I've compiled a list of frequently asked questions by newbies, and answered them as best I could. Feel free to add to the list.

First, The #1 golden rule in modifying your car:

Don't do it the "cheap" way. Many before you including myself have tried this "way", it's not good. If it seems too good to be true, it usually IS! (Read: Lot's of Ebay items)
Just be careful and research as much as possible before making any purchase that you call "expensive".

Altezza Tail lights & their availability:

95-02 Cavalier: Readily available in many styles. Carbon Fiber, Chrome, and Black housings. Best place to locate a set: EBAY.

03+ Cavalier: You can use 95-02 tail lights, however, you will need the RK Sport filler piece to make them fit, or get a 95-02 trunk lid.

95-02 Sunfire: Only 1 option: 3D Retro altezza's. Chrome, Black, and Carbon Fiber. Best place to locate: EBAY.

03+ Sunfire: Only 1 option: TYC Altezza's. Chrome, Black, and Carbon Fiber. Best place to locate: EBAY.

Do I have a 3-speed automatic or a 4-speed automatic?

If your shifter reads 1 2 D N R P, you have a 3-speed.
If your shifter reads 1 2 3 D N R P, you have a 4-speed.

What bolt pattern do I need for a set of rims for my 95+ J-body?

5x100

(For in-depth whee/tire information, see the FAQ at top of Wheel/Tire forum)

Are hubcaps cool and/or worth my money?

No! Been there, done that. Ride steelies, you'll look much better than I did as a young kid. (Steelie: Noun; your stock wheel with the hubcap removed.)

Are aftermarket headlights available for my Cavalier or Sunfire?

95-99 Cavalier: Yes.
00-05 Cavalier: No.
95+ Sunfire: No.

Are aftermarket Corners/sidemarkers available for my Cavalier or Sunfire?

95-02 Cavalier: Clear corners and Black housing corners are available.
95-99 Cavalier: Clear bumper lights available.
95+ Sunfire: Clear sidemarker housings available (same size for front and rear).

What exterior parts are interchangeable between Sunfire's and Cavaliers with no modification?

- All 95+ 2 door sideskirts fit any 95+ Sunfire or Cavalier.
- All 95+ doors are the same (4-door and 2-door specific).
- All 95-02 4-door rear bumpers are interchangeable.
- Sunfire 4-doors will accept Cavalier outter taillights with no modification. Inners will need some work.

How do I get clear A/C knobs?

You make them. The outer cover peels off to reveal clear plastic. Be gentle when doing it.

What should I expect when buying a body kit?

1) Buying the kit is the cheapest step.
2) Unless you can install it, that will cost you a pretty penny.
3) Unless you can paint it, that will cost you a pretty penny.

If the kit costs you $700 to buy and receive. Expect to pay roughly another $700 to have it painted and installed with quality paint and by a quality professional.

How do I lower my car?

See the wonderful FAQ at the top of the suspension forum.

What are the speaker sizes in my 1995+ car?

Door speakers: 4x6
Rear speakers: 6x9




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Words that you can't use in modding: Finished, Perfect, Cheap.

in ur taillights section for the sunfire you have just for the coupe. should have put that the sedans use the same tails as the cavis.

exterior parts that are interchangeable should also have about swapping a cavi front end to a sunfire front end or vice versa. all you need is the hood, lights, fenders, and bumper.

also about swapping a 95-02 fire rear end and a 03+ one. just need the trunk lid, tails, and bumper.

in the body kit section should have sed to steer away from ebay cheapies. cost just as much or more to make then fit than it would to just go out and get a quality kit.




5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY FREEBIE GIVEAWAY - CLICK HERE TO ENTER
What you know about Street Racing anyways? Only what Fast & Furious taught us....
SO EVERYTHING!

you can get the 95-99 cav corners in black. also you should put more stuff in there about performance, such as intakes since thats always asked in here. a good idea that was mentioned above is to list all the interchangable parts to swap in and out

Forgot to mention the Performance Chips for the 96+ that are available The question comes up once a week damn it! You know that if you search the profiles of the members for "chip" under engine modifications, you'll get about 250 hits

Jay




One huge aluminum wing - $200
More vinyl graphics than your ride can handle - $150
Decals for products you don’t even have - $10
500lbs of Car Audio equipment in the trunk - $1500
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Getting slaughtered by a KIA - Priceless

Yes, front end parts (Headlights, hood, fenders, front bumper) are interchangeable. I didn't list that because I kept that section to easy parts that just go on and off (no heavy modification). Back ends are also switchable as well, as mentioned.

And in response the above post, steer clear of ALL 96+ chips, haha. glad you mentioned that.


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Words that you can't use in modding: Finished, Perfect, Cheap.

The 95+ Sunfire: does have aftermarket headlights, they are made by whiteboy.

I would add the differance in Intakes, wai, cai, hood scooped.

And dont forget performance "Chips" and spark plugs, cause we all know how great Bosch Double plat +4's are.




“Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that’s even remotely true."

could also include that the fenders for 95-05 cavies are all the same (with the exception of a small bracket on the 95-99's, but that can be removed if the fender is being used on a 00-05 cav) and that the fenders for a 95-05 sunfire are all the same.

Include something about "free mods" in your cheap mods section. There is no such thing as a free mod. Maybe include something about painting brakes, or painting other things, or fiberglassing. Also somewhere or something i read had all the parts listed and prices for the ecotec swap. You should include what years can do the swap and what parts are all needed and prices. That would answer a lot of questions. Id say a good section on what you would need to fiberglass something also. Good tutorial so far just a little more to add. I would answer some of the things but im not accurate on them and i would cause more damage than help.

