A New Beginning

Got the car!

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to formally introduce you to Machine Zealots' new project car, Impulse. This is a 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. For those of you who don't know anything about this car, let me break it down for you. This car is known to be a torque monster, it produces 300 HP at 6000 RPM and 300 ft-lbs of torque at 4000 RPM! This power comes from a stock turbocharged 2.5L flat-4 boxer engine with a top mount intercooler, running 14.5 PSI. This is an AWD car, with limited slip differentials on the front and rear wheels. You could imagine this car handles corners like a pro, and it isn't terrible on the straights either. Rated to run 0-60 in a mere 5.2 seconds, and the quarter mile at 13.5 secs @ 100MPH. The downside to most AWD cars is usually the weight of the car and the gas mileage. However, this STI only weigh's a humble 3315 lbs, comparable to most RWD BMW's, and certainly lighter than the 2010 Chevy Camaro V6 that I had traded in.

With only 15000 miles on this car, the fun will begin now.

The STI also has a lot of little neat features that I really love. For one, the car comes with a shift light! You can set the shift light to come on at any RPM you see fit (up to 7000 RPM). You can also toggle a buzzer that comes on with the light. If selected, you will hear three rapid beeps when the set RPM has been reached.

There is also an intercooler water spray button on the inside of the car. With a push of a button, water will spray onto the intercooler, cooling it down, keeping the engine running more efficiently on a hot summers day.

I/C Water Spray button, and HID Headlight height adjustment

The STI's also come standard with DCCD (Drivers Center Controlled Differential). You can leave it in automatic mode, which the car adjusts the differentials to how it sees fit. Or the driver can turn it to manual, and set the differentials anywhere from full locked to fully open differentials. I won't even begin to pretend that I know how this system works, it's actually quite a complex system, and I think I might leave it on auto for now lol.

This STI comes in a 6-Speed manual gear box, with a STI short throw shifter.

The STI also does a very good job on the interior of the car. Keeping in mind that this is a 2006 car, the blue trim and the sport bucket seats remain a timeless enhancement to this race car. The steering wheel, shift knob and hand brake are all perforated leather bound with red stitching to really give you that sporty look and feel.

The seats are surprisingly comfortable, but mainly, they look great.

The STI also comes standard with a set of Brembo Disc brakes, 4-piston front, and 2-piston rear. This is enough to stop the car from 60-0MPH in only 107 ft.!

Wishing I had the Gold Wheels! =(

Basically every single part of this car was meant to perform, and the wheels are no exception. The car comes stock with a set of lightweight aluminum forged BBS wheels. The wheels are 17x8" and each weigh only 15 lbs! The tires wrapping the BBS wheels are extremely slick Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires, which I believe are discontinued now.

Roof vane, and a huge dual-plane spoiler.

All this car is missing is an aggressive front splitter, otherwise the aerodynamic parts on this car mean some serious business. The roof vane, as shown above, is meant to channel the air at high speeds, into the huge spoiler on the trunk. The STI also has a full set of aerodynamically designed side skirts and a rear diffuser to complete the car.

Comes stock with a 4" STI branded exhaust tip.

The exhaust tip was not taken for granted either. Coming from the Camaro V6 and their stock 2.5" exhaust tips, the STI's 4" exhaust tips were more than satisfactory to me. The Subaru engine coupled with the exhaust really makes it sound like a very deep 4-cylinder car. I love the sound of this car, especially when the turbo kicks in, there really isn't anything like it. Of course, this being my first turbocharged car, I might be in the honeymoon stages. =p

Now, I'm sure some of you are wondering, what are the major differences between the 06' STI and the 2010 Camaro V6. Before we start, please keep in mind that this comparison and review is a personal one between the two cars I have owned. Okay? Let's begin.

The Exterior

While the general public turn their heads when they see a Camaro passing by, the STI does not blend in with the mundane sea of cars either.

The Camaro's wide body stance, aggressively chiseled front fascia, and stylishly muscular lines really does make the Camaro look like the king of the road. I can not even count the number of times complete strangers have walked up to me to talk to me about the Camaro. I've had asians, blondes, and brunettes take pictures of the car with their cellphones.

