JLHOG's 2004 Alero

[jlhog]

Ok, my story. I bought the car as a daily driver until my Elio is built.https://www.eliomotors.com/ Being the guy I am and modifying anything I have from Harleys, golf carts, guns, or even my desk (LED lights installed) I started working on the Alero. I will not get to wild, just cheap things to keep me busy and make it the way I like. This will be on going and I will update as needed. My son is a mechanic and helps with what I cannot do anymore. Getting old sucks. First list is what has been done since purchase a couple months ago.
Drilled & Slotted Rotors
Brake Pads
Calipers Painted Red
New Windshield (pitted and chipped when purchased)
Front Springs and Struts (broken LF spring)
Kicker Rear Speakers (one rear was blown)
Head Light Assemblies (cloudy and dull)
Headlight Bulbs (Phillips CrystalVision)
Manzo Strut Tower Braces Front and Rear
Front Inner Fender Wells (air dam corners were broken)
35% Window Tint
Wood Grain & Black Steering Wheel Cover
LED Tail Light and Marker LIghts
Wheels Painted Gloss Black with Clear Coat
LED Interior Bulbs (white)
Detailing Motor
Thrush Welded Muffler
Under Dash LED Strips (blue)
Serpentine Belt and Tensioner
Black Muffler Tip
LED Strip Light in Trunk
Paint all Body Emblems Black
Aftermarket Shift Knob
New Fog Light Assemblies
2000-2005 Impala 3rd Brake Light Mod
Gas and Brake Pedal Cover
Blue LED Gauge Bulbs
White Gauge Face Kit
LED Turn Signal Bulbs and Load Equalizers
Grand Am Two Post Mirrors Painted to Match (Red)
Cold Air Intake
New Fuel Pump


To Do:
Gutter Guard Grill (Just the center opening)
Wood Dash Trim Kit-On the Fence with this yet


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG0985_zpsieaboa46.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG0901_zpsnidlvyxq.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG0990_zpsjplfzlwu.jpg

[AleroCzak]

Looks great! I especially like your upper intake manifold. Did you use the same high-temperature paint from the calipers? (which also look awesome)

[sleepyalero]

Looks nice.

Why the elio? Lol

[Papa Rad17]

Looks nice, clean car! :thumb:

[jlhog]

Looks great! I especially like your upper intake manifold. Did you use the same high-temperature paint from the calipers? (which also look awesome)

My son painted the calipers for me. I am not sure what he used on those.

[jlhog]

Looks nice.

Why the elio? Lol

84 MPG is why the Elio. If I get 70 MPG I will be happy. It is a cool little car.

[Oldsnut]

Nice ride you got there.

[AleroCzak]

84 MPG is why the Elio. If I get 70 MPG I will be happy. It is a cool little car.

Yeah, I don't care how many MPG it gets, the Elio looks like a lot of fun. There might be one in my not-too-distant future...

[That01Olds]

Looks really nice! :thumb:

[Bahlzeron]

Those Elio's look cool as hell.. every time I see a picture of one, I wonder how fast I could make one go... bet it would haul ass with a boosted quad4 or ecotech.


p.s. I can see it now.. NASCAR Elio series :rotflmao:

[Redog]

Nice Alero, very clean :coolio:

[Oldsnut]

p.s. I can see it now.. NASCAR Elio series :rotflmao:
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh NO!

[jlhog]

Thanks for the compliments. Here are a couple pics of a few projects I did before.
Before
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/9%2067_zpsdxoly2ep.jpg

After
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/Bikes%20and%20Golf%20Carts/928.jpg

Finished Cart
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/Bikes%20and%20Golf%20Carts/CameraZOOM-20130518115757941-1_zps463d1c17.jpg
Cart Motor
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/Bikes%20and%20Golf%20Carts/CameraZOOM-20121218171301557.jpg

[jlhog]

My son is working on the Alero this weekend. He sent this picture of the led lights installed. When he pulled it in his garage he heard noise coming from the motor. He replaced the tensioner to fix that. I am hard of hearing and never heard it.He has all the emblems off to get a coat of black paint right now. Thats should look cool.I cant wait till he brings it home tomorrow.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/CAM02293_zpskzktvsnp.jpg

[jlhog]

Muffler Tip is Installed.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1023_zpspnn2bwya.jpg
Emblems are painted. I need to clean a little excess glue off, but it looks nice I think.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1018_zpsdiscxk7d.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1019_zpshmhkvkw1.jpg

[Nas Escobar]

You should do the 2000-2005 Impala 3rd brake light mod. It converts your 3rd brake light to LED

[jlhog]

I Googled 2000-2005 Impala 3rd brake light mod and it will be added to my To Do list. I tried adding led bulbs to the third brake and had issues. Here is my fix. Thanks Nas Escobar

[That01Olds]

I would also suggest swapping out the mirrors for the dual-post ones from the Grand Am. It's a mod not many people do anymore, but I personally think those mirrors look better on the Alero than the ones that came on them from the factory.

[jlhog]

I have the mirror swap on my to do list. I will paint them red to match the car also. Probably 2 weeks out before that gets done. Pictures to follow

[That01Olds]

Cool. :coolio: Look forward to seeing it once it's done.

[jlhog]

New shift knob is installed. I need to snatch a little more material from work tomorrow that I used as a shim and lock tight it all down, but no more hitting my knee. I might also dechrome it. Time will tell on that.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1049_zpso1pmgsd9.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1047_zpsrhmjua2n.jpg

[jlhog]

I put a good wax job on last Sunday. My neck and shoulder still hurt from that. Aftering seeing the white spots on the hood and front bumper from all the stone chips I had my son get a total to repaint the hood and bumper. That will really freshen up the front end. My son is a licensed mechanic and can do a nice job with body work also. He is me plus, 30 years ago.So hopefully that will be done also....

