Geekybiker's Progress thread
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Geekybiker's Progress thread
So I'm starting to get enough stuff that I think I need to start on of these. I bought my TL new in 2006 and its stayed mostly stock for all that time. I initially put on a progress RSB since it had made such a huge difference on previous cars. On a 6MT it was nice, but not ground breaking. Other than that, I upgraded the front speakers when I blew one in 2011. So 2012 had rolled around and its now twice as long as I've ever kept a car. Its paid off and nothing out there is really calling me as amazingly better than my current TL. However its time to shake the 'old car syndrome' and refresh my TL a little bit visually.
First up is some paint mods. I had actually bought the paint over a year ago and intended to do this then, but it got packed the move and I finally got around to it.
Plastidiped grill
Surprisingly you can take it off without taking off the bumper with a 7mm socket. I also lost a socket somewhere in the bumper.
Painted Caliper (VHT burnt copper engine paint)
After several tries with masking using stickers I just ended up clearing over stickers. Masking was nothing but a disaster.
Painted wheels
Of course I needed to do the center caps too.
Side shot
And detail of the caliper/brembo combo
[/QUOTE]
Looking good so far. Next up is the aspec lip. I'm not sure I'll finish the kit or not. The lip is by far the biggest bang for the buck appearance wise in the kit. I think I'll go for new exhaust tips in the rear if I want to change the lower look. Thing is a large box arrived at the house unannouced and the wife texts me asking if I've ordered a 'real doll' (google it NSFW if you don't know) I told her yes, and her name is Mandy. So I've been calling my aspec lip mandy ever since.
So here's Mandy with all the rest
Next up, I have a set of H&R sport springs that is sitting on my couch waiting to be installed. Hopefully I'll get to it this weekend.
First up is some paint mods. I had actually bought the paint over a year ago and intended to do this then, but it got packed the move and I finally got around to it.
Plastidiped grill
Surprisingly you can take it off without taking off the bumper with a 7mm socket. I also lost a socket somewhere in the bumper.
Painted Caliper (VHT burnt copper engine paint)
After several tries with masking using stickers I just ended up clearing over stickers. Masking was nothing but a disaster.
Painted wheels
Of course I needed to do the center caps too.
Side shot
And detail of the caliper/brembo combo
[/QUOTE]
Looking good so far. Next up is the aspec lip. I'm not sure I'll finish the kit or not. The lip is by far the biggest bang for the buck appearance wise in the kit. I think I'll go for new exhaust tips in the rear if I want to change the lower look. Thing is a large box arrived at the house unannouced and the wife texts me asking if I've ordered a 'real doll' (google it NSFW if you don't know) I told her yes, and her name is Mandy. So I've been calling my aspec lip mandy ever since.
So here's Mandy with all the rest
Next up, I have a set of H&R sport springs that is sitting on my couch waiting to be installed. Hopefully I'll get to it this weekend.
#3
tehLEGOman
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#4
Three Wheelin'
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#5
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GB, the calipers look excellent. And they bring out the amber in the headlights.
#6
Drifting
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Looking good so far. Gotta like another nice TL in chicagoland!
Oh, and you can't reserve post #2 for future use. You can only edit a post for up to 15 minutes I think, then its permanent until a mod such as the honorable Steven Bell changes/removes it.
Oh, and you can't reserve post #2 for future use. You can only edit a post for up to 15 minutes I think, then its permanent until a mod such as the honorable Steven Bell changes/removes it.
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#8
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Thanks guys. Did my steering wheel lights tonight. They've been slowly going out, but trying for that new car feel again.
Here she is perfect shiny and new back in sept 2006. Right off the lot
Here she is perfect shiny and new back in sept 2006. Right off the lot
#10
Anyway looks clean man It looks very well kept.
#12
Three Wheelin'
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GB, nice install with the phone mount. How do you guys like that? I'd hate to drill into the dash like that.
#16
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I really like having a good mount. If you don't have navi, its pretty much required IMHO. It takes using your phone as a mp3 jukebox, gps, etc from a dangerous eyes-leaving the road proposition to one that can outshine a stock navi experience. It makes dialing contacts not in your handsfree link a whole lot easier (shame it won't pass the mic). I've also setup some custom functions via tasker that will pull down the local traffic website and calculate my couple typical routes to/from work and then tell me which one I should take. This info isn't on google maps, etc. For some reason all the biggies ignore our express lanes.
#17
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Just ordered this
Its going to become a shift knob. I'll probably fill with clear resin, drill and epoxy a m10x1.5 nut in the base then clear coat the heck out of it. It's supposed to be 3" diameter so about perfect size.
