Blu3's Post Deployment SS Sedan Refresh
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blu3_v1p3r (01-05-2022)
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BillyBobJenkins69 (01-13-2022),
BlackielawlessSS (01-01-2022)
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blu3_v1p3r (01-05-2022)
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Monieg5gt (04-07-2022)
#131
Senior Member
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Monieg5gt (04-18-2022)
#133
Senior Member
So what is the difference/advantage to the lnf control arms vs the lsj/fe3 control arms? When I redid my suspension last year I couldn't find the lnf control arms either so I went with new lsj/fe3 controls arms instead then upgraded them with Powell lcabs. I didn't do the leading bushings because I heard it would make the front suspension a little too stiff for regular street use. I might upgrade to those in the future though.
#134
Rattlesnake Race Shop
iTrader: (1)
The advantage is the ability to use the LNF knuckle, which has slightly different steering geometry (quicker steering and higher roll center, iirc). No advantage otherwise. AND... for 95+% of drivers... no advantage to using the LNF knuckle, either.
You can't really do that though. The conversion is a royal PITA... even for an LSJ car. Have to use the LNF wheel bearing and axles... which don't work with the OE ABS system. OR, modified wheel bearings from a Grand Am and a lot of machining work.
You can't really do that though. The conversion is a royal PITA... even for an LSJ car. Have to use the LNF wheel bearing and axles... which don't work with the OE ABS system. OR, modified wheel bearings from a Grand Am and a lot of machining work.
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Monieg5gt (04-18-2022)
#135
Senior Member
The advantage is the ability to use the LNF knuckle, which has slightly different steering geometry (quicker steering and higher roll center, iirc). No advantage otherwise. AND... for 95+% of drivers... no advantage to using the LNF knuckle, either.
You can't really do that though. The conversion is a royal PITA... even for an LSJ car. Have to use the LNF wheel bearing and axles... which don't work with the OE ABS system. OR, modified wheel bearings from a Grand Am and a lot of machining work.
You can't really do that though. The conversion is a royal PITA... even for an LSJ car. Have to use the LNF wheel bearing and axles... which don't work with the OE ABS system. OR, modified wheel bearings from a Grand Am and a lot of machining work.
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Monieg5gt (04-21-2022)
#137
Senior Member
Yes I know the strut bar doesn't really do too much but if it gives a bit more stiffness and chassis rigidity I'll be happy with that. I also have the Powell rear sway bar and I upgraded to a larger front sway bar from the cobalt ss/sc. It definitely made a difference.
#138
Control arms with OTTP bushings are in, got the car realigned and feels great. I definitely think I need new coils the old BCs I have that have been rebuilt once have probably lived longer than they should have. I discovered I need s couple exhaust hangers, and a have clunk in the rear end could be the exhaust hitting on something. If not that than it’s the suspension or the rear beam bushings…
New retro headlights have been built by Snyper Automotive Lighting. Got them installed this past weekend and I cannot believe I didn’t go this route years ago!
More to come soon.
New retro headlights have been built by Snyper Automotive Lighting. Got them installed this past weekend and I cannot believe I didn’t go this route years ago!
More to come soon.
#139
Senior Member
Control arms with OTTP bushings are in, got the car realigned and feels great. I definitely think I need new coils the old BCs I have that have been rebuilt once have probably lived longer than they should have. I discovered I need s couple exhaust hangers, and a have clunk in the rear end could be the exhaust hitting on something. If not that than it’s the suspension or the rear beam bushings…
New retro headlights have been built by Snyper Automotive Lighting. Got them installed this past weekend and I cannot believe I didn’t go this route years ago!
More to come soon.
New retro headlights have been built by Snyper Automotive Lighting. Got them installed this past weekend and I cannot believe I didn’t go this route years ago!
More to come soon.
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blu3_v1p3r (06-16-2022)
#140
Headlights look sick brotha. And that rear clunk since I just went through a complete suspension rebuild of my car I can tell you its more than likely the rear axle bushings. I had to replace all of that stuff and the clunk went away after those new axle bushings were installed.
How hard are those rear bushings to change out I have seen them listed pretty cheap on rock auto, and I think OTTP was working on something as well. I probably should have changed them in 2020 when got back from deployment.
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Monieg5gt (06-16-2022)
#141
Senior Member
The headlights have 3” bi-led projectors, the light output is amazing. I have some minor adjustments to make to get them lined up perfectly but even just slightly off they are so much better than the trash I have used the past few years.
How hard are those rear bushings to change out I have seen them listed pretty cheap on rock auto, and I think OTTP was working on something as well. I probably should have changed them in 2020 when got back from deployment.
