VIP inspired TL

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Old Nov 23, 2011 | 03:32 PM
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VIP inspired TL

Hey guys, so recently I purchased a used 2002 acura tl. It had roughly around 146xxx miles at the time. I preferably wanted the second-
gen TL because I always thought that it was a sleek-looking car and that the lining/shape of the body is superb (not to mention v6!) My previous car was a 1997 240sx, but due to unfortunate circumstances, I had to get rid of it and I needed another daily (I also wanted something more luxurious). That's where I eventually came up on a TL. This time around, I had the priviledge of starting from bone stock and only putting in mods that appealed to me. I was always fond of the VIP scene and getting the TL was the perfect reason to start! Enjoy!


So this is how it looked like when I first bought it:




Soon after, I came up on some Function&Form Type 1 coilovers on 6thgenaccord. The guy who I bought the coilovers from didn't have the wrench to adjust the height, so I just had to ride on however he set the height to.



Most recently, I bought a set of J2 Monarch 410 wheels; 18x8 5x114.3 +55 and 18x9 +55. The wheels barely cleared with 1cm clearance in the rear. I'm going to get my fenders rolled today.




I hope you guys like the car! I've done some little mods as well like converting all the lights to LED and getting an intake for the car. I also have a whole list of mods that I still want to get; including camber kit, all around oem lip kit, etc. (maybe some junction produce stuff after everything is done ). I'm thinking about converting to Honda but I'm not sure whether or not I would want the Saber or Inspire grille. I would love to hear some feedback from fellow forum members. There's more to come!

P.S. If you need s14 parts, hit me up!

Last edited by koukii; Nov 23, 2011 at 03:40 PM.
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Old Nov 23, 2011 | 05:38 PM
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Welcome It looks really clean. I like it.
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Old Nov 23, 2011 | 06:41 PM
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very nice...more pics...and contact heeltoe or someone about buying some wrenches...coilovers you can't adjust are just springs.
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Old Nov 23, 2011 | 09:47 PM
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Looks great! Personally I think putting Honda badges on an Acura is kinda dumb. Its LHD. Its not a Saber/Inspire.
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Old Nov 23, 2011 | 11:51 PM
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I'm also not into the whole inspire/saber conversion. Your car though so if it's what you want then go for it. The car looks good, have any better pics? The car looks good, the wheels are going to flow perfectly with the right height.
Try using a screwdriver and hammer to losses the lower perch to adjust the height. Worked for me.
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Old Nov 23, 2011 | 11:52 PM
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This is a tough one, one of our members went the same route as you Jjasshaa, and his car looked sick with both the Inspire grill and the Saber grill. If you really wanted to do the conversion I'd say flip a coin and then decided lol. Great start though, and you don't need wrenches to adjust, you shouldn't be adjusting the top two perches anyways since that'll mess with the preloads and you have a higher chance of blowing out your shocks.

If you need to adjust it, adjust it by the bottom mount where hte one gold lockring is at. Loosen it by using a flat head screwdriver and a hammer.
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Old Nov 24, 2011 | 01:41 AM
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Originally Posted by 02type-s
Looks great! Personally I think putting Honda badges on an Acura is kinda dumb. Its LHD. Its not a Saber/Inspire.
I've never understood that.
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Old Nov 24, 2011 | 02:22 AM
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its not about just slapping a Honda badge on and calling it a day. its the concept of the conversion and everyone sees it differently just gotta pull it off and do it right. thats how i see it.
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Old Nov 24, 2011 | 11:51 AM
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^that
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Old Nov 24, 2011 | 04:17 PM
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Yeah I really like the saber grill; I think it would look great for the VIP look but there is the Honda badge on it lol. I got my fenders rolled last night and I'm planning on picking up some Ichiba V1 15mm all around spacers for a more flush look.
I decided not to pick up a laptop anymore on black friday so that I could have more money to spend on the car.

As for more pics, I was up till 6AM with my friend black in-housing our headlights. Let me tell you it's an absolute b!tch with just a hairdryer . Here are the finished results; sorry if there is some glare lol.



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Old Nov 24, 2011 | 04:42 PM
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More pics!



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Old Nov 24, 2011 | 05:05 PM
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Old Nov 24, 2011 | 05:36 PM
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Looks clean! Keep it up and welcome to AcuraZINE.
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Old Nov 24, 2011 | 05:57 PM
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Looks clean bro

btw does your Upper Control Arm hit the top strut tower when your driving ?
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Old Nov 24, 2011 | 10:32 PM
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03tls knows what im talking about! Shit!

The TL looks sick bro!!! Love the black housing I think the saber grill would set it off!
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 02:02 AM
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yeah, there's definitely more to come! would you know anyone that has one available?
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 02:53 AM
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 02:58 AM
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gross.. you should redo your headlights..
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 05:59 AM
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Originally Posted by koukii
yeah, there's definitely more to come! would you know anyone that has one available?
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-parts-sale-361/2g-tl-ssm-parts-sale-more-remaining-items-moved-new-thread-834667/
There you go my friend! Hit him up for the grill
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by 02type-s
Looks great! Personally I think putting Honda badges on an Acura is kinda dumb. Its LHD. Its not a Saber/Inspire.
isnt your Mugen spoiler made by a Honda Company that you have on your Acura TL?

So you put a Honda spoiler on your Acura?

you might as well slapp on that grill and rear badge while your at lol........

but to most and the regular it would be WTF, why would u do that? but to those who are into the JDM scene, its a +.

