Calypso vert project

[KenC]

For the rear sway, use white lithium grease liberally.

I've never been able to install the end links with the bar in the car. Take it out and use some elbow grease. You'll probably also need to take one of the rear springs out to get it to slide over the diff.

[MikeM]

I was able to get the end links on the sway bar when it was already in the car using the white lithium stuff but then realized it was backwards. Now trying to get it to clear the differential while on the correct way is turning out to be quite difficult. I'm going at it again in a little bit. Wish me luck!

[KenC]

Yeah, take one of the rear springs out. It will just slide in after that.

[MikeM]

alright I'll go check that out and see whats good when i get to the shop. thanks

[MikeM]

Lunch break: Finally installed the rear sway!! I had to modify the bushings that attach to the frame so that the bigger sway bar would fit. That was improvised but its in there good now. Also, instead of removing one of the rear springs, we only had to remove one of the brake calipers and it twisted on in.

The car is still on the lift. Oil was changed and the reset tool will be used once it gets lowered back down. I should be meeting with ejnight this evening so i can install the skid plate and cross brace! it should be a good 24 hours of modification!!

[MikeM]

Alright so in the last 48 hours I have installed the rear sway bar with its new end links and bushings, changed the oil and reset it with the tool, installed the cross brace, and installed the skid plate. I am just going to do some little things this week before the picnic and i'll be good for the time being.

The cross brace is awesome. It instantly tightened the steering up and became much more responsive. I felt like the body flex was reduced and now I just need the h&r's that i'm getting next weekend to lower the car and become more stiff. It also got rid of the majority of the cowl shake. I purposely took it over some hard spots in the road to see the cowl shake improvements, and then cornered hard a couple times to see how the cross brace would act.

Here are some pics...

[MikeM]

ordered cluster rings and the green euro/alpina tach sticker today...I'm giving my guages a whole new look!

and i officially registered for the picnic!!!

[MikeM]

sourced a local brand new magnaflow 14385 muffler 2.25 in 2.25 out for $85. I just went to O'Reilly's to get exhaust tips and it should be installed by thursday evening.

[MikeM]

So today I started off by painting the side trim with dupli-color bumper paint...let me tell you, I HATE PLASTI-DIP AND LOOOOOOVE THIS BUMPER STUFF. It came out soooo much cleaner. I only painted the side trim today but I just received the trimbrite blackout tape in the mail today so i'll do that next week. Already my car looks a lot cleaner

Then I stripped the interior and vaccumed everything out to get ready for the picnic.

Then I received my green tach strip in the mail today and the cluster rings yesterday so I gave that a go. I didn't think I would complete it tonight but I just got inside and its all put together!!! The rings were chrome so I sprayed them with this silver paint and then put everything back together. I love the way my cluster turned out...its awesome!! Here are some pictures...it was dark so the flash kinda didn't go well with the concave plastic. Will take a better pic in the morning.

O, and I should be attempting my magnaflow muffler install tomorrow and I am picking up my H&R sports this sunday!!!!

[MikeM]

H&R sport deal didn't work out.....so i came home from the picnic and ordered NIB $180 vogtlands. Now i'll be riding vogtlands, kyb's, and e90 drop hats and call it good.

[MikeM]

so I received a lot of goodies in the mail today, and went to the store to buy the other. I got the springs in the mail, blackout tape in the mail, and the piece to stop my leak in the mail...then I went to the soccer store and picked up new nike vapors!!

[MikeM]

I just ordered KYB gr2 fronts and gas-a-just rears!!

[MikeM]

shocks in!...installation in 2 weeks?

[BrewCity11]

Great progress man. So suspension and cosmetics are pretty much sorted now? What else? How's the engine maintenance and brakes?

Keeping the diving boards?

[MikeM]

Great progress man. So suspension and cosmetics are pretty much sorted now? What else? How's the engine maintenance and brakes?

Keeping the diving boards?

Thanks. engine is still running like a top, all that has really been done under the hood is in new battery a may or so and I changed the oil about 2-3 weeks ago. brakes are still good to this point so I haven't been worrying about those much.

I'm hoping to install the new suspension components in the next week or two. I am also engaging in talks for a new convertible top allowing me to see out of the back window!! and yes, diving boards will be on for awhile, its not a huge priority right now