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


_DSC1489.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


1/30/12 by Some Platypus, on Flickr

Will add a "future plans" post next time I log on.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Dude those coil overs look awesome. Wish I could say I had the patience to have the best for my car. Looks great and keep it up!

[Caoboy]

Very nice choice in coilovers. I wish I would have waited and saved for FCM's.

[snake520]

wow, those coilovers look amazing

[The Platypus]

Thanks guys

Here's a future plans list that hasn't been that well thought out yet.
HDHCSD Rollbar
G-Fusers
Hardtop + G-wing
Garage Vary Lip

The rest I would rather leave as a surprise for both you and me.

[The Platypus]

Actually, scrap that list. I honestly don't know what else I'm going to do exterior-wise until I finish two things interior-wise.
They will take a pretty long time for me to get them so I probably won't be posting 'updates' to this thread for a while.
I'll post new pictures every once in a while though.

[The Platypus]

Took some pictures last Friday with my good friend and his EF Hatch. Thought I would share a few.

_DSC1691.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


_DSC1684.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


_DSC1658.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


_DSC1627.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


_DSC1607.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr

[xjdesertfox]

Love your car man, youre in the same boat as me. Im in college working part time trying to build my car slowly haha.

[The Platypus]

Thanks man.
Hah it's always hard when you have a lower income but in the end it is SOOOO much more rewarding. The next two things I'm buying should take me until August or September to save up for, but I know it's gonna be so great once I get them.

[xjdesertfox]

Damn, I make enough to buy most of want I want for my car in reasonable time. EXCEPT for the beginning of each semester when I have to pay tuition, parking, and books.

Im really feeling those FCMs you got.

[The Platypus]

Yeah, they're really awesome. Definitely worth waiting for. You should get some and tell Shaikh I (Brandon) said hi.

But yeah, in my opinion it's actually better to have a lower income or whatever because then there's more time that you'll actually enjoy your car if that makes sense. If you just throw parts at it all in the span of a month then you have nothing else to look forward to, nothing new, so you end up not driving it enough and then get bored with it. Atleast that's how I feel.

[theothersawyer]

Yeah, they're really awesome. Definitely worth waiting for. You should get some and tell Shaikh I (Brandon) said hi.

But yeah, in my opinion it's actually better to have a lower income or whatever because then there's more time that you'll actually enjoy your car if that makes sense. If you just throw parts at it all in the span of a month then you have nothing else to look forward to, nothing new, so you end up not driving it enough and then get bored with it. Atleast that's how I feel.

I completely agree! The build is most of the fun, and if you just buy it all over a short period of time then you lose out on the fun. Also, waiting and saving up for parts is fun too!

Also, the car is looking great! Keep up the good work!

[The Platypus]

Thanks man

[The Platypus]

Here's a little update to the build :

Shift boot ripped more (was already pretty ripped), so I made a quick one out of an old Crown Royal bag to use until I order a new shift boot.

_DSC1704.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr

My mom got me a Blox 490 Neo-Chrome shift knob as a late Christmas present. It feels great shifting with a GarageStar 2 inch extender.

_DSC1730.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr

_DSC1745.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr


I bought a Clifford 1x Alarm and had it installed at GM Electronics. They are great. Installed it in about an hour and did a nice clean install.

_DSC1727.jpg by Some Platypus, on Flickr

Then yesterday, I changed the WP/Alt. belt and the AC/PS belt. It was my first time changing a belt, so I was pretty proud of myself when I started it up, even though it was not that hard looking back on it.

[Adam]

Any bit of experience counts, keep it up.