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Project Clean 420a

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FormulaDz92

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Finally, 50 posts and I can start a build thread of my own :)

First off don't expect anything huge on this thread. No engine tear-downs, after-market turbo kits, huge rust-outs etc. This is a thread about my goal to turn my 97 RS (bone stock) from the bronx into some thing clean and enjoyable to look at and hopefully drive. Nothing more and nothing less.

I bought the car early this past spring (2010) from the Bronx in NYC. The car seemed in decent condition with little rust, 77,000 miles, and a $2,500 craigslist price. In case your wondering I bought a 420a because I couldn't afford the insurance on a turbo model and because I want something to look forward to after collage. (2G GSX fingers crossed).

I'm a high-school senior with NO experience with cars to speak of. I didn't know how to change oil or what a spark plug is or... well you get the idea. Since this point I have learned tons of useful stuff mainly from this site and youtube.

Here's a list of what I've done so far(as best as I can remember)
1. refurb. headlights
2. repaint wipers
3. Color-code mirrors(white)
4. Factory low-rise wing removal
5. quarter window tints
6. 6 CD changer removal(it was crap)
7. New non-rattling/leaking sunroof
8. 17x7 Kosei K1 TS Rims in light grey
9. Megan Racing Exhaust+ New CAT
10. New oil+filter
11. New Spark plugs
12. New factory floor matts
13. New Flex Pipe
14. Antenna delete
15. Patch holes left by spoiler + prime

Thats all I can remember right now. I'll probably have to update multiple times. Also, understand that I love my car to death I'm doing all these mods purely for the hell of it and to gain some basic experience with tuning/maintenance. Below is a list of what I plan to do which is subject to change.

1. Paint + clear-coat holes in trunk
2. install new radio with AUX
3. patch all chips in paint
4. general winter-proofing
5. foam for interior side mirror inserts
6. order factory spec. 2Gb sideskirts
7. Order factory spec 2Gb front bumper
8. fix skuffs in clear-coat
9. paint scratch on rear bumper
10. remove all paneling+ check for rust
11. order+ install Sparco pedals
12. order+ paint ext. door handles(white)
13. Injen CAI
14. DC Sports Headers
15. ?DC Sports Strut tower brace?
16. Sand + paint old wheels black for winter
17. ?Black/CF Hood?
18. finish all tints
19. New wiper blades
20. Eibach ProKit Springs
21. Tokiko HP Shocks
22. ?Racing Seats?
23. New Speakers(no subs, amps, etc.)
This is supposed as much DIY as possible so bear with me. It takes a lot longer with a lot more trial and error if you do it yourself(esp. with no experience). Obviously I'll get the real important stuff done by professionalls since this is my DD and all.

Pics tomorrow
 
Discussion starter · #2 · (Edited)
Haha well that "pics tomorrow" turned out to be a total lie. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one looking at this anyway though. Heres a before and fairly recent pic.

Also the radio (with AUX) is 90% installed and the 2 primed spots on either side of the trunk have been painted(but not we sanded and polished yet). Also stock RS rims(from 1st pic) have been painted gloss black for winter. Pics of that soon.
 

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#6 ·
Look nice, plus you can't go wrong with Kosei's. I wouldn't night shade the tails. Unless of course, you like the look of failure. It's grainy and has a purple tint to it. Use a 2k clear with some black added. Much more even coverage since you can adjust the fan pattern with the gun, rather than spraying with a laser beam from a rattle can.
 
#8 ·
Whats wrong with white mirrors?
I say get the header and racing seats!
It will sound good and be more comfortable!
Don't expect a lot of HP from it though! :D
As long as the white reflectors have orange bulbs, they are fine with me!
 
#9 ·
NeMiZiS said:
Whats wrong with white mirrors?
I say get the header and racing seats!
It will sound good and be more comfortable!
Don't expect a lot of HP from it though! :D
As long as the white reflectors have orange bulbs, they are fine with me!
Click to expand...
Nothing is wrong with the mirrors, I just think its too much white on the car and doesnt allow for a lot of contrast.

Headers seem like a waste of money to me and are only there for sound, and who really needs racing seats in a 420a? Seems borderline rice to me. Like I said though, its just my opinion.
 
#10 ·
Clean car! I wouldn't spend the money on a CF hood, if anything you want the weight over the front wheels to keep the little power you have planted to the ground a little better. You are on the right track with the car, it looks good, keep it up, take your time with it, and enjoy it :)
 
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Discussion starter · #11 · (Edited)
FunWheelDrive said:
Looks good so far. Im not a fan of the white mirrors or clear front reflectors. If I was you I wouldnt even bother with a header, racing seats or a cf hood, but thats just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'd get the header for the sound more than anything. When I hit around 4000 rpm it starts to sound a little weak and from what I hear headers would help that. Also a little more experience wouldn't hurt. As far as racing seats I'll look for some nice used ones and if I can't find any good bargains I'll just stick with stock which are fine(I'd also obviously move the nice seats over to my next 2G DSM probably after collage). As far as carbon fiber hoods same thing; If i see a cheap one in good shape ill get it otherwise I'll stick with mine. I'm also entertaining the idea of just getting a black hood.

2 Questions:
1. Is i possible to convert 2 power side mirrors to manual(if you have all the correct parts)?
2. I'm looking into lowering my car no less that 1.75 inches and was looking at the Tokiko HP Spring-Shock set and wondering if the shocks could handle some springs that would offer a 2 inch drop (rather than 1.3)?

