*** Rigamaroles progress thread ***

[rigamaroles]

Updated June 11th with new pictures!

Alright, I just dropped the notch off at the body shop. The car is getting the quarter panel rust fixed, complete re-paint with the exception of the engine bay. Also going to be painting all of the trim on the vehicle back to a flat black as its seen much better days, correcting the mis-alignment in the fenders and rolling them. New rear bumper because this one has a heat warp. All sorts of new ****.

Was going to repaint it Bright Regatta Blue, but the cost difference through my body guy was very minor, so its going to be Dark Shadow Gray. He says I should have it back within a couple weeks. I'll update this thread every couple of days with new pictures. Enough typing, heres the before shots.

Immediatly following the body work, it will be getting new tint, and the blue interior swapped for gray and black interior, and then later this year my Father In-Law and I will pull the engine, paint it, change the clutch, and paint the engine bay black.

 

[NIKwoaC]

Niiice. That car has a killer stance, man.

 

[82CapriRS]

Niiice. That car has a killer stance, man.

i agree. what kinda springs an whatnot?

 

[rigamaroles]

Yeah, I get a lot of compliments on the stance. Its actually pretty basic, its got FRPP springs in it, with generic struts/shocks, I re-used the isolators as it was a difference of about .5 - .75 of an inch between new and used, and poly bushings all over the place. I'll be re-doing it next year, I think.

 

[Darkwriter77]

I thought you had decided to get rid of the car because it would cost too much to get all of the bodywork done...? Did you find someone to do it at a cheap enough price to warrant keeping it? ...or were you (understandably) simply unable to part ways with teh notch?

 

[rigamaroles]

I thought you had decided to get rid of the car because it would cost too much to get all of the bodywork done...? Did you find someone to do it at a cheap enough price to warrant keeping it? ...or were you (understandably) simply unable to part ways with teh notch?

Well, a little of both. Probably more that I didnt want to part with it. I also went to every single body shop in town and they all said something different in terms of price and what was actually wrong with it. Some guys said 12k to fix it, but most said 7. So I figured alright, 7000$ is what its going to take to fix it.

My first car was a POS Chevette that lasted a couple of months, then I bought old Merc Topaz off of my mom. So this car is the first car I actually wanted to own. I had kind of hoped to keep it around indefinately, and its a plus that I don't have any payments on it. The way it sat, I could only fetch a few grand at most from it. If it was fixed up, I would break even. So I said **** it...I've got the money, lets get it done.

As it turns out, the frame and everything is 100% fine, the problem is that the inner fender on the driver side is all bunged up, so it cant be properly aligned.

I wouldn't call what I'm getting done cheap as I had hoped to spend a lot less, but for what I'm getting done its a pretty good deal. He gave me a deal because I can pay cash, and because of what I do for a living, he can get a lot of references.

 

[rigamaroles]

The big problem I'm having right now, is I need a rear bumper ASAP and I cant find one.

 

[SteedaGT9150]

things gonna be sick

 

[Darkwriter77]

You have chosen ... wisely.

 

[rigamaroles]

Dark, is that the techno viking in your avatar? lol

 

[Dmarstroker]

Love the stance, DSG is gonna look even sicker on that notch of yours

 

[rigamaroles]

Thanks guys for the kind words. I figured I'd get flamed for changing the color, cool to get the support. I really like the Regatta Blue, but I've always wanted a gray notch.

 

[leroy93lx]

Looks badass in blue. I would leave it that way! Just my opinion though. I have always wanted a blue coupe though. Cant wait to see the finished product!

 

[rigamaroles]

Like I said previously, I really like the blue, but a huge reason I want to change the color is because each vehicle I've owned has been blue with blue interior. lol....

 

[MikeROD16]

LMFAO!!! It IS techno Viking!! that guy is the best.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Looks good before, so I know it will look great after! I will be following this thread for sure. I would have been in here earlier but man I have still been under the weather. Still not at work yet.

 

[fiveohlxhatch]

Glad to hear you're keeping it and GL on the work. I've been on the prowl for a rear bumper cover as well and the yards don't have much that's workeable to offer. I have bad heat warps in mine(car is from Kamloops) and can't seem to find one much better. GL on your search!

 

[rigamaroles]

Glad to hear you're keeping it and GL on the work. I've been on the prowl for a rear bumper cover as well and the yards don't have much that's workeable to offer. I have bad heat warps in mine(car is from Kamloops) and can't seem to find one much better. GL on your search!

Haha, I live in Kamloops, and mine needs replacing from heat warp. Where do you live? I still havent found one btw.

 

[riceslayer302]

bad ass looking notch dude

 

[rigamaroles]

Alright stangnetters, heres the update as of May 20th/08. Today was my first day back from being off of work for 3 months from my back surgery, and its been a great day so far. After work I managed to locate a bumper thats in good shape for 125$. Afterwards went up to the shop to go over a couple of things, and took the camera so you could all share the experience with me. I can't even tell you how friggin' excited I'm getting. On with the pictures!

View attachment 317217

I guess the guy I bought the car off of (A body man believe it or not) really just pissed around with it to make it look pretty and get a sale. All the welds for the inner fenders are total crap, and there was some hidden rust on the rockers and the front torque box fell apart when he straightened out the pinch under the rocker. Its going to cost a bit more at this point, but all is well. They are going to paint about the first 4 inches of the engine bay downwards the same color grey just to have a nice finish, and then I'll paint it black when I pull the motor.

I will update again tomorrow when I bring them the bumper from the JY.