Project Alero: Hoopty To Pride (need Advice)

[Stanl3yX]

Ok, well i separated these things in two-week increments from my paydates. i basically plan to spend about 200 every time i get paid into my alero. I made a list of everything i wanted and needed and decided to plan it out over the next 6 months. and i really need some good advice, like on every step. i plan on buying stuff from aleromod stores to to help out the site and whatnot.
so i have a Red 2000 Alero, 2.4L V6, 15 in rims and tires. i have a little sound system but i wanna get rid of the box in my trunk and stick with the 6x9 and 4x6. ok well here's my plan....

16-Dec
$90 Front Drilled/Slotted Rotors
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
$35 Front Ceramic Pads
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
$20 Neon Lights
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-12-Univer...019597510QQrdZ1


30-Dec
$60 Brake Fluid Flush
$20 Oil Change
$90 Power Steering Fluid Flush

13-Jan
$80 6x9 Speakers
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/cat_30_m98.html
$20 6x9 Enclosures
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_4.html
$40 Driver's Side Mirror (mines got shot out, and i got this cheap plastic mirror that needs to be replaced ASAP!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
$20 License Plate Light

27-Jan
$170 Alternator
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

10-Feb
$180 Cold Air Intake
http://www.aleromod.com/upgrades/24_...erformance.htm

24-Feb
$40 Grill
http://www.aleromod.com/upgrades/index.htm
$130 Custom Guages
http://www.aleromod.com/upgrades/index.htm

10-Mar
$200 Exhaust/Muffler
really need help with this. they said my muffler is rusted out, dont know what to get, what size, and where to get it.

24-Mar
$150 Red Dash Kit
$30 Red Steering Wheel

7-Apr $200 Springs
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT


21-Apr $250 Escort Radar
http://cgi.ebay.com/Escort-Passport-8500-X...1QQcmdZViewItem



ok, i know some of you probably think i can really cut costs in all kinds of places. but as you can see this is like the best i could do for now, and im serious about plannin this out....

Next thing on my mind is 17 in rims, with tires, Underbody Light,, Tinted Windows, Battery, Dynamat for Trunk, Spoiler, Strobe Lights, Rear Rotors and Pads, Fix Dent in Bumper, and a Paint Job..

[johny_boy32]

my advice; go with the springs, intake, and gauges first. That other stuff is back burner products imo and half of them aren't even named brand. Then I would tint your windows, thats anywhere from 150 to 250, depending on where you live and who you know. After that, find a nice set of used tire/wheel combo if your pressed for cash. Theres no need to add all that other stuff if its not serving a purpose on your car. As far as the speakers and what not, I would upgrade too but what about some subs? And if your set on those 6x9's, you could save yourself some money and build the box yourself if your crafty in wood shop. $30 for a red steering wheel? That deal sounds either too good to be true or its a really poopting wheel that wont fit. Or did you mean just a cover? One more thing, go to www.andysautosport.com. They have quite a few products for our cars and others that our universal. Play around on that site and see what you can find. Let us know if you have any questions, thats what were here for.

FYI its 3.4L v6, not 2.4L....definetely go with springs, rims, tint, body kit, then audio equipment, all the other stuff is add ons that u can do anytime.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

^ I would have said it could be a typo, but it's in the post AND sig. :Noooo:

And you shouldn't need the alternator...unless the one you have is dying. Cuz it doesn't seem like you're putting in some huge-wattage speakers or a ton of lights. Save the alternator for some other time.

[jackal2000]

get a naichspeed cai not that other one...errr is it double0speed now?

[sound_xtreme]

ditch the following items for the following reasons.

$20 6x9 Enclosures - wtf do you need them for?
$20 Neon Lights - gay
$20 License Plate Light - even gayer
$170 Alternator - again wtf do you need it for?
$40 Grill - gay yet again
$150 Red Dash Kit - pretty sure it is a piece of sh*t
$30 Red Steering Wheel - retarded and damn illegal

Damn bro....dat ride is gonna be off tha chaiiiiiiiiinnnnnn!

Keep Modding!!!!

[SweetNLow]

geez cant u guys be alittle nicer to the noob? ur all so mean around here.....

if i put my 6x9s in enclosures, will they start to pound, kind of like small subwoofers?

Originally posted by jason@Dec 6 2005, 03:33 AM
if i put my 6x9s in enclosures, will they start to pound, kind of like small subwoofers?

Quoted post

no, but they will, depending on the speaker you put in, give you much better overall sound quality

[Stanl3yX]

Originally posted by sound_xtreme@Dec 5 2005, 10:17 PM
ditch the following items for the following reasons.

