Guti's '07 WDP Slow Build Thread (Updated 4/8/2018)
#81
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I would say whole aspec over headlights just like sockr1 says. I had my headlights and taillights done before the aspec and I regretted not doing the kit first , also I have a base but have the quads but I did go aftermarket and got the xlr8 catback ... goodluck with what you choose , it will look great in the end
Also, ive been thinking about this some more. Right now, I have the luxury of being able to park the TL for a few weeks and use the wifes truck. The weather is crap and itll do the car some good to stay indoors, I might even be able to give it a wax if temperatures get high enough. That being said, I think I might just do the lights right now. Cuz when spring/summer comes around, Im going to want to get the car on the road, and having it parked in the summer will be hard, as I wont have the flexibility of having a spare vehicle. Plus having the aspec kit go on in the spring/summer will be better as temperatures will be warmer and my hands wont freeze, also gives me more time to track down a type-s muffler.
#84
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
So a pretty big update....some of it good, and some not so much..
first the ugly stuff.....so I had decided to park the TL for a bit and send off my tail lights to get cleaned and re-sealed (passenger tail was a leaking mess). Before parking it, I decided to give it a thorough wash down to get all of the winter salt and grime off. Unfortunately, I over looked the consequences of leaving a "wet" car garaged for an extended period of time....
went to go start the TL up a couple weeks ago, but the god damn thing wouldn't move. Looked at it closer, and turns out that the rear driver side wheel was completely locked in place and would just drag each time I attempted to move the car (worst noise ever btw). I thought a seized caliper was the culprit, I thought wrong!
this was the picture sent by the shop where I had it towed to....the rotor is not even 3 months old!!
this was the picture sent by the shop where I had it towed to....the rotor is not even 3 months old!!as you can see, the rotor was F'ed the F UP!!! At first, I was super happy because the shop was going to cover the tow cost and replace the caliper under warranty......but as it turns out the caliper was completely fine......instead my brake shoes, lines and rotors/pads were messed up big time. SO the shop spent about two hours trying to knock off the rotor with everything imaginable, almost cut my emergency brake line because they thought it was frozen.....luckily I dodged a bullet there and they were able to knock those two ^^ suckers off........anyways in the end I had to get my brake components replaced....and it ended up costing me a lot more than ZERO
Still some more ugly stuff......got my tails back from Bruce after having them cleaned and resealed......but driver side arrived damaged.....sent it back to Bruce and am currently waiting on its return......in the meantime picked up some 04-06 tails for cheap off craigslist and slapped some VHT on them to make them blend a bit better........
now onto the good stuff!...........finally purchased the ASPEC KIT (thanks to sockr1 and breezy for the convincing lol). Almost didn't do it, but figured hey the car is sitting anyway, mine as well take advantage and get what ive always wanted done.......the day after I had the brake job completed, I got a good friend of mine to install the kit for me (the weather is garbage atm in Vancity).
Sorry for the crappy pics, will take some decent ones once weather permits!
the day she was towed....if only I knew what was to come
love the rear, so much more aggressive!
first the ugly stuff.....so I had decided to park the TL for a bit and send off my tail lights to get cleaned and re-sealed (passenger tail was a leaking mess). Before parking it, I decided to give it a thorough wash down to get all of the winter salt and grime off. Unfortunately, I over looked the consequences of leaving a "wet" car garaged for an extended period of time....
went to go start the TL up a couple weeks ago, but the god damn thing wouldn't move. Looked at it closer, and turns out that the rear driver side wheel was completely locked in place and would just drag each time I attempted to move the car (worst noise ever btw). I thought a seized caliper was the culprit, I thought wrong!
this was the picture sent by the shop where I had it towed to....the rotor is not even 3 months old!!
this was the picture sent by the shop where I had it towed to....the rotor is not even 3 months old!!as you can see, the rotor was F'ed the F UP!!! At first, I was super happy because the shop was going to cover the tow cost and replace the caliper under warranty......but as it turns out the caliper was completely fine......instead my brake shoes, lines and rotors/pads were messed up big time. SO the shop spent about two hours trying to knock off the rotor with everything imaginable, almost cut my emergency brake line because they thought it was frozen.....luckily I dodged a bullet there and they were able to knock those two ^^ suckers off........anyways in the end I had to get my brake components replaced....and it ended up costing me a lot more than ZERO
Still some more ugly stuff......got my tails back from Bruce after having them cleaned and resealed......but driver side arrived damaged.....sent it back to Bruce and am currently waiting on its return......in the meantime picked up some 04-06 tails for cheap off craigslist and slapped some VHT on them to make them blend a bit better........
now onto the good stuff!...........finally purchased the ASPEC KIT (thanks to sockr1 and breezy for the convincing lol). Almost didn't do it, but figured hey the car is sitting anyway, mine as well take advantage and get what ive always wanted done.......the day after I had the brake job completed, I got a good friend of mine to install the kit for me (the weather is garbage atm in Vancity).
