Everything came together pretty well. Couple more small pieces and tweaks and I think I move to the next project.


And since the engine bay was so pretty, she got a little bit of a facelift

 

The yellow dipstick is burning a hole in the back of your brain. I know that you know that I know that.

It's too late to get a cover, so before the meet just whip out a can of black spray paint and call it a day.

Looking beautiful, Chris. It really is.

 

Thank you sir, much appreciated. I have the dipstick cover but I'm going to ask JP to hit it with another coat before I install it. I may put it on for now but we'll see. Maybe just for the meet... Because, the burn!

 

Chris, that install of the engine cover really brought that engine bay full circle, what a tremendous job on that and the overall look is so pristine. Take a bow my friend, that's well deserved!
Exterior is looking pretty good too, now I'm itchin' to see those calipers~but thanks for easing us into all this, it's a lot to take in

 

Thank you Brad, much appreciated. JP did a phenomenal job on the engine bay, fortunately everything else cleaned up nicely too. A few more tweaks, ordered some titanium M8 boots and washers and am considering an engine dress up kit to replace the bolts on the cover as well but we'll see. I hate to admit that I've been so busy at work the past couple days I haven't even opened the boxes the calipers are in yet. I'm thinking to get them on the first or second weekend of May but at the same time I'm considering going with a set of springs and if there is going to be some work taking place... We'll see.

The exterior has come such a long way... Still a lot of imperfections in the paint itself but it's snapped back to some semblance of life at least. At least I think so.

I would really like to tackle the headliner next. We'll see where that goes. I'm only five weeks behind on schoolwork now, if I can get that caught up tomorrow I'll feel pretty good about things I think.

 

Not the best pics but some progress. Getting an alignment now but both my front struts are shot so we'll see how close it'll come. Shopping for struts now, hoping to swap them out this weekend at the latest then get another alignment.

 

Going to need to get my camera out

 

The rotors, calipers, and drop all really came together as you were hoping, right? Looks great. The only thing critical that comes to mind is the rims. I don't dislike them, but they don't move me either.

Don't take this wrong, but I swear my spare tire rim looks like that, only really narrow, and gloss black. Weird.

 

Thank you John, it all did come together as I envisioned it. Well, except for now having to replace the struts in the front.

My spare looks a lot like the rays also, I agree. I like them, especially when clean. But I think if I were to get a different wheel it would likely be more eye catching. They're a good, lightweight, wheel but I definitely don't think they jump out when being photographed. If that makes sense?

But, I have two sets so I can't complain too much.

 

One of the design elements about those RAYS that I do like is the way the spokes arch over the big calipers. There's something right about that.

Gunmetal is an amazing color, but to fully appreciate it, you have to be up close, and then it pops with depth. When approaching the car from a distance, not so much.

 

That could be the problem? Mine are gloss black but filthy.

I was going to wash it but I'm still sore from parts of the install and don't want to take my brace off. I'm tempted to go back to silver / chrome but that's a totally different direction.

 

Looking great Chris, those calipers are superb! Always liked those Rays from the first time I saw them, nice quality wheel, and like John mentioned they really are built for clearing monster brakes. Pics rarely do a black on black theme justice, always too much blend, but in person it works IMO. Another color for the Rays that I really like is a dark bronze, seen some on a black older coupe a while back and a very nice look.
At any rate, your build is an inspiration

 

Thank you Brad, much appreciated!

I'm really happy with the progress despite the struts. The Rays decision was definitely made with your help.

 

Looks great! I love the color of the calipers, but I wonder if all of the black kind of keeps them from standing out. I wonder if you went back to silver if they would pop more. I would stay away from chrome, especially since you blacked out your window trim.

How do you like the Swifts so far? Your G looks much better without the 4x4 wheel gap.

 

I'm thinking you may be right. I need to get the car washed and cleaned up and look at it from a couple different angles to really weigh that out though. Part of me wonders if it's also partially the cell phone pics?

So far I'm happy with the swifts but I need to give the car a good run to really answer that. Which won't happen until after I replace the front struts I don't think. My camber is around -1.14 in the rear and even with the kits can't get back to within factory it appears so I'll need to make sure I rotate more often I guess. Visually though, I'm digging not driving a 4x4!