TotalTL

damn yo that car is gonna be cleaaannnnn

Bankz

Can't wait to see the finishing touches

TmaX

iTrader: (1)

Great color choice! It's going to look very fresh once its all done.

I caught some of the carbon fiber there on the front grill area.
Excited to see how it all turns out once its done.

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

i might have a contact in Toronto if you need! Ill PM you if i can get his info

i sure hope so!

better yet, you'll be able to see it in person sometime!

thanks!!

i picked up my car. Still need yo put on the TL-S bumper and a-spec kit though! And ugh my CF work got ruined. Lol. I forgot that carbon fiber+resin doesn't do to well in 185+degrees...

TegoTL

Just let me know! Thanks a lot!

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

I'll keep you posted when I find out!



and ugh the hell?! The new photbucket layout sucks AND photobucket mobile is horrible!! I have lots of pics from my phone to share but all I have is a tablet and phone. Horrible!

also no pro shots yet, since I didn't install the lip kit yet

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I despise the new Photobucket. Flickr ftw

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

I have Flickr! I should start using it...

Alright... so I uploaded the pis to Flickr, but I used an app.. and now the pics are out of order. Anyway, what's the link to share my Flickr?

Using a tablet to share photos individually is NOT FUN. So I'd rather just share the photo album...
I uploaded and moved all the pics to the proper folder on photobucket too. But the new layout makes it a pain to get the link on a tablet

nevermind. searched around and did it that way.

GO HERE FOR PICS, I'M TOO LAZY AND FRUSTRATED TO LINK THE PHOTOS ONE BY ONE ON A TABLET:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/o4komodo

wait, why the hell isn't it working? ugh wtf...

Okay, that confused me at first. GOT IT WORKING!!

Again, all the photos are out of order...

and let me explain a few things:
one side has OEM skirts cause we never took it off when painting...
I left the base skirts unpainted, along with my base bumper.

The front bumper, front lip, a-spec skirts, and rear lip are at my buddy's garage ready to be installed tomorrow.
So, I left the front bumper on and the skirts as is to drive.

BUT this gives it a neat comparison of a before/after sort of thing.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

It's coming together nicely! In for moar!

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

moar?! I just added pictures to my Flickr. JUST took the photos too. My old bumper and skirt are still on... I'm waiting for 12:30 so I can install everything

I have a 3.5-4 hour drive to make back home later tonight. I'm contemplating if i should leave my SSM bumper on for the drive or if I should install the TL-S bumper+a-spec

sitting in my car and it still smells like paint... I'm getting the runs from all this smell and toxins

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Wow awesome progress!

Paint turned out really nice.

What license plate LEDs are you running?

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

thanks!! Its kind of too bad since I forgot my XTi at home---and the bumper+a-spec isn't on yet, so I don't want my friend to shoot my car.
photos were taken with my phone, so not all the detail is there.

I'm using a 12 led board, bought from some seller on kijiji. I took out the OEM lens and replaced it with a piece of clear lexan as well

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Komodo, I like the nighttime shots on your first page.

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

thanks Steven!! Expect similar photos once the car is adequate enough!

JUST installed the TL-S front bumper with 04-06front a-spec but I have MAJOR gappage and the bumper was an insanely tight fit for some reason (OEM too)

next up are the a-spec skirts!!

p.s: Steven if you see this, may you change thread title to "Saying Bye Bye To My SSM But Hello Custom Jaguar!" thanks in advance

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Got my sides installed!! Not installing the rear till a week or so... I got plans for the rear end before the lip goes on

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Adventures of my weekend. Taking the photos I like from my Flickr/Photobucket from this weekend. And some recently added ones.

Went to Windsor to pick up and check out my car.
Was left to see my roof still covered in plastidip. Don't have a pic but this was sent from before:


So, I went hard to work to remove the plastidip. AND IT WAS A BITCH!
Some parts came off easily... most parts were insanely difficult. When I sprayed the roof, I guess some parts were thicker [hence easy to peel] and some weren't as thick. I had to rub my fingers into the plastidip to remove it... and ended up with some water blisters.