Sorry for the crappy pics, will take some decent ones once weather permits!
the day she was towed....if only I knew what was to come
love the rear, so much more aggressive!
#87
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
yeah after going back and forth over new headlights or the aspec kit, it was actually an easy decision in the end. Can't wait for some nice weather here, ive got a Adam's polishes foam cannon ive been itching to try out as well
#88
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^^^ Adam's Polishes is very popular in the world of Corvette too. I just bought a foam cannon myself (not from Adam's though). Can't wait to try mine out on BOTH cars.
#89
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
PS: thanks for updating title
#91
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My opinion...
foam lance from amazon
and a 1600 psi electric pressure washer.
the hose ones are useless and the gas powered pressure washers put out too much water and dilute the suds.
spray on, let it sit, rinse off, then spray on or do your normal 2 bucket method. Personally, I spray on, then 2 bucket it on the first go...but then again, my car is a daily and I refuse to be a slave to avoiding swirls.
foam lance from amazon
and a 1600 psi electric pressure washer.
the hose ones are useless and the gas powered pressure washers put out too much water and dilute the suds.
spray on, let it sit, rinse off, then spray on or do your normal 2 bucket method. Personally, I spray on, then 2 bucket it on the first go...but then again, my car is a daily and I refuse to be a slave to avoiding swirls.
#92
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From what I understand, just foam it up, use your mitt to get any hard to remove grime off and have fun with it. Be sure to take pics of it all foamed up.
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MyGuti (03-28-2017)
#94
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
So its been a little bit, I've been hustling with work and haven't had too much time to pay attention to the TL. That being said, the past couple months have shown some progress.
I finally got around to using the foam gun/cannon on the TL. Still messing around with the soap/water ratio to maximize its potential, but combined with a pressure washer, its pretty darn good IMO.
Next up, I pulled the trigger on the stage 3 exhaust setup. Its pretty much exactly what I wanted and I love the exhaust note, especially on cold starts
Somewhere during the past few months, I finally received my VLEDS for my interior swap (it took them months to get me all the bulbs, they were on back order for the longest time). I don't have a pic of the bulbs just yet, but will get around to it shortly. I swapped every bulb except the vanity lights. Still need to get the glove box and middle console lights swapped but they are a major PITA.
Lastly I received my tail light from Bruce and got around to swapping them in. The modification needed to make the customized lights fit is actually very minor, I was able to get them on the vehicle without actually trimming that piece off.
Im pretty satisfied with how the car looks now. I find myself looking "back at it" like when I first brought it home. The final touches will definitely be a set of wheels and probably a drop on some coils. But don't know when that will happen....and I also installed the trunk nets again, but this time with the cargo net. I really need to take some time and snap some decent pics, but these will have to do for the time being. Time is hard to come by these days.
Summer toys
I finally got around to using the foam gun/cannon on the TL. Still messing around with the soap/water ratio to maximize its potential, but combined with a pressure washer, its pretty darn good IMO.
Next up, I pulled the trigger on the stage 3 exhaust setup. Its pretty much exactly what I wanted and I love the exhaust note, especially on cold starts
Somewhere during the past few months, I finally received my VLEDS for my interior swap (it took them months to get me all the bulbs, they were on back order for the longest time). I don't have a pic of the bulbs just yet, but will get around to it shortly. I swapped every bulb except the vanity lights. Still need to get the glove box and middle console lights swapped but they are a major PITA.
Lastly I received my tail light from Bruce and got around to swapping them in. The modification needed to make the customized lights fit is actually very minor, I was able to get them on the vehicle without actually trimming that piece off.
Im pretty satisfied with how the car looks now. I find myself looking "back at it" like when I first brought it home. The final touches will definitely be a set of wheels and probably a drop on some coils. But don't know when that will happen....and I also installed the trunk nets again, but this time with the cargo net. I really need to take some time and snap some decent pics, but these will have to do for the time being. Time is hard to come by these days.
Summer toys
#95
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Love your summer toys!
Great update as usual...
the foam isn't bad but you'd be surprised what a foam lance, the right soap and a 1600 electric pressure washer can achieve.
A bit much for a car wash though...
Overall, looking great, man.
Great update as usual...
the foam isn't bad but you'd be surprised what a foam lance, the right soap and a 1600 electric pressure washer can achieve.
A bit much for a car wash though...
Overall, looking great, man.
