A Slick Top Stripper in Mystic Blue

[oceansize]

Well I bought Kevin's (kaiv) Mystic Blue Coupe, so that's cool. I've had my convertible since 2018 and I've made quite a few upgrades. I consider it my learner e46. I was new to this platform and made quite a few goofs along the way but did some good stuff too.

Upgrades for the convertible include (all completed within the last 8,000 to 9,000 miles):

1. RACP Reinforcement
2. GC ARCA
3. 3.91 Diff from diffs online
4. CMP RTABs and Subframe bushings
5. ESS Supercharger
6. GC Coilovers (koni/eibach)
7. Replacing every rubber bushing and ball joint
8. Lots of general maintenance (motor mounts, head light lenses, etc)
9. Interior swap from grey to black and imola
10. SMG Relocation to the drug bin
11. Rebuilt SMG Pump
12. Refinished my door panels
13. Refinished inside door pulls to titanium base coat/clear coat.
14. BAV sound
15. Sony head unit with carplay.
16. Apex ARC-8s 19x9 et28 and 19x9.5 et 22 (with 3mm spacer)
17. Beisan VANOS exhaust Hub, seals, and coil pack

My new car left Kevin yesterday.





More to come. For now I'll be moving the the following parts from the convertible to the new coupe.

1. The 3.91 diff
2. ARCAs
3. Coilovers

[bavarian3]

Congrats! this will be a good one. Can't hurt buying from Kaiv.

[oceansize]

With the rod bearings, clutch, flywheel, and PP that Kevin installed I have time to consider where I take this since it requires a break in period.

Likely to be, in no particular order.

1. New Headers (probably euro headers)
2. New Section 1 (probably euro)
3. CSL Airbox
4. Proper suspension setup using flat ride principles (for now, GC coilovers I have on hand with the least amount of drop possible)
5. Switch from the AKG poly 95a RTABs to solid. I'll drive the polys for a bit and see what I think.
6. Installing the almost new 3.91 diff that I have (diffs online).
7. Install Arc 8s that I have.
8. GC ARCAs
9. Top side reinforcement for the RACP.
10. I have Alcantera head liner material from Relicate to replace the sagging headliner.

Then way down the priority list is:

1. The strut tower to fire wall bracing by heinzboehmer
2. Slon rear seat brace thing.

[Obioban]

How's the coupe vs the vert?

[kaiv]

With the rod bearings, clutch, flywheel, and PP that Kevin installed I have time to consider where I take this since it requires a break in period.

Likely to be, in no particular order.

1. New Headers (probably euro headers)
2. New Section 1 (probably euro)
3. CSL Airbox
   (...)

I think I have all of these lol

As for the AKG RTABs, please do give them a try. I know they're not the RTAB du jour but I've installed countless sets since before monoballs were a thing for this application, with 0 complaints. They are tight, quiet, and a lifetime part. They just do the job IMHO.

I did upgrade to SDW on my sedan. The design is clearly superior with solid casing and sealed balljoint but I don't have a negative thing to say about the AKG.

[heinzboehmer]

Congrats!

What's the plan for the vert? Swap the parts over and keep alongside the coupe?

[*]The strut tower to fire wall bracing by heinzboehmer

Yeeesss. Would love to see this on more cars. 3D printed aluminum strut tower brackets ordered yesterday, will have some more updates on those soon.

You should add the Bry5on fender braces to your chassis stiffening list. Cheap and much easier to install than the other two things.

[oceansize]

How's the coupe vs the vert?

First thing I’m going to do when the car gets here. Drive one, then drive the other. Cool thing is they will have the same wheels and same tires. Be fun.

Being transported via enclosed trailer currently.

[oceansize]

Congrats!

What's the plan for the vert? Swap the parts over and keep alongside the coupe?

Yeeesss. Would love to see this on more cars. 3D printed aluminum strut tower brackets ordered yesterday, will have some more updates on those soon.

You should add the Bry5on fender braces to your chassis stiffening list. Cheap and much easier to install than the other two things.

Swapping some parts and my wife wants to drive the convertible. Makes sense, didn’t really consider that until she mentioned it.

I forgot about the fender bracing, will do. I’m also going to load up Bryson’s mullet tune once the airbox and exhaust mods are done.

[oceansize]

I think I have all of these lol

As for the AKG RTABs, please do give them a try. I know they're not the RTAB du jour but I've installed countless sets since before monoballs were a thing for this application, with 0 complaints. They are tight, quiet, and a lifetime part. They just do the job IMHO.

I did upgrade to SDW on my sedan. The design is clearly superior with solid casing and sealed balljoint but I don't have a negative thing to say about the AKG.

I figured if you installed those RTABs they must be good. I’m definitely not going to rip them out now. I believe you.

[0-60motorsports]

Congrats! Kaiv is good people.

[oceansize]

I'm shocked they got here so fast. Kevin needed garage space and I wanted to accommodate so I simply googled and used what popped up first. In this case Nexus. They are a middle man.

Communication during the initial stages? Good. They hired Z Trans. Z Trans sucks at communication, I mean horrible. However, they did a good job, truck was nice and clean, driver was fine. So all in all I'm happy. $1895 from San Diego to NE TN. That was super affordable in my opinion.

[Obioban]

Wowza. Last time I shipped a car (FL to PA, in 2019), it was $700!

[oceansize]

Wowza. Last time I shipped a car (FL to PA, in 2019), it was $700!

The first two quotes were $2600 and $3400. Why I felt like I did alright lol. Neither could get to the car for at least 2 weeks.

[fattycharged]

Am I just crazy, or does shipping a vehicle enclosed that I drive outside, seem pointless.
I just paid under $800 to ship a $100k Land Cruiser on a 20hr drive, that got to me in under 36hrs from the time of booking.


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[samthejam]

Am I just crazy, or does shipping a vehicle enclosed that I drive outside, seem pointless.
I just paid under $800 to ship a $100k Land Cruiser on a 20hr drive, that got to me in under 36hrs.


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Presumably if the car is going to a show or dealer and has had a lot of detailing work or done or something. I could see wanting to keep it covered, especially if it heavily leans towards a collector car (shiny car that rots in a climate controlled space). If the car actually gets used frequently, I 100% agree with you. Also covered would protect against something unexpected like Hail.