Honda is the power of dreams! dont be ashamed to rock the badges! lol

They even make planes!

Honda - Hold On Not Done Accelerating lol

mind u guys I never sold my regular Acura grill, but the H does spice it up for those who like alil change!

Last edited by JDM Inspired; Nov 25, 2011 at 01:15 PM.
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 01:24 PM
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the spoiler isn't made by a Honda Motor Company.....


Mugen is just a tuning company that specializes in Hondas only.

like how Cosworth does lots of stuff for Ford
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 01:27 PM
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atleast our 2nd Gens come in a Japanese Version, its not like we are just slappin random honda badges on like its no tomarrow! but some members do that with the red badges which i really hate
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 01:46 PM
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Thats one thing that can justify the badges, that this car is a honda in Japan, and well a Honda here too technically. If your into JDM then hey go for it.
Op I think that last rolling shot looks awesome, headlights also make a big difference. Good stuff.
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 02:09 PM
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theres is no point in explaining either you have it or u dont. JDM for us is USDM for them. honda fanatics only understand. if you the type that just jumps on n off of car makers you wont understand any of those scenes.
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 03:25 PM
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Thanks guys. As for me, if I were to do a Honda conversion, it wouldn't be a half-ass type of job. Meaning if I rock the H badge, every other Acura badge would need to be replaced. But that's one of the last things on my list. I do have random oem parts on my car that says it was made by Honda though haha .

BTW, has anyone ever tried out the RonJon lip kit? It looks clean on the website, but I haven't seen it actually on a TL yet. It's either that or OEM.
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 05:07 PM
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Ron jon started to design them and backed out at the last minute. Alot of us were really stoked.
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 08:26 PM
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nice.. looks like you picked up the same pair of rims that my homie has too.. he lives in the 626 as well. did you pick these up from mazz autosports?

also.. if you need any help on your 2g, hit me up. i'm in the 626 (rosemead/san gabriel area).
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 08:38 PM
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lol sick. I picked it up from a dude from club lexus. I think his name was xiaowen or something. That's pretty close, I'm from the el monte area. Right now, I ordered the spacers from evasivemotorsports; the one with the extended lugs. If anything, maybe I could get some help installing them? Let me know.
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Old Nov 26, 2011 | 12:19 AM
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Nice. Next on my list is spacers as well. Just deciding what size.
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Old Nov 26, 2011 | 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by jjashaa
the spoiler isn't made by a Honda Motor Company.....


Mugen is just a tuning company that specializes in Hondas only.

like how Cosworth does lots of stuff for Ford
I see, but reguardless if Mugen is a tuning company, that doesnt change the fact that it only specializes in Honda's right? So it still relates to him putting a Honda based tuning company spoiler on his Acura TL. Mugen is Directed towards Hondas itself. Unless they have Mugen Toyota's and Mugen Lexus's then i would understand.
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Old Nov 26, 2011 | 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by JDM Inspired
I see, but reguardless if Mugen is a tuning company, that doesnt change the fact that it only specializes in Honda's right? So it still relates to him putting a Honda based tuning company spoiler on his Acura TL. Mugen is Directed towards Hondas itself. Unless they have Mugen Toyota's and Mugen Lexus's then i would understand.
^+1

Originally Posted by Accordcg
Looks clean bro

btw does your Upper Control Arm hit the top strut tower when your driving ?
Nah it doesn't, i usually just rub and scrape
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Old Nov 27, 2011 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by JDM Inspired
isnt your Mugen spoiler made by a Honda Company that you have on your Acura TL?

So you put a Honda spoiler on your Acura?

you might as well slapp on that grill and rear badge while your at lol........

but to most and the regular it would be WTF, why would u do that? but to those who are into the JDM scene, its a +.

Honda is the power of dreams! dont be ashamed to rock the badges! lol

They even make planes!

Honda - Hold On Not Done Accelerating lol

mind u guys I never sold my regular Acura grill, but the H does spice it up for those who like alil change!
LMAO, no, not the same at all. I'm not representing my ACURA to be something its not. I understand Honda makes Acura, but until the car is RHD, its still a TL. Just my opinion.
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Old Dec 25, 2011 | 05:49 AM
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Merry Christmas everyone!
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Old Dec 25, 2011 | 11:21 AM
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sweet!
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Old Dec 25, 2011 | 07:53 PM
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Very nice. Is that a front lip on there? Did you ever put spacers on?
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Old Dec 26, 2011 | 06:33 AM
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Car looks great! Imo i think you should've left some chrome on the headlights.

These are my headlights, *see the chrome left on the blinkers?
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Old Dec 26, 2011 | 07:12 AM
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Car looks amazing. There are things that I would have done differently. But thats the beauty of it being your car. If you have a vision make it that. Feedback is one thing. But in the end, you drive it, you love it. Happy to see someone take their vision and build it. I hate it when people say "this is what you should have done." Keep up the good work and taking in the positive feedback and constructive criticism.
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Old Dec 27, 2011 | 11:50 AM
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Thanks for your interest in my car, but I have a long way to go before I can call it complete. Yeah, and with the headlights, i'm planning on redoing them if anything. More to come!
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Old Dec 27, 2011 | 02:37 PM
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Ahhh! This is the look I'm goin for!
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Old Dec 27, 2011 | 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by jo3lo22
Ahhh! This is the look I'm goin for!
you're heading down a good path
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