The STI also has some prominent exterior features that turn heads. Mainly, the huge dual-plane spoiler in the back, and the giant hood scoop. However, the front of the STI is aggressive in its own right. With the HID hawk-eye shaped headlights, and the aircraft wing influenced front grille, the STI presents a killer presence on any road.

The Interior

In my opinion, both cars could have used a better interior. Mainly the quality of it, not the design. However, for people who care more about performance than aethetics, both cars deliver enough interior flare.

The Camaro's Tach and Speedo gauges really reminds you of a classic muscle car mixed with modern jazz. The dials, buttons and gauges illuminate in a light pale blue. While that does look clean and futuristic, I am not a total fan. Then again, this is just personal preference. The center console is my favorite part of the interior, especially if you have the auxiliary gauge pack on your Camaro. The buttons and knobs are very well designed, and very intuitive. The seats are big, and comfortable, and suprisingly the rear seats are not as small as some other two door coupe four seater cars. The steering wheel is well designed, and although I find it to be a bit big, it was still a pleasure to drive with it.

The STI's center console seem to lose on design points. The clock, head unit and lights on the climate control knobs illuminate green, strangely. I won't say too much here, because I plan on swapping out the stock head unit with a double-din Navi and Bluetooth system. The blue trim on the STI makes me forgive the center console. However, as a driver, the most important things are always the steering wheel, shifter, pedals, and the Tach. All of the above, the STI delivers. I love the feel of the pedals, the short throw shifter, and the small, yet precise, steering wheel. The gauges are more to my liking too, I really love red. (As you could tell with my Camaro mods)

Performance

Both the STI and the Camaro V6 deliver more than enough power and torque for a daily driver, and a casual weekend racer.

The Camaro V6 delivers an outstanding 312 HP @ 6400 RPM, and 278 ft-lb torque @ 5200 RPM. It has a better front/rear weight distribution, weighing 52/48. However, the power to weight ratio can not compare to the STI, because the Camaro weighs 3750 lbs. The Camaro's heavy weight feels amplified when you hit the corners. Though RWD cars should oversteer, the Camaro suffers from terrible understeer as well. The Camaro comes standard with Stability control and Traction control, which can be turned off at the drivers will. This makes the car a lot more fun. The Camaro V6 Automatic does NOT have a limited slip differential, which makes getting out of corners a lot harder. The suspension is extremely soft, coupled with the non-RS all season tires, my Camaro V6 was not prepped for very fast driving. The non-RS V6 models are also speed limited to 118 MPH, while the STI can go up to 155 MPH.

The STI delivers just as much punch, if not more, than the Camaro V6. The turbocharged flat-4 boxer engine delivers 300 HP @ 6000 RPM, and 300 ft-lb torque @ 4000 RPM. Though the STI may be sluggish until the boost hits, it gets off the line faster than the Camaro due to the weight. As mentioned, the STI weighs only 3315 lbs, very impressive for an AWD car. The weight distribution isn't as great though, weighing 58/42 front and rear. The suspension, mixed with the extremely hard summer tires makes the STI corner like it's on rails.

Comfort and Convenience

This was one of the major reasons I had to give up the Camaro, it didn't feel practical enough. In comparison, the STI is a much harsher ride, so it really depends on what you want.

The Camaro is a 2 door coupe, with 4 seats. Though the people in the back have to crawl in through the front, the rear passenger seats are not as small as they look. You can fit two full grown adults no problem. The trunk space is suprisingly big for a 2 door sports car, and you can even lower the rear seats for extra cargo space. However, the truck access hole is tiny, so you really have to play some tetris mind games to get some of the larger objects into the Camaro. The suspension is soft, and is extremely quiet on the inside. The driver's seat and front passenger seat both have lots of leg room and arm room. Infact, one of the negative comments I've recieved before was that the interior is TOO big. Regardless, the Camaro is the must have if you want a cool car to cruise around in. However, being a past Camaro owner, and reading testimonials of other Camaro owners, the Camaro is not the car you want parked at a Walmart. The wide body is extremely prone to getting hit by mini-vans, doors, shopping carts, and retards.

