cmckenzie15

cmckenzie15

5/23/18
I am fairly new around here but have been lurking for a while when looking at getting a G vs an Acura TL. Ultimately I went with the G and have loved every second of it. I got a CPO 2013 x Sedan and just want to make this thing my baby. I am new to modding completely as this is only my second car, my first being a volvo s80 hammy down. I thought of starting a build thread to get more knowledge and peoples opinions on things.

I am looking to go with the nice silver and gloss black color scheme.

Here she was basically stock with only the addition of the side trim wrapped black.


Here she is right now.



Currently I have done:
-DiodeDynamic Tail as Turn
-Vinyl Wrap Gloss Black - Window Trim, Mirrors, and Roof
-GTR Start Button
-Aluminum Stereo *****
-Full LED Interior Swap
-PlastiDipped Emblems, Rear Chrome trunk lip, and Grill
-35% Tints all around
- Stillen Exhaust
- Paddle Shifters

Future Plans:
-New Wheels (want the coupes but hard to find around here) in Gloss Black
-Akebono upgrade
-New Spoiler
-Vinyl Wrap or Painted Grill
-Vinyl Wrap the interior trim Carbon Fiber
-Swift Springs
-Some New body Kits

cmckenzie15

As of August 2019



Currently Done:
- DiodeDynamic Tail as Turn
- Vinyl Wrap Gloss Black - Window Trim, Mirrors, and Roof
- GTR Start Button
- Aluminum Stereo *****
- Full LED Interior Swap
- Plasti Dipped Grill
- Debadge with Relocated Fugi on Trunk Painted Gloss Black
- Stillen Exhaust
- Paddle Shifters
- Swift Springs
- 19in Coupe Sport Powder Coated Gloss Black
- Akebono BBK Painted Anodized Blue
- Roof Spoiler
- OEM Rear Decklid Spoiler

Future Plans:
- Sport Bumper Swap (Already purchased bumper need lip)
- Painted Grille
- Interior Updates
- Sway Bars
- Camber Kit

blnewt

iTrader: (13)

Nice start, and looks like you've got some nice plans down the road. There's some other vinyls for the interior that look real good, have you seen the black machined vinyl?


Good luck w/ wheel search, it seems easy enough but the more you look, the more you realize you can't stop looking

user 3587587

lol don't listen to him, he's just trying to get you to not do a carbon wrap. Also congrats on the car, and welcome to the forum. Looks like youve got an awesome build on the way. I love the chrome delete and black roof.

cmckenzie15

I have actually looked into some brushed aluminum or something around there. I will probably do some test strips to see which I like better. The wheels I am looking like every night haha, there just arent really ones in my area that are in a condition I want to pay that price for. I might have to go with the re manufactured route and then just get them painted black.

Appreciate it, the black roof with the silver just made my vision come together so much better. I was so nervous the day it was getting wrapped if it was the right choice but I love it so far especially with the full black mirrors.

Twlsfm

Coilovers first!

cmckenzie15

I think I am going to wait till get coilovers till my car gets a little older since the struts are still in great condition.

cmckenzie15

So after some time we are back into getting the G where I want her to be. First step was I picked up a used Stillen catback off the classifieds. 5 hour round trip later and she was in my garage.



I decided since it was used and everything to clean it up and paint it with some high heat paint to give it a little more life and protection from the salt season ahead. This is my first big project on my car so I had no idea what I was really getting myself into.



Started out with some warm water and dish soap with a dish brush to get all the loose dirty and crud off. Next into wet sanding, after a little bit finally started to see metal.



After some time consuming elbow grease I got one section of the pipe almost done.



Next was getting as many blemishes as I could out of the metal, took a little while but finally nice to see some shine after what it started looking like.



Didnt realize how labor intensive this job is so if anyone has some tips please let me know. Also I am going to need new mounting hardware, if anyone knows the sizes of the things I need to get than please let me know.

RMB5190

iTrader: (2)

Get a storage tub (so the pieces will fit) and mix a white vinegar/water solution and let the pieces soak. Rust will wipe wight off and save that elbow.

youdunseeme

There' re couple 19in wheels poped up in the member market place, OP should check it up

cmckenzie15

RMB thank you got the suggestion saved me absolute light years worth of time sanding.

Went to Walmart and bought them out of Vinegar and got a 45 gallon storage tub from work to try and get everything done at once. Came to find out the bin still wasnt big enough especially for the mid pipe with the hangers getting in the way a little. Truly amazing how well it works if anyone is doing the same thing highly recommend it. Just be aware that you need to neutralize the vinegar with some Baking soda and water and I also read windex works as well or it will flash rust.

Hope no one needed vinegar

Everything soaked, mid pipe was flipped. Going to finish the mufflers and tips by hand.

Can see exactly where the vinegar stopped in the bucket

After just using a cloth to wipe.

Next is Paint and the hardware from Stillen is on the way. Hopefully be on soon.
Also if a mod can change the title of this thread to like slowest g build ever that would be nice.

