08-05-2007 21:32

Jay H 237

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

Elgin just bought the metallic orange version of your car!

I think his is a 2004 Cavalier.

08-05-2007 21:33

Travis Hoffman

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

Woohoo Lordstown, OH built.

09-05-2007 10:30

Elgin Clock

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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.

09-05-2007 20:58

Schnabel

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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.

09-05-2007 21:42

Elgin Clock

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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

09-05-2007 21:56

artdutra04

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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.

09-05-2007 22:40

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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....)

10-05-2007 13:50

Schnabel

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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.

10-05-2007 13:54

JaneYoung

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

Do I spy burnt orange?

11-05-2007 05:53

Jay H 237

Re: pic: Joe drives a 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.

11-05-2007 09:55

robostangs548

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

sweet

11-05-2007 14:11

mtaman02

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

The Cavy isn't the only one that doesn't have hardware securing the Rotor to the hub there are a number of Manufacturers that go this route. Why I have no idea but I have seen quite a few when I visit my mechanic on a daily basis (and no not for car issues - just for the sake of bothering him - hey he works right next door to me =) what else am I to do.)

11-05-2007 14:36

Elgin Clock

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

Weird. I think maybe I'll go out and buy some star washers to secure those suckers on when I upgrade the rotors to drilled and slotted types the next time I change my brakes. Yay for stopping power and cool braking temperatures.

I think that will just counteract the heat build-up by getting some Moon hubs without any airflow from the outer side. lol


Now to find a manufacturer of some nice 14" whitewall tires as well.
Anybody know of any?

11-05-2007 15:34

mtaman02

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

Try http://www.vulcantire.com or http://www.tire-easy.com/start.html I don't know if they have what you want but their prices are reasonable and the amount of time it takes to get to you are also reasonable.

11-05-2007 22:51

JoeXIII'007

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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...

11-05-2007 23:17

Jeremiah Johnson

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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!)

12-05-2007 00:31

Schnabel

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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.

12-05-2007 16:14

DonRotolo

A gallon of molasses & 20 lb of goat hair.

OK, here's a cool (and reversible) mod for you: Fur. Get a gallon of molasses (or corn syrup) and 20 pounds of goat hair, paint the metal with the syrup and sprinkle on the goat hair carefully. When you get tired of it, just wash it off with a hose. Keep it out of the rain until then!

Alternative: Use "annual" grass seed instead, mist with water until it sprouts (3-5 days), then drive around town. It'll last more than a week.

Don

12-05-2007 21:51

Jeremiah Johnson

Re: A gallon of molasses & 20 lb of goat hair.

DUDE! I'm sooo going to do that with my truck! It's a rusted piece of junk. I was going to spray paint it orange. Here's a cheaper solution.


QUESTION: How long would it last if I were going about 85 MPH down the interstate, late for work?

12-05-2007 21:59

DonRotolo

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

A bit of the fur will fall off at 85, but most of it will stick, and good. the best part is that it comes off with water when you want it to.

Of course, you can get some epoxy resin from a boat store and make it permanent, but I don't advise that, when the goat hair gets wet... well, let me put it this way: Ever smell a wet goat?

Don

13-05-2007 19:42

JoeXIII'007

Re: A gallon of molasses & 20 lb of goat hair.

...

A chia pet cavalier... riiiiiiigggggghhhhhtttttt. '_'

The funny thing about the goat hair idea: there is a farm not too far away from home from where I can get the fur. I just wouldn't want to deal with the molasses. ^_^

14-05-2007 07:53

Jeremiah Johnson

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

I was thinking of doing the grass idea because there definitely is nowhere around that I can get goat hair. I don't want to run the risk of getting sick over a stinky goat truck anyways.

14-05-2007 10:21

Elgin Clock

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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.)

15-05-2007 17:44

Schnabel

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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.

15-05-2007 20:22

mtaman02

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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.

15-05-2007 21:28

Jay H 237

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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!

16-05-2007 07:24

mtaman02

Re: pic: Joe drives a Chevy!

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.