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Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:11 pm
by th3fr4nchi5e
Nice find! Looks like it wont take too much to make her look like new!
For my seats, I use Meguire's "Gold Class leather Cleaner and Conditioner" and love te smell and shine o it. That and a leather scent tree blen really nicely together, imo. I am happy with it for the price!
http://mobile.walmart.com/m/phoenix;jse ... r/16550276
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:15 pm
by BonnieBoy08
Thanks for the tip! I will have to get some this weekend.
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:28 pm
by 00Beast
I use Lexol. It's what my sisters always used on their horse stuff, and it keeps it nice, while not loading it with greasy crap or damaging chemicals. You'll want bottles of the shampoo and conditioner. Follow the directions precisely.
As far as your thermostat; I've been running a 180* stat with a SMALL hole drilled in it just for bleeding purposes, and no codes. Some guys drill more than one hole in it, etc, and that's what causes issues.
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:25 am
by nubuilder
Hopefully someone here can do my gas door for <$500. I hope it's not more.
As far as center caps, I don't think the bent-5's have an all-chrome cap. Mine are black with the red Pontiac logo and I think they look fine with the black lug nut covers. I don't think you'll want to run chrome lug nuts in the winter.
I tried the Meguire's "Gold Class leather Cleaner and Conditioner". It was good for the price. I'm looking forward to trying the new product I just got though.
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:19 pm
by BonnieBoy08
The bent 5s never did have a chrome center cap but a lot of the newer Pontiacs models did. Here is what I’ve been looking to get. I put a bid on a set on ebay so we will see if I win. Little guys bring a pretty penny though! As far as the chrome lugs I’m not too concerned, they were cheap. When they rust or get crumby I will by a factory set from GM. My mom’s ’07 Grand Prix has them and they look great still after 6 years of year round use.

Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:22 pm
by nubuilder
Those do look pretty nice! Can't wait to see them on the car.
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:36 pm
by sandrock
Lexol is good stuff. Surf City Garage "Voodoo Blend" is better IMO. Used together over the course of a few days....heaven.
If you're not comfortable using a magic eraser (some people are, some aren't), do this:
1) Take the orange Lexol bottle (the cleaner), spray liberally over the leather. Rub it in with your hands to even the coverage, then spritz with warm water. Take a bristle brush and scrub in a circular pattern. After you've gone over the seat, wipe it off with a clean white towel.
2) Look at all the nastiness that is on the towel.
3) Repeat 1&2.
4)Take the brown Lexol (conditioner) and spray on seat. Again, rub in with your hands to ensure even coverage. Walk away for 20 minutes.
5) Repeat 4.
6) Your seat should start losing the cardboard hardness and getting back to supple feeling at this point. After this I follow up with the Voodoo blend every so often to keep it that way.
http://www.amazon.com/Surf-City-Garage- ... B001Q7VRVM
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:48 am
by nubuilder
FYI - I know for a fact that the G6 uses those center caps. (my mom has one; no I am not stealing hers)
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 4:31 pm
by BonnieBoy08
Just won the bid on the center caps! : ) 32 bucks, I sure hope they fit now. My first ever bid win on eBay, this could be the start of a bad habit haha! AND my box of goodies from ZZP is awaiting me at home...AND its 71 degrees right now! Shaping up to be a good weekend.
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:34 pm
by BonnieBoy08
Here's my ZZP order. Nothing major, but a guy's gotta start somewhere right? Tomorrow morning I'm running into town for some sandpaper for headlights and some leather care stuff. Gonna be an enjoyable day in the garage hopefully! Here's my order, they even gave me a little decal. No complaints about these guys and will order from again in the future. Prices were reasonable and it shipped FAST!

Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 12:11 am
by BonnieBoy08
Was a busy weekend but Gina is looking good! Got the headlights all done and they look great! Took them out and put in the vice to sand away at. Had a nice haze at the end, I figured no way they will ever look good again. Hit it with the clear and BAM they look better than new. Did 2 light coats and they were looking a little orange peely so on the 3rd I laid it on heavier and they looked nice. Happy with the new headlight bulbs. On brights I can especially notice a difference. The light is alot whiter now, I really notice it driving down the freeway next to someone with regular bulbs. Thermostat and fuel filter are in and hopefully my injectors will be happily flowing soon after the cleaner runs its course. Managed to snap a few pics. Wish I would have gotten more with the headlight process but oh well. Took them out, sanded, then masked off and covered everything with newspaper to spray...just like a pro haha. I was pretty proud of myself. Couldn't find Lexol leather care so I went with the Meguiars gold class and am pleased with the results.
After buld install and 3rd coat with newspaper and masking removed:
Before:

After!
New headlights, my phone hates bright light I guess but they look good. Just a nice bright white light and a nice price too.

Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 12:44 am
by BonneMe
Looks good! Time for a pulley soon...
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 9:34 pm
by BonnieBoy08
Is that the next step in terms of performance? Would I need a tune to do that? Honestly, I'm happy with the stock power for now. After driving a 4 cylinder Alero for 2 years this thing has gobs of power compared to that. I want to stick with cosmetic upgrades for the time being. Undercoating, rust prevention, rust repair, a decal or 2, pinstripe, sunroof vent, and some misc. painting of parts.
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 9:43 pm
by BonnieBoy08
Also, I seen I've been nominated for COTM. Big thanks to whoever nominated me, no idea how that works! Any votes appreciated but may the best man win! I do hope to have the car looking alot prettier with better pics in the coming months and year...lots of shopping list components to go haha.
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 10:34 am
by rfoster
Those headlights look awesome. AND it'll last 2 years!!

Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 1:43 pm
by BonnieBoy08
Another good weekend in the garage. I changed the oil and added my magnetic drain plug. Rotated the tires and finally got to put my chrome center caps and lug nuts on! Finished it all off with a good polish. They look awesome and I think it’s safe to say I have arguably the best looking set of bent 5s on the site.

Rims were basically welded to the hub with road salt. I cringed just looking at that caked on nasty white *stuff* I cleaned the inside of the rims up with some degreaser, they look tons better but are far from perfect.
Also got my tail lights smoked, I’m very pleased with how they turned out and it covered the ugly delamination I had going on. Guy I had do it took them off the car, sanded with 2000 grit, sprayed with adhesion promoter then a coat of VHT nightshades, then wet sanded with 2500 and shot with another coat. Cleared, sanded, and polished. My parents even pitched in being it was my birthday last week.

I will try and get a better pic to put up on here soon.

Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 2:01 pm
by nos4blood70
*dang*, she looks amazing!
Your bent 5's look like Ed's. Although I'm partial to the black centercap.
Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:51 pm
by BonnieBoy08
Here’s some better pics of the tail lights. Also forgot to mention that I installed the hockey puck mount this weekend and am very pleased so far! The other mount was completely shot. My transmission shifts into drive and reverse much smoother and quicker now. There is some vibration but it is very minimal and goes away completely at freeway cruising speeds. I don’t mind it at all, makes me feel more in touch with the car. Only complaint is that it’s a bit louder in the cockpit when accelerating and drowns out a lot of my supercharger whine.
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Re: 2003 SSEi- new user
Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:03 pm
by 00Beast
My bent 5's look nice when they're on my car, but looking at every other surface on them, yikes...
Car looks good! Glad to see you're taking good care of her.
'Gina' the 2003 SSEi -polished n pretty
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 12:25 am
by BonnieBoy08