My first Show'n'Shine (and DIY exp.) thread (updated 5/24, TRUST exhaust installed!)
 

(updated 5/24, TRUST exhaust installed! (pg. 2))

Well as much as I personally love my vehicle, I didn't think it was worthy of it's own show'n'shine thread.
There's nothing spectacular about it (See the long list of mods in my signature????:lol: ).
But since I'm actually doing something to it now I figured it'd be worth a shot.

Lunchtime Update:

Rant on: Woke up at like 9:30a still out of it from festivities last night, and in the meantime trying to avoid a hangover alltogether. /rantoff

However, it is an ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS day in Sunny Charlotte, NC, and dont think I could've picked a better day to work in the garage.

So I decided to do the JDM rear/exhast installs today and started out a bit shaky...
wanted to make sure I had all the resources available and took all the necessary precautions to avoid a costly mistake.
I found out I needed a deepsocket for 4 bolts I couldn't get to so a quick trip to Home Depot took care of that.

About 2.5 hrs later I finally got the bumper off.
If I had to do it again from scratch right now I think I could get it in 40minutes.
But it was a fun experience none the less.

Now with the pics...


Start:
https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/...mg00017uj2.jpg

Lights-out:
(this was probably one of the most frustrating parts.
I removed the two screws visible when you open the trunk and gave it a slight tug, nothing.
Then to not risk craking the light i came inside and searched the web for detailed information to remove the lights. Nothing.
Then I went back out and tried wiggling them around a bit and it just came right out:lol: NOOB!


https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/...mg00018ha9.jpg


Bumper off
(dont worry i didn't have to use the hammer:lol: )
https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/...mg00019up1.jpg



My 2nd crash beam
I bought the crash beam from a user on here then I had it modded for JDM fitup, the modding only cost me $100 too.
https://img403.imageshack.us/img403/631/img00011tj0.jpg

https://img385.imageshack.us/img385/...mg00020ys0.jpg

https://img381.imageshack.us/img381/...mg00021zs6.jpg


Now time for an egg salad sandwich, another couple gallons of water:lol:
and then it's on to installing the new bumper/exhaust.

nice work so far. so you need to modified the crash beam to install a jdm bumper? was thinking about getting one.

^^^ Most just completely remove the crash beam.

Looks good man! Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

nice, where did you get a modified crash beam for only 100 bucks?

I bought the crash beam from a user on here. (There's probably hundreds floating around from JDM ppl who just take it off. you can get one on here for ~$100-$125 shipped)

I had a (local) guy who has his own welding business weld it for $100.

So that modified crash beam was $220. I'll fix the above post to avoid confusion.

The license plate modification is such a hassle{thumbdwn} That's what I'm struggling with now. The guys who created the How-To's are gods.

looking good so far. Smart choice to modify the beam...safety first

^ safety first ??/ what will crash beam save u from ?

Breaktime.

Status: Miraculously avoiding the hangover, I am now complete with my JDM Rear Bumper Install.

The hardest part about the whole thing was the damn license plate bracket.:crap: Very annoying. Yeah I ended up using the HAMMER!:lol:

Out with the old in with the New:
+1 to DriveLineMotoring for the damn fine color matching.
Some ppl complain but I guess my evo is mostly garage-kept and only 1 year old so the match was perfect.
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/...mg00022mz7.jpg

I just received my SpeedElement license plate frame (got delivered to rent's house not my apt),
so I'll be putting that on there later this week.


Now the good stuff :cool:

The bubblewrap that comes with the bumper shipping package makes for a great one-time floormat. Definately going to use it on the exhaust install.
But once I've popped all the bubbles......:lol:

https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/...mg00023xe0.jpg


And now I'm ready for the exhaust install...hopefully it wont be as much of a headache.


Teaser
https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/...userpicwm2.jpg

:rolleyes:

Good job bor. Nive pics too!

thx. quality is kinda blurry all the pics are from my phone

It will save you from your insurance company not covering you in an rear-end accident because you removed the crash bar.

I like the new bumper a lot. It looks great {thumbup}

:|

now i'm in a bind. I cant break the stock exhaust loose. i'm trying to disconnect the cat from the midpipe and it's all rusted to hell and wont budge. time to start thinking again =(

yeah so I was unprepared for the exhaust install. Those bolts connecting the cat and midpipe are on there GOOD. And they're rusted, and the only wrench I have available is an adjustable crescent =\

So looks like IF I can even get something to break those bastards loose, the exhaust will have to wait until tomorrow. :'(