[Nas Escobar]

I Googled 2000-2005 Impala 3rd brake light mod and it will be added to my To Do list. I tried adding led bulbs to the third brake and had issues. Here is my fix. Thanks Nas Escobar

I did that mod on my Grand Am. I thought it looked better that way.

You can't add normal LED bulbs on the brake lights. They have to have the proper resistance so they work like normal incandescent bulbs. The Impala LED is actually on a board and has the proper resistance. Cruise works and it won't trigger any crazy issue.

[Ssumner2002]

Looks Great!!! Keep her going!

[Cyber Knight]

Man is that paint/body ever in good shape! I recently saw a rust free Alero driving around here and it was literally an old lady pulling out of the church parking lot, haha. This is def a project to watch, nice work!

[jlhog]

Man is that paint/body ever in good shape! I recently saw a rust free Alero driving around here and it was literally an old lady pulling out of the church parking lot, haha. This is def a project to watch, nice work!

Sounds like the car we just bought my wife. 1997 Plymouth Breeze. 75,000 miles. Retired couple getting rid of the second car. They dont drive it enough. Best part is we got it for $1500. That was the asking price and I happily paid it.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG0908_zps5x1bemhd.jpg

[jlhog]

Updated engine bay picture. I still have some work to do under here, but close to done.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1042_zps08uc96ea.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1039_zpsddjh767n.jpg

[jlhog]

LED Third Brake Light Mod is Done
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1077_zpsn1yk8aqm.jpg

[jlhog]

New fog lights in today also.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1080_zpsijwruccp.jpg

Look nice with the new headlights I put in a couple weeks ago.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1078_zpsijrmkzm4.jpg

[Nas Escobar]

Looking real good.

[jlhog]

Cheap Azz Covers, Look nice, but lets see if they last a week.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1096_zpsonj1r59i.jpg

[jlhog]

Finished a couple more projects this weekend.
Rear LED turn signals are done
Blue dash lights done.
White gauge faces done.

Night and Day difference
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1111_zpswrel5bjy.jpg

With a little help from the led's
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1115_zps4wsv9rw8.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1113_zps3jtuzaoc.jpg

Not exactly perfect, but Im happy

[jlhog]

I bought a buffer/polisher and some Meguires Ultimate Compound and buffed some scratches off the trunk lid. I will do the whole car when it gets cooler and less humid.
Before
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1104_zpsfoltylkt.jpg

After
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1105_zpszbdm00yq.jpg

[jlhog]

Mirrors are installed. I need to wet sand them and buff in a couple days. I had to get them on, my passenger side mirror was hanging on by one of three studs. Front turn signals and load equalizers are installed also.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1123_zpsypyvdifx.jpg

[Young Gun]

Very nice work.

[jlhog]

CAI installed tonight. The turn signal/running light I installed last night are the brightest I have seen. It was dark when I went to work and do they ever light it up.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1130_zpsgelwsyef.jpg

I need to fabricate a support bracket yet. It is zip tied for know.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1131_zpsk2dbrjtv.jpg

[That01Olds]

Mirrors are installed. I need to wet sand them and buff in a couple days. I had to get them on, my passenger side mirror was hanging on by one of three studs. Front turn signals and load equalizers are installed also.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1123_zpsypyvdifx.jpg

Nice! :thumb: The new mirrors are looking real good. Much better than the stock ones lol.

[jlhog]

The mirrors are wet sanded and buffed. Not perfect, but a lot better. It is impossible to get the 10" buffer in some areas. I may try doing it by hand later. I also fabricated a mount bracket for the ait filter. I was not happy with it just hanging free and no support. Washed inside and out yesterday also. Now its raining so it just sits in the garage. The air filter made a nice sound increase when getting on the gas. My mileage is going down for sure. For just adding a $30 muffler and a $35 air filter I am very happy with the sound.

[jlhog]

I am getting my wheels painted this weekend. The plasti dip is nice, but paint will be easier to clean. They will get gloss black with clear coat. The fender wells will also be painted at this time. That will be done with red.

[jlhog]

My son sent some pictures of the wheels. I cannot wait to get the Alero home. Looking good.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/FB_IMG_1472946631319_zpseovdp9a3.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/FB_IMG_1472946643735_zpsucopr6io.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/FB_IMG_1472949460051_zpsyruqgbld.jpg

[tw0123]

For your buffing you could try one of those mothers powerball attachments to your drill... I've never done wet sanding and buffing before but ya never know haha!!

The cars coming along nicely!!

[jlhog]

For your buffing you could try one of those mothers powerball attachments to your drill... I've never done wet sanding and buffing before but ya never know haha!!

The cars coming along nicely!!

Thats a good idea if they have something small. Maybe 2" ball. I will look to see what I can do.

[jlhog]

Wheels look sharp now.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1173_zps039mkqui.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1174_zpshkx8w4yb.jpg

[tw0123]

They have a small cone shaped Powerball to use on wheels, i can't see why it wouldn't work on the mirrors too!! :)

[jlhog]

Updated motor picture. I swapped the red air filter rubbers for balck and got better clamps for it.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1264_zpsg6pwgbrd.jpg

[jlhog]

My son finally got the rear strut bar installed. After months of being on backorder I was a little disappointed when it was oval shaped and not round like the front. I bought both the front and rear from the same place so they would match. But then you cannot even see the rear installed without looking for it. It did make a huge difference in the way the car feels. It was too short so my son made one end longer by cutting the threaded stud off and adding some bar stock to add almost 2".
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1335_zps0pqsp4qu.jpg

[AleroCzak]

I currently don't have one in the front, but I used that bar (the one that screwed everything up) in the rear brackets because it was long enough. I was really surprised at how much it improved the body roll.