My Baby is home! 2SS/RS Black w/IOM

[Michael_Js]

I don't want it that dark - its a pain to see out the rear as it is!! Also, I don't need a "fix-it" ticket for dark tint - since the sides are illegal even at 65%!

[Michael_Js]

Ok, a placeholder for the work I'm doing right now - pictures to follow. I've just installed the new black chrome painted steering wheel trim. It was a little scary taking out the airbag, but it went VERY smoothly!! I already put in the new painted steering wheel trim and I figure while the air bag is out, I'd paint the chrome circle around it black chrome as well Been taking lots of pictures and will do a write-up when it's completed. A few coats of paint and a few of clear coat, then pictures...

Funny, after I disconnected the battery, my alarm went off! I forgot the Viper has a battery backup alarm that can only be turned off with a key!

The airbag was not hard to remove - just followed a previous DIY (http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...steering+wheel) on how to remove the steering wheel from the forum. I used a long handle T20 driver. The silver steering wheel bezel basically pulls out. I started with a small screwdriver on both pointed corners then slowly pulled all the way around.

Another excellent DIY thread on removing the steering wheel trim & airbag: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73511

There's a small black ground wire at the top under the bezel and i was careful to leave it there and make sure it went back in the same spot.

Next, to paint the 2 side C A M A R O logos Black Metallic

Pictures...

Before starting (bezel trim behind is already painted Black Metallic:


Airbag off:


Closeup shot - trim mostly pulled out:


Note how the prongs pull from the sockets - all plastic & rubber here.


The thin black ground wire actually sits under the bezel. Don't break this!


Trim off - the steering wheel controls on each side. The new trim actually came WITH the 2 control pods! I used the new ones.


The new painted trim installed. Pushed each pointed corned in, then pushed around the top & bottom.


The airbag before masking & painting. I only painted the round chrome trim.


masked off and painted. 3 coats of Gloss Black Metallic and 3 coats of Gloss Clear Coat.


The next project - Black Metallic C A M A R O lettering


The tool used to remove the airbag. Scary part!


The painted airbag


The end product!

[2010SLVRBULIT]

..wow..think you've hit the point of no return..no where's that S/C?

[Gotthat02fire]

Nice this Camaro is sweet nice work keep it up!!!!

[Michael_Js]

Originally Posted by 2010SLVRBULIT

..wow..think you've hit the point of no return..no where's that S/C?

No return? Where would I return to?? SC is down the road. More suspenion mods coming up...

Originally Posted by Gotthat02fire

Nice this Camaro is sweet nice work keep it up!!!!

Thank you! I enjoy making personal mods to her!

[Michael_Js]

OK, maybe I wired this wrong. The colors didn't match what I found at the passenger side connectors. I wired it there, maybe it should have went before that spot?

So, the driving lights come on fine as well as the brakes light. brake light isn't that much brighter, but it still looks cool. Only thing is since the driving lights ARE the same as the turn signal, my bowtie blinks with the right turn signal

Doesn't really bother me, it's just the way it came out. I really like how it looks!!

My Hotchkis chassis brace is in and should be here this week. Still has the KW V3's in and I will hopefully have those installed this coming week. PFadt front brace is in as well as the rear trailing arm.

[ChriSS84]

The car looks great... Keep it up!!

[Michael_Js]

Thanks...More suspension mods next Wed - 4/14
Appt set with Stillen

[Michael_Js]

Ok, I added the AAC Style LED HALO's to the DRLs today - they are the AAC LED DRLs.

Total install was about 1 1/2 hours - not including a 2 hour dry time for the silicone of the lens back to the housing. They are NOT connected to a power source yet. I ordered the wireless DRL controller so I can control the DRLs and the DRL HALOs separately. I cut the lens off the housing with a Dremel. I took my time and it went very smoothly with no issues. You just follow the gap between the housing and the lens.

The bumper after the housing & DRL housing removed. Only the top 2 and bottom left holes are used. Not sure what the other hole is for.



The outside DRL housing. It was a PITA to get out! there are 5 clips and you have to keep it pulled out as you go along from the inside else it reconnects the tabs!



I marked the lens to housing before I cut it off with a Dremel so I could line it back up. here the hols is already drilled on the bottom for the HALO wire to go through. You can see the 3M adhesive strips on the HALO, but there really isn't Anywhere to attach to!



Hole drilled and cleaned and ready for the HALO to be attached:


Test fit. The bottom stays fixed pretty good with the hole being just a tad bigger than the wires.


I used LocTite cement to attach the HALO ring with locations on the top and the bottom.


LocTite Power Grab. The red dot is the top of the housing.


Quick grip clamps. They are great! ONE note to self: when using a clamp, protect the surface you are clamping to! There was a small abrasion on both lens tops. Now, they are covered with a tint shield, so i didn't actually scratch the lens.


Both housings silicone sealed and clamped. I also silicone sealed the holes with the wires coming through.


You can see a little too much silicone was used on the left lens, right top. You don't need to much, so just spread it with your fingers to cover and don't let too much gather on the inside edge of the housing. outside edge is fine since you can wipe it off after you put the cover back on.


A lighter shot - they are connected to a Sears DieHard Power Sports battery. I use that to test all the 12V electronics And to power a trolling motor.


this is the passenger side housing from the inside. The DRL socket is connected with 3 push pins and the DRL housing is inserted with 5 tabs. The LED DRL bulb is plugged in already:


Closeup shot. For now, the HALOs will just have the wires hanging down.


I tested them again with the Sears DieHard battery. Passenger's side with just HALO on


Passenger's side with DRL also on


Driver's side with just HALO on


Driver's side with DRL also on

[Michael_Js]

Ok, I ordered the CARiD.com - Black Interior Trim package. I like most of the pieces, some I didn't use. I really wanted to cover all the circular silver vent trims with black, but only the center part came in the kit.

Anyway, i used the center vent trim, the radio top & bottom, the 4 pack-gauge trim as well as the console around it. Also trimmed both door window control areas as well as by the light controls and the emblem area that I have my build info plaque. Overall I think it came out ok. They had lots of steering wheel trim but I just painted mine so i didn't use any of that.

Some looks good, some looks cheap to me since it doesn't cover everything. the console by the stick/gauges looks incomplete. The radio control/fan control looks cheap since it has cutouts for the control graphics.

Anyway, if I like it, i'll keep it. Else I'll rip it out. It has very strong 3M backing so you have to take your time else it sticks where you lay it!

[STRUT1]

Sweet mods!!!

[Michael_Js]

Thanks! After the suspension mods next week, I'll be getting Gary's vented fenders and Heritage Grille

That's after I build up some more $$$

[wlorton]

Ok, now I posted earlier that I liked the black/black with red accents... and this thread... Is better than I imagined, also, your car screams PURE AWESOMENESS!....

I would love to see more of this.... If those red side accents fit better I think you wouldn't be able to make it look any better...

[Michael_Js]

Thanks! They are IOM spears on the hood. The side orange spears were removed since they didn't match the real IOM color on the hood.