RMB5190

iTrader: (2)

Very nice

cmckenzie15

Hello all again, after many weekends I finally got around to putting the final touches before install.
Finally All Clean

Tips Before

Tips after

High heat flat black applied


Installed
Have a great story about the install for you guys. I don't have ramps or jacks and a big enough heated garage to have done the install myself or I would have. Asked a close friend where he got his exhaust done at and recommends me to this shop. I get in contact with them they give me a fair quote and assure me the broken bold for the dampener on the Y-Pipe will not be an issue they will take care of it. Set the appointment up for Saturday morning for them to do an inspection then have the exhaust put on. I dropped the car off Friday night for them to get after it first thing in the morning. I wrapped the Stillen exhaust in towels and old bed sheets to protect the paint during travel. After some horrible communication I picked my car up ..... 7hrs later. I go to the shop and the guy says everything went great, sounds amazing and that they couldn't fit the factory mid pipe in my trunk but everything else they put in and if I wanted to come back to pick it up I could or they would get rid of it for me; told them I would be back to get it. I get in the car and fire it up and I am in love (thoughts on exhaust after this). I drive back to my house about 25 minutes away and after some fun revving it around I get everything out of the way for the stock exhaust. I pop my trunk and am greeted by the lovely small disgusting stock mufflers AND to my delight the Stillen Y-pipe. No stock Y pipe to be found, I look under the car real quick thinking maybe it wasn't true but it was. (I know I know you experiences guys out here would have been like why didn't you check when you were at the shop especially to see how they managed the broken bolt on the Y-pipe....Lesson Learned). Now I am upset because the shop is closed and I have to wait till Monday. The exhaust I once thought was amazing and was so happy I bought the unit wasn't actually the full unit. Thank god for the Pats taking down the chargers swiftly (sorry chargers fans) to not make the full weekend stink. Monday comes around I call the shop and they are shocked and told me to come in first thing the next day, let them know I had to be to work for 10am and they said no problem. I get to the shop first thing 8am and the guy who I met with on Saturday tells me has no clue why that was never put on, he apologized a ton and then told me he won't have it done for 10 but probable after 11. Now I'm heated and tell him I'm going to wait and he kept trying to convince me to call a ride. Told him I have everything I need for work right here I'm waiting. Wouldn't you know it hour and a half later he comes out and tells me that its all set and done early. Go pickup the car and boy IMMEDIATELY I knew there was a difference. Anyways that's my lovely exhaust install story now onto the review if anyone is interested.

So again this is my first car that I'm diving into modding to my liking so most of this is all new to me. Lowkey if any mod is reading can we do something about the thread name too? Not helping my street cred around here. For the exhaust I knew I did not want something super obnoxious but something that really accentuated the vq sound. Stillen immediately came into the equation and things fell into place. At first start up I was in absolute love with the deep growling rumble and never want to go back. The Stillen exhaust like many before me have stated it is not obnoxious or over the top but rather a nice increase and noise with a hell of an increase in sound. As I started pulling out of the shop I noticed the drone right away and was a little shocked. In the beginning the drone was music to my ears really hearing the engine purr but started to get a little annoying on the ride home probably because I was not used to it yet. I really love when its under throttle and RIP to my gas mileage since this install. Now with my lovely situation that was all with a stock Y-pipe attached. I only drove it with the stock for about 3 days and then on went the Stillen one. As stated before I noticed immediately an even deeper sound and the car didn't feel as restrictive as before it just wanted to go. The drone actually got a little louder but after having the exhaust on for about a week I am quite used to it. I have music going anyways since its the winter and barely notice it anymore. Love the exhaust and can't wait to continue the modding journey.

Next steps I am planning to stock up on before winter ends are a new spoiler, paddle shifters (still need to verify my car has the wiring), and new wheels and tires for the spring.

cmckenzie15

Mod bug is in full effect as we start to get closer to spring. After some research and talking to a member (thanks again) I pulled the trigger on a lip spoiler from eBay the carbon one. Wanted something that would just have a small lip nothing too obnoxious and get rid of that chrome piece. Unfortunately I'm not the biggest fan of the oem duckbill. Wont be putting this on till the warmer weather comes around so into storage it goes. I ended up finding an absolute deal on some used paddles and the shroud that were pulled off a wrecked Xs. The pictures of when I bought it showed a tear in the left paddles leather but I was ok with it because of the price. When I received them the left paddle was not as bad as the picture showed and was even more excited.

Paddles and Spoiler in

Here is the damage of the paddle. Nothing too severe, probably a black sharpie might make this just look fine.


Used Paddle Damage


Install was very straight forward with the amount of write ups on the forums. Probably took me 30-40 minutes to fully install. The main part of the install is getting the plastic trim pieces taken off. (NOTE if you are reading this and plan to do the install unless your kit comes with a 6mm nuts and a 6mmX10mm bolts you will need tow of each. Very easy to find I just went to my local Lowes). I have had the paddles for about a day and a half and love having them. So glad I pulled the trigger on them finally manual mode just makes the car even more fun.


Also snagged this jacket after looking for about 3 or so months for the right size. Wish I would have gotten the more updated one with the better back graphic but I will take this for sure.