The STI is thinner, shorter from front to rear, and just a smaller car in general. The turning circle is a lot better than the Camaro as well. Finding parking is easier, and maneuvering traffic is a breeze. The STI has a large trunk, 5 seats, and 4 doors, making it the more practical choice. Or does it? The STI has lower gas mileage rating 18/24, while the Camaro V6 delivers 18/29! Also, the STI must use 93 octane or higher, while the Camaro V6 just needs 87 octane. The ride quality is harder than the Camaro, and you can really feel the pavement on your bum. I can imagine a summer cruise with the STI might get a bit tiring.

With just maintanence costs alone, the STI will rack up the bill in no time. Sadly, that's part of the deal when you sign your life to a turbocharged AWD sedan. However, it being an AWD car was part of the selling point. Since it snows here, and extremely icey most of the winter, an AWD was the logical choice.

Aftermarket Support

As of now, the Camaro V6 community has been valiant about getting aftermarket support. Whether it's tuning, forced induction options, or other things, they have shown their determination. However, the Camaro V6 community is further split by people who don't modify their cars, and people who want to. This result, plus the fact that everyone only "cares" about the V8 Camaros, make the aftermarket support extremely small. Though, cries have been heard, and companies are doing their best, I would imagine it will take a couple of years for everything to be available. One of the other reasons I had sold the Camaro was because I had felt it was a dead end, personally.

The STI, being the top tier of its class, and the many years of it being sold, has a sea of aftermarket support. I swear, it's like walking into a city of candy shops. You can't even decide which shop to go to. They have everything from, camshafts, pistons, rods, valves, crankshafts, cylinder heads, etc. You can literally, pick out parts online to rebuild your engine. Turbochargers, intercoolers, wastegates, blow-off valves, intakes, exhausts, clutches, master cylinders, aluminum driveshafts, and the list just goes on and on. If I had the money, I'd be doing everything I have listed, and more.

The newly developed Trifecta Tune offered on the Camaro V6 gives you an improved 13 peak horsepower right? A stage 1 tune done to the STI will change the boost pressure from 14.5 PSI to 16 PSI, giving you a 13% increase in horsepower and 17% increase in torque, making it 340HP and 350 ft-lbs of torque!

Final Thoughts

Quoting one of my most frequent followers, it seems that the Tuner world, and the Muscle world have this on going hatred for one another. The more arrogant muscle car owners call all tuner cars, rice rockets. While the tuner car owners laugh that the muscle cars can not handle corners. Having owning both, I feel like I'm in a cross fire of an on going battle, lol. I really have nothing to say, except that I enjoyed driving both cars for different reasons. All I know is, I came from the Camaro side, and the guys there have the utmost respect for the STI, and they are extremely good guys. So the above example does not fit with any of the Camaro guys I have talked to =D

Painting your Calipers

Interestingly, this mod is one of the cheapest, easiest, and best looking mods that I have done so far. For those of you who want professional looking paint jobs, powder coating is probably the best way to go. However, if you want a Do-It-Yourself paint job, something light on the wallet, and easy to do, then the G2 Caliper Paint kit is the best way to go. I bought this kit from R1 Concepts, it costed me around $40. They were having a sale on rotors and pads, so I just picked up a kit on the way to the check out.

You can buy these paint kits pretty much anywhere online. You can find them from $35-$40 on Ebay, or Amazon. You can check your local auto parts stores as well. I checked mine, and it costed $80, way too expensive. If you go straight to the G2 website, you can actually mix your own custom colors! Otherwise, it comes standard in Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, White, Black, Silver, and some other ones.

Now, I understand painting calipers isn't for everyone. There are different ideologies when it comes to caliper paints. Some people think it's stupid, while others think it adds more flare, and a sense of speed. Personally, I'm going all out. Colored brake calipers just look super sexy when you can see them through some custom wheels. (Which I'll be getting to soon... but another day, another story)

I would advise you guys to give yourself a full two days to do this project. It technically took me 3 days to get the car out of the garage. However, I admit I slacked on day one, lol. There really isn't much to this DIY, and it almost feels silly for me to make such a long video for it. However, I know when I was doing research, a video like this would have helped me. Hopefully my tips and advice will help you guys do even better!