Also heres a pic of my old wheels painted black for winter(w/ out center cap + lug nuts)
 
#13 ·
I say no on the, tinted tails, seats, hood. Car looks good in the 2nd pic. I'd leave it like that. Do your header and suspension if you please. Enjoy the car and the money you save. Trust me. I wish I had a 1/4 of the money back that I dumped into my car. If you put money into this car you will get your gsx. BUT, if you save your money and leave this car alone you'll have money to look for an evo.
 
#14 ·
EVO's are ugly. ROFL
People on this site are so mean to 420A owners it is ridiculous!
YOU don't have to have a turbo to have a nice car.
I completely stopped getting on this forum, before I bought my tsi.
Give the guy a break!
YOU don't have to have a race car, to have nice seats and a nice sounding exhaust, or a good handling ride.
Just do what you think you would like done and don't expect a whole lot from each modification.
Then that way you have more mechanical experience, for when you do finally get a 4g63.(you'll need it)


A member of dsmtuners has a N/A 420A that runs 13.231 @ 106.090
That is faster than a lot of 4g63 guys rolling around hating on 420A's.
Well maybe not a lot, but few...
 
#15 ·
NeMiZiS said:
EVO's are ugly. ROFL
People on this site are so mean to 420A owners it is ridiculous!
YOU don't have to have a turbo to have a nice car.
I completely stopped getting on this forum, before I bought my tsi.
Give the guy a break!
YOU don't have to have a race car, to have nice seats and a nice sounding exhaust, or a good handling ride.
Just do what you think you would like done and don't expect a whole lot from each modification.
Then that way you have more mechanical experience, for when you do finally get a 4g63.(you'll need it)
Click to expand...
If you are familiar with my posts you will know that I stand up for 420a owners a lot on this forum. That being said, I see know point in throwing money away on modifications you know will make know real improvements to your cars performance, especially when you say that the reason you dont want a turbo dsm is because you dont have enough money. I doubt that a years worth of insurance will be equivalent to the cost of a cat-back, intake, header, etc.

I have never heard an exhaust on a n/a dsm that sounded decent.

Exhaust + carbon fiber hood + racing seats in a car that will be lucky to make as much hp as a base model camry = rice in my book.
 
#16 ·
NeMiZiS said:
EVO's are ugly. ROFL
People on this site are so mean to 420A owners it is ridiculous!
YOU don't have to have a turbo to have a nice car.
I completely stopped getting on this forum, before I bought my tsi.
Give the guy a break!
YOU don't have to have a race car, to have nice seats and a nice sounding exhaust, or a good handling ride.
Just do what you think you would like done and don't expect a whole lot from each modification.
Then that way you have more mechanical experience, for when you do finally get a 4g63.(you'll need it)


A member of dsmtuners has a N/A 420A that runs 13.231 @ 106.090
That is faster than a lot of 4g63 guys rolling around hating on 420A's.
Well maybe not a lot, but few...
Click to expand...
I would say an evo is a rather attractive car. Evo's will overtake dsm's soon. Its natural progression. These cars are becoming harder to find with out being molested. Factory parts are no longer being made. Besides, evo's are way more practical. I personally would like to pick one up and keep it stock.

I don't think anyone is really picking on this guy. He's going to get comments and feedback both good and bad. Everyone can do as they please. I mearly suggested he keep the car simple and save his money.

I would do suspension work because pending milage and NY roads the car could use it. I wouldn't do race seats unless the op is actually going to get a quality seats. Those won't come cheap, probably close to half the cost of his car.

And the NA member you're talking about, maybe guessing he's from CT? If so that car couldn't be compaired to something remotely stock.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Rice to me is a car that just looks stupid.
I think his car will still be very nice looking, with exhaust and seats.
Non painted carbon fiber hood is rice, but others would disagree.

Well I'm not comparing a 13 second 420A to a stock 420A.
I'm just saying there is hope! :D

Now I learned that it is relatively hard to make a 420A fast, but I don't regret trying to make mine fast at all.
Or look better.

And yea EVO's are cool looking, for a sedan!
Anything with 4 doors is ugly to me.
 
#18 ·
I let last statement sink in for a while before typing this reply.
I've decided that you've probably got bad taste and what you say doesn't matter anymore.
I don't think a single reply was directed at hurting the guys feelings, you think there are mean people in this thread? Have you been on dsmtalk prior to tonight?
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
NeMiZiS said:
All you need is some manual mirrors, just unplug the power mirrors and swap them out.
Click to expand...
Ummm...ok so the ones I have on now are the regular RS manual mirrors painted white with Krylon(came out surprisingly nice) but someone was selling some W12 Power mirrors and I picked those up. Could I have a list of all the necessary steps for swapping them?

Oh and to be clear I have manual mirrors IN NOW. And I want to swap the internals from mine into a factory painted W12 casing. Is this possible/easy to do?
 
#20 ·
I'm not familiar with W12 mirrors.
If you are trying to remove your old mirrors, just take off the plastic cover on the inside of the door.
Then you will have 3 bolts (10mm if I remember right) remove them and the whole assembly will come out.
As far as swapping the mirror internals, I"m not sure.
It will help if you post some pictures.
 
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FormulaDz92
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