There isn't a "cheap mods" section. It says don't do it the cheap way, whatever the mod is. Engine swaps and fiberglassing don't need to be included since it's a newbies FAQ, if you're doing that stuff you aren't a newbie!!


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Words that you can't use in modding: Finished, Perfect, Cheap.

just add on what those guys had to say..

I would love to see even more mods go onto this list. so keep em comin for us newbs,

this is a really good idea though derek, glad you took the time to make one up






http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2062967

Here's a couple more things

Good mods to do at little to no cost:

- Remove emblems: Fishing line is usefull to get off thick emblems. Also heating up the glue helps. Goo Gone is a great product and should be used to remove excess glue.

- Remove the dealer logo/tag frame: If your dealer stuck a sticker on your trunk to advertise for them, it looks a lot better if you take it off. If it's a sticker you can usually peel it off and then use Goo Gone. Be careful because you can scratch the paint if you aren't. If you dealer put a frame around your liscense tag for advertising, take that off too!

- Remove pinstripe: I believe all vehicles look better with no graphics or pinstripe. Pinstripe comes off easily. Just peel slowly and at a 45 degree angle. Any glue left behind can once again be removed easily with Goo Gone.

- Remove Side moldings: This is personal preference. It can be removed, just pretend it's a giant emblem (because thats what it is). Be careful though, if your car has been in the sun for quite some time, the paint will be too fresh underneath and not match.

Note: Use goo gone sparingly, you don't need much for it to work.

- Clear a/c knobs is also free, as mentioned above.

Headlight bulb replacement:

You can check your manual for bulb sizes you need. (Or read the in store headlight charts at an Autozone, etc). The manual also gives you step by step instructions on how to install. Tools needed: Socket set (mm sizes), and I recommend needle-nose plyers for the pins holding on the long black cover over the headlights.
Brand recommended: Nokya.
Stores to find them: Discount Auto Parts, Autozone. Ebay has plenty as well.

Note: The "color" of the headlight beam is shown by a temperature rating. Anything rated around 7500k or a little more should be blue or tinted blue.




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Words that you can't use in modding: Finished, Perfect, Cheap.

light bulbs off ebay are not advised.....

speaking from experience.

and if i take the side molding and sunfire emblems off, wont there be holes where the molding and emblem was clipped into?

and do you just scratch the pinstripe with your fingernail to get off or what?


keep em coming, i am writing all this @!#$ down!



http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2062967

Hrothgar wrote:light bulbs off ebay are not advised.....

speaking from experience.

and if i take the side molding and sunfire emblems off, wont there be holes where the molding and emblem was clipped into?

and do you just scratch the pinstripe with your fingernail to get off or what?


keep em coming, i am writing all this @!#$ down!

1) You must have had a lousy seller. Both of my headlights sets were bought from seperate sellers. As long as they're sealed in their package, they are the same as you would get from the store (if it's the same brand).

2) I do need to clarify that Sunfire side moldings are different than Cavalier moldings. The above description is for Cavalier's mostly. Some sunfires have actual door panels bolted on (like my Sunfire has), and other Sunfires like yours have just a strip across the door. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TAKING OFF SUNFIRE SIDE MOLDINGS. For the main reason that they flow with the front and rear bumpers. Also, you say yours might be bolted down. You can take them off if they aren't bolted, but like I said it will break the flow (look how your front and rear bumpers have matching lines).

3) To get the pinstripe started, use a fingernail gently to lift up an edge until you can grab hold of it. Peel at a slow pace and at the angle. It should come off smoothly and leave little to no glue behind. The pinstripe is very thin and might break while you're peeling, if so just start again. I've done this to my old cavalier and my new Sunfire. Both times it has not lifted any paint at all. So watch to make sure the paint is staying on the car, and if it doesn't then stop so you can touch it up (but I've never heard of that happening!).


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Words that you can't use in modding: Finished, Perfect, Cheap.

Also Hrothgar-- I don't recommend any Pontiac logo's to be shaved, they look too good and match the front of the car! That's mainly for the Chevy guys.


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Words that you can't use in modding: Finished, Perfect, Cheap.

ok thanks..

the bulbs i bought off of ebay were eurolites still in the original packaging, but i dont think it was sealed tight (like it would be if you bought it from the store) and they really sucked, my stock low beams were brighter than their highbeams



http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2062967

LMR ( the uninsultable) wrote:The 95+ Sunfire: does have aftermarket headlights, they are made by whiteboy.

IZN TRBL as well (unless that has changed recently.



Here's a start on intakes, feel free to add to it as needed:

Intakes

Lately there has been a controversy (of sorts) as to whether or not the eBay intakes are as good as the "name brand" intakes (AEM, IceMan, etc.)

Basically, the intake design for the 2 are similar. A tube and a cone filter. The main difference would be that the "name brands" may have CARB certification, whereas the eBay ones do not. Also, the eBay intakes may require a hole to be drilled for the IAT (Intake Air Temp) sensor (the sensor located on your stock, rubber intake).

nothing a drill cant take care of, for almost a 1/4 less the price of say an AEM, and probably almost have the same result.

So far i've done/in the process of 5 of the faq's given.

Clear sidemarkers
Clear AC knobs (so easy i did it while driving)
Took off my pinstriping (looks more cleaner)
and i'm in the process of getting cavy tailights and a cavy trunk (if i can find them)

i've checked the classifieds for cavy altezzas but havent had much luck.




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http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2062967

I'm glad you got your pinstripe off, I bet it looks so much smoother now.


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Words that you can't use in modding: Finished, Perfect, Cheap.