ok, im 15......i dont wanna do anything super drastic like body kits and stuff, but i need to do some little things to my car to change its apperiance. Check out my car domain to see what i already have going on, and let me know what else i could do on a 15 year olds budgets....i mean i really am trying to fix it up but from the rich ass holes i get "looks like a stock cavalier with a bunch of stuff from pep boys" but anyway.....right now my only plans are underbody neons, window tint, and a little system.......help me out please.
FOR SALE: (5) '95-'99 Z24 Rims
Looks like you like the Show lifestyle so heres what I would do. Slow down on some of the smaller mods like seat covers, decals all that stuff and put money towards a decent set of wheels. You will be amazed at just how much nicer they will make your car look. Then buy some lowering springs, and if you dont know how, find some one who does and lower her. Personally I think just those 2 mods would make your car likle 100 times nicer. Good luck.
1997 pontiac sunfire
2.2 OHV 2.4l coming soon
2.25 inch custom exhaust
WAI
RK Underdrive pulley
50 shot of NX
pacesetter header
Paint your mirrors and door handles to match = cheap
Black housing projector headlights
Remove side mouldings (due to age of car - may have colour difference under mouldings)
As noted above save and buy GOOD lowering springs and struts (ie: Eibach Prokit and AGX struts = $500 or less total)
17" - 18" rims
tygriff
shave all emblems on it, drop it, get some rims... those are some fairly cheap mods. as sunfireN20 said, watch the small things that youre doing to it. they can really add up, and they might not get you the look that youre going for.
Check out my build thread!
well my grandpa took my handles to GM and got them painted to match the car, and right now one of the side moldings is off because we are fixing the door. i dont know if i wanna leave them off or not yet....ill have to see, but tehre is no color changing behind them...this thing was kept in a garage before i bought it. due to where i live i dont wanna lower my car anymore, i cant even pull in my driveway with out scrapping....mostly because of how my drive way is but my car has level 2 sports suspension (added when bought). and when i am done with the mods listed at top, and i get a job, im going to get some gunmetal/black rims with chrome outsides....they look really nice on red cavaliers, maybe i will need to lower her after i put them on....who knows......
thanks for all your help
FOR SALE: (5) '95-'99 Z24 Rims
dont put all that Rracing stuff on your car it looks cheap and ricey
Sinister Ambitions
when your girl is getting on your last nerve f*#k her dont fight her
ditch every single sticker get rid of the floor mats and seat covers and SAVE UP!!!!
you'll regret it later if you dont
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I SATCHMOE YOU!!!! wrote:ditch every single sticker get rid of the floor mats and seat covers and SAVE UP!!!!
you'll regret it later if you dont
Agreed. I did alot of money wasting in my younger years...
The best advice I can give a kid like you is save up your money and do your research. Find the best prices but not on cheap parts but on quality parts.
As far as looks, like someone said before, get a nice set of rims...new...not used. You can also invest in a lowering setup. I would suggest an Eibach Pro-Kit & KYB AGX struts/shocks setup. This will give your car a nice appearance and still give you a great ride.
The little things like the seat covers and such....trust me, just take it off. Stock is better looking than cheap products from your local parts store.
I wish you luck...take your time and do it right buddy.
www.kronosperformance.com / 732-742-8837
i got rid of the r racing seat covers.....and i am gonna do the few things i mentioned above then im saving up for some rims....thanks for the help guys
FOR SALE: (5) '95-'99 Z24 Rims
do you still have your stock tails for sale (on your car domain) if so i'll give you 20 for them and split shipping with you
email be at
bheffron@gmail.com
Brian
I know its rough to be young and want to do things to your car and not really have the resources but dont do the riceness...please
but like said above rims would make a HUGE difference
It's a four banger, you gotta bang it four times to get it goin'....
Ok...
Step back...
Take everything off the car that you put on ..
Start over
Do things the right way or youll be paying twice in the long run.
