cu2wagon

Did they media blast the valve covers before powdercoating? I wonder if some of the apparent shift in the blue is due to the slightly grey-ish color of the valve covers and not a raw metallic silver.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

I know they had stripped them of any existing color and cleaned them up really well before powder coating them. They did tell me the shimmer is a two step process. They lay the color down and the clear has the actual shimmer. They wet sand and buff them out. I have to get better pictures.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Brother, I don't know-they look good to me.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

supposedly the magnesium makes it so it's very hard for the PC to stay on permanently.
Either way, I'm sure they'll look great for a few years!

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

It's been an interesting weekend. I dropped off my TL to the local mechanic shop I use. I dropped off new Tein Street Advance suspension with new OEM tops hats. I also dropped off the valve covers with the new gasket set to be installed. They removed the blower the last time to replace the alternator. Here is where I have an issue..

Last year I overhauled a lot of the suspension components. They did upper control arms, lower control arm bushings (all bushings), sway bar bushing with links, outer tie rods, lower ball joints and rear upper trail arms. They called me late friday night to tell me both lower ball joints have play.. I was puzzled on the phone. My response was "You know there's about 300 miles on those ball joints.. there's no way they are due again" I stopped over to the shop and inspected them for myself. I noticed that they both had a small rip in the rubber boot. They got damaged when being installed. Off to Acura I went Saturday morning to pick up two new ball joints. I'll have to work something out with the shop. Hopefully they can do the labor at no cost and knock the difference on the bill for the cost of the ball joints.

The shop will have my car ready, maybe Monday night. The hydro dipped guy said my panels are almost ready and will be shipped Tuesday. I purchased some ported intake lower runners with new o-rings for the injectors and lower intake runner gaskets. It's a nice way to get a little more power out of the TL. I told the shop to leave the front strut bar and rear seat off so I can adjust the damping settings on the suspension. Hopefully by next Sunday, ill have the TL back in order.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Oh Sickest TL

iTrader: (3)

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

When J wrote that, It had me on the floor dying.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I don't even remember saying it...
but I stand by it!

Oh Sickest TL

iTrader: (3)

lol I was going through your thread and saw J said that and instantly laughed my head off. for the most part its true. My gf would have my car destroyed after a few blocks lol

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

Love the internally blacked amber diffusers. I think they look good on my NBP but they look awesome on WDP.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

In all fairness to women, anyone not used to a lowered car will fk it up. I let a friend test drive my silver S2000 and man the way he hit a speed bump and didn't avoid an uneven part of the road...was like, dafuq...are you retard?

Oh Sickest TL

iTrader: (3)

lol full on retard

teh CL

iTrader: (1)

I let my gf drive the RL home one night I unexpectedly got & it's safe to say I went from feeling good to sober as soon as my ass hit the passenger seat

Then I settled in and realized how damn nice the RL is from the passenger seat..

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

First thing that comes to mind..

teh CL

iTrader: (1)

Oh Sickest TL

iTrader: (3)

lol jesus christ

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

plus, easier to give that road head...amirite?!?!

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Awww yeah, new parts

Sorry to hear about your troubles with the lower ball joints

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

head, i said

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Head, you gave. Enjoyed, I did.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

Troubles isn't even the word today. Went over to the shop to "pick up" my TL. The service advisor tells me "When I drove your car, I heard a loud clunk on the passenger side".. So, I tell him, "Put it on the lift and have them reinspect everything".

I walk into the shop to see my TL sitting high up front, very low in the back. 1st thing I tell them is "Uhhh.. I did say measure the height and keep it the same as before" His response was, "I thought you were going to set the height" I said "Nope, I told you guys I will set the damping settings to my liking"

Off we go on a road test.. Once we went over a bump, I heard a nasty clunk noise. I said to the guy, take it back in and have them inspect it again. By the time we went around the block, the CEL came on.. I told the guy, that light has never been on.. ever.
Now getting pissed off, they scan the car and it comes up with an manifold air leak. I told the mechanic to start the car. I heard a faint air leak coming right from the manifold. I told them to start from there and inspect all vacuum lines running off the manifold. God know's what they did.

