And the bling goes on...(updated pics for those who care) I hate using that word but it's so easy to say sometimes Met a new chrome guy last week: Best of all, no "missing" chrome on the neck like seems to be common with intakes It's on the car now, but I have a lot more to do still in my most recent "upgrades".
Would be nice... I'll be ~90% where I wanna be come Monday! Then it's tidy up a couple things and do a few 'things' (hehe) and I'm ready to go. Game face on!
your car is an inspriation to me. i just poped a headgaket (ain't turbo's fun) and instead of just fixing it my mind goes off into a world of "while i'm at it" so i am yanking the motor to do a full clean and painting of the engine bay, taking it off the road till next summer and re-doing the interior as well as someother things i want to get done. its not gonna be as "bling bling" as you have cause i am not chroming anything your car looks amazing keep up the good work
I wish i kept pictures of my favorite non-shiny engine bays so I could show you what else I think is awesome. Not a lot of people do it, but it's real impressive when you smooth (either sand/polish or beadblast) the intake and then paint/powdercoat it, and match all the components the same way. That's a totally understated, unique, and great look. And yea, while you're at it...go for it!
I'm really liking how that power pipe looks too. I know chrome retains a lot of heat though. But you probably won't be drag racing that beauty so i guess you don't have to worry about that.
chrome like good mirror stainless is hard to match...those pcs look perdy good...KEEP THE PICS COMIN!
Just curious... - How much work have you personally done to your car -vs- having a shop (or someone else) do specific projects for you? - Are you a mechanic by trade or is this strictly a hobby for you? Like I said - I know you've done a lot of work yourself, but I would like to know how your car ended up the way it sits today...if you don't mind
I like to do everything myself/with friends. I don't like shops working on my car unless it's to get a tune, and I don't even like that. But...necessary evil and I sure as hell am not going to learn it all to do it myself. I just get nervous. But without my friends I'd never have the car where it is today. It was them who kept driving me to make it better and better, you know? Plus, doing anything to it I have in the back of mind that I have to do it nicely or they're going to bust my ass, lol. A shop did my springs back before I got into working on cars. A paint shop did my paint obviously. When I did the engine bay, one of my friends led the way when welding and taught me how to do it, and we shared the labor. Then I did the body work on my own, and finally we shot the paint/clear. He and I also did my rear bumper cover and will be doing the underside of my hood this week. As far as polishing goes, the intake came polished but I had it chromed. The blower came polished but I did it all over after a year when it became subpar (currently polishing my new S-trim). TB/EGR came polished from Accufab. I polished everything else: IAC, EGR, tensioner (replaced it with a chromed one though), distributor, valve covers (replaced with chrome), master cylinder, prop valve, AC compressor (but removed the AC afterwards), brackets, bolts, etc. And I've done tons of work for other friends' cars (Mustangs and other) including suspension brackets, calipers, brackets, etc. Pretty much anything they want. They help me, I help them. All the interior work was me, the engine was me and/or my friends. I think that's everything.
Nice! So you are not a mechanic by trade, but you were able to get your car where it is with friends and your own hard work. This is what a "hobby" is all about! Making professional results by getting your hands dirty, learning along the way, and ending up with a show winner. Guess it shows that with A LOT of hard work and maybe a little help along the way, we can get our cars looking as good as yours! Your car (and how it got to be where it is today) is definately an inspiration!
Oh yea, sorry I forgot to answer. Not a mechanic. When I bought the car I'd be lucky if I could change the oil myself. I hate to fix cars, but I like to build them. Go figure, right?
Polished parts are a pain to maintain, they require more effort to upkeep....chrome is far easier to maintain in the short and long run.
Half my polished stuff stays great, the other half gets oxidation. As my engine's "centerpiece" I wanted the intake to be completely flawless.