Theirs no rush to get your car done right .. right away...
Dont push it .. One thing at a time .. save your money and stop buying cheap stuff
_______________________
Team Altered Car Club
Ken96Z wrote:Ok...
Step back...
Take everything off the car that you put on ..
Start over
Do things the right way or youll be paying twice in the long run.
Theirs no rush to get your car done right .. right away...
Dont push it .. One thing at a time .. save your money and stop buying cheap stuff
that pretty much sums it up. remember, cheap stuff isn't good and good stuff isn't cheap
agreed witht all above, especially 2 up.
keep: euro tails, clear corners + bumper lenses, z24 covers, painted handles
dump: anything with an R or a chevy bowtie on it that wasnt on the car to start with, seat covers arent THAT bad of an idea if you have a lot of passengers getting in and out of the car but if you dont, get rid of them cause it just makes your ride look cheap
add or upgrade:
exterior: 1. shave the chevy bowties, moldings, and badges. easy to do, it involves fishing line, its free, and it makes the car look much cleaner and a bit nicer IMO.
2. paint your mirrors to match the body
interior: get a few cans of krylon fusion, primer, a $10 pack of assorted sandpaper and paint one or more of the following( dont overdo it ) : dash bezel, upper dash vent, side vents, middle vents, center console, shifter knob, seat belt buckles, door panels, handles, window cranks. (pretty much any plastic interior panel can be painted.
suspension: strut bars, freedom design/ractive/GM whatever it really doesnt make that big of a difference they are all just bars, they greatly reduce body roll and improve handling noticeably. only about $60-70 each (dont forget you have front and rear struts)
after youve had those for awhile you will want to upgrade the suspension !DONT GO CHEAP on suspension. read around as for why
audio: its up to you as to what sounds the best to your ears. im a pioneer guy, but some people prefer audiobahn or JBL or alpine. just dont do it on the cheap, you
will regret it. for a decent starter system look to pay ~$500-600 for headunit, sub(s), amp, speakers + wire. can be done piece by piece if you dont have that kind of cash all at once. just dont buy sony anything (personal preference but i have never heard anybody say anything good about sony car audio)
TINT: either get it done professionally or dont do it at all. $20 at walmart for that cheap film and you will be cursing yourself the same day when it bubbles up and looks like ass, it can be done well, but its not worth it. take it to a shop and have them do it. expect to pay ~$100-200 for the back window and sides. front window tints are illegal in most states.
also, neons are silly. dont waste time on them, they break easily, you cant drive around with them on (maybe in your state i dont know but not here and not in many states near me) and it just dont look that good IMO unless the rest of the car is modded out too.
sucks being a kid, i know, but be happy you have decent wheels at 15, i was 18 before i even got my license and my first two cars were station wagons. learn to appreciate what you have while you have it and dont make it a laughing stock if it wasnt one to begin with.
there, i did my community service. its time for bed
Brian Anderson wrote:no way im taking everything off that car that i put on so far......i wanna do little things that make it look nice....as of now it would take me like 3 years to get a good 1200$ body kit...aint happining guys. i am going to do neons, tint, system, and eventually rims...then maybe i can get a job and work on the really expensive things. untill then i need "cheap" in price (not quality) items. i can do like $100 $200 if i have to....im just asking for you guys to throw some ideas out to me....thanks. lol no more throwing rims/suspension at me because i got the idea on that one
well if your going to be cheap dispite what everyone says on here then why post asking for help. everyone is giving you some grade A advice and your basically saying well F*ck that im going to go cheap and ricey anyway. if your not going to get QUALITY items then there is no point in doing ANYTHING to the car because
1.your not going to be happy with the out come especially if your friends cars are really nice.
2. IT IS going to look like what you paid for it, CHEAP
3. if you post pics of it here 9 times out of 10 its going to get flamed
especially if someone posted a link back to this post showing that people TRIED to help you before hand.
4. cheaply put together cars DONT WIN carshows...
