[Dabrits]

My wife brought this car into the marriage (her dad bought it for her when she went away to college, and then a couple years later we got married). She was the second owner. It originally came from California.

In order to pay bills during summer 2008 we sold my 2000 Corolla and stuck with just one car. The Air Force was getting ready to move us from Utah to Mississippi and I wanted to make sure the car would get us there so I started to look into making sure the car was properly maintained. We didn't have the money to pay for a mechanic so I started researching how to do car stuff because at the time, my car knowledge was limited to adding windshield washer fluid. I seriously didn't know anything about cars. But after researching how to do some basic stuff like change the air filter and oil I caught a disease, the automotive disease. Now all I think about is my next mod and the next maintenance I need to do. It's almost become an obsession. And now that the Air Force is paying us a bit more now, I can actually afford to do some basic mods and have a bit of fun with this new hobby.

The car is an 02 Sport, but for some reason it has a "t" on there. It's also an automatic (unfortunately). But neither my wife nor I knows how to drive a manual (it's on my list of things to do). The next car I get for myself will definitely be a manual though.

This thread will just kind of be a car blog for me.

My car at the time I joined this forum.

At this point the car was completely stock. But I had also learned how to change the oil, tranny fluid, air filter (which I changed to a K&N), and radiator fluid. When my wife bought the car it had some nice Konigs on there, but she hit a huge pothole and bent one of them. Well, Konig discontinued this wheel and we couldn't find one on ebay so I bought some American Racing rims (16s maybe). She also slid of the road in Idaho in January and hit a road marker, denting the side skirt and the passenger side door. She was also involved in a hit and run when somebody backed into her and took off. So we have some damage on the car that we haven't been able to afford to fix. We took it to a body shop and they did a 5 min job on the bumper and fixed it a little. Sometime when it was at the shop our "INFINITI" on the back got moved way down and we now have a "t" after "G20".

I don't have any pictures of the passenger side.

Since then I've done quite a bit to the car and plan on doing a lot more. Stay tuned for more.

 

[Dabrits]

Here is a list of the different "How To" threads that I've since written.

Replace O2 Sensors http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?t=85834
Replace Drive Belts http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?t=85836
Reground MAF http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?t=85690
Throttle Body Heater Bypass http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?t=88986
Replace Lug Stud http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1211914#post1211914
Raise the Hood http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1216027#post1216027
Replace Brake Lines http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?t=93619
Install Outlaw Engineering Thermoblok Spacers http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?t=93851

Since I was such a car noob, even the most basic of "How To" threads were huge in helping me out. So I've taken some pretty simple tasks and made DIYs out of them, and plan on doing more.

My random parts for sale thread:

http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1202165#post1202165

 

[Uncle Dave]

I was 8 yrs active duty af. What's your afsc/job?
Does your base have an auto hobby center? Are you @ Keesler? The cars looking good.

 

[Dabrits]

Lately I've decided to take on some more car projects. Originally I wanted to keep this car stock, but since getting the modding bug, I've changed my mind and become more critical of this car. I don't ever plan on making this a race car, but I do want to make it a faster and nicer car.

Here are some of the mods and maintenance that I've done so far:

Advanced my timing to 19*
Regrounded MAF
8000K Bi-Xenon HIDs
Silverstar Fogs
New MAF (the original broke before I ever joined the forum)
New O2 sensors
New Gatorback belts
GPS (since relocated into my wife's Mazda 6)
Repaired rock chips and rips in seats
Firehawk GT tires
Rewired my fogs to stay on even during hi-beam operation
Martin's Grounding Wire Kit
New fuel filter
NGK Iridium Plugs (prolly gonna go back to plats next tune-up)
NGK Power Wires
Consistently using synthetic oil and Puraloter (sp) filters
American Racing Estrella wheels (16s)
VHT Ceramic Coated and DEI wrapped SSAC Headers (2.5")
SCE Gaskets
Oil Filter Dot
New Rotor Head
New Distributor Cap
Toys Auto Front Strut Bar
Oil Catch Can
Outlaw Engineering Thermoblok Spacers
BPi Flow Stack
S&B Filter
Custom heat-wrapped Intake
Megan Racing Muffler
Magnaflow Resonator
VRS Catback 2.5"
Progress Rear Anti-Sway Bar
Octotat Rear Strut Tower Bar
Technafit Stainless Steel Brake Lines
irotor driled and slotted rotors (ceramic pads)
Tein Stechs
KYB GR-2s
Koni Bumpstops
LoCo Upper Shock Mount
3000K HID Fogs
Yellowed Fog film
Cleared and stealthed corners with silver-coated amber bulbs
Cleared tails with LEDs
Hood Dampers
Ipod connect
Squash!



Here are some of the works in progress:

LIGHTING

I'd like to finish putting in some LEDs in just about everyplace I can.

INTERIOR

Just try to keep it as nice as possible. I don't mind the stock Bose system. But I still would like to eventually upgrade to a nicer deck. Mainly because it will save room for some gauges or a nice tray.

EXTERIOR

Just try to fix those dents some time and touch-up the paint if I can do it (or have someone do it) for an affordable price.

TURBO

No turbo

 

[Dabrits]

I was 8 yrs active duty af. What's your afsc/job?
Does your base have an auto hobby center? Are you @ Keesler? The cars looking good.