First, you need to remove all four of your wheels, which means you need four axle stands. I'd say an average house hold owns at least two axle stands. If you don't have four, borrow one from your neighbour =D. (I actually only own two, I 'borrowed' the other two from my neighbour and close friend)

Something I came across when I was removing my wheels, my rear wheels were seized onto the wheel hub. Since most of my DIY's so far have only required me to remove the front wheels, they were loosey goosey. However, the rear wheels have been on since it left the dealership a year ago. They don't anti-seize your wheels from the factory apparently, so my rear wheels were stuck on super tight. I tried to kick it, hammer it, no movement, nothing.

Here is what I learned on how to solve this issue, and a USEFUL TIP for you guys incase you run into the same problem: This will work 100%. First off, with your wheel lifted on the floor jack, loosen all lug nuts to halfway. IT IS CRITICAL THAT IT IS HALFWAY! Next, lower the car slowly so that the weight of the car pops the wheel off. You will hear a distinct pop. As soon as you hear it, stop lowering! Lift the car back up, and proceed in removing your wheels =). Obviously, I don't have to say why you needed the lugs on half way. You guys are smart enough ;)

With that issue out of the way. It was pretty much smooth sailing. Make sure you do a good job masking off everything that shouldn't be painted. If you didn't remove the calipers for painting, then I would say painting the underside of the caliper and the back side might get tricky. Here's another tip: Grab a small mirror to assist your vision in painting weird angles and tight corners. It's also a good way to spot any unpainted areas. Took me around 30 minutes to paint one coat on each caliper. Wait one or two hours before you apply another coat. You'll take around 6 hours to paint them all, and you'll need another 24 hours for the paint to dry. Don't forget to heat up those brakes after they dry.

That's pretty much it guys. You guys have now graduated, and are ready to paint your own calipers! Last word of advice, the final result for painting anything, has to do with preparation. Make sure you clean those brake calipers very thoroughly. Take your time, and have fun with it!

Shopping for stuff

I woke up at 8 AM today, and left at 9 AM to do some car shopping. I scouted out my local auto parts store for some supplies and did some research for some new modding projects. I went ahead and bought myself a set of axle stands. I thought it was pretty cheap, $20 for a pair.

2 Ton weight capacity each. Lift height of 16.25".

Anyway, these axle stands were actually a purchase that I should have made a year ago. The ones I've been using up to date have been my neighbours set, lol. I feel kind of bad for keeping them in my garage. However, I will need his set for another week or two. Since I am planning on filming the DIY Caliper Painting episode on May 20th. All four wheels will need to be off the ground, so you guys will see these puppies again soon =).

Interestingly enough, while looking around at other stuff, I came across this new Meguiar's Product. =D

Can anyone tell me what car this is? Looks mighty familiar. Hmmm...

Anyway, it seems that Meguiar's debadged this Camaro to keep it anonymous, or maybe it has something to do with copyright infringement. Whatever their reason, I don't think it's fooling anyone. However, I must say, the car still looks very sexy.

The Camaro V6, in a nutshell.

Ah, the LLT, a 3.6L, Direct Injected, DOHC with VVT. A wonderful engine. Actually I have the utmost respect when it comes to engines. Every part has their part to play, and every part is developed through hours and hours of sweat and blood. Cheers to those hard workers. Click on the image to get the full scope of the engine... I just love it, and I think I would like to make that into a poster.

Anyway, lets take a moment to really appreciate all the nuts and bolts that make our V6 power machines.

 

Front Bumper Removal and Front Plate Mod

Like I said in the video, I have had two counts of "no front License Plate" violations. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to be a rebel. After the first warning, I was already going to do this mod. However, I was waiting for the magnets to arrive in the mail, and I was eventually caught on the week I was going to put it on, but it was too late =( I was charged $85, as my second warning. Otherwise, the officer could have fined me for $600 as a driving violation, revoked my license, and impounded my car.

