#1D Fun Times...

TheNumberOneD · Post by **TheNumberOneD** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:29 pm

I Decided to change things up a bit with my rim/tire choices, again.

I went from a set of ASA EM9 (22lb rims) with a 40mm offset rapped in 225-45-17 Nitto Invo's with a total of a 24.9" diameter.

to a set of Rota Slipstreams (13lb rims) with a 35mm offset rapped in 225-60-15 BfGoodwrench Sport's with a 25.6" diameter.

Before-

After-

However! I ran into a little problem with the taller tire and it seemed heart breaking at the time, until i took the time to look around and see what was actually rubbing.

When at full turn, i found my self grinding the tire up against the inner fender well, were the body/frame/fender/etc. came together and were extruding out. and i was also rubbing just a bit on the strut perch. (probably due to running a -1.0 chamber)

I thought I'd take it a step at a time and start with trying to bring the tire away from the perch. I ordered a pair of 3mm spacer and played with the alignment a bit to get it almost a finger worth of space between my tire and the strut. I was also able to maintain a -.5 chamber.

The second problem required a bit more work and seemed at first like it was going to be somewhat involved.

At first, i planned on just cutting the fender piece down all the way and calling it a day, but then i realized that the piece actually was pressed together and served as a structural support.

Heres it cut and grinding down, so that there are no sharp edges.

It was determined to reinforce the part i cut off, i was going to have to weld along the entire section.

and heres the guy who was helping me a lot, Thanks a lot Brian

When looking around, i noticed i nicked a few pieced of the inner wall and thought it would be appropriate to get some sealer in order to keep water from getting behind my firewall, or into my vehicle.

and oh yea, what the point of doing all this work if you don't make it pretty (and functionally) complete with some under body spray.

A couple things i did while Brian was going over and welding "good" (because apparently i suck) was paint my corner lights, remove my windshield wiper reservoir and pump, remove my antenna, and take of the front bumper and spray the inner cooler and everything else with some engine enamel black paint.

more to come,

I decided to install a set of T-bars (traction bars) and a front bra/bug deflector covers from le bra.

cars dirty, and the right front door still has the primer area were i fixed a huge dent, but ill get more pictures soon.

<updated pictures w/ rims and bra.>

Boring Side View...

<update on interior>
Wish i documented my progress, but as of right now, i've gotten rid of every piece of vanilla, with either painted black, or black fabric.

Looks alot cleaner in person, imo pictures dont do it much justice

oh, and can't forget about my wideband!

Close up on mount

Any questions, feel free to ask.
[/u]

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:05 pm

hmm so if your 225/60's on rotas rub, my 235/60's are going to rub even worse... What a blower.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:14 pm

Lookin good, glad you got a progress log going! I had no idea what color your srt-4 was, great color.

I don't know about black engine paint on the intercooler. I think you have to use radiator paint so it can still breathe, not sure though.

The tire reminds me of something that goes on a 4x4 truck due to the small rim. Curious to see what they look like when you get em on.

TheNumberOneD · Post by **TheNumberOneD** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:46 pm

Wenuden wrote:hmm so if your 225/60's on rotas rub, my 235/60's are going to rub even worse... What a blower.

no, not necessarily, it really depends on what tire your getting.

bfgoodwrench usually has larger tires than what they pronounce on the sticker, for example the 235-60-15 MT et street is only 25.4" diameter, vs. my 225-60-15 bfgoodwrench which is a 25.6"

MyNeonSaysHi wrote:Lookin good, glad you got a progress log going! I had no idea what color your srt-4 was, great color.

I don't know about black engine paint on the intercooler. I think you have to use radiator paint so it can still breathe, not sure though.

The tire reminds me of something that goes on a 4x4 truck due to the small rim. Curious to see what they look like when you get em on.

I got them on though!!! lol, I’ll get a few pictures with the rims and such later, and I know a lot of haters are going to flame the bra, but i like it, not to mention it serves its purpose.

The engine enamel is a relatively thin paint, like the radiator paint, and it has the same temperature resistant qualities. I wouldn't be surprised if there almost identical blends.

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:51 pm

Mt advertises the 235/60 at 26.1". I sure hope they work. I'd hate to have to wait another 6-8 weeks for another set of back-ordered tires.

Can you get some closer pics of where you cut/welded?

TheNumberOneD · Post by **TheNumberOneD** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:54 pm

Wenuden wrote:Mt advertises the 235/60 at 26.1". I sure hope they work. I'd hate to have to wait another 6-8 weeks for another set of back-ordered tires.

