my major help me build my car before i take it to school with me thread

[fivespeedsteed]

so im going to radford university. and im taking my car. freshman are allowed to take their cars on their freshman year, (first and second semester). my dad said he wants to take me there, without my car, and leave me until thanksgiving break (he said that was about a month to a month and a half before thanksgiving break) then he will come get me, well go home for tgiving, and then i can take my car back... he said he wants me to get used to doing my schoolwork and stuff, he thinks the car will distract me and get me off on the wrong foot.... whatever, im glad i can take it period....

so i got to thinking. what do i need to make the commute from home to school. its about 3.5 hours at around 75 mph. i will be going home on the breaks, and going home to meet the g.f. (she will take a train from philli back home to meet me) probably a few times a year (inbetween breaks when we will see each other)

i know i need new shocks and struts, and im close to ordering tokicok hp's. i have new strut mount bushings going on also. then my friend who's helping me install them said he can do something (drill out the hole where the rivet is ) to fix my neg. camber, then getting it professionally aligned.

a few days ago i just put on new front wheel bearings inner and outer on both sides, new raybestos rotors and pads, the shims, and we flushed my brake fluid with dot3 stuff. we also rotated my tires (neg. camber)

after i fix whatever i have laying around (fuel filter, interior bulbs, ect)and getting my shocks and struts on, im thinking i need to get a radiator flush, (its cold up there), a clear bug bra by 3m, fix all the door locks, and then i was thinking i need to get myself a reciever, becasue i have the stock system in it. then maybe replacement speakers...

i like alpine head units, and it needs to be mp3 ready and id like it to be XM ready (future) and ipod ready. but that isnt a requirement. i like my bass so i was thinking alpine type r's for the speakers. will 6x9's fit in the back where the 6x8's are now? ive heard of ppl doing that... and also what will i need to make the headunit fit because of the factory 85 watt amp in there? just a harness?

i was also thinking of getting some gauges. i want one of those relocation plates. i have this link http://www.gaugeplates.com/ and im liking the one that has the 3 gauges on the top, radio in the middle, and hvac in the bottom. is taht hard to do? if not i can get an instillation kit from bestbuy and call it a day....

or would a dual gauge thing in the ac register be better? the one that retains the vents...

for gauges i would get water temp, oil pressure, and vacuum in sport comp 2 1/16th i believe.

which sounds easier to wire ? ect...

thanks...

 

[Strippt88]

Where is Radford? If it snows lots, might be better for the car to leave it, as you have somewhere to keep it. Yeah, bringing it would be nice, but your dad might be right, and the car could get tore up pretty good by a more harsh winter climate. Focus on the 5.0 this summer, then do the school thing- it'll still be there, and in good shape, when you get back. Thats what i'd do, anyway. Good luck!

 

[bloopbloob]

if u want to do well in school, i'd suggest leaving the car! it is not an option for me, as i have to drive to school and work every day, but sometimes i wish i could. i spend too much time fixing it, playing with it and driving it, rather than just doing my homework like i should. it is honestly a big distraction for me, as much as i hate to admit it!

 

[91ghp5.0]

I got gauges for my 4 hour drive back from school. I got mechanical oil pressure and water temp. I have them on the A pillar, and they were not hard to wire. The hardest part was the electrical hook up for the lights (running off headlight switch).

If it snows, don't bring the car. It isn't worth it, and it's terrible for the car.

P.S. Why do you want vacuum?

 

[Foxfan88]

i'd leave the car home

 

[Bad92GT]

the cars your hotrod, not your commuter.. leave it home

 

[Foxfan88]

get a little pickup, a 4 cyl s-10 or ranger, or a little japanese truck, an old little mazda or toyota. good on gas and u could do some hauling if need be.

 

[fivespeedsteed]

you all voted against me getting a civic....so what gives?

 

[poneypower89]

This thread sounded more like a rambling list of unorganized ideas rather than a plea for help.

 

[Turkey Sammich]

This thread sounded more like a rambling list of unorganized ideas rather than a plea for help.

Thats what I was thinking actually. IMO, One upgrade at a time, dont get two ahead of yourself, enjoy school (keep da mile off the stang), if ya truely need a commute car, then buy a pos civic.

 

[fivespeedsteed]

it snows where i live also. if i leave it here it will be outside on hardpacked gravel...

how hard is it to install the relocation plate?

 

[fivespeedsteed]

so you still think ishould leave it here when it will still get snowed on here? what kinda reciever do you suggest? i want it to light up green so it matches everything. how about the gauges?

 

[TheUser]

The problem (as I see it) is not so much the fact of the bad weather environment, but the fact that you'd be driving it in the bad weather environment. Not exactly the car I'd want to drive home for xmas in December (although I've driven plenty in my 5.0 in bad weather)....and the rock salt is bad on the car.

In the end, do what you want. If you wanna take the car, take it, but I'll tell you one thing...that car is a hell of a lot safer sitting at home in your parent's driveway than at some punk friend's house where there will probably be people over who like your satellite radio so much that they yank it...along w/ your 6x9's and gauges for that matter.

I'd leave the a/c where it is and get an autometer gauge pod if you want gauges. I have mechanical water temp, but electrical oil temp. You don't want oil in your car. Mechanical water temp doesn't bring water in your car. Run your water tube and all through your steering shaft boot...much easier than drilling a hole in the firewall and you can replace the steering boot if need be later on.

 

[fivespeedsteed]

so for oil pressure you should get electric, and water temp you want mechanical?

i wont be driving the car around at school, it will be sitting in the lot. ive seen it, there were some pretty nice cars in there and the lot was off to the side of everything, so no one will be walking by it allot. im still thinking on it.

i think if anything ill end up getting the ac register gauge pod. the one with 2 holes that retains the ac vents.

do 6x9's fit in the back next to the seats. i know they are 6x8's but i thought i heard of people putting 6x9's there

any advantages to electric gauges? should i just go on ahead and grab an elec water temp while im at it?

 

[25thmustang]

It WILL get hit, keyed or ruined in some way. You WILL drive it even though you say you wont, and you WILL regret bringing the car to school. Take it from a kid whose now a senior in college and had a 5.0 that he took to school some...

Buy a good car cover, and a winter beater and be done with it. You will regret driving the fox when two years later and it looks like garbage because of the harsh climate (both weather and people) of school!

 

[fivespeedsteed]

so how do i convice my dad that if i buy an older civic that it will make it t here and back. thats what he was concerned about when i told him i wanted a pos civic.

 

[sunil6784]

If you can afford it, I'd get a beater car.

 

[fivespeedsteed]

then i guess ill hold off on fixing the stang and seeing what kinda money i can make.

can anyone think of something that would sound good to a parent. maybe something like if you buy me a taurus to take to schook, then you can sell it when i get out and ill pay the difference in price. or something like a loan where ican get 1000 dollars to do whatever i want to get a **** car?

 

[sunil6784]

How about, I thought about what you said dad, and I think that my education should come first. I've decided that if I brought the mustang with me I'd be distracted, so I am thinking about buying a more practical car.

 

[mricci]

I would just leave it at home, thats what i did with mine and im not regretting it. Doesnt get driven in bad weather anymore. Im driving a 1995 corsica right now and its fine, because when i do go home it makes taking the stang for a ride so much better.