Rise of the Phoenix, '96 Firebird Formula 6-speed Options

[Box]

Thanks and thanks!

[Box]

Just finished going for a test drive and I'm really pleased with the new muffler, the exhaust kind of equals the volume of the intake now. Absolutely no rasp, nice deep burbly tone that has a nice snarl in the upper rpm range. Get a few pops from the smog pump taking care of unburnt fuel but got those before anyway, at least now they're deeper and more mellow. Downshifting I get a nice subtle cackling out of it, and rev matching sounds glorious. Going down the road there's no drone whatsoever, just a slight presence. The engine seems happier as well, then again it can somewhat breathe now. Anyhow was able to get a couple of pictures before it started raining, so hopefully can get a video later or tomorrow:


Which it looks better than I thought it would with just the single exit, kind of completes to low profile look the Formula has. Which after hearing it and driving I don't care at all, one of these days it'll have true duals but until then I'm happier now than what I was before.

[Bitter]

You need a much nicer looking exhaust tip my friend.

http://www.assuredautomotiveproducts.com/F...-AC043s-BKF.htm

[Box]

That's actually the tailpipe itself, but I'd be able to cut off the downturn and put on a tip. I do like the idea of powdercoated since I'm not big on chrome, stainless is ok though. Not supposed to rain until later in the day tomorrow, so will probably get the AEM filter on and get an exhaust video.

This post has been edited by Box: Jul 30, 2016 - 11:41 PM

[Box]

Got the AEM filter and decal on, really not much to take pictures of since the filter is hidden. Improvements are probably negligible but I feel better with having a bigger AEM filter versus a cheap eBay one. So now there's really not much left to do except for brakes and suspension. Looking into it more C5 brakes are the biggest I can run without going to 18's or bigger. Front rotor is 12.8" versus the 11.9" of the '98-02 cars, which either is better than the 10.9" on it now. Haven't really found much on rear conversions except for apparently it's a royal pain with converting the handbrake system, and the gains are minimal anyway since it's an iron caliper 40mm bore versus an aluminum caliper 45mm bore and only the C5 rotor is bigger at 12". Other advantages with the C5 is that they're directionally vented, but the calipers really aren't much different than the '98-02 except for being pressure cast. I'm thinking the best thing to do will be getting spindles from wherever then get rebuilt calipers off RockAuto or the like along with new rotors and pads.

[Box]

Felt inspired to take a few decent pictures since I really haven't yet, might use one to make a signature pic:

[Box]

Cleaned up the engine bay some, just used some degreaser and towels by hand since I'm not keen on blasting with water on any car much less one with Opti-Spark. Could use more in depth cleaning but I need to get some tiny toothbrushes or the like, anyhow:

[Bitter]

Would look nice to paint or powder the brackets, alternator, and intake.

[Box]

I know the intake is aluminum and fairly sure that bracket and the alternator housing are as well, will have to check. If so I might try polishing them out, either that or paint/powdercoat gloss black to match the valve covers.

[1994Celica]

Very nice looking car Box.

[Box]

Thanks! I still need to get around to doing a full detail on the paint and refurbishing the rims. Thankfully spray wax has been holding the paint over surprisingly well. On the rims I'm thinking about doing the painted center section in anthracite or black and then polishing back out the lip really well, haven't decided yet.

[Bitter]

https://www.amazon.com/SiriusLED-Interior-6...P3ASMRZ1H35J37Z this brand seems to have consistent quality, the 2835 chips in white are a good white color, not blue, pretty close to 5000K in reality I think. Certainly much warmer than most ebay stuff is, I know you can find the same stuff cheaper right from Aliexpress but these ship prime and I'm impatient! The single side T10 bulbs are in GF's puddle lights under the mirrors and look amazing! Super bright and OEM looking color temp.

[Bitter]

https://www.amazon.com/JDM-ASTAR-Extremely-...7SP7W2KNS1ERYQ6 If you have any T10 amber markers these are just killer there, super bright! The red ones are also super bright, I think your side reflectors in the rear are also lights right? You'd be lit up like a UFO going down the highway!

[Box]

Thanks for the links! I found some 42mm 2835 from Sirius, but sadly no 44mm loop ends. Yes the rear sidemarkers are also illuminated, then the markers up front are part of the turn signal housings. Both are 194/T10 bulbs, then the corners of the tail lights are also 194 as are the tag lights. Front signals are 3157, then rear tail/brake lights are 3057, reverse are 1156, and third brake are 921. The funny part is that compared to cars on the road these days it kind of looks like an UFO.

[Bitter]

Well with those JDM Astar T10 bulbs it'll REALLY shine at night, they're crap for plate lights in white, the white color is too 'blue' tinted to look good. Red and amber are where it's at for them! The T10 red JDM Astar will ROCK in your third brake light, do that right away!

44mm loop end is a weird bulb though, you're going to have hit or miss luck with that search.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/10...2600558517.html
Those are atleast real Cree XP-E emitters which aren't terrible, they're being under powered and you get 10 of them for $35 so $3.50 each isn't too bad. They'll be bright, that's for sure, you could sell off the remaining bulbs to someone else or probably find them in a smaller quantity. You can't convert to standard festoon base?

This post has been edited by Bitter: Aug 17, 2016 - 5:59 PM

[Box]

Alright will remember that. I guess their tower bulbs for turn signals and tail lights are good as well?

Indeed I've noticed when trying to find some. I guess I could convert to a standard festoon somehow, but it probably would entail lots of work and swearing.

[Bitter]

The ones with all the tiny LED are good in some housings but not all housings. They work good in my turn signals on the Mazda, maybe for your front turn signals too but if they're dual filament you'll need to add an inline resistor on the 'low filament' wire to dim them a bit so you get the proper low/high contrast so the signals look bright enough to be noticed.

[Box]

They are dual filament, which would have to do the same anyway with the tail lights so that's no biggie. I have been trying to find information on LS1Tech as far as what works best, and internet in general, but any of the write ups and most of the posts are 5-10 years old so the information is way obsolete. That's ok I've found conflicting info on the map lights, some places say 42mm festoon and others 44mm loop festoon... Guess I'll take a look myself so I know for sure.

This post has been edited by Box: Aug 17, 2016 - 9:27 PM

[Box]

New shifter stick, was definitely worth the money and is how the shifter should've been from the factory. Now it feels like the sports muscle car thingy it is. Pictures are of before then after of third, neutral, and fourth:






More solid feel and the throw better matches the gate of the transmission, that and now the shifter makes a nice clickity clack sound going through the gears. It's honestly so much better I really don't feel the need for an entire short throw assembly.

[Bitter]

Looks good!