Okay. So I haven't been a memeber of this forum for very long at all, but over time, I've come to respect everyone on it for their breadth of knowledge, and their helpfulness regarding my 02 Cavi. But at long last, I may have finally lost my struggle to make my Cav into a cool-looking machine. It performs great, but the outside is completely trashed. The dent in my right rear fender returned, my right side skirt is hanging off by either end, and my front bumper is out of alignment. I have a plastic stick-on hood scoop that actually looks stuck-on, on of my decals is missing a big enough piece to make it look like it says something else, and I STILL have the right side molding, because I have no time to remove it. Plus, my rear lip seems to be hanging off as well (a new development). So Where could I POSSIBLY go from here? Any suggestions? Because the way I see it, this will never be the showpiece I want it to be. I haven't even gone into the paint job on my trunk, which was supposed to be a repair job, but ended up looking like total crap.
Well, if you really want to keep it...time, patience, and $$$.
....oh yes and stop half @$$ing sh*t with stick on hood scoops and decals.
Stop modding and focus on repairing your exterior. I am in the same boat as you just not as bad, lol. What you can do is when you have time of from work or whatever just fix all of the problems. Believe it or not they aren't all that bad, for example:
Problem: Stick on hood scoop
Answer: Heat Gun, Fishing Line - remove it just like you would the side moulding.
Problem: Passenger Side Skirt
Answer: If its a few lose screws then just go to a local scrap yard or even a hardware store perhaps and buy similar screws to re-attach it.
Problem: Removal of Decals
Answer: If they are already missing part of it then it's kind of a no brainer that you should get rid of the whole thing, not calling you stupid but it is just common sense really.
Problem: Removal of Side Molding
Answer: Easy! You've already done one, get of your butt and do it already!
Problem: Misaligned Front Bumper
Answer: This may be like the dent you mentioned in the fender, it will need more attention than others.
Problem: Rear Lip
Answer: If its just missing a few screws like the side skirt then go to a scrap yard and get some from another Cavy or you could just remove it entirely.
Problem: Rear Trunk
Answer: Same as Dented Fender and front bumper really, will cost a fair amount of money to be done right.
Problem: Dented Fender
Answer: I know how you feel about this, I have one in the rear driver side fender, its been there for a while and will cost me a pretty penny to repair. Probably the most expensive out of the repairs so save your money.
If you dont like my "answers" to your problems then by all means come up with your own answers, i'm just trying to help
Rob Keck wrote:I STILL have the right side molding, because I have no time to remove it.
You got time to make this post, you've got time to rip that side molding off. It doesn't take long.
I think that, as said above, you just need some more patience. Try fixing one thing at a time. But you have to put some time into it.
-Crystal
Lance Sharpe wrote:....oh yes and stop half @$$ing sh*t with stick on hood scoops and decals.
^^^ What he meant to say was:
You're going through the beginning phase of your car modding life. Everyone goes through this, unless they have someone close to help them avoid some basic "no-no's". Where you should start: Go buy a few cans of 3M adhesive remover and some fishing line. Make some time to remove your side molding by spraying the adhesive remover on it and working the fishing line behind it. Do the same with the hood scoop. Remove the graphics with a razor blade.
One question. Do you have a body kit on your cavalier, or is it stock pieces? If it's a body kit, take it to a good shop to have them fix it up nice, or do it yourself if you're experienced enough. You'll need to get the dent pulled professionally (those ding king things didn't work worth a @!#$ on my fender). You REALLY don't want to have to pay for labor and replacement of a quarter panel on our cars. PITA to work with.
After that, decide if you still want your graphics and scoop. But, when applying them, take your time, do things slow, make sure surfaces are prepped and the whole nine yards.
Best of luck!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Monday, August 21, 2006 6:00 PM
You screwed up, Jason....I'm no he.
-Crystal
I took a really long time writing that, huh?
There. Much <3 for the edit button
Jason (Pilz-E) wrote:I took a really long time writing that, huh?
Yeah, probably somewhere around 3 minutes....lol
And yeah, woohoo for the edit button (I have to fix all of Jacob's mistakes, ya know!)
-Crystal
Do you have to be a Premium member to edit or am I just not seeing it? lol
I see this one all the time in my friends eyes ..Hey i love my new car hmmm what should i mod first hmmmm? I'll work on this and that and that
Somewhere down the road......Man i have the kickers for the car but no amp ..I have the dash carbon fibered but not the door etc .. I'm fed up maybe i should just sell it???
Pick one thing I.E. the dented fender and look at your plan...Car wreckers, and paint shop.. do i have the $$$$? No ok look at the dent hmmm can i fix it myself? i should look up the how to's on fixing it ask around
There's so many great comments above find the time find the passion and in the words of someone getter done! g/luck
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/4235/jim25ek.jpg
^^^ What they said.
Working on it here and there, bits and pieces should get it taken care of.
Alex (silver03cav) as well as Jason (Pilz-E) gave some good advice.
Start on the things that you want to remove first, as they will be the least expensive, then move on to the things that need fixed (however, I'd put the dangling skirt near the top of the list...)
Okay. Thanks for letting me vent, something my wife refuses to do.
She thinks that my car is stupid, and worthless, and that nothing I've done to it so fa is worth a damn. And of course she has no problem telling me this. Well, anywyas, patience is definitely the key. Honestly, I like the way the stick on scoop looks, besides, it's a MUCH less expensive alternative to a ram-air hood, which I am led to believe is useless for ramming air due to the totally different aerodynamics. Anyways, thank you everybody for your compassionate responses. Honestly, I don't know anything about forum ettiquette, and I'm not much of a computer guy. Now, the bad has gotten MUCH WORSE!!!! I broke off two bolts in the holes that are supposed to attach the bumper cover to the fender. Anyone know how to get them out? I had to use a LOT of emblem cement to get that part of the bumper to stay on, and I really hate myself for that.
Quote:
Honestly, I like the way the stick on scoop looks, besides, it's a MUCH less expensive alternative to a ram-air hood,
You can probably find a way to secure the scoop and mold it to the hood.
That would make it look cleaner.
Quote:
I broke off two bolts in the holes that are supposed to attach the bumper cover to the fender.
Drill, tap and helicoil (or just drill and tap)
go cavi-tech, stock outside, lots of power, most people are happier cause now you dont have to worry about a 300$ bumper
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"Do the same with the hood scoop. Remove the graphics with a razor blade. "
No. Do Not. Use the heat gun and heat the decals and then peel them off. That way there are no scratches
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