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Alright well I've always debated on when's the right time to start a progress thread. Always felt like my Mods weren't major enough to satisfy a progress thread lol. So I've just finished my first year with my TL give or take a couple weeks and decided why not. All the little stuff adds up right?
So before i picked up my 3G TL, i had a 1st Gen. 1996 3.2 TL that i had all through out high school and college. i had about 270k on it when i sold her and she was still going strong; even survived the 75 mile/day roundtrip work commute during the last year.
I loved it so i definitely was gonna stay in the family i knew i wanted a 3G TL when i first laid eyes on em back in High school. I made a promise to myself that that WILL be my next car.
So this brings me to this gem. Determined to get a 6 speed i have quite a funny story about how i got this one. After about 2 weeks of starting my car search i found an 2004 Black with peanut butter interior No Nav in Raleigh. I met up with my brother and we went to the dealer. test drove it and all. Told the dealer ill go home, iron out the specifics with my parents and get back to him tomorrow morning. I call him the next morning bright and early to tell him im coming back to get it. He says "aww man you wont believe it. As soon as you guys left someone else came on the lot and bought it. Paid Cash." Im like fackkkk! People weren't kidding when they say 6 speeds are rare and hard to keep on the lot! so back to the car search. Found this in VA, Confirmed it was still there and my brother drove up to Norfolk, VA and brought her back to Fayetteville all in that same day. Long day needless to say i was exhausted but excited nonetheless that i have my dream car.
Day 1.
This turned out to be a better deal anyway. 2 years newer, Navigation, and i wasn't really a fan of the peanut butter interior with the first one so it worked out for the better.
First mod was LED Floor lighting. Clutch was in the way so i couldnt get to the dome supervisor as instructed in the DIY in the Garage so i wired them in to the Driver door switch instead. Only works on driver door opening instead of any door but thats ok.
Next was Debadging. Lol you can tell i wasted no time. dealer tags were still on while i was starting my mini-mods.
Tinted the windows. 20% all around, which I've been pulled over for twice already lol so i'll probably go back and legalize. Thankfully all just warnings but Lesson Learned. and plus i actually looked up the consequence of the ticket.
ype-s Tail swap that i bought from a guy on Craigslist who actually was a member. His WDP TL was niceee.
Plastidipped the Stockies, First White (that didnt last long) then went with Black and been that way since. Attachment 106455 Attachment 106456
Random Pic of a Turbo Supra i saw driving around Greenville earlier that day and then got to see it up close parked Downtown at ECU that night. Carbon Fiber Hood. It was actually nice to see one in person. 2JZ power is what it's all about right? lol
Next i got Interior LEDs in.
Got her up on the lift. Stage 4 Exhaust mod. I love the sound. Itll do til i upgrade.
Got the Inspire Fogs in. Install wasn't bad. I love DIY projects so i figure out a way to everything. even the Custom Heads(pictured later)
Then i ordered 8k HIDs. Been a few months and no problems with them. as far the housing be able to take the Heat or with them blinding other drivers.
Bath Time. I also painted the License plate bar and Rear emblem Black to match from Grill.
Custom Sub Box i built. actually proud of myself on this one. Wasn't Hard just time consuming. I kinda spec'd it out a tab bit too small so i filled it with Polyfil to help out. Sounds great regardless. I got tired of having no trunk space with 2 12's in a bandpass box and with my car detailing stuff and Fishing gear that i keep back there. Still gotta get a new Amp and find a way to have it mounted in the trunk for a clean look. I installed my Shock and Tilt sensors around this time as well.
random Pic while at a Beach house in Nags head for a Bachelor Party
Painted my Brembos and then blacked out my heads and painted the HID rings and chrome bar to match.
First attempt at nice "scenic" photoshoot lol I know I'm going to need a better camera than my Iphone.
Added LEDs to the backseats.
I FINALLY got to meet some of the Azine guys, Slowandlow94 and Silly_Wabbit. I didnt get a chance to meet Rios but ive seen his on Instagram alot, that run In the Fayetteville area. Seeing their TLs in person def gave me something to look forward to as far the end game.
So Pretty much after my first year This is where i started and where im at now.
And This is where my brothers and I started with our first cars and after graduating college and getting our new toys. Truly started from the bottom lol.
Next I'm saving for a nice summer Wheel Setup for next year or something to give me MOAR LOW! I think its a decent year of progress. Slow Progress is still Progress.
Since last post ive got a few things done. progress slowed down and now im starting to pick up.
Back in august i lowered on some S. Tech Springs...Got some extra struts that had like 30k miles on em to use for the springs.
Before and After.
