alpine silver build progress, few goodies, custom stuff and maintanence work

Subscribe
Mar 24, 2011 | 11:13 PM
  #1  
my 400 is going through some transformation, it was basically stock til now. i got the car from a guy who had it on 20's ().....anyway, seems like he never was aware of the infamous ball joint failure on these cars (after speaking 2 mins with the dude i realized he didn't know ish about cars)...long story short, one day, his rolling thundering 20's came apart as a result of the ball joint, he then tossed them and slapped 3 cadillac sts rims and 1 regular seville rim...mind you, the bolt pattern is 5x115 on these cars. the 1 regular seville rim was rubbing against the caliper enough that you would hear the grinding from inside the cabin. the bearings on the front were shot and the fenders were all chewed up and violated (as a result of ball joint, wheel coming apart).
since then i have fixed and replaced:

maintenance
-new starter
-new bearings
-new new ball joints
-new brand new tie rod ends
-new lower control arm
-enough synthetic amsoil motor oil for up to 3 changes
-amsoil ATF fluid
-amsoil diff fluid
-new brembo rotors
-new hawk performance pads

motor
-stock with a k&n FIPK

body
-BASF 199 alpine silver paint
-4 coats of clear
-new fenders

inside
-carbon fiber a & b pillars
-tints not yet done, deciding on percentage

suspension
-BC coilovers, custom rates 12f/10r
-daizen bushings
-trd bars on the hunt

wheels and tires
-19x9 +18 245-30-19f / 19x10.5 + 12 275-30-19r

to do list
-daizen steering rack bushings
-motorized side mirrors
-kicker L7 install with a double din navi unit from kenwood or clarion
-CF roof overlay (3m dinoc)

i like working on my cars and i took on this project because 1. i got a good deal on it, and 2. the 2gs is a platform with many different potential. whether for speed, drift, class, luxury, or all out raw horse power. its one platform that executes all of these different aspects, and it does it quite nicely

picture of the panels
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 12:53 AM
  #2  
a few thing: the carbon looks awesome, but wouldnt that effect the a pillar airbags from going off? and your inner tails look faded too. AAAAAAAAnd please get more pics of the carbon pillars and exterior pics too
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 08:13 AM
  #3  
Very nice! Would love to see more pics of the actual car.
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 08:42 AM
  #4  
Quote: a few thing: the carbon looks awesome, but wouldnt that effect the a pillar airbags from going off? and your inner tails look faded too. AAAAAAAAnd please get more pics of the carbon pillars and exterior pics too
thank you i have the best production year , i dont think my model year came with A pillar mounted airbags. inners are faded, thats another on my to-do list.
Quote: Very nice! Would love to see more pics of the actual car.
thanks, more pics will follow
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 10:44 AM
  #5  
Quote: a few thing: the carbon looks awesome, but wouldnt that effect the a pillar airbags from going off? and your inner tails look faded too. AAAAAAAAnd please get more pics of the carbon pillars and exterior pics too
no 98-2000 has a pillar airbags.....


OP how bought some better quality pics and more than just one

sucks dude took such lousy care of the car, seems like its in better hands now.

btw on the list of things to do, you said motorized side mirrors.....your OEM ones should be motorized, are they missing?
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 10:50 AM
  #6  
Quote: no 98-2000 has a pillar airbags.....


OP how bought some better quality pics and more than just one

sucks dude took such lousy care of the car, seems like its in better hands now.

btw on the list of things to do, you said motorized side mirrors.....your OEM ones should be motorized, are they missing?
i did not know that about 98-00 non a pillar airbags, i think he means folding mirrors? cause every lex has power mirrors. i think its only on aristos that folding mirrors came on? right brian
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 11:14 AM
  #7  
Quote: i did not know that about 98-00 non a pillar airbags, i think he means folding mirrors? cause every lex has power mirrors. i think its only on aristos that folding mirrors came on? right brian
yeah the 2001+ have a pillar bags, the 2000-1998 do not

i figured the way the guy before him took car of the car, he might have broke off his mirrors or something....

thats correct only the JDM ones have them but NEVER seen anyone successfully adapt them to our car, seen a few people try but never succedd.
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 12:27 PM
  #8  
LOL..nothing wrong with 20's...
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 02:12 PM
  #9  
Looks like a carbon fiber forklift is about to attack your car. MORE PICS.
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 02:20 PM
  #10  
btw, those tires going to fit ok with those low offsets? some rubbing action may take place.
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 08:17 PM
  #11  
Quote: btw, those tires going to fit ok with those low offsets? some rubbing action may take place.
front will def not fit
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 09:50 PM
  #12  
Quote: i did not know that about 98-00 non a pillar airbags, i think he means folding mirrors? cause every lex has power mirrors. i think its only on aristos that folding mirrors came on? right brian
yup, meant folding mirrors

Quote: yeah the 2001+ have a pillar bags, the 2000-1998 do not

i figured the way the guy before him took car of the car, he might have broke off his mirrors or something....

thats correct only the JDM ones have them but NEVER seen anyone successfully adapt them to our car, seen a few people try but never succedd.
i know a few electrical gurus that may just make it work, lets see

Quote: LOL..nothing wrong with 20's...
you probably also favor 22's over 20's lol j/k. idk man, i just prefer me a nice set of 18-19's


Quote: Looks like a carbon fiber forklift is about to attack your car. MORE PICS.


Quote: btw, those tires going to fit ok with those low offsets? some rubbing action may take place.
Quote: front will def not fit
i'll be doing some test fitting later today...i have no problem stretching the tire and putting in a 225 in the front
Reply 0
Mar 25, 2011 | 10:21 PM
  #13  
yea...no 22" here lol...

I was thinking a 225 front and 245 rear for those offsets...at least a 255 rear or lower
Reply 0
Mar 26, 2011 | 01:15 PM
  #14  
Quote: yea...no 22" here lol...

I was thinking a 225 front and 245 rear for those offsets...at least a 255 rear or lower
yeah, i was aiming for a 245...will have pics in a few days
Reply 0
Apr 9, 2011 | 10:54 AM
  #15  
driving in pothole, broken pavement infested NYC has caused my driver side lower fender piece to come loose.

btw, all 4 fender inner lips were cut and shaved followed by a coat of rubberized paint. 0 finger gap all around. coilovers were not height adjusted, they were put right out the box into the car, meaning i still have 3-4 more inches to dump it.
Reply 0