My mod thread

[AndrewGS]

EDIT: Here are the cliffsnotes outlining my build as of 8-30-13.

All-LED Lighting (Except Forward)
PIAA JDM Forward Lighting
LS Window Molding
Window Tint
GM Fog Lights
GM Chrome Insert Door Handles
GM Chrome Mirror Caps
Chrome Hatch Trim
GM Splash Guards
ECO Emblem (Replaced LT Emblem)
PIAA Superior Bass Horns
Cruze ECO Wheels w/ Bridgestone Ecopia Tires
Custom Berber Floor Mats
GM Sport Pedal Covers
DDMWorks Shifter Bushings
ZZP Intake
Forge Atmospheric BOV
ZZP Catless Downpipe
ZZP Midpipe
ZZP Hi-Flow Secondary Cat
DDMWorks Resonator-Only Cat-Back
Trifecta Tune

Coming Soon:
Motorsport Tech 25mm Hub Adapters
18"x8.5" Chrome ZR1 Replicas w/ 215/40 Nankang NS-20 Tires
Eibach Pro-Kit Springs
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Turbo got her first mod this evening, LED license plate lamps. I ordered them from V-LEDS and they are awesome! Perfect color temperature and brightness.

The LEDs

One LED, One Incandescent

Both Swapped

 

[Danny5]

Sweet!

 

[AndrewGS]

Now for my second mod, PIAA Southern Star low beams and PIAA Plasma Ion high beams. The driver's side low beam was a bit of a pain, but I was able to get it done. Now I have to wait on the fog lamps which I will fill with PIAA Plasma Ion bulbs as well.

The Bulbs

Installed

Low Beams - One Side Installed

High Beams - One Side Installed

Low Beams - Both Sides Installed

High Beams - Both Sides Installed

Driver's Seat View - Low Beams

Driver's Seat View - High Beams

 

[theenico]

That looks pretty cool.

 

[tehdrumr]

Those headlights look awesome! Mind if I ask how much you paid for each pair and where you got them?

 

[Danny5]

What is the advantage of Plasma Ion Yellow vs a normal 5-7k bulb?

 

[AndrewGS]

Those headlights look awesome! Mind if I ask how much you paid for each pair and where you got them?

Thanks!

I got them from my friend that sells on eBay. He sells JDM PIAA bulbs which have a different part number to the USDM bulbs. They aren't cheap, but they're the highest quality available. Here's his eBay store: PIAA Light Bulbs, Genuine Nikon Lens Caps items in tekimoka store on eBay!

If he doesn't have a JDM PIAA bulb you want in stock, he can get them. I'm actually going to replace the Southern Star bulbs with Northern Stars (4400K) as I find the Southern Stars (5100K) a bit blue for my taste. I'll make you a deal on my Southern Stars if you like 'em.

What is the advantage of Plasma Ion Yellow vs a normal 5-7k bulb?

The 2500K yellow light is less reflective, so there's less glare in bad weather. I love them in my high beams and I'm getting some for the fogs when I get the kit (I already have them if the fogs take H8).

 

[BNRacing]

Any plans for performance mods? Or just looks?

 

[laborsmith]

I know this question was not directed to me, but nevertheless I feel compelled to reply that if it were so directed I would respectfully decline to answer, asserting my 5th amendment right to not incriminate myself.

Just saying.

Laborsmith

 

[tehdrumr]

Thanks!

I got them from my friend that sells on eBay. He sells JDM PIAA bulbs which have a different part number to the USDM bulbs. They aren't cheap, but they're the highest quality available. Here's his eBay store: PIAA Light Bulbs, Genuine Nikon Lens Caps items in tekimoka store on eBay!

If he doesn't have a JDM PIAA bulb you want in stock, he can get them. I'm actually going to replace the Southern Star bulbs with Northern Stars (4400K) as I find the Southern Stars (5100K) a bit blue for my taste. I'll make you a deal on my Southern Stars if you like 'em.



The 2500K yellow light is less reflective, so there's less glare in bad weather. I love them in my high beams and I'm getting some for the fogs when I get the kit (I already have them if the fogs take H8).

Wow. Those are definitely expensive bulbs. However they look just as nice as the 6000K HID bulbs I have on the Colorado. These might be a better (smarter) alternative though as the housings aren't designed for HID bulbs. I will definitely bookmark your friend's ebay store for when I get my Sonic (and save up for those bulbs).