Then i got Rear Ended after leaving the bar one night.
got her back good as new JUST in time for my crew meet in fayetteville. i was beyond happy. i had a effing Dodge Dart as a rental for a week and a half!
asked the shop to keep my TL-S tails since they were giving my new ones anyway so i got a chance to mess around with modding a set. if they turned out good i'd keep them. ended up keeping them and selling the unmodded set to a friend.
Random Pic.
i finally decided to stop putting off my timing belt. my brother and I took a weekend to knock that out. i was at 165k when i did. Ticking Time bomb at that point lol.. New Timing Belt, Water pump, idler pulley, auto tensioner, drain and fill on Coolant, replace Drive belt also.
And this past weekend i finally put on my wheels (XXR 530 18x8.75 +20) that had been sitting in my room since Late October and my lip got here on sunday so i put that on too. All great timing to get it done for the Acura NC meet i had.
So right now this is where i am with my TL
Also got these VLED rear turns and front switchbacks.
Awesome update! I'm happy to see part of the A-Spec kit finally get on the car
thanks man! lol yea i've been patiently waiting to finally get the front lip. it makes the biggest difference to me lol. the rear will come whenever i decide which way i wanna go with the exhaust. most likely quads so itll have to be a type-s rear.
They would not fit at all. Well, ATLP ones wouldn't anyway. Dual 3.5" on both sides!
I feel your pain on painting. I am looking at buying a red TL-S and no more lips in that color either.
yea i know real quads wouldnt fit. i meant the quad tips they make lol. i thought about rolling with a custom exhaust and having quad tips put on for a bit before moving on to ATLP or XLR8 lol but idk.
So in the past 4 months ive made some more changes for this summer!
I traded my lowering springs for Tein SB coilovers. installed HIC Roof Spoiler, Redid my headlights so the turn reflectors are chrome instead of blacked out. and added Demon eyes. Currently working on building a new Corner Sub Box. Clutch on its way out and sent the TL off with my brother to get fixed on Sunday. hoping to get her back in a the next few days.
The extra drop makes the 530's pop a lot better. How is the ride on the Basis compared to the S-Tech's if you don't mind me asking?
Agree X2. The coils make the wheels look a lot better! The ride between springs and coils are night and day! Lol only makes me mad I didn't go with coils to begin with.
It is lol but I decided to keep blue as a accent color since the dash is blue. Been thinking about taking the footwell lighting out though. At least in the backseat
latest installments. 1. Free set of HIC window Visors due to the issues with the HIC Roof Spoiler which im beyond satisfied with since they are the closest visors to OEM. and would've cost less than 1/3 of the price of OEM too.
2. Nav screen went out a couple weeks ago finally giving me a reason to do the Tablet Mod. Did it on Satruday and I'm LOVING it!!
<p>Why are all your original links broken? Sucks, was looking forward to reading through.</p><p>Looks great...I opted for the 1/2 refund instead of the visors from HIC since I already have the OEM visors. Being patient has sucked, but I don't want to rush them getting it right. Great company...can't believe they are addressing the defect the way they have been!</p>
<p>Why are all your original links broken? Sucks, was looking forward to reading through.</p><p>Looks great...I opted for the 1/2 refund instead of the visors from HIC since I already have the OEM visors. Being patient has sucked, but I don't want to rush them getting it right. Great company...can't believe they are addressing the defect the way they have been!</p>
Me either! Al Carrus has been awesome with updates. With how awesome their customer service is i can be patient and let them work out all the defects.
Last edited by Steven Bell; 09-21-2015 at 06:01 PM.
Reason: Merge Posts
<p>Yes sir, but now they work...never mind...might be the hosting site and my work computer. Now that I'm home I can see it all! Sorry!</p>
hopefully its soon lol. i hit up Al last week and they said they are still having issues and testing the new prototype
Originally Posted by rockstar143
<p>Yes sir, but now they work...never mind...might be the hosting site and my work computer. Now that I'm home I can see it all! Sorry!</p>
No prob lol had me thinking Imgur went down for a second lol. Glad we can directly post pics from our PC now instead using a hosting site lol
Last edited by Steven Bell; 09-25-2015 at 09:12 PM.
Reason: Merge Posts
Good progress IG follower & hopefully weather permitting be good to meet some out of state TL family on Sunday
Thanks man! yea i know right. If this weather would Act right id like to meet our other crew members lol. Only person i met from VA crew is Tyler cuz he came down for our AcuraCrewFest meet few months back.
05-15-2014, 03:47 PM
fackkkk! People weren't kidding when they say 6 speeds are rare and hard to keep on the lot! so back to the car search. Found this in VA, Confirmed it was still there and my brother drove up to Norfolk, VA and brought her back to Fayetteville all in that same day. Long day needless to say i was exhausted but excited nonetheless that i have my dream car. 
IG follower & hopefully weather permitting 