I guess I'm old school but I like the OEM finish best on those wheels. Simple, clean almost stunning is what comes to mind. Great job eaz....

 

Yup I agree and that is why this will be the permanent color.

 

Eaz how do you get such a great metallic looking finish? I've tried my hand with metallic paints (duplicolor) and they always come out decent enough from a distance, but noticeably matte when you get up close. They also seem to chip way too easily. I'm using all dupli primer + paint + clear, cleaned with rubbing alcohol, followed instructions to a fault regarding starting with light coats, waiting x time between each coat, coating in the shade and checking and temp/humidity.

 

I only use rustoleum paint, it's pretty durable and it's lays pretty even. I just scuff and spray if the wheel has been painted with rustoleum before. Their ultra cover clearcoat is pretty good as well.

Seems like you have the process down but it may be the product your using. Give rustoleum a try and see if you get better results.

 

Thanks for the recommendation. That's the second rustoleum endorsement I've gotten in 3 days - I picked up and repaired a POS '91 ranger a couple months back, $280 including parts and it's lasted me just over 1500 miles and counting. The cab and bed are two different colors so I've been thinking about repainting the bed to match on the cheap, asked around and a buddy said rustoleum looks pretty good and is super tough. Rustoleum, if you're looking for a regional sales rep hmu :P

 

Finally put on the blacked out headlights. Fresh!!!

 

Normally I'm not a fan of blacked out lights but with the splitter, the emblem and the black car they look great! Good job, I think that's the first time in 11 years I've said that.

 

 

Nice, where did you get you calipers powder coated.

 

Finally narrowed down my cooling issues down to my thermostat that was sticking on high rpms and found this.

New thermostat clearly on the right. I'm really confused as to how the previous owner got this part instead of the correct part and also the hole with the washer (yes that is a washer) had a long bolt in it. Smh can anyone help me make sense of this? And also the metal gasket that's provided with the oem thermostat is enough right? Because now I have to scrape all this rtv off. Ugh

Edit. Even the bolts are wrong

 

Got the Cylinder Misfire fixed on the 05 G35X. Would you believe it was a faulty spark plug? After only 5000 miles and 4 months? I changed the coil pack and no luck. Finally took it to a second mechanic (1st one said it was the ECU), who found the bad plug.

I was using NGK Iridium, so I didn't think it would have a failure. Guess a plug can go bad?

It has a Denso plug as a replacement and is working great. Car has 244,000 highway miles (drive to the Base and for soccer - referee). Will post pics later.

Will be replacing left CV Axle next week, then the back brakes the following weekend. (there a trip to Dragon in my S2000 in the middle of that).

After that, replace sun roof motor (getting really slow), replace the headlight assembly to a more modern look, figure out the oil leak (replaced the valve covers and gaskets last Autumn) , then address the airbag light, once and for all, after the dealership did the Recall 7 years ago. Airbag has alread been replaced (used), now the clockspring will be replaced (radio controls are not always working).

Next Spring will be a replacment of the front struts. Don't like the ride height (non-adjustable), so a used set of coil overs are to be sourced.

 

Saw ChrisFix's YouTube fix for the airbag light and it worked. 4 turns of the key, watch the airbag light, when it starts its inital flash, turn off the car. Onthe 5th turn, it's fixed!

Headlights, sunroof motor, clock spindle and inner wheel well inner liners this weekend.

 

Wet sanded and buffed my headlights. What do u guys think?

Before


After

 

Looks marvelous

 

Thanks man!