How hard are those rear bushings to change out I have seen them listed pretty cheap on rock auto, and I think OTTP was working on something as well. I probably should have changed them in 2020 when got back from deployment.
#143
Another update. New brakes and rotors all the way around and replaced all the exhaust hangers again. Freshly retinted and finally a new head unit.
The stock head unit served well for the last 13/14 years. The new Pioneer looks nice and fits very well. Steering wheel controls work. I’m starting to live this car again.
Changing the exhaust hangers eliminated the clunking for a while but now has return again. I think I’m going to change the rear beam bushings when I do coilovers. I might also heat wrap the section of exhaust that gets close to the heat shield for the evap canister on the rear beam, because I think that hits and makes the noise worse.
I know this is useless without pictures I’ll get some soon and and some pictures with the new headlights installed.
The stock head unit served well for the last 13/14 years. The new Pioneer looks nice and fits very well. Steering wheel controls work. I’m starting to live this car again.
Changing the exhaust hangers eliminated the clunking for a while but now has return again. I think I’m going to change the rear beam bushings when I do coilovers. I might also heat wrap the section of exhaust that gets close to the heat shield for the evap canister on the rear beam, because I think that hits and makes the noise worse.
I know this is useless without pictures I’ll get some soon and and some pictures with the new headlights installed.
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Monieg5gt (07-01-2022)
#144
Senior Member
Another update. New brakes and rotors all the way around and replaced all the exhaust hangers again. Freshly retinted and finally a new head unit.
The stock head unit served well for the last 13/14 years. The new Pioneer looks nice and fits very well. Steering wheel controls work. I’m starting to live this car again.
Changing the exhaust hangers eliminated the clunking for a while but now has return again. I think I’m going to change the rear beam bushings when I do coilovers. I might also heat wrap the section of exhaust that gets close to the heat shield for the evap canister on the rear beam, because I think that hits and makes the noise worse.
I know this is useless without pictures I’ll get some soon and and some pictures with the new headlights installed.
The stock head unit served well for the last 13/14 years. The new Pioneer looks nice and fits very well. Steering wheel controls work. I’m starting to live this car again.
Changing the exhaust hangers eliminated the clunking for a while but now has return again. I think I’m going to change the rear beam bushings when I do coilovers. I might also heat wrap the section of exhaust that gets close to the heat shield for the evap canister on the rear beam, because I think that hits and makes the noise worse.
I know this is useless without pictures I’ll get some soon and and some pictures with the new headlights installed.
#146
No good videos of l headlights on the car yet. Still waiting unveil it at the EcotecFest meet this weekend. Still no new interior pics for the new radio install.
I did get my rear bumper with the rear lip on it installed on the car after a few years of slacking off. unfortunately I wasn’t able to get my RK Sport hood prepped and ready before I had to drop it off at my buddy’s shop. It will be all one color by the end of the week. (Pictures below… and bonus picture of the hood in progress)
I’m not sure if I’m putting the white grill back in. I have brand new LNF upper grill If I do I suppose I have to paint the new lower grill and the new rear ones to match 🫤
I did get my rear bumper with the rear lip on it installed on the car after a few years of slacking off. unfortunately I wasn’t able to get my RK Sport hood prepped and ready before I had to drop it off at my buddy’s shop. It will be all one color by the end of the week. (Pictures below… and bonus picture of the hood in progress)
I’m not sure if I’m putting the white grill back in. I have brand new LNF upper grill If I do I suppose I have to paint the new lower grill and the new rear ones to match 🫤
#147
So unfortunately I wasn’t able to get the rear bumper and lip done for the EcotecFest meet this past weekend, because of the crappy primer I used, so I put the original bumper back on. The primer didn’t allow the the vinyl wrap to to stick to it. I grabbed a few pictures of the car and head lights, and a half ass shot of the radio and dash view.
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Monieg5gt (07-19-2022)
#149
This is very similar to Nardo Grey. I was going to nardo grey, but Avery doesn’t have it. The vinyl we used was Avery Gloss Rock Grey. It’s a 7 year vinyl. The only company that he could get nardo grey from was TekWrap and it was only a 3 year vinyl. I don’t plan on having wrapped for 7 years l, but he said the vinyl will hold up better than the 3 year vinyl. We also cream coated it for a little extra protection
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Monieg5gt (07-21-2022)
#150
Senior Member
This is very similar to Nardo Grey. I was going to nardo grey, but Avery doesn’t have it. The vinyl we used was Avery Gloss Rock Grey. It’s a 7 year vinyl. The only company that he could get nardo grey from was TekWrap and it was only a 3 year vinyl. I don’t plan on having wrapped for 7 years l, but he said the vinyl will hold up better than the 3 year vinyl. We also cream coated it for a little extra protection