C2's Alero Updates

[[ion] C2]

Fabricator says he intends to have everything wrapped up within 2 weeks.

[dbral]

Some serious under the radar reinforcement going on right there. Curious to see how this ends up.

[[ion] C2]

Ayyy it's done. Gonna pick it up later today.

Next up, interior work, paint, suspension.

[[ion] C2]

Figured out why my headlights would sometimes not all come on (3 out of 4 most of the time). The grounds were loose as hell (like 1/4 to 1/2 inch gap between screw head and metal. Ring terminals just flopping around.

Of course, noticed after I commissioned a set of LED headlights and was in the process of installing them. Hopefully my LED ones (only 2 projectors on at a time) are similar in performance. I hate to downgrade, as I thought he was making 4 on simultaneously again. But LED turn on more reliably and you can flicker/flash them on and off without worry, where HIDs shouldn't be turned off and on quickly.

[[ion] C2]

woo, $10k quote for paint, and that's not even including removing the windows

sigh. I should use the guy, because he's legit and super detailed. Just painful knowing I could probably pay Maaco $5k and get them to do a solid job lol. The paint job I had done in 2013 by the guy with his home-booth came out well, apart from the rust by the gas cap, it's held together great the last 11 years. I forgot what I paid for that, but I feel like it was between 3-4k, which is pretty low for the amount of prep work they did welding panels in, fixing a bunch of dents, etc.

I also found all the window trim for a 2-door except 22682290. Bought one on eBay for $100 and then they refunded it after realizing they don't actually have it. No dealers in the country have any old stock.

22701122 front right (replaces 22615726, 22632170)
22701123 front left (replaces 22615727, 22632171)
22682289 front left bottom (replaces 22614297, 22633017)
22682290 front right bottom (replaces 22614296, 22633016)

22615167 left rear window with trim
22615166 right rear window with trim

The quarter windows Safelite apparently has - they'll install them, they won't sell them to me alone, so far. Maybe if I go in person on the day they're scheduled to install I can negotiate. I got a glass guy trying to find the source they have. So far he can only find the LH rear quarter window. Hopefully he can find the right side as well. If I can find the 22682290 I'll have all new fresh trim...

[[ion] C2]

new LED headlights not bad, only 2 projectors. High beams are wimpy though, and only the LH one turns on for high.