Can you get some closer pics of where you cut/welded?

they will!

, there not that tall!

if you dont belive me!!!

i know i could find a link, just give me a second, or search around srtforms

heres my welds.... they were "ugly" according to friend...

and for quick refrence, the stock wheel/tire combo is a 25.1" diameter and with a -2.0 chamber will have less than a finger gap between the perch and tire.

so, you can understand how my alignment was causing problems of its own, with an even larger tire.

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:01 pm

LOL not the prettiest, but not every ugly weld is weak. What springs are those, pro-kit or sportlines?

Edit: I just checked yer garage and saw megan. How do they compare to sportlines, height-wise?

TheNumberOneD · Post by **TheNumberOneD** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:06 pm

Wenuden wrote:LOL not the prettiest, but not every ugly weld is weak. What springs are those, pro-kit or sportlines?

Edit: I just checked yer garage and saw megan. How do they compare to sportlines, height-wise?

probably the exact same thing as the sportlines, just painted orange instead of red

all i know is, i miss my pro-kit springs off my old neon, these are a little harsher than those.

heres a link
http://www.meganracing.com/products/pro ... input.y=13

vs.

http://eibach.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.exe/04 ... 3700029428

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:08 pm

Nice write-up

I'm glad to see you going about the removal of the pinchwelds correctly.

As for your bra...not a fan. Just remember to remove it EVERY time it gets wet. Turn it inside out, let it dry, and re-install. Most folks who have used them correctly get really tired of removing and re-installing it. The bras have a tendancy not fit as well after a couple of years of that.

TheNumberOneD · Post by **TheNumberOneD** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:55 pm

updated first post with some more pictures.

and here are some more!

you can kinda make out the Traction bars underneath in this picture! I highly rec, this mod to any srt or neon owner, it's one of the best investments i've made since owning this car.
i'll get more pictures later!

hul kogan · Post by **hul kogan** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:23 pm

the wheel/tire combo looks killer on there! those tires are meaty as hell. nice choice.

any particular reason for putting the wideband up there?

TheNumberOneD · Post by **TheNumberOneD** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:42 pm

hul kogan wrote:the wheel/tire combo looks killer on there! those tires are meaty as hell. nice choice.

any particular reason for putting the wide band up there?

Thanks!

The wide band, imo, is one of the most important gauges in the car.
I put it there for a couple reasons listed bellow from most important to least.

1. Easy to see, only take a shift of your eyes to focus in on, and doesn't require any head movement, unlike the tach, speedo, and boost gauge.

2.Even though its easy to look at, it doesn't block my view in any way, or create unnecessary blind spots while driving daily.

3. while outside the car you can't see it, unless your really looking for. (unlike the gauge pods that scream "I'm a ricer, or i street race, or give me a ticket" <however my radar detector sitting on my dash sure doesn't help that much.>)

4. It fills the space, to what seems to me, to be an empty void inside the car.

5. Because i can!!! :p

hul kogan · Post by **hul kogan** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:12 pm

haha, i was expecting a reason or two but you rly went to town and laid them all out. at least you feel strongly about your decision to put it there which is all that matters! keep up the good modding.

measy27 · Post by **measy27** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:10 pm

The all black interior is sick. I want this done asap..I need details.

TheNumberOneD · Post by **TheNumberOneD** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:31 pm

measy27 wrote:The all black interior is sick. I want this done asap..I need details.

lol, just don't be scared about pulling it all apart your self.

you'll probably break a couple clips or so, but their only 2 bucks to replace.

i would rec, taking the head liner to an actual upholster, it'll be the only real way to make sure it never starts to droop.

the rest you can do yourself with a little bit of patience, and the right kind of paint/fabric.

Painting is easy, you just have to be patient! and really wait the full 20+ minutes between each coat.

Tip #1 - do not spray alot at one time, or it will form drips, and reduce the quality of the finished piece.

Tip #2 - make sure you wait the rec time between each coat, as stated on the can of paint your using.

Tip #3 - USE CLEAR!!!! and do NOT handle the piece for a full 24 hours after the painting process!

Krylon makes good paint and clear coat, and luckily enough, on plastic pieces you do not really have to worry about primer, as long as you get paint specifically blended to bond with plastics.

3 light coats of paint on each piece, 20 minutes between each coat, and you shouldn't probably completley cover the piece untill the third light coat.

after the light coats, hit it with 1 or two "thick" (not too much!) coats, with 20 minutes between each coat, and then clear to your hearts content.

measy27 · Post by **measy27** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:19 am

Thanx........