CMP
10-10-2012, 09:48 AM
Probably about damn time I do a legit build thread on here.
When I bought Lola in 2008 she had 124k, a weeping water pump, a bad left rear wheel bearing, old belts, plugs, wires, and gaskets, and bald tires. The previous owner said she had the timing belt and clutch done at 60k. There was an HKS hotside intake on the car when I bought it, as well as an original Voodoo shift knob, and Clearwater headrest speakers.
Tires were the first thing I put on her, some 195/60/14 Toyo T1-Rs. Loved them. Next issue was the wheel bearing, which was a *****, but I got it done. Car drove much more smoothly with new tires and a new bearing. The following weekend I tore her down and replaced the timing belt, water pump, belts, hoses, seals, gaskets, plugs, and wires. It took about 8 hours working alone to finish everything, but it was worth it! Shortly after came a new radiator after the old one popped!
I installed a Momo wheel from my JDM importing days (came off a 1991 Cosmo) and some Sparco Grip pedals to replace the no-name plastic junk the former owner had put in, and I also replaced the cracked bumper lights with some crystal clear lights. I also installed Hella E-Code H4 headlights to improve nighttime visibility.
Next I installed a Stebel Nautilus air horn from the Crazy Red Italian, Koni full coilovers that I got an amazing deal on, and the Hard Dog M2 Sport DD bar. Then came the Racing Beat front lower braces, a no-name rear lower brace, a Magnaflow high flow cat, and 1.8 brakes.
I had some college girl rear-end me lightly at a stop sign, so I sanded down the rear bumper and resprayed it. It could use another sanding and some clearcoat, but I need to find a place to paint. The stock CD changer **** the bed, so I pulled out the stock head unit and replaced it with a Kenwood Excelon KDC-X494. I installed a Garage Vary front lip, then over the winter I installed a new canvas top.
Then came a bunch of updates, including replacing my diff as the pinion bearings wore out. I installed a set of TSIs, and painted and re-installed the Garage Vary front lip. I also bought wheels and tires, going with 15x7 +25 Rota RB in flat black wrapped in Toyo T1-R in 205/50-15, which drastically altered the appearance of the car. Then I installed an IL Motorsport center console, with a new leather shift boot and inner shift boots, a black fuel lid, and a front tow hook. Afterwards I painted the side mirrors satin black. Later on I painted the striker plates satin black, which you can see below with the fuel lid.
5383 5387
I also installed an original Racing Beat Power Pulse intake - clearly this thing was not designed for cars with power steering OR hood props, so soon after came a set of gas hood struts to keep it raised. I added a K&N drop-in filter to this setup.
I bought a set of ABS door cards, then completely redid the door panels with black vinyl and later-model door handles to get ride of the clunky early-model armrests.
5382
I added a pair of 8" Kicker sub woofers Hakuna-style into the package tray, and replaced the door speakers with some nice Kicker 6.5" units. I have a set of crossovers and tweeters that still need to go into the upper door panels.
5386
Since then I took out the center console and sold it to someone else with the aim of eventually deleting the stock console and using a shorty shifter surround. The deck is also gone, thanks to some thieves, but I built a custom iPhone dock out of a DDMWorks radio bezel and linked it directly to my amps. I added a Racing Beat catback exhaust. A KG Works rear spoiler has been painted and is awaiting installation.
5381
JDM side markers were one of my latest projects. Yeah, that happened.
5384
5380
I've decided the look that I'm going for is sort of retro-modern, like a modern spin on the classic motorsports look. I'm taking full advantage of the aesthetic contrast offered by the satin black pieces on a glossy white field. For the most part I believe in "function over form" but damn it, I like a pretty car too.
5385
5388
When I bought Lola in 2008 she had 124k, a weeping water pump, a bad left rear wheel bearing, old belts, plugs, wires, and gaskets, and bald tires. The previous owner said she had the timing belt and clutch done at 60k. There was an HKS hotside intake on the car when I bought it, as well as an original Voodoo shift knob, and Clearwater headrest speakers.
Tires were the first thing I put on her, some 195/60/14 Toyo T1-Rs. Loved them. Next issue was the wheel bearing, which was a *****, but I got it done. Car drove much more smoothly with new tires and a new bearing. The following weekend I tore her down and replaced the timing belt, water pump, belts, hoses, seals, gaskets, plugs, and wires. It took about 8 hours working alone to finish everything, but it was worth it! Shortly after came a new radiator after the old one popped!
I installed a Momo wheel from my JDM importing days (came off a 1991 Cosmo) and some Sparco Grip pedals to replace the no-name plastic junk the former owner had put in, and I also replaced the cracked bumper lights with some crystal clear lights. I also installed Hella E-Code H4 headlights to improve nighttime visibility.
Next I installed a Stebel Nautilus air horn from the Crazy Red Italian, Koni full coilovers that I got an amazing deal on, and the Hard Dog M2 Sport DD bar. Then came the Racing Beat front lower braces, a no-name rear lower brace, a Magnaflow high flow cat, and 1.8 brakes.
I had some college girl rear-end me lightly at a stop sign, so I sanded down the rear bumper and resprayed it. It could use another sanding and some clearcoat, but I need to find a place to paint. The stock CD changer **** the bed, so I pulled out the stock head unit and replaced it with a Kenwood Excelon KDC-X494. I installed a Garage Vary front lip, then over the winter I installed a new canvas top.
Then came a bunch of updates, including replacing my diff as the pinion bearings wore out. I installed a set of TSIs, and painted and re-installed the Garage Vary front lip. I also bought wheels and tires, going with 15x7 +25 Rota RB in flat black wrapped in Toyo T1-R in 205/50-15, which drastically altered the appearance of the car. Then I installed an IL Motorsport center console, with a new leather shift boot and inner shift boots, a black fuel lid, and a front tow hook. Afterwards I painted the side mirrors satin black. Later on I painted the striker plates satin black, which you can see below with the fuel lid.
5383 5387
I also installed an original Racing Beat Power Pulse intake - clearly this thing was not designed for cars with power steering OR hood props, so soon after came a set of gas hood struts to keep it raised. I added a K&N drop-in filter to this setup.
I bought a set of ABS door cards, then completely redid the door panels with black vinyl and later-model door handles to get ride of the clunky early-model armrests.
5382
I added a pair of 8" Kicker sub woofers Hakuna-style into the package tray, and replaced the door speakers with some nice Kicker 6.5" units. I have a set of crossovers and tweeters that still need to go into the upper door panels.
5386
Since then I took out the center console and sold it to someone else with the aim of eventually deleting the stock console and using a shorty shifter surround. The deck is also gone, thanks to some thieves, but I built a custom iPhone dock out of a DDMWorks radio bezel and linked it directly to my amps. I added a Racing Beat catback exhaust. A KG Works rear spoiler has been painted and is awaiting installation.
5381
JDM side markers were one of my latest projects. Yeah, that happened.
5384
5380
I've decided the look that I'm going for is sort of retro-modern, like a modern spin on the classic motorsports look. I'm taking full advantage of the aesthetic contrast offered by the satin black pieces on a glossy white field. For the most part I believe in "function over form" but damn it, I like a pretty car too.
5385
5388