Then for some reason my buddy's dad [the painter] thought soaking it in some wd-40 would help and loosen up the plastidip. LO-N-BEHOLD!!! Plastidip essentially de-solidifies itself, sort of, from oil. You can whipe/scrape the plastidip after it's soaked in oil for easy removal.
So in total we spent 3 and a half hours removing plastidip.

He went to paint and bake my car the next day at 6am. It was ready by 3pm.
Here she is just as I exited the gate.
One side has no skirts, the other has the base skirts... base bumper still on. The kit and new bumper was being transported to my buddy's house.



Here's the color difference:



Later that night I installed the TL-S rear sidemarkers while waiting to eat some steak at The Keg:


At 2-3am, decided to visit the good ol' Riverside. I love this place.






Then went to take some photos at the casino:






Then back to the river:




Then came Sunday...
DAY PHOTOS!
I was stalling time. Went to have some brunch with a friend then went to my buddy's house to install the A-Spec sides, TL-S bumper, CF duct, 2004-2006 front a-spec, modified front sidemarkers curtousy of AckTL05 and a driver side fender liner.





Then went to start installing.
For some reason the front bumper was a PITA to install. It seemed like a tighter fit compared to my 2004 bumper. No idea why.






The turn-signals aren't as yellow cause the bulb isn't the greatest AND it's behind tinted diffusers.





Then came Monday morning... I began driving home at 9:45am... or rather, I had to drive straight to work for 1pm.
Here are photos I decided to take at a stop on the highway.











-- I still have the rear A-Spec to install, the v-trim, lower fog-grilles and my roof spoiler. BUT I have a few things to do to them first before they go on.
As well as I have new tail-lights that are being made... When I get those done, and the rear A-Spec then it'll go on all at once--and fix that weird rear bumper gap.
I also need to purchase TL-S fogs...
Oh, and the carbon overlay'd front-grille needs to be redone as there was no clearcoat on it---and it was baked along with the car at 185degrees. The epoxy essentially got eff'd up...

24no7

iTrader: (2)

Bravo!!!! love the car bro!! now get the fog lights mate!!!!!

Aretardedorange

iTrader: (2)

Love the car and the new color man! Its totally pimp! Love them tails as well .

TWiSDiT

iTrader: (4)

really lovin the new color! car has been brought back from the dead! cant wait to see more updates

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

in for moar pix !!!

I have always been a fan of your work....

Acura_Dude

Amazing! I love that paint color.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

wow! the color choice is awesome!!!

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Thanks! And yes, fog lights eventually... gotta finish some mods off first

Thanks for the kind words! Tail lights are going to be remade though

It definitely has been brought back from the dead! Before I would look and walk away.. now I walk backwards and stare at the TL until I can't walk any longer.

Thanks for the kind words!
Met up with Tmax earlier today to get TL-S fog-grilles... They'll be installed soon and then MOAR PIX!!
Besides... I haven't had the chance to shoot the car with the old XTi yet...

Thanks! Glad you like it!

Thanks a lot! It was a big shock for me as well!

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Hmb.... I seem to be missing something to install my tl-s foglight grills

ATLS_666

Where in scabz do u live?

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Markham and Lawrence area, you?

ATLS_666

Markham and Eglinton. Split my time between there and Hamilton.

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Ah that's not too far from me!
Hmn, funny you mentioned Hamilton. I was born there... And have relatives up in Ancaster. At least I think it's considered Ancaster? Somewhere up on that mountain.

Well, I was all excited to install my lower-fog-grills...
but, shabloimps, I didn't cut the 04-06 A-Spec enough [never had the inserts until after I painted the car] AND I guess I'm missing pieces to install the darn grill 'cause darn thing doesn't have anywhere to clip onto!
I'm thinking I might cut and relocate the tab...

UNLESS the air-dam-assembly-thing is required to install the foglight... then I guess I need to make some purchases.



If you look closely, these tabs are no where close to each other.




I ordered some cheap TL-S foglights on eBay, hopefully they can be installed fine without the darn missing piece

Looking at some other member's TLs... doesn't even look like I'm missing anything

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Got off work... decided to swing by the mall to hunt down some SSM TLs.
Unfortunately I didn't find any modded TLs... just pure one pure stock.
Also, it was cold as hell, so I didn't care much about composition and just snapped the photos.


















