AIC's GL1 build thread

[aroundincircles]

So I've had my alero all of a week and a couple of days, and have already replaced the front door speakers, Nothing special, just some off the shelf pioneers from BB. BUT since the stock ones were blown, huge improvement. I think my alero has a factory upgraded radio, as it has tweeters, the lower speakers on the front door, and speakers on the rear shelf, my 04 did not have the tweeters. and it has some options on the radio that I'm not familiar with (my parents have an 04 tahoe with a very similar looking radio but it doesn't have the option, and my 04 alero I had previous which was a GX did not have it either).


Some, hopefully up coming upgrades include the following:

New shocks and springs on all 4 corners:
http://amzn.to/1Vc4li5

New rear sway bar bushings:
http://amzn.to/1SlydVF

New rear sway bar links:
http://amzn.to/1Vc4oKQ
http://amzn.to/1SfwX4e



After that, I would like to upgrade my head unit to something with BT and USB since I listen to a lot of audio books:
http://amzn.to/1Vc4B0m

and then the parts needed to install it:
http://amzn.to/1WaGnmc
http://amzn.to/1SodvYq
http://amzn.to/1XDFr8T


If I need any other parts for the radio, let me know.

after that I'll probably get new tires. I really like the 15" wheels, so I don't want to get new wheels, but I'm not thrilled by tire options in the 215/60r15 size.

[aroundincircles]

if anybody is interested, I have a couple of youtube channels where I post review videos and stuff, one of which I do off road videos and car repair videos, usually with my jeep (since its always broken) but I'll be doing videos for my alero pretty soon as I get the $ together to buy parts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mrHbL93Hh4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjCl-zVAo_E

[aroundincircles]

Finally got the tires in last night, Will be looking to put them on some time this week. It took some of my budget for other stuff, so that's on hold.

[AleroB888]

Originally Posted by aroundincircles

if anybody is interested, I have a couple of youtube channels where I post review videos and stuff, one of which I do off road videos and car repair videos, usually with my jeep (since its always broken) but I'll be doing videos for my alero pretty soon as I get the $ together to buy parts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mrHbL93Hh4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjCl-zVAo_E

Yeah, don't remember if you mentioned it in there, but insurance and registration tax is lower on older cars, too. The 3400 series are easy to work on as well, except for some electrical problems, which affect most modern vehicles anyway. Good luck on the projects...

[aroundincircles]

Thanks. I've picked up another one, The turn signal seems to go between a fast click and a slower click, but then every now and then, it won't click at all.

Yes, one of the reasons I bought an alero over say a grand am, The alero will cost me about $150 every 6 months, a grand am with the same engine and approx trim level would have been pushing $500 for six months. No contest there.

I replaced the air filter today, old one was very dusty. Got an oil filter, but no time this weekend to change the oil.

Updated list of things I've done:
1) door Speakers
2) Air Filter

Updated list of things I plan on doing soon

1) Oil change
2) install the tires I bought for it
3) Spark plugs
4) new shocks/springs
5) New sway bar links and bushings.
6) upgraded head unit for BT and USB compatibility (yay audio books!)


I've been getting around 23-25mpg. don't know if that is good or bad with the 3.4l, I know my 2.2l got much better than that, but I did 90% highway driving at 65mph and not the more stop and go stuff I do now.

[aroundincircles]

Ok so got paid yesterday for some work I did a while back (didn't think I would ever get paid for it) so had the money to pay for just about everything I think I need for the radio and the strut package, hopefully will be delivered by this weekend so I can get it installed!

[aroundincircles]

Got my new radio installed! took me about an hour longer than i expected it to, ran into an issue with wire colors, (the "red" looked orange) and with some minor fitment issues, but now it is installed and working great! I'll post a video later for anybody interested.

[aroundincircles]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5URWP28k11I

[aroundincircles]

installed my new front and rear strut assemblies today, took me maybe 2.5 hours, but that was 2.5 hours of being interrupted by my wife and kids, and recording video for my youtube channel.

Totally transformed my car, i was kinda sad because my old one felt very tight and solid on the road and this one was kinda bouncy. I knew the struts were old, but I didn't realize just how bad they were. now I cannot wait to get my new tires installed!

[aroundincircles]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek1dXpBw_EA

[aroundincircles]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2l32nDithE

[falloutboy]

Damn that is a killer deal on 4 new struts. These are OE ride height, right?
Very cool

[aroundincircles]

yes, OE right height. $234.15 on amazon, free shipping:
http://amzn.to/22gr1OH

I've owned 30+ cars in my life and have installed suspension on probably half of those. This was by far the easiest install of suspension I've ever done. I've always had to use my spring compressors that are basically these:
http://amzn.to/1rUwUV7

and I hate doing it. it takes forever, its tiring, I finally have an impact wrench to use on it, but I still hate doing it that way, and I could have saved myself $100 bucks by getting a set of sensen struts: http://amzn.to/1TZZFZr BUT the $100 spent to save a day and a half of my time was totally worth it.

the ride is really good with these. obviously I have under 1000 miles on the set up, but compared to what I took off my alero, 100% different, and I'm very happy with how it handles and feels.

Drove to work on my new tires today, and its sooooo much quieter than it was with my old tires. happy with those as well.

[aroundincircles]

Finally got around to replacing my spark plugs/wires, Have a set of wobble extensions made the job a thousand times easier than without:
http://amzn.to/1t8Fa4F

and replaced the thermostat, way more fiddly than it should be, I have a rub burn on my right wrist from having to turn the wrench 1/8 turn like a thousand times. I actually was stuck on the bottom bolt until I ran out and bought a set of s wrenches, like these:
http://amzn.to/1VDMKPz

from what I can tell, its not possible to get that bolt off without that style of wrench.

[aroundincircles]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT2QlX1LtBE

I haven't seen a video describing the full process of replacing the hazard switch. Not saying mine is any good, but it gives a few more steps of the process.

[AleroB888]

I appreciate it, any new knowledge/information is helpful.