Hello to everyone, I have a bunch of questions so I decided to put them all under the newbie section instead of starting a bunch of them in random forums.
Quick backstory, recently bought a 2003 sunfire with 30k Km for $8000 CA. Really that's about all the backstory needed atm.
On to the questions.
On my car it says Xtreme III, I was looking around and couldn't find any mention of that. Can anyone tell me what, if anything it means?
Hopefully I can remember all the rest of the questions, or else I'm gonig to feel like a fool.
I've read many posts but so far haven't saw anything specific enough for me, as much as I'd like to imagine one day knowing what I'm doing with cars, I don't know a whole lot. So knowing that, what would some suggestions be on what to start with in upgrades and what would prices be? I'm from Canada if that makes any difference. I'm thinking along the lines of engine work/performance first before any cosmetics. Yet saying that, what would some extremely cheap body work to be done? Either by myself, or cheap at a body shop.
By engine work I just mean enough to make the car run a lot better/stronger than it is now, but not exactly for any racing purposes. Doesn't hold too much interest for me getting reckless driving tickets. However, I would enjoy knowing that I could if I wanted to. Basically though I wasn't really thinking anything extreme as Nos.
When it comes to tires, will 16's fit? I know I have the stock 14's on right now, and when I was visiting my dad last he mentioned that he had some tires from his TA that are 16's. Just not sure on the width though, or if they'll fit.
I had a lot more questions to ask, however I can't seem to think of them at the moment. Any help will be very much appreciated, and if anyone can link to a page or pages that will answer these it'd be most helpful.
Ah yes, a couple more.
I was thinking about eventually a long way down the road changing the paint over from silver to blue. To match the paint I want to get some new seats that look good. I was looking at a few in an import magazine I picked up and they said they'd work with sunfires, but they were around 300 dollars or just over that... each. Anywhere have them cheaper with good quality as well?
I would also like to change my pedals from the stock ones to something that looks good. How would one go about switching these? I saw what looked like just pedal covers in Wal Mart, would those be any good at all?
Would also like to switch from the stock gauges to a white background, how big of a job is this or how expensive to get it done at a shop?
First question: The xtreme III has to be dealer rice.
#2: Good starting mods are ebay intake, and motor mounts. Then maybe a header or if you wanna go boost later maybe not.
#3 Dont cheap out on body work. You wont like the outcome. If you get a bodykit dont get one off ebay and try to get urethane.
#4 16's will fit thats for sure I have 17's on mine many have 18's and some have 19's.
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Madjack wrote:Like I said before, building an engine like ours (2.2 or 2200) is a painstaking chore , since there is so few custom made parts. It's frustrating to me too, but that's what I like about doing this engine, it's the challenge.
#5 I know apc makes some racing seat pretty cheap that should fit like 150 or something like that.
#6 Most pedals you see at wal-mart and autozone,advance etc are covers they clamp on and they work just fine.
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Madjack wrote:Like I said before, building an engine like ours (2.2 or 2200) is a painstaking chore , since there is so few custom made parts. It's frustrating to me too, but that's what I like about doing this engine, it's the challenge.
The TA rims unfortunately will not fit. Wrong bolt pattern (ours is 5x100) as well as wrong offset/backspacing.
Thanks for the answers so far, much appreciated.
How difficult are those engine changes to do? Would they be something that someone new to most engine work should pass on, or would it be a good learning experience?
Would the clamp on pedals be considered wannabe? I am kind of torn between them seeming alright, and them seeming like a bad idea.
I'm pretty sure the TA tires are without rims, any idea what size width the stock rims on an '03 Sunfire fit?
Also, how would one go about removing decals without harming any paint? If at all possible.
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How difficult are those engine changes to do? Would they be something that someone new to most engine work should pass on, or would it be a good learning experience?
Incredibly difficult for a total NOOB. For an expert it can still take a fair amount of work and time and patience. If you have someone that knows what they're doing help you, Then by all means go for it.
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Would the clamp on pedals be considered wannabe? I am kind of torn between them seeming alright, and them seeming like a bad idea.
Clamp ons are about the only way to go. I have them dont worry about it. You could just take the rubber pads off and polish the bare metal up but they will get messed up pretty quick.
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I'm pretty sure the TA tires are without rims, any idea what size width the stock rims on an '03 Sunfire fit?
The wheels and tires on my car are 7.5". Much bigger than that will have it sticking out past the fender.
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Also, how would one go about removing decals without harming any paint? If at all possible.
If the decals are stick on just pull them off. Dont pry on them with a screwdriver you will mar the paint just pull it right off with your fingers. If there is some sticky residue left on use your favorite household cleaner, not windex, and a washcloth and scrub the piss out of it. You could use a little lacquer thinner but it dissolves paint so use it sparingly and it shouldnt mess up.
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Madjack wrote:Like I said before, building an engine like ours (2.2 or 2200) is a painstaking chore , since there is so few custom made parts. It's frustrating to me too, but that's what I like about doing this engine, it's the challenge.
Thanks a lot for all the answers!
The decals I'm talking about are the ones from the factory though.
Ty W wrote:I'm pretty sure the TA tires are without rims, any idea what size width the stock rims on an '03 Sunfire fit?
If I'm reading this right I'm thinking you mean putting those tires on your car without getting new rims? You have to get a 16" rim with the right bolt pattern (5x100) plus the right offset.
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Words that you can't use in modding: Finished, Perfect, Cheap.
Yep, that's what I was wondering
Thank you kindly.
Any word on if there's an easy way to get rid of the factory decals that are on the car?
Ty W wrote:Any word on if there's an easy way to get rid of the factory decals that are on the car?
me wrote:If the decals are stick on just pull them off. Dont pry on them with a screwdriver you will mar the paint just pull it right off with your fingers. If there is some sticky residue left on use your favorite household cleaner, not windex, and a washcloth and scrub the piss out of it. You could use a little lacquer thinner but it dissolves paint so use it sparingly and it shouldnt mess up.
That'll be the easiest way honestly. You could use Denatured Alchohol instead it wont dissolve paint. It costs a little bit more though. You can get both at the hardware store.
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Madjack wrote:Like I said before, building an engine like ours (2.2 or 2200) is a painstaking chore , since there is so few custom made parts. It's frustrating to me too, but that's what I like about doing this engine, it's the challenge.
Ah ok sorry, I read that but I thought that you might have thought I was talking about some decals from product manufacturers. Just didn't seem like that would be enough to get those things off, since they seem to be stuck on pretty good
How would you even start to get them peeling? Just use some of that cleaner?
Thank you.
use a hair dryer to heat them up. them take them off. then use some of that goo gone you can get at Wal mart to remove any adhesive
Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!
use your fingenails or something somewhat stiff but not hard enough to mess up your paint.
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Madjack wrote:Like I said before, building an engine like ours (2.2 or 2200) is a painstaking chore , since there is so few custom made parts. It's frustrating to me too, but that's what I like about doing this engine, it's the challenge.
Alrighty, thanks a lot everyone. Appreciate all the help.
