Well I figured I would post up the cars progress from how it started off to where it's at now.
I have a lot here, so I'll try to keep it short.
[These are not progress work pictures...I do have those too of all the projects I have done to the car though]
1998 Pontiac Sunfire.
Thought the 16" white MR7's, white windshild banner, and white door handles looked good
Then one day, I went out and got a body kit, parts for a cavy front end, white 18" Ikon 1 rims, lowering springs, white and blue obx racing seats, obx steering wheel, and I painted the interior white and blue...I heard "from stock to shock" during that phase.
I think I owe it all to the one shop that slacked off working on my car. My dad knew some guys at a shop since he brought them a lot of business for repair work (he worked at a GM dealership). They were going to do my car, install the kit, shave key holes, shave antenna, paint the car black for cheap. Well after hearing "yaya, we're starting it" Or "yaya, it will be done soon" I went to the shop and took the car home with no fenders, hood or bumper on. They installed the rear bumper, welded the door skins, welded the key locks and antenna, and mounted the fenders..but that was it after nearly 8 weeks!!!
So because of them, I picked up the tools and began installing my own parts!
Blue paint
Interior
First time working with fiberglass for my box
Flip Flop Trunk...errr, what a paint in the butt it was.
Wooden trunk setup
First fiberglassed dash
Fiberglass trunk filler plate
Lambo door install
Fiberglass door panels
2nd Fiberglass trunk setup
Then after that season, I wanted to get rid of the blue and white and go black and blue. I loved the white and blue, don't get me wrong, but I felt the black and blue combo would be a more 'aggressive' style...something with attitude instead.
I then started to sell some stuff and went with my 3rd set of rims...19" Axis Spiders in Hyper Black. (16", 18", 19"...I kept going bigger (no gay comments please lol).
Fiberglass dash wrapped in c/f:
Carbon on my door panels at the top:
Got rid of the bucket seats and did a sound system in the back
After that season I started to do more fiberglass work and got better at it, so I started to build my one off widebody for the car and take it to the next level with my skills.
This is when I got my Air Ride, and 4th set of rims. TSW, 19's in the front and 20's in the rear.
The starting of the kit:
One side finished:
I miss the primer stage
One off c/f trunk and Subaru Impreza tails:
My first paint job:
For those that remember, after painting the car and putting it back together than driving it around, a few weeks later I had some areas with small bubbles starting to appear. I got very upset, but I had to sand the car down and fix those areas due to trapped moisture in the body work. The heat from the sun exposed some areas.
After that I brought it to a shop and had the painter I know spray it for me. We masked off the car together, and got it ready for the 2 tone as well.
I like this color combo better
:
During that time while building the widebody I was getting some new things done inside the interior too.
New fiberglassed dash:
I can't find the pics now, but I also went through 2 different trunk setups during that time too.
I hit a point to where I wanted to sell the car. Just didn't want to bother with it anymore and focus on other things in life.
Well...after a long time thinking and talking with family and friends, I realized I couldn't just sell it.....not yet at least. I love this car and wanted it to be more practical and functional and enjoy it! The last setup, I didn't enjoy the interior all too much and it wasn't that functional realistically.
That's when I decided to fix it up, go more custom at the same time, and build it my way from the ground up.
ripped out the interior:
New fully fiberglassed interior. Dashboard, Door panels, Center console, Rear seat setup, Headliner, Rear deck lid, and even the floors have been fiberglassed.
I am nearly ready for paint at this point August 3rd, 2009. I really hope to finish off this interior shortly and enjoy what I have built.
This is a huge long post, but I kept all small pictures taken from my cardomain site:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/389247
I have learnt a lot, met many great people, and have made many great memories from the beginning to the present (can't say end...).
Just wanted to share with everyone how it all started. I could write more and more, but I'm tired, I've done enough now
.
One thing I have to say, is don't be afraid to get out there and try it out. I never worked on a car, or fiberglassed before...I have learnt a great deal and each day I only better improve on my skills.
Thanks for reading
