5th Gen: What did you do to your 5th Gen today?
09-23-2014, 04:18 PM
#1121
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Snakeden Branch, VA
Posts: 1,441
Blacked out the chrome trim on my black 5.5 with TrimBrite. I would post some pics but I didnt do the best job. I actually might do it over again.
aFe DryFlow panel filter and TransGo reprogramming kit in two weeks! Might do a coat hanger GAB if I continue to do the basic mods like headers, test pipe and NWP products. One thing at a time.
Also thanks to D.Stillwell for suggesting I just get the '01 SE tails. They look great with the "MAXIMA" and "SE" removed. Nice and clean like it should have been from factory.
aFe DryFlow panel filter and TransGo reprogramming kit in two weeks! Might do a coat hanger GAB if I continue to do the basic mods like headers, test pipe and NWP products. One thing at a time.
Also thanks to D.Stillwell for suggesting I just get the '01 SE tails. They look great with the "MAXIMA" and "SE" removed. Nice and clean like it should have been from factory.
Nice. Post some pics of the car when u finish that trim to be good. I've been thinking about blacking out mine, but not sure I want to on a silver car. And if so, not sure what product to use.
I appreciate the love, and glad I could help. The black SE tails really do look good, and that becomes even more true on a black car.
Did you use an eraser wheel to debadge trunk? Or did you get away without using one?
09-23-2014, 07:29 PM
#1123
@ D.Stillwell. I used a hairdryer on medium setting and a soft plastic scraper to remove the lettering. It was really easy. The harder part is getting the glue off. I used Goo Gone which is citrus based(I think, it smells like oranges). After that there was some ghosting of the letters which came off with some rubbing compound. Not sure if this is the proper way but it worked for me. Some people say use a clay bar but I didnt have one.
I used TrimBrite T9005 as was suggested in the forums here. Summit carries it. Im not going to recommend it until i do it over correctly and run it through some car washes. So later on Ill post some pics once it is pic worthy.
I used TrimBrite T9005 as was suggested in the forums here. Summit carries it. Im not going to recommend it until i do it over correctly and run it through some car washes. So later on Ill post some pics once it is pic worthy.
Last edited by stickybones; 09-23-2014 at 07:32 PM.
09-24-2014, 05:40 PM
#1128
Theyre clear stock! The turn signal has an amber lens. And just some el cheapos until i order some good ones.
09-24-2014, 07:25 PM
#1132
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Snakeden Branch, VA
Posts: 1,441
^ did you really just try to say thay those fogs are dim?
Do those fogs still have the glare shield inside? Looks like it was taken out of there. Looks pretty bright to me.
Headlights look real nice btw.
Do those fogs still have the glare shield inside? Looks like it was taken out of there. Looks pretty bright to me.
Headlights look real nice btw.
09-24-2014, 08:13 PM
#1133
They are dim! The picture caught them at the best angle to make them look so bright. They may look bright... But theyre terrible at road illumination. Theyre in there for looks, since the halogen bulbs did nothing. (when i say do nothing i mean that when then headlight is on they are worthless). They cast that wide spread on the ground but after that its darkness. Shields are still in as well. Ill post a pic of halogen vs these leds output.
09-24-2014, 08:27 PM
#1135
They are dim! The picture caught them at the best angle to make them look so bright. They may look bright... But theyre terrible at road illumination. Theyre in there for looks, since the halogen bulbs did nothing. (when i say do nothing i mean that when then headlight is on they are worthless). They cast that wide spread on the ground but after that its darkness. Shields are still in as well. Ill post a pic of halogen vs these leds output.
Just your average halogen bulb on the driver side.. Oem housing with no modifications.. Shows how dim the fogs truly are.. I put audi projectors in a set of junkyard fogs once and they were just as good as headlights.. But they didnt light the area right in front of the car and the output just got swallowed up by the headlights no matter what the weather was so i put the originals back in and using them just for their color.
09-24-2014, 08:54 PM
#1137
09-26-2014, 09:47 PM
#1138
Well.. Theres an issue with my headlights. Theyre badly scratched on the inside it appears. What could cause this and is this realistically fixable? Some people say they look cracked... But theyre completely invisible with the lights off so that makes me doubt it.. Idk
09-27-2014, 01:43 AM
#1139
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Snakeden Branch, VA
Posts: 1,441
^ man, Im not the biggest expert on this but it looks like maybe they were damaged during retro, like baked too long or something.
Those (scratches) look like tiny cracks in plastic (people were right) perhaps from baking the lights? Definitely a stress crack type of look, not scratches.
Those (scratches) look like tiny cracks in plastic (people were right) perhaps from baking the lights? Definitely a stress crack type of look, not scratches.
09-27-2014, 05:08 AM
#1140
^ man, Im not the biggest expert on this but it looks like maybe they were damaged during retro, like baked too long or something.
Those (scratches) look like tiny cracks in plastic (people were right) perhaps from baking the lights? Definitely a stress crack type of look, not scratches.
Those (scratches) look like tiny cracks in plastic (people were right) perhaps from baking the lights? Definitely a stress crack type of look, not scratches.
09-27-2014, 05:49 AM
#1141
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Snakeden Branch, VA
Posts: 1,441
Another possibility is that someone restored the lenses not very carefully, slightly scratching lens that u can only see with lights on.
