I figure, I'm thinking about this stuff all the time, winter months are still waning and I have no garage to work in, plus I'm waiting to swap out the Winter Tires for summer wheels+tires. It never hurts to share your plans.
What I've already done:
- Scangauge
- Nearly 100% grill block. Perfect for winter.
- Side mirror deletion. Thin fiberglass and black primer covers the hole.
- Lots of general, simple weight loss. Spare tire and jack replaced with
hand-pump and tire
repair kit (plus I have roadside assist, but I go to the mountains a lot where I don't get cell service). Cleaning out junk I don't need in the car at all times, like spare oil, anti-freeze, detachable roof-rack, etc.
- Keeping tires at 50 PSi (Using the hand pump, no less.)
Our only vehicle is my '02 Corolla, at the moment.
Plans for summer that I have materials for:
-
Light alloy rims (birthday gift, woo!) with permanent wheel covers on them, and a removable center cap (crafted with
scrap carbon fiber).
- Swapping to those hot weather tires I have.
- Complete undercarriage paneling made from
aluminum flashing and aluminum rivets.
- removable radiator-assistance scoop that attaches to the belly pan or something for summer.
-
Spark plug replacement
Other stuff I might squeeze in if I get the wherewithal:
- Exhaust wrapping using aluminum flashing + high-temp ceramic alumina glue
- Cheap seat replacement/modification, to lighter, lower-'slowy paving the way to the chopped top' seats . Thinking of keeping the stock steel mounting/sliding bracket for the seats for convenience/cost, and making a nice
mesh-type seat to help keep me cool.
- Changing to those
legendary 14" tires. I'm a tad concerned that they're taller than my stock tires and will have to accommodate the change somehow. Plus the cost. Oh and I don't have numbers on my Sears brand tires, so I don't know how much gain I can expect.
- Maybe remove the power-steering.
So what're your plans? post 'em so we can hold you to 'em!