I really wasn't going to take another chance and gamble with those odds.

Anyway, I have driven the car for a week and a half now. Mixed driving styles: Fast and slow, and on the highway and in the city. The front plate mod seems to be holding up really well. I don't think I am going to worry too much about it falling off. What I really love about it, is that you can take off the plate anytime to take some awesome pictures, or videos. Of course at car shows, with the front plate off, you can really show off those aggressive lines at the front end.

Of course, removing the bumper doesn't just have to be about the front plate mod. Use this for when you are removing your head lights, changing out your grill, or whatever you have in mind. So pick your poison.

Special Thanks to Jerry (C586)! Awesome idea sir! =D

Oh yeah... She's there.

Just a sneak peek for you guys. If you have been following my twitter updates, you would know that I was at the 2011 International Autoshow. One of the first cars that I saw, was this:

Yeah, this is the sex right here: The Firebreather concept car ladies and gents. An Edelbrock Supercharged car, producing over 600 Horse Power! I have to admit, when this car was first released, I wasn't too impressed with the pictures. I mean, yeah, it's really cool, but I didn't know what all the fuss was about.

However, that thought soon changed, when this car was staring at me in the face. A gorgeous piece of machinery. If I was driving this on the road, not even Ferraris and Lambos would phase me. It's just magnificent. If you have not yet seen this car up in person, make it one of your goals.

Again, this is just a sneek peek and update for you guys. I have a lot of video to process from the Auto Show, so expect the video out sometime next week. More on the show later ;)

DIY Changing Rear Differential Oil

Yesterday was a gorgeous sunny day, and I just had to seize the moment... to work on my car. It's been a great 4000 miles now, and I haven't flushed out the Tranny Fluid, and I hadn't flushed out the Rear Differential Fluid either. It is recommended that you do these oil changes, including the engine, after breaking in the car. It's not the end of the world if you don't change these oils, but it can cause damage, and shorten the lifespan of your auto parts.

Well, as always, keeping you viewers in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to make a DIY tutorial on how to change your Rear Diff Oil. Let's get started.


 

Hope you've enjoyed the video. I think that pretty much sums it up. The following are just some more detailed steps, my personal experience, and tips.

Tools you will need: Rear Axle Fluid (Check your owner's manual for proper part numbers), Oil pan, Floor Jack, Axle Stands, Torque wrench with 3/8" drive, or adapter to 3/8" drive, Breaker bar or Socket wrench with 3/8" drive, Paper Towels and Towels.

The proper fluid for V6 Automatic Camaros without Limited Slip Differential. Need only 1 qt of oil (946 mL). One bottle is enough. Notice that this is a Synthetic Lubricant. No need to go Royal Purple or other brands. Infact, using GM specified fluids and oils is the only way to keep your warranty. Keep that in mind.

I chose to use a coffee filter, to see how much crap I can filter out on my first oil change. This is not needed, just for satisfying my curiosity. Use a regular Oil Pan in this case.

NOT mentioned in the video. But this should be a no brainer. ALWAYS block off the wheels incase the car rolls.

After the car is lifted, make your way to the Rear Differential housing. You will see two plugs on the Driver's side of the housing. The top one is the Fill Plug, and the lower one is the Drain Plug.

I put my axle stands on the ramps I have made for my engine oil change, to get maximum height. Make sure you know where to place your stands. I have made a post on stand positions, look for it if you need a guide.

Both plugs removed, and both cleaned off. The plug on the RIGHT is the Fill Plug. The plug on the LEFT is the Drain Plug. As you can see, your differential is trapped with tons of metal shavings, I was happy that I got all that crap out! As mentioned in the video, both plugs are magnetic plugs, keeping the larger metal shavings from moving around. Both plugs also have rubber O-rings, make sure that you do not lose those.

Look at the color of that oil! It is completely black and gray, full of metal shavings! The original fluid itself is somewhat 'Apple Juice' colored. Clear and a bit yellow.