I'm at Columbus AFB in Mississippi right now. I was pilot, but I decided I actually didn't like to fly, so I reclassed and am now doing something else. So we will be moving to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo TX. What was your AFSC?

I'm at the auto hobby shop almost everyday, lol. I love having a covered garage and hydraulic lift that I can use. Plus it's always nice to have a few extra hands to help me with certain projects. They like modding just as much as I do so it works out nicely.

 

[Uncle Dave]

2A671C, Jet Engine Mech.
I loved my hobby shop on base. Free tools to use, lift, paint booth, solvent/cleaning tank, etc etc.

 

[Dabrits]

2A671C, Jet Engine Mech.
I loved my hobby shop on base. Free tools to use, lift, paint booth, solvent/cleaning tank, etc etc.

MX guy huh. What weapon system did you work on? I thought about reclassing into MX, but I decided they work too hard for the small amount of praise and relief they get. Get 20 plans in the air in two days, oh ya, we're only gonna give you parts for 12, now get to work.

 

[Dabrits]

While headed home on my lunch break I noticed a clicking sound as I was driving. When I pulled into the driveway I got out and found this.

Luckily I was able to take care of it.

So after a little bit of work and some modifications, I was able to put on the rest of my intake. It would still use a bit of work to get on there a bit better, but it's on there and on there good enough for the girls I used to date. I ended up using the stock MAF adapter because the one I bought didn't fit and I was getting desperate. The seal holding it onto the throttle body is also kinda weak, but it holds. Someday I'll look into strengthening it.

 

[00 blk G20t]

looking good so far man.

 

[Dabrits]

Thanks.

So I took the car and tested it out by driving 120+ miles to Burmingham and back. It was fine. The car pulls a little to the left (which I believe is from the missing air in the front driver's tire. I'll need to top it off with air. I also need to retighten my belts (I put them on and never retightened them after a few days of driving.)

Today I bought some Nitrile gloves, a tire repair kit, and some CinnaBerry car fresheners.

Question for the day is;

I have $250 saved up for my new exhaust. I plan on doing headers all the way back. I wanted to save up enough to pay for the whole thing at once. But I'm getting antsy. Should I buy the headers now, put those on and enjoy those while I save up for the catback? I need feedback.

 

[reyesjnj]

pay the shipping price once and get it all togheter that way you put it all togheter at the same time .02cents

 

[Dabrits]

So my only concern with the headers is that first, I want them to fit correctly, second, I want them to allow me to remain street legal, third, I don't have access to a welder and there are no performance shops around here, so I want the least amount of modification. I don't want to have to move my O2 sensors/bungs. I don't want to have to splice any wires and lengthen anything.

I know this has been asked a million times, and I said that I would never be one of those guys, but would this fit an 02 sport?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Car....c0.m245&_trkparms=72:543|65:12|39:1|240:1318

I like how it is 2.5 at the collector and then down to 2.25. I'm also hoping that because it has 4 O2 sensor locations, that it will require the least amount of modification. Any thoughts are welcome.

 

[Dabrits]

Okay, so I went ahead and bought my headers today. I got the one from this link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...3AIT&viewitem=

Then right after I ordered them I heard some bad things about the seller. He was quick to answer my question when I emailed him. So hopefully it all works out.

I also ordered a bunch of copper gaskets from SCE. They are the same things you get from Summit, but not as bad on the handling.

http://www.scegasketsonline.com/

These are the part numbers and prices for the gaskets I bought:

1 x 9416 = $24.95
1 x 9400 = $12.95
1 x 4200 = $6.95

Hopefully those will fit properly. If not, then I will just have to use the crappy metal ones that come with the headers.

 

[Dabrits]

So I got my headers in the mail today. The structural intergrity of them looked fine. I looked them over and they appear to be in good shape. My SCE copper gaskets should be coming early-mid next week. Then, if all goes well, these headers should be put on next Saturday when I finally get some more time.

 

[92_G20_SE]

excellent progress man....keep it up:thumbsup:


Rob

 

[Dabrits]

It was a beautiful day today, so I decided I had better take advantage of it and work on the car. I bought a kit from AZ to paint my brake calipers. I too cheap for powder coat, and I can't afford (nor do I need) an already painted BBK. I'm going with a blue scheme. I don't think they look too bad on my American Racing rims and my Firehawk GTs. Since I had the high temp paint I also painted my PS canister thing and the top to the brake fluid.

While the paint was all drying I tightened my drive belts, which were a little loose and loud (too squealy). I also decided to rotate my tires since they were off and it had been awhile. Unfortunately one of the bolts that holds my rear driver's side wheel on is completely stripped. I need a whole new bolt and nut. Hopefully I can get those at AZ and hopefully my wheel doesn't come flying off in the mean time. Anyway, here are the pics.

 

[tampa]

looks clean!

 

[Dabrits]

looks clean!

Thanks. Hopefully the valve cover will be next. I think I changed my mind about the valve cover. I think I'm going to paint it black instead of blue. Then I'm also going to start removing some of the blue wire covers in there when I get my NGK wires.

 

[Dabrits]

Nothing new or significant. In my search for greater enlightenment and knowledge I've just joined www.sr20-forum.com and www.sr20forum.com. I don't know what the difference is between the two, but I figured there probably isn't a problem with joining both.

 

[shay]

Looks good man! Make sure you get that Catback next so your G can sound good.