Malibu Q
02-19-2014, 04:47 AM
Alterna Racing parts for Roadster
A few people have asked me to comment on my Alterna trunk lid, so I've made up a post on both my experience with the trunk lid and also taken a look at other Alterna parts.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/12430794334_4560e2cf16_o.jpg
I purchased my trunk lid damaged from Yahoo Auctions Japan. I paid ¥12,000, which is less than half price of a new undamaged one(¥30,000). It had been dropped and the top corners are frayed. It was obtained to cut up and customize into a similar style as the Garage Hundred-One lid which GHO claim is a one off. I hear JDM-Palace has a GHO lid on his race car, so maybe if you know the right people...
https://ycpi-farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/12266871586_cc20b1b6aa_o.jpg
Anyway, I haven't done that yet. This trunk was purchased for a car which I haven't got yet, so I figured that I may as well try it on the Malibu for the time being, just for my amusement. It has had no repair work just a quick coat of acrylic sunburst yellow. Acrylic can be washed off with thinner when I tire of it. The wide stripes are unpainted gelcoat.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3774/12588084503_06a4f062dc_o.jpg
The surfacing of the trunk is almost perfect, the only flaw I see is that the edge profile where it meets the rear fenders is not quite there, the corner above the tail light is a bit sharp. The gap is not even to my never-damaged rear fenders. This same mismatch can be seen in the promo pictures below. It appears worse on the right side.
https://ycpi-farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/12629952863_71b5dd2f65_o.jpg
All the bolt holes are beautifully prepared, M6 bolts are required for all fittings. The trunk has a custom designed inner skin, based on the stock part, but with the centre resurfaced. No inside pics but ask if you want to see inside and I'll get one up.
It's very light, I don't know the weight, but it must be about a quarter the weight of the stocker. This may cause problems when I mod it as the top surface easily deforms, so resurfacing the lid may be problematic. It might sound like I'm complaining about this part, but I'm very happy with it. Below is my favorite view of the trunk. From the door, looking back.
https://v4s.yimg.com/sm/5549/12630142403_5fcd06f6f7_o.jpg
A few people have asked me to comment on my Alterna trunk lid, so I've made up a post on both my experience with the trunk lid and also taken a look at other Alterna parts.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/12430794334_4560e2cf16_o.jpg
I purchased my trunk lid damaged from Yahoo Auctions Japan. I paid ¥12,000, which is less than half price of a new undamaged one(¥30,000). It had been dropped and the top corners are frayed. It was obtained to cut up and customize into a similar style as the Garage Hundred-One lid which GHO claim is a one off. I hear JDM-Palace has a GHO lid on his race car, so maybe if you know the right people...
https://ycpi-farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/12266871586_cc20b1b6aa_o.jpg
Anyway, I haven't done that yet. This trunk was purchased for a car which I haven't got yet, so I figured that I may as well try it on the Malibu for the time being, just for my amusement. It has had no repair work just a quick coat of acrylic sunburst yellow. Acrylic can be washed off with thinner when I tire of it. The wide stripes are unpainted gelcoat.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3774/12588084503_06a4f062dc_o.jpg
The surfacing of the trunk is almost perfect, the only flaw I see is that the edge profile where it meets the rear fenders is not quite there, the corner above the tail light is a bit sharp. The gap is not even to my never-damaged rear fenders. This same mismatch can be seen in the promo pictures below. It appears worse on the right side.
https://ycpi-farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/12629952863_71b5dd2f65_o.jpg
All the bolt holes are beautifully prepared, M6 bolts are required for all fittings. The trunk has a custom designed inner skin, based on the stock part, but with the centre resurfaced. No inside pics but ask if you want to see inside and I'll get one up.
It's very light, I don't know the weight, but it must be about a quarter the weight of the stocker. This may cause problems when I mod it as the top surface easily deforms, so resurfacing the lid may be problematic. It might sound like I'm complaining about this part, but I'm very happy with it. Below is my favorite view of the trunk. From the door, looking back.
https://v4s.yimg.com/sm/5549/12630142403_5fcd06f6f7_o.jpg