If you do not own a fluid pump. Then you are in for a treat... NOT. This was the hardest part of the fluid change. You have to squeeze the bottle of oil into the fill hole. Remember, by this point, your Drain Plug should be screwed in, and torqued. You will have to find a good angle to work this oil into the fill hole. It's not impossible, just a lot of work. Fill to the brim, when the oil starts to drip out of the hole, you can stop. I had a bit of oil left in my bottle when I was finished, which I'll save for another day.

After you are done filling the oil. Place the Fill Plug back in, and torque to the right specs, 24 lb-ft.

Clean up and you are done. Last thing, always make note of the date and odometer reading of your service. Keep track of it so you know when to service it again in the future.

Okay guys, so this was a pretty easy thing to do. This took me a good 1.5 hours to complete. However, this being the first time doing it, plus taking pics and filming videos for you guys, I would say I could do it in 15-20 minutes the next time around. If this is your first time doing it, take your time, and follow the proper steps. Don't rush, it's not a race. Always work at your own pace. In summary though, I would say, do this as soon as you hit your break-in point. As you could see in the videos and pictures, the oil gets pretty filthy by 4000 miles. NEXT UP, TRANNY FLUSH!

Trifecta Tune for V6

Okay guys, so here is the full scoop on the Trifecta Tune for the 5th Gen V6 Camaro. Trifecta is currently the only tuning solution you can get on your V6. Purchasing is very easy, fill out a form, and pay. Vince from Trifecta is the tuner, and he pretty much custom tunes your car to your needs. For the automatic transmission cars, we get more goodies than the cars running manual. Vince can remove GM's torque management system from your vehicle to your liking. I currently have 10% removed on Drive, and 30% removed on Sport mode. Vince doesn't really recommend the user removing anymore, unless you want to shorten the life of your transmission, but he is still willing to remove more, only if you tell him to. Obviously he holds no responsibility for your actions, so don't go blaming him if something breaks!

There is pretty much a $400 charge for his tune and services, and you can choose to buy and own the tuning cable for an additional $200. This is referred to as the "Full Kit". I bought the full kit lol.

The image above is pretty much what you are paying for $200. Ridiculous as it sounds, that is actually worth it, in the long run. Especially if you are tuning your car non-stop, or plan on going forced induction in the future. Right, forgot to mention, Vince is currently the only one tuning the V6 Forced Induction cars. Another reason why I went with Vince ;)

Okay, so if you want my full review, as always, I am brutally honest, so here goes:
For what you are paying for, a total of $600, you had better have a whole lot to tune. The price isn't cheap at all. However, if you look at the cold hard facts, doing a dyno tune isn't always cheap either. Yes it could be cheaper than $600, but paying Vince, means a life-time support from Vince himself. Now, I haven't actually made sure if he charges extra later on for when you go Forced Induction, but as of now, he'll tune your car until you are satisfied. Keep in mind, this is remote tuning, and also the only option currently open to the V6 Camaros right now. To get your car running to its maximum potential, Vince's tuning software also allows the driver to datalog various input and output data from the car. You can then later e-mail him the files and he can fine tweak the tune, and e-mail it back to you. Basically, it's all really simple. You pay for the tune, he gives you instructions on how and where to download the tuning software. He then e-mails you the tune file, and you plug the laptop into your OBDII port via the Cable you purchased, or rented, and upload the tune! From here on, Vince can control a number of variables on your car, and make your car run to its full potential. Again, as I have said earlier, the automatic transmissions have more play time. Vince can also tune the car so it can have firmer shifts. This makes tap shifting a LOT of fun =D Basically having the firmer shifts makes it feel more like how a manual shifts the car. There is a split second right before the gears are changing, it will feel like the car is in Neutral, and then changes gears. At a more open throttle, these feelings are intensified... just saying, I've been losing some gas mileage these days lol. Summary of the product, it's good, just might be expensive for people who aren't really hardcore. Again, a tune is NOT necessary for your car, especially if you don't have any bolt-on mods. However, if you have bolt-ons and an Automatic, I really think a tune is well worth it.

