pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Jay H 237

Elgin just bought the metallic orange version of your car!

I think his is a 2004 Cavalier.

Yep. 2004 Orange Metallic is right. Looking for some fun mods to do with it now. If anyone has any experience modding Cavaliers in any way (mechanical, or just for show), post your experiences here if ya want.

The first odd thing I have already found weird about the Cavalier, is that the brake rotor is held on by nothing but the pressure of the rim and the lugnuts (as well as the calipers holding it on when they are installed).

My Neon had at least some star washers on the lugnuts holding the rotor plate on. (Is the Cavalier supposed to have those too???) The other day when I went to change the front brake pads on the Cavy, the rotor came right off with the calipers.

That's not good... and to make sure the star washer just didn't fall off I checked the other side and nothing there either. Very odd, but I guess it's just the first of many comparisons I will be making between Dodge and Chevy.

[Schnabel]

I have a 99 cavy that I replaced the sound system in, but that is all for now. I would tell you how, but there were so many changes in between the years that I wouldn't know.

[Elgin Clock]

Here's mine:



Immediate plans include installing the blue and orange neons for summer cruising, and getting a security system installed, and then throwing some tint on the windows.

Then stereo upgrades, for sure.

Graphics will come eventually, don't you worry about that.*


*If you know me and saw my old car, you don't have to ask why I had to say that disclaimer. lol

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Immediate plans include installing the blue and orange neons for summer cruising, and getting a security system installed, and then throwing some tint on the windows.

Then stereo upgrades, for sure.

Graphics will come eventually, don't you worry about that.*

As long as your plans don't include a spoiler, then it's all good.

I always have a good laugh at riced-out, front-wheel drive cars with spoilers.

Originally Posted by artdutra04

I always have a good laugh at riced-out, front-wheel drive cars with spoilers.

Agreed. I like laughing at cars with the big wings on the back... All they do is add weight. I work on a race car daily that actually needs it's wing, but that wing is built into the body, and doesn't look like crap. The only vehicles that need a wing on the back are ones that go really really fast, and most cars don't even approach speeds that require a wing. (for those that wonder, I work on a 69 charger RT, that competes in local Drag competitions. We usually end up getting up to around 120 in that beast....)

[Schnabel]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

...and then throwing some tint on the windows.

I had my windows tinted too, but trust me when I say that you should have a professional do it. The back window will be the worst with as small of space there is in the bottom. It will be hard to get the air out by yourself.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Here's mine:

Do I spy burnt orange?

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Do I spy burnt orange?

Burnt orange? NO. "Can't Catch Me Copper" is what it should be called. Burnt orange should be reserved for those Texas fiends with their lengthy horns. (I'm a REAL UT fan, Go Vols!)

[Schnabel]

Originally Posted by JoeXIII'007

Wow... I didn't expect a whole thread to develop from this. This is great.

Curious, what would be a good thing to do with a cavalier, besides the usual give it shiny rims, at some form of graphic, tint the windows (*sigh* I have never seen the point besides preventing the sun from doing too much, and maybe a neat effect.), etc...

Actually when you tint your windows, it lowers your gas usage by a slight amount because you tend to not use your a/c as much. I don't think I have even turned it on full blast since I got the windows tinted. Also, I found a great combination of wheels and a cavy like yours. What I did was I bought a set of 2004 Z24 Cavy rims, put bigger tires on it, and viola, it looks like a totally different car! And I did a pin stripe on the outside using Walmart's $5 pin striping kit which included two Chevy bow ties to put at the end.
Here is my car before tint with the pin stripe.

Here is my car tinted with my new wheels.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Schnabel

Actually when you tint your windows, it lowers your gas usage by a slight amount because you tend to not use your a/c as much. I don't think I have even turned it on full blast since I got the windows tinted.
Here is my car tinted with my new wheels.

What percentage tint is that, and about how much was it for the 5 windows? The darkness factor looks pretty nice.

I got a quote on Saturday of $260 for 7 windows. (2 front doors, 2 back doors - including 2 mini windows, and then the back window as well.)

[Schnabel]

That is a 20% tint which is illegal, but not by much. I think I got it done for about $150. I went to a guy who was starting a business as a tinter and he cut me a deal. My dad took our SUV to him a year later and he charged about $350, but it was worth it! This guy is amazing with what he does.

[mtaman02]

Legal Tint is 75% but with that tint you see all to clearly. I have no tints in the front and 20% factory plus 35% on top of that in the rear. As long as the Fronts are see through the law shouldn't bother you. But if you do all the Windows "Limo Style" excluding the windshield expect to be pulled over and handed a ticket on a daily basis.

[Jay H 237]

Elgin, my Camry has 37 or 38% on it total. It worked out wierd with the factory tint and the 4 side windows and rear window are done. It was done by Classic Autoglass in Torrington. Interior color will make it appear darker or lighter slightly too, just look a vehicles that have tan vs. charcoal interiors.


If you want that car to stand out, I have a suggestion!

[mtaman02]

I like tints for a few reasons. One of which is the privacy you obtain (won't go into details), Another is during the summer it keeps the car cooler inside by blocking out the sun - The darker the tint the cooler the interior should be however like I mentioned before the Law strictly prohibits you tiniting: The Windshield, Driver Side & Passenger Side Windows (Just the Front half of the vehicle basically). So you won't get as much of a cooler tempature with only half the car blocking out the sunlight but you do feel a difference and with gas prices on the rise people will be using alot of AC and even more so those w/o tints. Now if you plan on installing a sound system the tints cause a bit of a problem with that because it gives the thief an even itchier finger to break the window and get whats inside b/c they will know that you are trying to hide something. I had it happened to me once already the thief got away with the stereo. Between a replacement window and stereo it ran me close to $300 to repair. And it occured during the winter to make it worse . Tints are very stylish for cars but a word of caution you enter yourself into a whole new ball game both good and bad sides are equal. Personally though I like the mirror tints for cars that do not have factory tints only b/c I think they are within the legal limits and look good. The mirror tints look horrible on a factory tinted vehicle and do not recommed you wasting your money in going through with such installation. Tints are reversible but who wants to spend money do it wrong once, remove and reinstall something different. Think before you buy and go to a place in which showcases the various tints available. Last but not least make sure you get a receipt stating how dark the installed tints are and if you have different tints on different windows (front lighter then back) have it specify which is which.

[Jay H 237]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

The first odd thing I have already found weird about the Cavalier, is that the brake rotor is held on by nothing but the pressure of the rim and the lugnuts (as well as the calipers holding it on when they are installed).

My Neon had at least some star washers on the lugnuts holding the rotor plate on. (Is the Cavalier supposed to have those too???) The other day when I went to change the front brake pads on the Cavy, the rotor came right off with the calipers.

That's not good... and to make sure the star washer just didn't fall off I checked the other side and nothing there either. Very odd, but I guess it's just the first of many comparisons I will be making between Dodge and Chevy.

My Camry is the same way. Once I remove the two bolts holding the caliper on the rotor could come off. I say could because the original were rusted onto the spindle on the driver's side and needed to be hit with a hammer while socket head screws (M8x1.25) were threaded into the threaded holes in the rotor to help force it off the spindle. When the originals were removed no hardware was observed that would have held the rotor on.