Shibumi1's Build Thread
 

In an attempt to follow my own personal philosophies of "SHIBUMI"..
Great refinement underlying commonplace appearances. Its a statement so correct that it does not have to bold, so poignant it does not have to be pretty,so true it does not have to real.. Shibumi is understanding rather than knowledge..it is elegant simplicity, articulate brevity .. it is Being without angst of becoming.. or authority without domination .. Simply put one does not achieve it, one.... discovers it.. (thanks for indulging me for a moment )

That said, i have never been one to blatantly add, but more to mildly modify the surface while enhancing the underlying components to get the best possible results. As an audiophile (and basshead) the LS is the perfect platform with true front stage imaging and dolby 7.3 dts built i! it was an awesome start.. the cars interior is top notch so it needed only slight if any surface mods .. but i have completely striped the interior an done a double layer of dynamat extreme/stinger expert mat. i've run all new 100% ofc copper wire,and swapped every oem speaker upgrading them to Diamond Audio D9 7"components and Focal Utopia 3" mids to create a custom 3way set up.. (goin from the oem ML 19 speaker system to a 24 speaker system) requiring (2) 6channel Mmats Class D fullrange amps an (1) 2000w Mmats class d sub amp (driving 2 Diamond Audio Hex Pro 12d2).. all three totaling about 3800w rms power (6k max rms power) gained all the way down so ZERO distortion..

now for the fun stuff..in an effort to have the exterior match the interior i removed the L from the oem grill, and removed all but the L in the rear.mildly smoked the tail lights, lowered her with JIC Magic Vip Coilovers (at 1st thanks to CL member Synergy) On some sick Vossen CV3's for an incredible look!!! BIG SHOUTS TO THE VOSSEN CREW!! and now (while i decide on new wheels) on Tanabe lowered springs (thanks to the Infamous CJitty) ..lastly the now world famous NIKE light swap diy and hid foglight DRL's.. because i was born with a heavy right foot i also added a K40 RL360 radar an laser defuser package..

here are some pics for the uninitiated ..

some audio upgrade pics

more audio pics...

plus i added the Viper Smart Start w/GPS and Full Alarm and Remote Start so it allows me a few extra output options: like power closing trunk from my smart phone...or open and close from the front switch...

Just as long as it's not a volvo and you don't kick it every time you get out of it.... (literary reference for those who are wondering).

Seriously though. The inside must be as quiet as a coffin before you start up the tunes....

yeah its whisper quiet inside... only the roof remains to be done... but the sunroof would need to be dropped to do so.... so for now it'll wait til i decide how an i what material it will be wrapped in..

Sunroof delete?

Heck no!!!!! Its just that the whole sunroof housing bolts to the roof an side supports.. so to dynamat properly...u gotta unbolt the entire mechanism sunroof drop it about 8"...then dynamat. . After that's done.. remount the sunroof to the ceiling. .

here's a door pic with double dynamat... and (2) Diamond Audio D9 7" midbass drivers

more recently ( a few weeks back) i decided for show purposes i needed an extra battery for the audio system.. since i still drive this car. especially on long road trips. i wasnt willing to lose anymore trunk room. so i came up with a 1 off place to mount my aux optima red top..underneath the passenger headlight!!! behind the front bumper above the foglight welded to the frame.....(fyi the driver side is home to the washer fluid reservoir) so the pass side was dead space begging for an upgrade... (Steven has crazy skills with a welder!!!! He fabbed that mount from scratch and its rock solid.. if a collision is strong enough to budge it.. i'll have way bigger things to worry about than the batt)

sorry for the super close ups... gotta keep a few things under wraps...... (@Nat the eagle has landed!!!!)

Looking good bro, can't wait to see more updates

Lol...finally, I was wondering when I was going to see it. I will be following this thread as I know it will be great. :thumbup:

Oooh wow, can you take step by step pics during the removal of the headliner please? I have this rattle (I think it's the sunroof brackets) and it's not covered by my aftermarket warranty :sad: My main concern is possibly needing to remove the pillar panels with the SRS bags in them.

I'd say u have an easy enough task. Disconnect the neg batt terminal. . An disassemble the area where the rattle is coming from... ex.. drivers rear.. pull b an c pillar roof handle rear mirror etc... to access the specific point where u hear the rattle. . Then tighten it down.. an reassemble. .