09-27-2014, 08:07 AM
#1142
Well.. Theres an issue with my headlights. Theyre badly scratched on the inside it appears. What could cause this and is this realistically fixable? Some people say they look cracked... But theyre completely invisible with the lights off so that makes me doubt it.. Idk
09-27-2014, 09:39 AM
#1143
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Snakeden Branch, VA
Posts: 1,441
I sold a set earlier this year that had similar issues. They were OEM original and never opened either. My belief is that the plastic is actually breaking down over time. Mine were more visible in daytime light then yours and in the areas most affected it felt like the plastic was structurally weaker.
That makes sense, I was thinking along those lines. Just stress on the plastic over the years.
09-27-2014, 09:52 AM
#1144
The pictured surface cracks that appear on headlights...can slightly be fixed with a light wet sand/polish and a spray of clear coat on the headlights. It will drastically improve it visually. I have done so on previous cars yearss ago.
09-27-2014, 12:06 PM
#1145
^ normally yes. The one I pictured was from an 02 and those cracks and spiderwebs were more on the inside than on the out. The pass side looked more like Kings pics. The ones on my 03 are almost mint with no signs of this. Weird how the plastic broke down so much on this particular 02's. Maybe different OEM suppliers or plastics?
09-29-2014, 07:59 AM
#1146
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: East Los Angeles
Posts: 28
installed my Megan Cat Back
Finally got around to installing my Megan Cat back exhaust. I still have to install the test pipe but I need to smog my car first.
I like the sound so far. Kinda quiet now but should sound better after the test pipe is in.
I like the sound so far. Kinda quiet now but should sound better after the test pipe is in.
09-29-2014, 08:32 AM
#1148
10-01-2014, 06:39 AM
#1149
Realized I had a blown parking bulb about a week ago. Instead of replacing with an OEM style bulb I took a risk with a pair of T10 cree led ebay specials costing a whopping 10 bucks. I figured that it was safe to go cheap with a part like this, but maybe im wrong. Well they do work and look soo much better than the stock ones. I would compare them to 6000k HIDs in color. Lets hope they last and dont short out my electrical system!
Also made my appointment to have my TransGo HD2 installed next week. Im nervous.
Also made my appointment to have my TransGo HD2 installed next week. Im nervous.
Last edited by stickybones; 10-01-2014 at 06:41 AM.
10-01-2014, 08:52 AM
#1152
Ive read what people have to say about it here, mostly good things. What is your take on it? How is it when in traffic or "normal" driving? I know this has been talked about a lot but I cant get enough opinions.
10-01-2014, 12:07 PM
#1153
It's not as bad as some would have you believe. In traffic you will learn how to drive it so the one two isn't as noticed. After the one two it's not very noticeable. The two three is just fast and crisp. One two over 4000 is like the two three it's not bad at all. Under 4000 its a thump but you can learn to minimize it once you're used to it. Other than that the other gears are like power shifting a manual. The transgo kit has woke up my auto. It's a whole different car. You will be satisfied.
10-01-2014, 01:43 PM
#1154
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Snakeden Branch, VA
Posts: 1,441
It's not as bad as some would have you believe. In traffic you will learn how to drive it so the one two isn't as noticed. After the one two it's not very noticeable. The two three is just fast and crisp. One two over 4000 is like the two three it's not bad at all. Under 4000 its a thump but you can learn to minimize it once you're used to it. Other than that the other gears are like power shifting a manual. The transgo kit has woke up my auto. It's a whole different car. You will be satisfied.
You'll learn how to drive it. My 1-2 you cant even feel it at all, unless rpm is really low, like around 2000rpm accelerating from a dig. Like when some ******* barely accelerates in front of you, you can feel it shift then. Don't wanna describe it as a thump (at least not on mine) but more just that you can feel a solid crisp shift.
At WOT its a whole different beast tho, shifts are crisp and almost violent, not in a bad way. Violent as in hard and on point, quick, but no banging or thumping whatsoever.
Another thing is the car becomes very willing to downshift and start moving hard at any point any gear with over 50% throttle input. It will jump on you and send you flying lol especially in turns.
I love the kit, I'm sure you will too. If you have an auto and care for performance, this is a must.
Last edited by D.Stillwell; 10-01-2014 at 01:49 PM.
10-01-2014, 02:45 PM
#1155
I second all this ^^
You'll learn how to drive it. My 1-2 you cant even feel it at all, unless rpm is really low, like around 2000rpm accelerating from a dig. Like when some ******* barely accelerates in front of you, you can feel it shift then. Don't wanna describe it as a thump (at least not on mine) but more just that you can feel a solid crisp shift.
At WOT its a whole different beast tho, shifts are crisp and almost violent, not in a bad way. Violent as in hard and on point, quick, but no banging or thumping whatsoever.
Another thing is the car becomes very willing to downshift and start moving hard at any point any gear with over 50% throttle input. It will jump on you and send you flying lol especially in turns.
I love the kit, I'm sure you will too. If you have an auto and care for performance, this is a must.
10-02-2014, 04:47 AM
#1159
10-02-2014, 09:18 AM
#1160