Black & Green modding thread (1998 Civic DX Coupe base)

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Are those MINI wheels? What material did you use to close the holes?

They are 15" (12lb) BMW MINI "holies" or "7-hole" rims. I got them with really good tires tread and two of the four are LRR tires. The blanking material is weed barrier.

I painted the rims with several layers of black plastidip and then plastidip UV resistant glossifier. The blanking is leftover yard weed barrier, foil tape, and plastidip. After cutting the weed barrier into rounds slightly larger than the hole, I painted them with several layers of black plastidip, then two layers of UV resistant plastidip glossifier. The rounds are attached from the back of the wheel using overlapping aluminum tape strips, sealed with ordinary clear plastidip.

If the total rim weight has increased by more than a 1/4 lb I would be surprised and that was the plan: tests here on EM have suggested bigger rim/tire combinations (for gearing) are not much benefit to FE if they make the wheel a lot heavier. So, I wanted to be sure they stayed light weight. They are quite durable. And they have a unique look.

While My 13" VX rims are only 10 lbs but they are only 13" diameter, they had fewer tire choices all the time (especially LRR choices). So I have a weight penalty relative to those. But of course, my stock 1998 Honda Civic alloys were 16 lbs., so from that perspective this is a far lighter wheel that is also larger and more aerodynamic.

[California98Civic]

Got some time today for more work with my daughter on her car, and a few hours of detailing and deep cleaning inside the black & green eco-rat ride. Took everything out and made buckets of water black. Took the seats out and vacuumed and shampooed the carpet. Anyway, the only pic I took is this: the seat anchor bolts freshly painted semi gloss black. They will look clean but not new.

[Xist]

I looked at the picture before reading and wondered why in the world you would bolt down cardboard, especially with so many bolts. Then I remembered shoving my Subaru head bolts into a cardboard box and figured that it was a project.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Xist

I looked at the picture before reading and wondered why in the world you would bolt down cardboard, especially with so many bolts. Then I remembered shoving my Subaru head bolts into a cardboard box and figured that it was a project.

Wanna make sure that cardboard is torqued down to OEM spec, baby!

[California98Civic]

With the car deep cleaned inside, I went in for a second tinting effort. I tested my technique on the driver side rear quarter window. Got most of the process done, fitting, heat shrinking, separating film from backing. But screwed up on the install inside. Did not realize I would need to cut it much smaller on the outside before fitting it onto the inside... lesson learned. Getting closer. Will try again tomorrow.

[California98Civic]

Rear driverside window successfully tinted tonight. I have been practicing technique, and I think I am ready to do the windshield. In this image, the view is through my already-tinted rear seat passenger windows. The one on the right got the second layer, and you can see how the tint shifted the hue toward blue. The blue shift should not be as pronounced on the windshield, but it will be there.

[freebeard]

What's the logic behind two layers?

[deluxx]

Great Work! thankyou for sharing! Real Big help!

[Ecky]

I can't help but think, the challenges one faces in California are so very different than in the Northeast.

Looks great. Every time I take a carpet cleaner to my car, the water comes away endlessly dark, even when the fabric looks clean. I can't figure it.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by freebeard

What's the logic behind two layers?

My main goal is to tint the windshield--not to double tint. But since I am using office building tint (CHEAPER), I am testing how it looks and goes on while learning tinting technique for the windshield. I have never applied tint before this.

Originally Posted by deluxx

Great Work! thankyou for sharing! Real Big help!

... if it looks good in the end it will be fairly easily repeated by others...

Originally Posted by Ecky

I can't help but think, the challenges one faces in California are so very different than in the Northeast.

I have had the exact same thought about Vermont when looking at some of your pics. I grew up in and around New York City. Lived in Western Massachusetts 5 years as an adult. The winters and rain matter there, but out here it is almost all about the relentless sun. I have more heat abatement ideas for this car without an AC, but I am forcing myself to finish older projects before buying anything.

Originally Posted by Ecky

Looks great. Every time I take a carpet cleaner to my car, the water comes away endlessly dark, even when the fabric looks clean. I can't figure it.

I sometimes think cars were secretly built with ESRT (EngineSootRedistributionTunnels.