Fellow AZiners,

It's been a little over EIGHT years since my acquisition of the 2005 Acura TL and it's finally time for a revamp.

From modifications to fender benders, this car has had its fair share of good times and bad. Over the last 48 months, I've seen my car deteriorate from mediocrity to a tattered remnant of dreams.

Blown speakers, fried oxygen and accelerator pedal position sensors, non-functioning navigation and Hands-Free Link, key scratched passenger doors, missing door handle caps, tires worn out to the core - these are just a few of the several obstacles I'll be encountering on this journey.

Fortunately, I've got AZine's members and resources to help me make this revival a reality.

Ladies and gentlemen, sit back and enjoy...

 

Sounds like a noble quest!

 

Ambitious first post

 

What all are you planning on doing?

 

reviving it to brand new condition

 

Reading > Callahan



In for the adventure!

My navi is dead too, it says "Please check your disc" let me know if you're in the same situation and how you go about fixing it!

 

Subscribed!




Welcome to AcuraZine.

 

I'm excited!

 

 

I'm in as well, like to see how this turns out.

 

Sub'd

 

Glad you guys are excited as I am. I decided to take some pictures of the ride after work today, just to give you an idea of what I have to work with.

Behold...my canvas.


I know, I know. You guys are probably wondering - this guy doesn't know how to drive his car, let alone where to park it. Believe it or not, I do. I just lent it a few times to people that don't. Sister had a baby, she needed a family car - so she borrowed it for a year. I got it back with the side skirt scuff mark and mutilated wheels. "EX"-girlfriend borrowed the car for a day, got it back with a scuffed up front lip spoiler (notice the emphasized "EX").

This being said, once I'm done - no one will be touching this piece of art except for me, myself, and I.

 

Theres nothing wrong with this car besides minor cosmetic issues, all touch up things ! Be thankful it isn't rust or actual body damage

 

 

Cosmetic damage is just a portion of the problems I've got with this car

 

You must have missed this part

I'm very surprised after all this time you finally decide to revive it. I know if it was me having it for 8 years I would look into getting a new car. You definitely made a smart decision that will cost a lot less than a new car once you reach your goal!

 

nonsense! Listen to the stranger on the internet who has never been in the car!



Good luck OP, it does look like a nice canvas to work on.

 

My thoughts indeeed. Consumer cars are immediately outdated with new models coming out every year. Either way, I will ultimately get stuck with an older model car. The Acura TL has always been one of my dream cars. Ever since the release of the 3rd Gen, I knew I had to get my hands on one. Now that I've got my career established, I'll finally be able to form it to my liking. I don't ever plan on getting rid of it.

 

good luck, nothing on that list looks too hard. if you've got all the funds ready, it can all be done in couple days.

 

Not a bad place to start, I'm looking forward to seeing the upcoming transformation!

 

If it were my car the illist stickers and that bear head would be the first to go.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but they're to keep. I guess that's why it isn't your car :/

 

we all gotta start somewhere

 

Such a sexy colour

Good luck with the revival

 

Good Luck!

 

 

in for more

 

I think this is going to be good...I'm a fan of the photography already.

 

Wheels look awesome!, plans for suspension?

 

XXRs!

I'm already getting aroused, can't wait to see the final product!

 

Love the wheels but sooner or later everyone and their moms will have them. Xxr's get played out quick IMO

 

this has the makings of an epic build thread. waiting patiently.....

 

The 2nd picture of the wheels could be your first Avatar!

 

Another day, another update.

Just received these bad boys in the mail. Getting them installed with the stock struts on Monday.



And it looks like I'll be needing to get my fenders rolled









Happy Saturday, everyone!

 

What happened to your handle covers??? Same thing happened to me, thoguht some jerks popped em off.

 

Looks like some new tires too.

Careful with your fronts when you lower it, there's a tab there that will chop the crap out of your new tires if they get close to it after lowering.

Its right where the fender meets the front bumper.

Whats your offset at now?

 

if you need someone to help you install suspension, Hit me up

 

I'm not sure if they just fell off after a while or if they were removed from my car.

 

+35 mm. Looks like I'll need to roll my fenders to make sure they don't rub at all. Any suggestions on how to avoid contact between the tires and that tab?

I just scheduled an appointment for the installation at Fast Autoworks in Arcadia. They're charging $140. Know anywhere I can get it cheaper?

 

A camber kit for the front and some negative camber will help, I would recommend the skunk2 UCAs and have it done right the first time. Ingalls makes adjustable upper ball-joints but they'll end up dimpling the metal in your engine bay near the strut tower bar as they stick up about an inch or so above the UCA and end up smacking into the metal when you hit bumps.

I also trimmed off the fender tab in the front, but there's also another point it ends up rubbing on (see pics). Your fitment is pretty close to mine as far as the poke goes, I'm running 18x9 +30 wheels with 235/40 tires. You have about 1.4mm more poke than me.

My camber is at -1.0 in front on both sides, and I still rub if I hit a good sized dip while I'm turning, but 'just barely'. The fronts are already pretty much rolled from the factory, just that tab is in the way.

When I had my rears rolled the shop that did it rolled them to match the factory roll instead of trying to make the fender completely do a 180. If you look at the rears you'll see its already pretty much rolled half-way. If they try to roll the whole thing 180 to make a lot of room they'll probably crack the crap out of the paint.

I'm at -1.4 camber in the rear and it just clears the fender. Never had an issue with the rear after having it rolled. You might need a camber kit for the rears too with your offset. If my rears weren't at -1.4, it would hit the fender and my rear fenders are rolled.

Pics should help, I know the inside of my front fender isn't pretty but I'm having it taken care of soon when I have the RJ kit I bought put on the car.

No clue what to do about it hitting the mounting point where the bumper mounts to the fender. I've been just letting it rub there, it only does it on good sized bumps. Guess could go more negative to try to keep it away, I was trying to stay in factory specs though, but could always run like -1.5 or something I'm not sure what other people are running on their camber specs that have an aggressive offset that puts the wheel that close to the fender.

My car is at about 24" from floor to the center of the fender, for reference.


Could always just not go that low and try to keep it away from those parts.

Just wanted to give you the heads up before you lower it with that offset.

Just curious what size are your tires? They look to be at least a 245 or 255 to me.