rentaspace's progression :), How My Celica Came to Be :) Options

[rentaspace]

So gonna start my progression thread, and update it occasionally.
I'll start with how I got my Celica:
So it all started last year in around March, when I got my Red P's and was searching for that first car...
I tested a lancer, a prelude and a Hyundai Coupe... They all had their pluses and minuses, but none felt 'right'...
On the way home from the Prelude, we passed a Ford dealership and sitting in the middle was a little white PreFacelift Celica, as soon as I saw her, I knew she was the one I wanted. When I got home I jumped online and and contacted the dealer; she was an auto (I am not legally allowed to drive manual yet, thanks to my dads non-functioning speedometer).
The next day, my dad drove me and my beautiful girlfriend out to the dealer and we test drove the car. At the end of the test drive the dealer wanted 8k for her. I knew this was steep for it, but she was in almost perfect condition.

The only damage I could pick was a scrape on the passenger side rear wheel fender, a few small dents over her and quite a large dent in the roof (it looked like the previous owner had hit her with his fists)...
With the $8k as a base, we negotiated with the dealer and came out with a total:
- $7700 for the car
- All dents removed from the car
- Brand New 5 treads
- and finally what really made me go for it, A 12 month warranty... on an 18 year old car

Here she was on that exact day, right after out test drive:




A few weeks later, we got a call saying that she was ready for pickup, All the dents had been removed ($1500 worth of dent removal and paint) and she was good to go. A few days later her first photo shoot:



Her Interior and Engine were immaculate for her age:




After a few weeks our small troubles began, she started leaking oil all over the ground... After a call to the dealership, she was booked in for her first warranty inspection... They re-did all engine gaskets and replaced all seals in the engine... When we got her back, she was still leaking... We took her back again and were told that the transmission seals were shot, they were replaced and the engine was flushed out; the leaking stopped... for now...
Over all, the work would of cost ($1800 by the dealer, if not for the warranty).

Ill post the first of many mods in the next few hours or so, Once I get together the photos and know exactly what I want to say

This post has been edited by rentaspace: Oct 21, 2013 - 1:34 AM

[rentaspace]

So, The big update is finally here
A few week ago I found a set of Projector Headlights on eBay and promptly purchased them. After a week, they were at my door...
I opened the box, and as usual, one tab was broken and another was split




So I got a bottle of Loctite 406 from my Girlfriends father and repaired those tabs. I also added a washer behind the completely cracked tab for extra strength =]



Now came the adapter problem... The stock wiring in the car doesn't fit the H1 socket on the projectors, and the ADM park lights don't fit in the accent lights either... So an adapter was needed to be made... I got onto eBay and found some extension cables for the stock ADM wiring, and luckily the eBayer gave me the H1 side and the Accent adapters, so all I needed was the Male side for the low beams


And so, this morning I headed over to my Mates house where most of the Car work is done. Here is the 'Before' shot:


Following the 6GC bumper removal guide, hte bumper was off in less than 40mins




After some further troubles of trying to get a 10mm spanner that would fit inbetween the bar and the light, we finally got the High Beams replaced. They are a direct replacement and so no wiring mod was required


Once the low beams were out of the car, it was time for the wiring harness to be made. The eBay extension cable was cut, and the male half was soldered and headshrinked onto the H1 adapter. In 10mins, both sides were made and the adapters were installed and 10mins later, the Low beams were in place. The Accent lights were just soldered directly onto the ADM park light harness:




Testing followed:


After the test was successful, the car was rebuilt and photos were taken. These will be in a second post below

This post has been edited by rentaspace: Jul 13, 2013 - 3:50 AM