Its going to become a shift knob. I'll probably fill with clear resin, drill and epoxy a m10x1.5 nut in the base then clear coat the heck out of it. It's supposed to be 3" diameter so about perfect size.
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#22
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#28
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
So here's the before and after for the H&R sport springs. I'm pretty happy with them, but I think once I get my konis I'll drop the front to the lower perch to maintain the rake a bit more. Also the stock shocks are a bit under-dampened for the rates. I get about an extra half cycle more bounce than I should. Instead of compress, up, down, rest it is compress up, down, up, rest.
Before
After
Eagle eyed folks will notice I mirrored the after photo to get them facing the same way.
Before
After
Eagle eyed folks will notice I mirrored the after photo to get them facing the same way.
#29
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Very nice, GB!
#31
Three Wheelin'
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#32
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looks nice!
Time for some tint
Time for some tint
#33
Three Wheelin'
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#34
Drifting
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Front tint is still illegal in chicago? I guess I just assumed they changed with the rest of the state. I know a guy in Chicago with a CTS-V who has probably 5% tint all around and 35% on the windshield, and has had it for about a year with no one bothering him yet.
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Why is the city different from the state?
#36
Three Wheelin'
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UD- Illinois has something called home rule. Basically cities that invoke it can choose to over-ride state law that doesn't specifically say it may not be overridden. Chicago of course is a home rule city and has a whole lot of f-ed up laws. The legal issue was if the uniform motor vehicle code could be overridden by home rule, but this section wasn't specifically excepted, so they are allowed to. It means they need to amend the law if they want Chicago to allow it. Its more time and another battle for a relatively minor issue that probably won't get attention for a long time.
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Undying Dreams (10-18-2012)
#37
Nah, they pulled this crap pretty much the same time it became legal in the rest of the state. Well, that's when the ticket price went from nuisance to $250. There was heavy enforcement for awhile, but then they backed off as there was a legal question. Couple weeks ago the Chicago ordinance was upheld in court. I expect enforcement to start up again real soon now. Chicago doesn't mess around when there is a chance to ticket people. BTW 5% is illegal everywhere. (at least on the front sides)
UD- Illinois has something called home rule. Basically cities that invoke it can choose to over-ride state law that doesn't specifically say it may not be overridden. Chicago of course is a home rule city and has a whole lot of f-ed up laws. The legal issue was if the uniform motor vehicle code could be overridden by home rule, but this section wasn't specifically excepted, so they are allowed to. It means they need to amend the law if they want Chicago to allow it. Its more time and another battle for a relatively minor issue that probably won't get attention for a long time.
UD- Illinois has something called home rule. Basically cities that invoke it can choose to over-ride state law that doesn't specifically say it may not be overridden. Chicago of course is a home rule city and has a whole lot of f-ed up laws. The legal issue was if the uniform motor vehicle code could be overridden by home rule, but this section wasn't specifically excepted, so they are allowed to. It means they need to amend the law if they want Chicago to allow it. Its more time and another battle for a relatively minor issue that probably won't get attention for a long time.
#38
Drifting
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Nah, they pulled this crap pretty much the same time it became legal in the rest of the state. Well, that's when the ticket price went from nuisance to $250. There was heavy enforcement for awhile, but then they backed off as there was a legal question. Couple weeks ago the Chicago ordinance was upheld in court. I expect enforcement to start up again real soon now. Chicago doesn't mess around when there is a chance to ticket people. BTW 5% is illegal everywhere. (at least on the front sides)
UD- Illinois has something called home rule. Basically cities that invoke it can choose to over-ride state law that doesn't specifically say it may not be overridden. Chicago of course is a home rule city and has a whole lot of f-ed up laws. The legal issue was if the uniform motor vehicle code could be overridden by home rule, but this section wasn't specifically excepted, so they are allowed to. It means they need to amend the law if they want Chicago to allow it. Its more time and another battle for a relatively minor issue that probably won't get attention for a long time.
UD- Illinois has something called home rule. Basically cities that invoke it can choose to over-ride state law that doesn't specifically say it may not be overridden. Chicago of course is a home rule city and has a whole lot of f-ed up laws. The legal issue was if the uniform motor vehicle code could be overridden by home rule, but this section wasn't specifically excepted, so they are allowed to. It means they need to amend the law if they want Chicago to allow it. Its more time and another battle for a relatively minor issue that probably won't get attention for a long time.
And yes, 5% is definitely illegal everywhere, as is anything on the windshield. He bought the car like that, and just left it as is and hasn't been bothered yet. He's gotten more trouble for his lack of front plate, but I think only while parked at Midway and O'Hare.
#39
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Yah, 35% all around, but no tint up front if you're darker in back. IIRC you can go opaque for the rear so long as you have both side mirrors. Chicago was the same until they started allowing front tint.
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