5. unless everyone around you has a crappy car (which i doubt) they are going to talk about you and your crappy car.
sooo...with that being said dont waste our time if you really dont want help from "expirenced tuners" as you so put it.
Sinister Ambitions
when your girl is getting on your last nerve f*#k her dont fight her
Sooo.... I gotta ask... How do you think I got this far?
Was it from buying something every pay check? Nope...
Was it from saving ... not going to pep boys every week and blow 30 dollars
I got my car when I was 15... im now 19
I did the eww neons and cheap @!#$ where did it get me ? NO WHERE.. o and laughed at...
I mean hell I tear my car completely apart every winter after saving every summer and mod it some more...
Theirs no rush to mod a car you need to learn that.
_______________________
Team Altered Car Club
catfish (gouda) wrote:
interior: get a few cans of krylon fusion, primer, a $10 pack of assorted sandpaper and paint one or more of the following( dont overdo it ) : dash bezel, upper dash vent, side vents, middle vents, center console, shifter knob, seat belt buckles, door panels, handles, window cranks. (pretty much any plastic interior panel can be painted.
just dont buy sony anything (personal preference but i have never heard anybody say anything good about sony car audio)
take it to a shop and have them do it. expect to pay ~$100-200 for the back window and sides.
I highly recommend the interior paint, makes a big difference,
I have sony 4x6s and 6x9s and I like em but I hear bad things about amps and such
My tint cost $140
you've been given some terrific advice here...take it
It's a four banger, you gotta bang it four times to get it goin'....
ok everyone thanks for the help, i do wanna work on my interior. i have tan though....so i was thinking about going to a junk yard or something and getting the black interior peices....then i can paint some other ones red.....thanks everyone
FOR SALE: (5) '95-'99 Z24 Rims
Quote:
my car has level 2 sports suspension (added when bought).
You can modify your car cheaply without looking bad by buying either upgraded parts used from different models or used aftermarket parts from people who are parting their cars out to sell.
In my opinion.... save up for rims and a drop like everyone else said. Swap to 2000+ headlights and taillights (the stock ones.) I hate altezas. Put the factory 2003 LS sport spoiler on the back allong with the 2003 rear LS sport bumper and lip. Swap to the 2003 LS sport side skirts and the 2000+ LS sport front bumper with the lip. Maybe clear out your corner lenses too. For the interior, I'd say save up for some tan and black racing seats instead of being corny and painting everything. That only looks good when it is ALL one color done. When you get to the age where you are responsible behind the wheel... modify the motor, but do it the same wa. Save up and buy large performance increasers.
Cardomain|
Myspace
i agree with every single post. i also had my money wasting days. when i bought my 96 z24, i did nothing but buy APC stickers, seat covers and other crap i didnt need and that didnt improve my car. since then i have got my head back on straight and looked at things the practical way.
i got rid of all the stickers on my car, except for the one on the windshield that says "Project Car", cause a lot of people love that one, and i got rid of my seat covers and all the other crap. the crap is what got my laughed at.
i just got my 800$ suspension setup installed a few weeks ago, and i couldnt be happier. im hopefully buying an evo style CF hood from someone here on the .org, and im going to the exhaust shop next paycheck and getting a 2.5 catback installed.
none of those things i mentioned can you get from kragen or pepboys. trust me, save the money, and do some major stuff rather then a bunch of minor trash.
honestly i would keep the stock rims and low-pro tires, and put more money into the suspension so you can slam it low and have it ride smooth. but thats just me. you have a good base to start with, since it is a z24. just do the right mods and youll be fine.
and remeber: QUALITY over QUANTITY. If you have the chance to do 3 half-ass mods all done wrong that youll have to fix in 6 months, or 1 mod that is done right forever and will stay on the car for the life of the car, then go with quality.
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i did some stuff to my car last night if u guys wanna see it its at my car domain
FOR SALE: (5) '95-'99 Z24 Rims