Also, found this guy on the way back to my car after walking around inside.
These are rare in Canada.





Also took a photo at night of my front with the yellows on.
Quick snap with poor focus... made some of the light look sorta green.
Plate lights are also NOT blue--they are pure white.


But here's a -hopefully- good video.

Also, damn, the new sidemarker that Bruce did for me is SUPER bright. It's probably as bright or brighter than when the turn signals engage.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Wow, braving the snow and the weather to post a vid-well done.

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Thanks guys!
Luckily it wasn't THAT cold---it got chillier as I was just about finished!

And these came in today:


Monday and Tuesday I will be...
1. Replacing the clutch, PP and DMFW [Luk parts]
2. 3x3 GM synchromesh tranny fluid
3. Installing KSport Coilovers
4. Dropping the car a bit lower
5. Replacing front and rear driver side end-links
6. Replacing driver side CV boot
7. Fixing issue with extended studs

And finally if there is time, diagnosing my VSA [the /!\ and VSA light are ALWAYS on].

Oh, I also need an oil change... also I'll probably try to squeeze in time to diagnose my stupid windshield-wiper-fluid-sensor. It ALWAYS claims I'm on low fluid.

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Trying to get my granny out but my lower subframe bolt is seized. Meanwhile one of the sleeves on my coilover is also seized.

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

So, managed to install the clutch parts. Fuck it was a pain in the ass! Ran into issues with the coilovers. One of the sleeves seems seized or something...
also the bushings in my lower control arms are busted.
didn't install the new studs either. Spent all 2days to replace the granny (and rear end links)

anthracitecl

iTrader: (7)

Car looks nice and love new color!!!
Sorry to hear issues you have now. I hope you fix the problems easily.

M.I.N.O.

iTrader: (1)

WOW! You brought this car back to life! Love the new colour!

Bankz

Boy it seems like you have some work to do

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

thanks a lot!
sigh, was hoping everything would be a clean install but nope!!! Seized bolts EVERYWHERE. Not to mention several cracked bushings. But its oh well! Its fixable.

thanks!! Glad you like it

hahah yeah... Got a bit of work, but the main thing is taken care of (my clutch). By the way... My Teins and Tokicos should be ready for you next week!

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Buddy started ahead of me.

He removed the battery, tray, starter and all that jazz:


mmmnnn... crusty


Then I joined in on the fun.
After removing and detaching lots of hoses and bolts and lines and breaking clips...
I saw this:

Lower precat heat shields. The only thing holding them up was the flange from the precat/jpipe. No wonder my car still had that tin-can-rattle! [at first I thought it was the 3rd cat shield]

Original transmission, from day one. I'm at 218,000KMs:



WTF happened here?




Took off the case. I noticed how incredibly covered in gunk and grime it was. Sprayed a bit with brake cleaner and figured "Hey! This would be a great before/after!" The right half was half a CM thick of shtick. Holy eff this thing was nasty!
Before:


After, without throw-out bearing:

After, with throw-out bearing:


My original clutch plate.
This thing was slipping on ALL gears from 1-2.5k [city] and 3-4 [highway].


Cracks, heat spots, nearly flush with the rivets.
It looked like this on both sides of the friction material!







Versus new:




My original pressure plate:




Hot spots:



Versus new:


My original DMFW:




All back together:



6 bottles of GM: SynchroMesh [or ACDelco for us in Igloos]


KSports, 36 way adjustable.

Originally 3 of the coilover sleeves WOULD NOT budge. But, I managed to get two of them free. One of the rear coilover sleeves still would not budge.

And that's all the pics I took of Monday and Tuesday's fiasco.

What's left to do:
Either find replacement bushings for ALL bushings in both lower-control-arms *or* buy 2 new lower-control-arms (I really need just one, but might as well buy it in a pair), replace 4 extended studs, install KSport coilovers and replace driver-side-axle-shaft as the CV boot is torn.
HOWEVER, I will only be able to do all the above (except the studs, that will be done tomorrow) when I have new bushings or new LCAs.

MEKO

iTrader: (1)