#96
Safety Car
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looks good man!
definitely play with your car wash settings more, i use a garden hose and foam gun (opposed to pressure water and foam canon) and i get way more foam action on my car which i shouldn't. what soap are you using? some soaps foam way better than others.
for your cargo net there's a better way to make it functional, if you want that. see the two attachment cords that you have angling back towards the rear of the car? move those to the attachment points on the roof of the trunk, and the two that you have on the roof of your trunk move those to the sides of the car and your cargo net will be very functional and can hold bags of groceries, etc because it's a very tight enclosed "net". see my picture below, i can put lots of "loose items" back there and they are held very well:
definitely play with your car wash settings more, i use a garden hose and foam gun (opposed to pressure water and foam canon) and i get way more foam action on my car which i shouldn't. what soap are you using? some soaps foam way better than others.
for your cargo net there's a better way to make it functional, if you want that. see the two attachment cords that you have angling back towards the rear of the car? move those to the attachment points on the roof of the trunk, and the two that you have on the roof of your trunk move those to the sides of the car and your cargo net will be very functional and can hold bags of groceries, etc because it's a very tight enclosed "net". see my picture below, i can put lots of "loose items" back there and they are held very well:
#97
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You'll get the hang of the foam cannon-they're always fun!
Nice updates too.
Nice updates too.
#99
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
looks good man!
definitely play with your car wash settings more, i use a garden hose and foam gun (opposed to pressure water and foam canon) and i get way more foam action on my car which i shouldn't. what soap are you using? some soaps foam way better than others.
for your cargo net there's a better way to make it functional, if you want that. see the two attachment cords that you have angling back towards the rear of the car? move those to the attachment points on the roof of the trunk, and the two that you have on the roof of your trunk move those to the sides of the car and your cargo net will be very functional and can hold bags of groceries, etc because it's a very tight enclosed "net". see my picture below, i can put lots of "loose items" back there and they are held very well:
definitely play with your car wash settings more, i use a garden hose and foam gun (opposed to pressure water and foam canon) and i get way more foam action on my car which i shouldn't. what soap are you using? some soaps foam way better than others.
for your cargo net there's a better way to make it functional, if you want that. see the two attachment cords that you have angling back towards the rear of the car? move those to the attachment points on the roof of the trunk, and the two that you have on the roof of your trunk move those to the sides of the car and your cargo net will be very functional and can hold bags of groceries, etc because it's a very tight enclosed "net". see my picture below, i can put lots of "loose items" back there and they are held very well:
and about modding, Im pretty much done for a bit, maintenance is all done, and I don't see myself doing anything drastic cosmetically besides wheels and a drop, although the post sockr made about the tablet install is intriguing!
I forgot to mention in my previous post that I also have the pressure switches on hand, need to get those swapped in shortly. And I also ordered a set of lug nuts from endless, mine were rusted and were beginning to become impossible to remove without the gun, looking forward to the new lugs and a bit of added color to the stock wheels.
#101
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Not really an update, car is basically sitting in the same state as my last post...........
I went away with the wife this weekend to a local island and was able to get a single shot of the TL.......captured this on my phone.......sorry for the quality and dirty car.
While on the island, I had the opportunity to really push the throttle on the TL (I've only done this on very rare occasions....im talking 6k rpms fyi)
I must say, I was quite impressed with the TL's "bite" and handling.
Finally, I've been putting off the pressure switches but I started noticing harsher shifts beginning to occur, during and after my spirited driving. So the switches are next on the list.....hoping to get to that in a week or so.......stay tuned for more random pics
I went away with the wife this weekend to a local island and was able to get a single shot of the TL.......captured this on my phone.......sorry for the quality and dirty car.
While on the island, I had the opportunity to really push the throttle on the TL (I've only done this on very rare occasions....im talking 6k rpms fyi)
I must say, I was quite impressed with the TL's "bite" and handling.
Finally, I've been putting off the pressure switches but I started noticing harsher shifts beginning to occur, during and after my spirited driving. So the switches are next on the list.....hoping to get to that in a week or so.......stay tuned for more random pics
#102
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#106
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
LOL yeah car has definitely had its ups and downs. I started off thinking I could have a perfect car (cosmetically), I realized after some time that its impossible to accomplish.
Even through the bad stuff, I still love my car, and I'd like to think the hardships give it character lol.
Definitely do the stage 3 mod if your looking to change up the exhaust note. I love it and cannot wait until the colder months for those deeper exhaust tones (on startup).
I constantly go back and forth on ideas of what wheels I want. I definitely lean towards a clean 5 spoke design, just have to actually pick a wheel and then figure out tire size and offset etc.
I think ill probably end up running an 18 inch on a 245 tire, possibly 245-30-18?