I snapped only a few pictures of the TL before walking out and heading to the gym.

Domed CF Acura logo installed.


Two engine bay shots

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Damn Gus, that sucks bro...I hope they get it squared away.
That's the biggest problem with speaking to a service advisor who relays the message to a tech that might not even be the guy handling it. I insist on talking to the guy that'll be installing it directly...

mtiaz

Sucks to here man, that's the last thing I'd want to hear....

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

It's disheartening to be honest with you guys.

I shop owner called me today, told me what was going on with the car. Looks like the metal gasket that goes on the top of the manifold, is no longer good and needs to be replaced. I ordered a new one from Acura. I also ordered 2x new end gaskets for the manifold as well. As for the suspension noise, the technician never tightened up the adjusting rings on the coil overs. I honestly think, they didn't install them right. I had sent them a video that toeheelauto used to explain how to install tein coils with oem top hats.

I "SHOULD" have the car back by tonight. I won't have time to mess around with the damping settings on the suspension. If I have time, ill work on it after work for the next couple of days.

Now, just waiting on those Ported lower intake runners to come in. I pre-ordered new lower intake runner gaskets and 6x new injector O-rings. The shop said they will take care of it for me. I can't wait to see Andy's work on those ported runners. It will be a great way to add a little more power out of the engine.

The under hood trims should be ready. I'm going to message the guy soon and see what's going on with my order. After all this work, the engine bay should be tits!

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

How frustrating

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

I'm upset, but no where near as pissed as Tiffany is over this situation.

thoiboi

It's times like these where it's nice to have a shop that will take care of you. Any shop can do a damn oil change but when shit hits the fans, what differentiates the good shops from the great is how they handle the situation and take care of their clients.


Good luck. It sucks, but at least it sounds like they are a decent shop that own up to their mistakes

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

You know shit will get fixed if she has to go in there It's the same way with my wife. She'll tell them how it is and won't leave until it's done the way she wants.

Oh Sickest TL

iTrader: (3)

I think the "A"'s on your decals are slightly off? could be the angle

and thats a shitty deal man, most of those service advisors are just pencil pushers and dont have a clue about anything other than to book appointments lol

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Andy ported the runners on my new car and it's incredible work. I shaved at least 2 seconds off my quarter mile.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

In all seriousness, I am sure it plays a part in why this car feels so much stronger...ported runners were the business. It's gonna be awesome, Gus...

Road blocks that are getting figured out and rectified...things to laugh about down the line.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

Update:

Went to pick up the car. I drove it around the block and noticed the RPM's were hunting (Erratic, not stable). I had a feeling the CEL would come on. Short drive around the block and the light came back on. At this point, enough was enough. I went back and told them to keep the car again and do a manual TB relearn and road test the vehicle. They thought, the scan tool would be able to relearn the TB. I stressed with them that these ECU's don't communicate very well when it comes to a relearn or flash procedure..

Tomorrow is another day with this..

Anyway.

SO.

My panels are done. What do you guys think?






To see more of Mikes work, here is his page
https://www.facebook.com/Endless-Hyd...1005199244801/

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Sorry to hear you're still having issues. The carbon fiber engine pieces look fantastic though!

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, it certainly sucks that's for sure.

Thank you both!
You should look into these guys. They have a killer red carbon fiber.

thoiboi

cu2wagon

Dude... You sure you trust this shop that's working on your car? Seems like you're needing to do a lot of coaching these supposedly "professionals".

Those panels look slick! Can you get a shot of where the graphic transitions from a horizontal to a vertical surface? I'm curious how the image handles the change in profile... Is it stretched and/or distorted there?

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Those panels are hawt!