Service wise, Trifecta is doing an excellent job. Trifecta isn't just tuning Camaros, there is a list of cars, and who knows how many customers Vince actually has. With all this in mind, Vince still finds time to e-mail you back ASAP. If you have any questions, he answers it right away. I believe he's been doing this for 10 years plus, and he has an excellent professional attitude. Many people say the same thing, no doubts here whatsoever. With the 5 star customer service, the amount you pay for the tune is fully justified.

This was a long post. The very last thing I want to show you guys, is just a small video I put together. Giving you an idea what tuning with Trifecta is like. Enjoy!

Lift Positions

Well, it's spring time, and summer is just a couple of months away. We are now in modding season. For those of you who are doing your own work on your car this year, you might be finding yourself jacking up the car quite a bit. If you are a bit uncomfortable or unsure of the positions to lift from, fear no more!

Remember to always, ALWAYS use Jack Stands/Axle Stands when you are working with your car lifted. Your life is more precious than your car, always remember that!

Camaro Decal Store Coupon Code

I've been doing business with Reggie from the Camaro Decal Store for a while now. Started with just purchasing stuff from him on eBay, and I realized that he was an excellent salesman. After doing more business with him, I realized, I really want to work with this guy. =D

So starting today, Camaro Decal Store is giving a brand new discount in the name of Spades V6. I've noticed an increasing number of people who frequently stop by, read, and comment on the blog. To show my appreciation for Reggie and your support, I have formed a solution that I think will sweeten the collective pot.

From now on, if you shop at Camaro Decal Store, enter the coupon code: spadesv6camaro for an awesome 12% discount on all items!

Don't say I've never done anything for you guys out of the kindness of my heart LOL. I get no commission for any of this. =)

Oh and by the way, please join the Spades V6 facebook page for instant updates on mods, reviews, videos, and anything else.

Happy spending you guys!

Winter sucks, Camaro awesome

I haven't washed my car since my blog post about Adam's Polishes products. Needless to say, my car is filthy. Anyway, the weather here is completely crap. It's been cold, icey, and snowy, therefore the salt trucks have been super active, and my Camaro is a daily driver. Sigh.

Well, I had some free time this weekend, and I just decided to give the car a good wash. No detailing, or tire dressing, but I just had to get all that crap off of the car. Wanted to show you guys just HOW dirty my car was.

I wash my car with two different wash pads, one for the top half and the other for the bottom half. I use two buckets, with grit guards, and I change the water and soap for the top and bottom half of the car as well. The pictures above are just from the bottom half of the car. LOOK AT HOW FILTHY THAT IS! All of that dirt and grime washed off my Camaro.

Good to see the car is back to black.

Tuned In

Okay guys and gals, I just tuned the car. I need to work on the tune a bit more before I can give the full review. My first impressions though? I can feel the differences right away. Felt like my car lost 500 lbs off the line. Doesn't feel as heavy as it did stock, and that's a good thing.

The tune was also incredibly easy to load. Plug and play, 10 minutes, and your car is completely different. I'm not trying to up-sell the tune by exaggerating. Here's an example of what I mean. You know, there is always this stereotypical dirty/shaggy guy in highschool. Doesn't look like he showers, or shaves, or cuts his hair, or washes his clothes? Then, on prom night, he makes an effort: cuts and gels his hair, suits up, neat, clean, and sharp. Then you are like... "what the f*@K?". Then girls all start to notice him, etc. You see, he's the same guy, just presented differently... enough to 'wow' you.

Yeah, it's like that. But the Camaro was a handsome devil to start with, then it had that prom makeover... Can you see where I'm going with this?

Eitherway, no review today... just first impressions =D

This is it, this is the Golden Egg

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting Spades 1.0.2. Click the above picture for the full size.