I don't plant on dropping the car, so the beefier tire will help eliminate some wheel gap.........just sooo many things to understand and figure out!
Even through the bad stuff, I still love my car, and I'd like to think the hardships give it character lol.
I constantly go back and forth on ideas of what wheels I want. I definitely lean towards a clean 5 spoke design, just have to actually pick a wheel and then figure out tire size and offset etc.
I think ill probably end up running an 18 inch on a 245 tire, possibly 245-30-18?
I don't plant on dropping the car, so the beefier tire will help eliminate some wheel gap.........just sooo many things to understand and figure out!
#107
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
It's been 2 months exactly since my last post.....
First thing up is a new (to me) set of wheels. Picked them up off a family member who ran them as his winters. I decided to run them as my summer wheels because I loved the gunmetal finish with WDP.
They are a bit smaller than our stock size, these are 17x7 off an accord.
If I don't end up purchasing another set of wheels next summer, the plan is to run spacers with these next year.
Second on the list, was a thorough strip wash, followed up by a clay bar, sealant and then topped off with Pete's 52 wax application.
It took me quite a while as I did everything by hand, but I stretched it over multiple days in order to get a thorough and somewhat satisfying job done.
I wanted to protect the paint before winter officially hits here on the west coast. Car also hit a milestone of 175km
Finally, my cousin had been searching for a TL for months and we eventually came across one we decided to pull the trigger on.
Its on 08, with 120,000km on the clock. Car doesn't have nav, but he plans on doing a tablet install in the near future.
Body and interior needs some work, but for the price it was a steal of a deal and I can't wait to start modding this thing.
Sorry for the lack of pics, I'll try to snap a few more if the weather permits
First thing up is a new (to me) set of wheels. Picked them up off a family member who ran them as his winters. I decided to run them as my summer wheels because I loved the gunmetal finish with WDP.
They are a bit smaller than our stock size, these are 17x7 off an accord.
If I don't end up purchasing another set of wheels next summer, the plan is to run spacers with these next year.
Second on the list, was a thorough strip wash, followed up by a clay bar, sealant and then topped off with Pete's 52 wax application.
It took me quite a while as I did everything by hand, but I stretched it over multiple days in order to get a thorough and somewhat satisfying job done.
I wanted to protect the paint before winter officially hits here on the west coast. Car also hit a milestone of 175km
Finally, my cousin had been searching for a TL for months and we eventually came across one we decided to pull the trigger on.
Its on 08, with 120,000km on the clock. Car doesn't have nav, but he plans on doing a tablet install in the near future.
Body and interior needs some work, but for the price it was a steal of a deal and I can't wait to start modding this thing.
Sorry for the lack of pics, I'll try to snap a few more if the weather permits
#109
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
The resonator I went with is: Dynomax 24215
here's the thread I followed before I made my decision:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...4215-a-958030/
#110
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Forgot to attach this one in my previous post.......love
how the wax brings out that deep shine
how the wax brings out that deep shine
#112
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
#114
Burning Brakes
Thanks for the kind words, I definitely want to go bigger in the future, but for now they do the job just fine
The resonator I went with is: Dynomax 24215
here's the thread I followed before I made my decision:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...4215-a-958030/
The resonator I went with is: Dynomax 24215
here's the thread I followed before I made my decision:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...4215-a-958030/
Nice. I like the mid pipe and resonator delete. I didn't want to spend $900+ on an exhaust. That's way too much. And it sounds great too. I'm trying to figure out if the red TL-S in that first vid has the rear mufflers deleted too. Gonna have to check out the vid on YouTube and check out the comment section. Lol.
#115
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I wish they were 19s!, sadly they are 17's lol
yeah the stage 3 mod is pretty good IMO. I agree, I would never spend that kind of money on a muffler modification.
I don't think that guy has his rear mufflers deleted, if you have a type-s the stage 3 mod may be more pronounced due to the dual mufflers?
Nice. I like the mid pipe and resonator delete. I didn't want to spend $900+ on an exhaust. That's way too much. And it sounds great too. I'm trying to figure out if the red TL-S in that first vid has the rear mufflers deleted too. Gonna have to check out the vid on YouTube and check out the comment section. Lol.
I don't think that guy has his rear mufflers deleted, if you have a type-s the stage 3 mod may be more pronounced due to the dual mufflers?
#117
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Nice shot.
#118
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Thread Starter
Some random shots from a couple days ago....can you spot the rainbow?
Patiently waiting for my shocks to go out, so I can buy teins and lower this thing
Patiently waiting for my shocks to go out, so I can buy teins and lower this thing
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MyGuti (10-13-2017)
#120
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Love that first pic!
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MyGuti (10-16-2017)