 

[AndrewGS]

Any plans for performance mods? Or just looks?

Nope. Not until it's paid off which will be a year before the warranty is up. I'm going to run Royal Purple in it, but that's not really a mod nor a performance supplement.

After it's paid off I'll get a tune and intake, but that's about it.

 

[BNRacing]

Keep in mind- anyone that is worried about modding due to warranty- doing your own oil changes or running any oil or filter combination other than the OEM equipment can void your warranty. Google it and read some of the horror stories. If you change your own oil or take it anywhere other than the dealership for service, maintain very accurate records and keep all receipts. Even in my bolted and tuned cobalt I run only Mobil1 and acdelco filters. GM will void your warranty faster than you can blink if you spin a bearing or something and show up with a non OEM filter and any oil other than what is specifically recommended by the owners manual. Especially if the oil has a purple tint to it.

Not trying to scare anyone, just warning you guys. You should see how strict some of the foreign manufacturers are.

 

[AndrewGS]

Keep in mind- anyone that is worried about modding due to warranty- doing your own oil changes or running any oil or filter combination other than the OEM equipment can void your warranty. Google it and read some of the horror stories. If you change your own oil or take it anywhere other than the dealership for service, maintain very accurate records and keep all receipts. Even in my bolted and tuned cobalt I run only Mobil1 and acdelco filters. GM will void your warranty faster than you can blink if you spin a bearing or something and show up with a non OEM filter and any oil other than what is specifically recommended by the owners manual. Especially if the oil has a purple tint to it.

All I need in defense of my oil choice is a bottle of 5w-30 RP with dexos1 compatibility stated on it, which it now has. As for filters, the only one I can find is AC and it's a good filter anyways, so there's no reason to use any other.

 

[laborsmith]

I believe Royal Purple received dexos rating earlier this month. Anyone desiring to use Royal Purple should do a Google search just to make sure.

Laborsmith

 

[RockTheShazbot]

Car looks nice. Doing something similar when I get mine.

 

[AndrewGS]

Car looks nice.

Thanks!

The stuff is slowly trickling in. Tonight I got my LED reverse lamps installed. It took some effort as I had to completely remove the tail light to get to the socket so I could bend the tabs inward a bit to make better contact. I also had to bend the contacts on the bulb a bit for them to line up properly and give a dependable connection, otherwise they would go out upon being knocked around by a bump.

The Bulbs

One Side Installed

Both Installed

Two of my wheels should be in tomorrow and I'll order the other two later this month and hopefully get them on by the end of the year.

 

[Gimpster]

Oil question: I've not seen any recent virgin oil analysis of RP.... but I remember a couple years ago seeing a few on BobIsTheOilGuy and it wasn't so good. At least not at the price point they charge.

I'm coming up on my first oil change, and M1 0w-30 is what I ran in my two 09 Cobalt SS's. My UOA's always came back really awesome with that stuff.

 

[AndrewGS]

Oil question: I've not seen any recent virgin oil analysis of RP.... but I remember a couple years ago seeing a few on BobIsTheOilGuy and it wasn't so good. At least not at the price point they charge.

I'm coming up on my first oil change, and M1 0w-30 is what I ran in my two 09 Cobalt SS's. My UOA's always came back really awesome with that stuff.

I had Blackstone analyze Royal Purple after about 7,500 miles of use in my 5.3L Silverado and they said it looked great.

I dunno, I've used RP, M1 and ol' pure dino Quaker State over the years in my various cars with no issues arising from oil. I will say that I was blown away at the fuel economy I could get in my Silverado, but that could've been more the ram-air intake and exhaust and less the RP oil.

I may not use RP, I may decide on M1 EP or Pennzoil Platinum because of cost and the fact that they are fully dexos1 certified and not just compatible.

 

[BoG233]

Thanks!

The stuff is slowly trickling in. Tonight I got my LED reverse lamps installed. It took some effort as I had to completely remove the tail light to get to the socket so I could bend the tabs inward a bit to make better contact. I also had to bend the contacts on the bulb a bit for them to line up properly and give a dependable connection, otherwise they would go out upon being knocked around by a bump.

The Bulbs

One Side Installed

Both Installed

Two of my wheels should be in tomorrow and I'll order the other two later this month and hopefully get them on by the end of the year.

will that affect your warranty at all ?

 

[AndrewGS]

will that affect your warranty at all ?

It better not. lol

I don't see why it would, it's just a replacement bulb.