$20 6x9 Enclosures - wtf do you need them for?
$20 Neon Lights - gay
$20 License Plate Light - even gayer
$170 Alternator - again wtf do you need it for?
$40 Grill - gay yet again
$150 Red Dash Kit - pretty sure it is a piece of sh*t
$30 Red Steering Wheel - retarded and damn illegal

Quoted post

6x9 enclosures
well i got two 12s in my trunk in 50 pound box. and they are of a weak brand but my trunk rattles like crazy and i know that heavy box is straining my back tires. i figure if i can get real good quality 6x9 speakers with enclosures then i would be sacrificing some bass, but for a lot less weight and less rattling.

neons
theres somethin about neons lights underneath my steering wheel and dash that is just dope to me. i guess you can knock me for it, but everybody is entitled to their opinions.

alternator
i went to the shop a couple weeks back and got a checkup. they said my alternator is running 'extremely' low. they wanna charge me 200 for the stock plus 150 for the install!!! so i need it, somebody on here said get a high amp 160A, and i found it on ebay for 170. cant beat that.

grill
the front of my car looks so dull man. i think a grill would do it a little justice. especially considering how its only $40 and easy to install. i dont think its that bad of an idea.

dash kit
as far as the dash kit. i got that on my way-down-the-list priority. and my mind might change. but i seen some custom dash kits that look just sick. and i dont really understand why thats that bad of an idea.

steering wheel
im really just looking for a red leather, or a red cover for my steering wheel. i have the original, boring, tan looking thing. and i think since im getting all this other stuff, why not hookup the steering wheel.





i mean i guess everybody has their own tastes. i been contemplating this list for about a week now, and so i put together everything i wanted, and a plan to get it, and yes im completely new to this. i can take constructive criticism, its only the internet so keep it coming. but props to johny_boy for suggesting getting the springs a lot sooner.



keep the advice coming yall, BAD or GOOD!! i need it all!

[doubleN0alero]

do me a favor...go out to your car, open up the hood and take a picture so we can figure out exactly what motor you've got...

[Stanl3yX]

ok heres two small vids of whip....


http://s63.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=038TZLV...D31W9WP7PARE8NP

http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FKHTQY...AP2ONBUNYCD943H




lets try to keep the laughter to a minimum......

[doubleN0alero]

can somebody look at this vid and tell me what is under the hood? that particular page is blocked here at school

[ptrudel]

Originally posted by double0alero@Dec 6 2005, 12:08 PM
can somebody look at this vid and tell me what is under the hood? that particular page is blocked here at school

Quoted post

its a 2.4L Twin Cam 4banger...

[doubleN0alero]

thank you pat...so you have a 2.4L 4 cyl not a 2.4L V6. Just make sure you buy parts for the right engine.

[cherrington17]

see, i vote against soundxtreme, i think interior lights look good. as a matter a fact thats the majority of the work i've done and am currently doing to my car.

my alt isn't dying, but the voltage regulator is, so i need a new one, same as you.. why not get a high amp if your going to replace it?

but now that doublealero has solved the engine issue, i'd double check the list to make sure you have the right stuff that'll fit.

other then that, have fun and keep modding!

[ptrudel]

Originally posted by cherrington17@Dec 6 2005, 01:58 PM
but now that doublealero has solved the engine issue, i'd double check the list to make sure you have the right stuff that'll fit.

Quoted post

*cough cough* jerk, i checked, not him :P

anyways...check out the 2.4L section, there's a few fairly cheap and effective mods that are well explained in there

[Fast Eddie]

first things I would replace are muffler/exhaust (look in the 2.4 section I think the "hot" setup is a flowmaster 80 series muff w/ 2.5" piping), alt, fix the bumper, and the mirror (I got mine replaced locally for ~$25 at a glass shop) Fix what's broken or going then start upgrading.

I would wait till you need brakes to invest in them. And don't get a brake or P/S flush, its pretty pointless. Just bleed the brakes when you replace them. If you want to save some $$ paint/dye your dash yourself, there's instructions somewhere on this site. Also a 50LB box is not that heavy Just push it as far forward as you can. When you get a couple hundred pounds of subs, boxes and amps in the trunk then worry.

If you are going to replace springs and have >65K miles then just replace the struts as well, no point doing it half-assed. You can probably get a used pair of springs on here for <$200.

I know it sucks to not have what you want but its best to make sure its gonna keep running and not get looks for the wrong reasons. Also remember you get what you pay for, the lights and such are probably OK to skimp on but the actual mechanical parts of the car you may want to consider spending a little more if it means you can be sure of the quality. Good luck!

[Stanl3yX]

Originally posted by Fast Eddie@Dec 6 2005, 02:27 PM
first things I would replace are muffler/exhaust (look in the 2.4 section I think the "hot" setup is a flowmaster 80 series muff w/ 2.5" piping), alt, fix the bumper, and the mirror (I got mine replaced locally for ~$25 at a glass shop) Fix what's broken or going then start upgrading.

I would wait till you need brakes to invest in them. And don't get a brake or P/S flush, its pretty pointless. Just bleed the brakes when you replace them. If you want to save some $$ paint/dye your dash yourself, there's instructions somewhere on this site. Also a 50LB box is not that heavy Just push it as far forward as you can. When you get a couple hundred pounds of subs, boxes and amps in the trunk then worry.

If you are going to replace springs and have >65K miles then just replace the struts as well, no point doing it half-assed. You can probably get a used pair of springs on here for <$200.

I know it sucks to not have what you want but its best to make sure its gonna keep running and not get looks for the wrong reasons. Also remember you get what you pay for, the lights and such are probably OK to skimp on but the actual mechanical parts of the car you may want to consider spending a little more if it means you can be sure of the quality. Good luck!

Quoted post

hey can you give me like an ebay link, or a internet link to a particular exhaust and muffler setup. i looked in the 2.4L threads, and theres nothing specific. i need like an exact model # or somethin that i can see to be sure....