So after having purchased my car new on December 27, 2000, I was a student and I bought the car in part for a promotion they were running of no payments for 1 year. My car is now 11 years old and I've spend 1 year not paying and 5 after paying payments on it. Shortly after the car was paid off, we moved to Texas and bought a house and all of the things you buy to fill the house. then we had a baby, so needless to say this car didn't get any mods or anything for most of its life.
I then loaned the car to my brother while he was in school and bought a new Mazda 3 hatchback. While my brother had it, he destroyed it. 72 dings all over, large scratches, rock chips bent/cracked all of the rims and didn't do ANY maintenance. The tires dry rotted, the brakes were gone, he trashed the interior, the poor car barely ran. When I saw the car again after the two years he had it, I immediately repod her and took her to a mechanic. The report was appalling! This sent me into a frenzy to restore my baby. I sold my Mazda 2 months later to use the money from that car payment to restore my Alero back to its original glory.
I like my cars to be as "new" as possible, so I fix everything that isn't perfect as soon as I can.
In 18 months I've done:
4 New Continental tires
3 New GMB wheel bearings
4 Quiet stop wheel rotors and pads
New Bosch platinum spark plugs
New Bosch plug wires
Oil change x 7
Transmission flush and filter with Lucas additive
Cooling system flush (remove Dexcool)
Power steering system flush
New Purge valve
New GM gas cap
Air filter x2
New power steering pump
New window motor (drivers side rear)
2 O'Reilly half shafts
New die hard battery
Replaced ALL interior/exterior lights with LED bulbs
Replaced factory CD player with factory CD/tape for iPod (Dealer Programmed)
New hazard switch
New master window switch
New fuel pump and pump assembly with sensors (inside tank gut)
New fuel filler hose
New katzkin leather interior
Repaired the original drivers seat leather and padding (before replacing)
Installed glow gauges and new needles
Installed mirror turn signal leds
bought new euro spec headlights and had bezels painted body color
4 new ION wheels
Replaced intermediate steering shaft
Replaced plastic trim in trunk
Added a factory spoiler
Had all of the 72 dings on the body PDR'd
Detailed the car x3 to get the stains out of the carpet
Plastic coolant hose replaced
Added steering wheel cover to hide the melting wheel
Bosch wiper blade set x3
Front license plate bracket
Put on my Oldsmobile front plate
Ordered an Oldsmobile rear plate frame
Removed and reconditioned my blower motor
Replaced rear view mirror (day/night tab broke)
Added LED light to the arm rest cubby
Bought new spare tire
2 New Oldsmobile Logo keys
3 New Oldsmobile RKE fobs (Dealer Programmed)
I have purchased several parts that are sitting in my garage awaiting installation next month including:
Razzi ground effects kit
GAGT Side skirts and door moldings
GAGT Dual Exhaust muffler
4 Monroe Economatic quick strut assemblies
Springtech 1.8 inch drop lowering springs
Detroit Axle Rack and Pinion with Inner and Outer tie rods
Painting the tail lights with the pattern setup by Alerotuner1, but in body color like an Impalla
The car will also be repainted Dark Bronzemist Metallic 528F when the kit is installed. They are going to take care of the little surface rust I have on the inner rear passenger door lip and reseal the seam and seam seal the hood where it's got a strange pop on one corner.
I'm at $5500 so far with another $$4000 coming up. It's a sickness... I can't stop rebuilding!!
Follow my progress here
http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...20the%20Alero/