Now, I've been on the quest for gold for a couple of weeks now. It just looks good on a black or white car. Most importantly, I have yet to see a Camaro with gold wheels. I MAY BE the first, when I get them of course. These are TSW Nurburgrings, painted gold for the concept. I have contacted a vendor who also does powdercoats and paints the wheels he sells as a service. He said I could make them any color I want! =O

Honestly, these wheels are great looking, and probably one of the best bang for buck wheels out there. They are averaging around $350 per wheel out in the market, and they are FORGED! Another great aspect of these wheels: they are super lightweight. I believe the stock 20" Camaro wheels are around 30-33 lbs each, whereas these Nurburgrings are only 25 lbs each. Shedding a good 5 pounds per wheel is a lot, if you add it all up. I have decided the largest wheel size I'd go would be 19", so that should shed off another couple of pounds. =D Eitherway, if I made you guys excited, I'm sorry... these wheels won't be on this car for at least another year lol. Heck, I'm teasing MYSELF by making these awesome concept images =(.

In other news, my tune is here. Yes, the mods are piling up, but for now, that's it. All packages have been delivered to my door. I might tune my car this weekend though. So stay tuned for the full story and review!

Project Concept

Stock Camaro image from Tire Rack. Luckily, they are using the V6. Obviously, there are some differences compared to my stock car, but it works.

My ideal finished project car in my mind so far. I think gold wheels might be the way to go on this car. Can't really decide. Black, Gunmetal, Bronze, I just don't know.

Eitherway, I have most of the mods already done on this car. I have the Front Splitter, Logo Blackout, and Light Blackouts already applied. I have the Caliper Paints, Rotors, Grand Sport Stripes, in my house and ready to go. All I'm missing now is the Rear Spoiler, Window tints, Wheels, and Coilovers for lowering.

UPDATED: These are O.Z. Racing wheels, but sadly, they don't come with the right lug nut specs. I would prefer this style of wheel over the previous one though. Too bad =(

DIY: Dye Stitch your interior

This mod is probably one of the cheapest mods out there, it is also one of the easiest DIY I can think of... I mean, it's easier than washing your car lol. Anyway, let's get right down to the good stuff first.


 

Okay, I know that video was a bit long, but I felt like I haven't posted a video in so long, so I wanted to make it a really fun editing project as well. Now if you ask my honest opinion, I don't think the red stitching is BETTER than the white, but it's a different flavor. For those of you who are bored, and want a cheap way to change the mood/look, you can consider this mod. However, keep in mind that this is permanent, so if you are going to do it, do it right, and do it well. Let's go through some details of the process now.

 

I bought the FabricMate Fabric Dye Marker. This costs around $2.99 per marker if you can find it locally. The reason I went with red is because red has always been a dominant color for sports cars. As cliché as red is, it is also a timeless sporty color. Plus, you know, I've been adding red to everything!

Pictures of the stock shifter and steering wheel. Boy, I might miss them later on. If you are at this point, this is your very last chance of turning back. I mean, the white doesn't look bad. However, white stitching has a HUGE flaw: over time, your hands will begin to turn the white stitching yellow! So before you do this, properly clean your steering wheel and shift knob with a damp cloth mixed with soap and water. After this step, it is advised that you also apply leather cleaner and protectant. This makes it easier to remove the dye off the leather.

You may see some other people dye stitch their leather seats, arm rests, and other various things, but let me tell you now, those are easy compared to the steering wheel and shift knob. For the shift knob, I had to start the car, and put it into S mode, in order to dye the stitching closest to engine. I could have taken off the shift knob, but I was lazy. The steering wheel is a pain as well if you don't take off the steering wheel. You have to really find weird angles to attack at it. I strongly advise you turn your steering wheel to fit your angles and needs. Needless to say, I had a sore back after I did this mod, but I think it was worth it.

Other than that, I think the results really speak for themselves. Also, make sure your fabric dye marker is permanent. Mine says permanent after 24 hours. If your car is a daily driver, make sure you do this on the weekends. I don't want you guys to mess up your work while driving with wet dye =/

Overall, it was a fun mod to do. As mentioned in a video, it took me about an hour to do all of it. I had to actually split it into two days of work, because I was called away halfway through this project. I had the car stereo on, playing some music while I was working. It really felt like a day of kindergarten, coloring, music, and fun.