Hi, I'm in the process of (hopefully) buying a FD below bluebook value, but in need of some shaping up.

My question is this: Is it possible to square say, the rear trunk lid with the quarter panels so that they are flush? How about if there is an uneven gap between the front fender and the front of the hood?

Tia!

 

I've attached two pictures I took of the front fender after testdriving it to give a better understanding of the issue I'm attempting to address. Might have to get a new front fender (the lower portion of it is missing paint for some reason), so just wondering if I could repaint the fender and adjust it myself or be forced to purchase a new one for it (which would get included in the bargaining portion of the car purchase hehe). Tia.

 

Soooo...Bought the car , still face this dilemma though

Woot!

 

congrats on the purchase & happy rotoring post pics of your engine bay

considering that our cars are 13 years old, minor body work should be the least of your worries. if it doesn't have it already, there are MAJOR reliability upgrades that should be attended to if they're not done already.

in no particular order, you should get these upgrades
- aluminum AST
- downpipe
- exhaust
- radiator

 

awesome thanks

aluminum radiator seems like it would help out a lot, i can hear the car cooling off, and all the noises associated with it. Would like to get silicone hoses to replace the ones on it, but I haven't found clamps that fit my fancy. Stainless steel wormgear clamps look like they'll eventually chew right into the silicone. I've looked for the other type, that are squeeze clamps that you can pinch with needle nose pliars and they'll release. I don't know much about the car yet, learning, but maybe vacuum doesn't require clamps? I'd like to know anyways, where I could get the squeeze type clamps, because silicone hoses for the cooling system would be nice to have too

 

It's quite common for the bumper covers to sag a little bit over the years.

Dave

 

You should not use silicon for the coolant hoses because, to quote:

You DO NOT replace coolant lines with plain silicone hose! Ever!

Unless the silicone hose is a reinforced fiber hose designed for use with coolant you do not substitute it. Use the stock hoses.

-plain silicone hose is not formed and will kink

-plain silicone hose is easily cut by the hose clamps which leads to failure

-plain silicone hose is not as stable under pressure and will expand and burst more easily

-plain silicone hose cannot withstand much abrasion

-plain silicone hose is easily broken down by hot motor oil

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Last edited by DamonB : 09-15-05 at 08:36 AM.

 

I also found my silicon hose kit did not need any adhesive, clamps or ties. As I did replace all the vacuum lines and wanted to retain the stock appearance, I reused the factory clamps. They fit well once the hose was over the barb.

 

your panels look as good as any ive seen

 

Any reason why the 99spec isn't supposed to sag like the stock bumper?

I like the look of the 99spec, but couple things bother me...

1. ) License plate makes the car look less sexy imo
2.) Doesn't look like airflow is optimal for cooling?

I'm thinking I will eventually end up getting a different bumper, mainly for better cooling. Want my baby to last me a lifetime

 

cant go wrong with 99. the cooling is much better through the oil cooler openings and the middle inlet. i've heard something like a 50% increase in cross sectional size(of the openings) from the original design to the 99 front.