Carbon - My 2011 CGM 2SS/RS [COTW 4/21/14]

[Pharmaro]

I really don't know why I've waited this long to do this, but I'm certainly kicking myself now because of the backlog of photo's I've done.

In January of 2011 my daily driver, a 2003 Honda Civic SI, was "reverse rear-ended" by a tank of an early 2000's Acura. I was driving to work in the wee hours of the morning and I came to a stop behind this car which was stopped behind another car. All of sudden I see reverse lights and before I can react theres an Acura laying on top of my hood. She told the responding police officer that she had seen a movie the previous weekend where the main characters were carjacked a similar way and she was just trying to escape.

Anyway, the hunt for a new car was on and it was my WIFE's suggestion to look at a Camaro as she knew I had always wanted an American muscle car.

It was love at first sight......

Here is Carbon on the day she became mine. As to why she's Carbon, well, you'll see.





Power

Roto-Fab CAI
Magnaflow Competition Series Catback w/ Truflow X-pipe
1 7/8" Pfadt Tri-Y Headers
Comp Cams Boost Friendly Custom Grind Cam
Hardened Pushrods, BT Valve Springs, Timing Chain, Melling Oil Pump
VMAX Ported TB
Apex Scoop w/ washer bottle delete
Tuned by CincySpeed
471/425 rwhp/tq

Suspension/Wheels

20" Matte Black Forgestar F14's 9 in front 10 in rear
BMR Trailing Arms
BMR Sway Bars
BMR Toe Rods
BMR Full Bushing Replacement
BMR Endlinks
BMR 1" Lowering Springs
BMR Strut Tower Brace
DBa Slotted Rotors
Hawks Ceramic Pads
BF Goodrich Stainless Steel brake lines
Installed by Raymond's Performance

Cosmetic

Exterior
DJ Grilles "Hawkeye" Grille - Matte Black
VIS Terminator Hood - Carbon Fiber
Seibon ST-style Deck Lid - Carbon Fiber
Street Scene Splitter - Carbon Fiber
RideSkinz Side Skirts - Carbon Fiber
CarbonFibre Works Mirror Covers - Carbon Fiber
AAC Ghosted Side Markers
AAC Plasma DRLs
AAC Afterburners
JDP Colorshift Halos
RPI Carbon Fiber Gills
EmblemPros Hydrodipped Carbon Fiber Taillight/Fog Light Bezels

Engine Bay
CarbonFibre Works plenum cover, fuse box cover, master cylinder cover, radiator shroud, fender trim - Carbon Fiber
Billet Custom AC port, hood cylinder rod, relay cover, heat sink cover, oil dipstick cover, pulley covers - Satin Finish
EmblemPros - custom stainless steel hood liner - Satin/Carbon Fiber
VMS Engine Cap Covers - Gunmetal
Apex Motorsports Catch Can
Holley Big Block Coil Pack Covers - Red
JDP Heater Hose Relocate
Braided Nylon Split Loom Wire Cover

Interior
Remin Carbon Fiber Trim Kit
Custom Carbon Fiber Sill Trim and Armrest
ACS Rear Deck Lid - CGM/Carbon Fiber
SRP Pedals

Recent Photos

[Pharmaro]

My first round of mods included some AAC Plasma DRL's to match the headlight, carbon fiber mirror covers, carbon fiber gills, a Roto-Fab CAI with hydrographic finish, and custom license plate!

[Pharmaro]

I then decided to get some AAC Afterburners, a Remin Carbon Fiber trim kit, some hydrodipped foglight/taillight bezels from Roger at EmblemPros, and a carbon fiber radiator shroud cover from Carbon by Design.

[Pharmaro]

I decided to work on the exterior some more with a Vis Terminator Hood and Seibon ST-Style rear deck lid, both carbon fiber of course, and a phantom grille. I also plastidipped my rims, painted my calipers red, and worked on my engine bay with a JDP heater hose relocate, holley big block covers, and some carbon fiber.

[Pharmaro]

I was tired of doing strictly cosmetic mods so for Christmas I called up Chase at Apex (who happens to be a sponsor of our local Camaro club) and Tony and Deviate Motoring to have these show up.





Around the same time I was part of the initial group buy for the DJ Grilles Hawkeye.





After a trip to Raymond's Performance and some cold days in the driveway installing the grille, I entered the car into a Carl Casper's Custom Auto Show and ended up with a first in class trophy!

[Pharmaro]

I was approached by Chase and Paul at Apex Motorsports to participate in a photoshoot with them. It was awesome! It was neat to see how they set up the background and lighting to capture the silhoutte of the car. O
h and Apex Amanda and Morgan were pretty sweet too.

[lbheat]

My hats off to you man. That is one sweet ride

[aquablueL99]

I have your car in my garage....lookin' great!!

Kurt ABL99...

[Vengeance Graphix]

sweet ride you have there!

[Behic2320]

very cool build love the photo shoot set up

[camaro500]

congrats beautiful car and wow the carbon fibre is awesome

[Misfit1]

What no carbon fiber bowties??? Looks awsome!!! how do you like that grill?? Fitment?

[Pharmaro]

Originally Posted by lbheat

My hats off to you man. That is one sweet ride

Thanks! I appreciate it, it has been a work in progress!

Originally Posted by aquablueL99

I have your car in my garage....lookin' great!!

Kurt ABL99...

I was really excited when I found out that Chase and Paul at Apex selected my car for their poster this year.

Originally Posted by xVengeancex28

sweet ride you have there!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Behic2320

very cool build love the photo shoot set up

Thanks! It was a pretty cool experience to see how they manipulated everything to get a silhoutte on a black background with a dark car.

Originally Posted by camaro500

congrats beautiful car and wow the carbon fibre is awesome

Thanks! It is a bit of an obsession and is certainly not for everybody.

Originally Posted by Misfit1

What no carbon fiber bowties??? Looks awsome!!! how do you like that grill?? Fitment?

Haha, actually, I only have the rear bowtie and it is carbon fiber with a matte black surround.

I love the grille because nobody has it around here. It was a big gamble for me because I did the install myself and it was such a new product. I was lucky enough to get it for a price that is nowhere near the current retail price and to date, customer service with DJ grilles has been excellent, if not slow. In terms of fitment, I did do the install myself so it wasn't done professionally. There is a little bit of open space at the portion above the doors. Fortunately, it isn't too noticable unless you're crouched down and up close.

[Pharmaro]

While the engine bay had a bunch of cosmetic work to it, I haven't always been happy with the underside of my VIS Terminator hood. It has a smooth finish for the most part, but the cowl portion has a rougher texture to it. I am lucky to live an hour away from EmblemPros and had been in contact with Roger about developing an underhood liner to spruce things up a bit.

We came up with an idea to do a brushed stainless piece with "CARBON" Camaro fender-style lettering and a bowtie cutout with carbon fiber backing. It took about 5 trips to get the template correct but the end result turned out great.




I had also picked up an ACS rear deck liner painted CGM at this past year's Camaro5Fest and instead of purchasing the carbon fiber vinyl and chrome fender lettering, I met with Roger again and he came up with the carbon fiber pieces and some brushed stainless lettering.