MackMan's 1LT/RS Build Thread

[MackMan]

Hello all! Now that I'm finally getting a chance to make some decently large changes to the car I figured I'd create a build thread to keep it all together. Here goes my story...

It all started as my wife and I were going to test drive a 2LT/RS Camaro for the first time. I had been looking at Camaros for about a year or so on this site dreaming I'd own one someday. We got to the dealership and the car was in great condition, only 13k miles, black, and $26,000. I drove the car and fell in love, although we left the dealership empty handed as they couldn't give me a price that I could afford. As we were driving down the road there was a Toyota dealership and in the back of the lot I see another black Camaro for sale, we pulled into the lot to check it out.

The car wasn't as good of shape as the other car, but I still loved it and the windows were already tinted. We ended up leaving the dealership paying $24,900 for this 2011 1LT/RS with 13k miles. I didn't put any money down, got a 3.9% interest rate I believe and I pay $476 a month for it and about $90 a month for insurance. I'm 23, married, and own a house.

The car did have some issues I wanted fixed by the dealership in the agreement that I'd purchase it.

At the dealership:


Wal-Mart parking lot the night I bought it.


I asked for 3 things, an extra key (because it only had 1 at the time), fix the cracked bumper (which they wouldn't tell me what happened to it… ugh should have known something was up), and fix any blemishes or small dents in the car. The dealership agreed and actually sent the car to a body shop my cousin works at so he said he'd take good care of my car and make sure it's right.

When I was at the dealership I didn't do the obvious thing, as for the carfax. The next day I found the carfax online and it noted slight damage due to accident in front. I immediately called the dealership and asked why they didn't tell me this, as I asked over and over if they had any idea what happened to the front end, they told me that another car backed into the Camaro while it was parked at a gas station. I can't tell you how mad I was about this , but the deal was done and the issue could be fixed. Here's what it looked like when I got the car.

iPhone has transformers back on it! Fits the car well, haha.


Once they sent the car to my cousin he told me that I'd need a new bumper, but the dealership didn't want to pay for that so he fixed it the best he could. It looked great for a while, but is now cracking again. No big deal there wasn't any real major damage, you live and you learn.

Anyways, I now own a 2011 Camaro! Permagrim begins! The day I night I drove the car home from the dealership I couldn't stop smiling!

So all the bad stuff aside I started looking for things to do to my car.

There aren't many Camaros, maybe 5, in the town I live in so I wanted to stand out from the other black one that I know of. I started off with getting black vinyl for the bowties. Bought the material from Wal-Mart for one of those vinyl cutting machines, was flat black. Maybe $5. Also decided to black out my tail light bezels and get a blackout kit from CamaroDecalStore.com.



I then wanted to wake up the sound a bit, so I started searching the forum for exhaust ideas. I decided to go with the muffler delete from a local shop. Cost me $200 to cut the 'suitcases' off and put chrome tips on.







I then decided to do hugger orange hash marks. CamaroDecalStore.com $30.




I had these on just 1 side for a bit and decided to try a blue color instead. Since I live in KY and everyone 'bleeds blue' here for Kentucky Basketball I figured I'd represent! Ha. I tried to install them myself, but I couldn't get them to come out right so I had a local sign shop do them for about $50 both sides installed.




Once I decided to go with the blue stripes I bought some interior blue lighting from AAC. (Dome light, footwells, and trunk light) I believe I got the kit on sale for like $60-70 something like that.




Also got some more exterior blue from EmblemPros. Blue inlay outlined in Onyx. Pretty awesome.





Here are some pics on Skyline Drive in West Virginia from when I was on vacation recently. Car was really dirty after the 500+ mile trip, but still looks good with the background scenery.














Got a good wash down once I got home by my wife and I. Best one yet!
These are a few of my hood, like a mirror! Beautiful!














These are the small things I've done so far to the car. I'm always looking for new things to do, just to make it different. Currently I have an MPD Z-Force hood coming my way, JDP Color changing halo kit, and blue G2 caliper paint. Hoping these things will be in and done by the middle of next month.

In the future I'm trying to get either a heritage grill and new V6 bumper, or go all out and get the ZL1 bumper kit, haven't decided yet. Going to purchase a CAI once the hood comes in as well. Can't wait!

I will post more pictures as things develop.

[MackMan]

Painted my console with plastidip, turned out great IMO.



Painted the speedo bezel, didn't turn out too great. I can't figure out why it's bunching up at certain parts. Might end up getting it and the console painted glossy black while I'm getting my hood painted.



Also painted my calipers blue and plastidipped my wheels. The wheels are a little rough. Ended up having to paint the rear wheels by spotlight lol.

Here are some pics of the process. More to come today.







The black wheels definitely make my car more stealthy looking. I like it!! This was just to get an idea if I wanted my wheels powder coated black. Will probably go with glossy black instead, but I'll leave it like this until I need to take it off or I get the money to powder coat them.

[Inferno LS3]

Plasti dip is awesome! It's a quick way to paint something and it's not permanent.

[dmwhiteman]

Looking good! I like the blue hash marks much better than the orange

[MackMan]

Originally Posted by Inferno LS3

Plasti dip is awesome! It's a quick way to paint something and it's not permanent.

Yeah plasti dip is pretty awesome. Just read on here they make a gloss spray for it too. Might have to look into that next!

Originally Posted by dmwhiteman

Looking good! I like the blue hash marks much better than the orange

Thanks. It was my wife's idea haha. Black and orange reminded me too much of halloween. Lol.

[MackMan]

Going to start resizing my pictures, those things are huge!

Here are my wheels and calipers completed. Not the best job, not really satisfied with the plastidip job I did, but hey it's reversible so no worries!

Might not leave it on there long... was just a test trial for black wheels. I like it, but I like the chrome better on the black car.




Note to self, use a better camera! Haha iPhone just isn't cutting it at night shots, very grainy - my apologies.

[MackMan]

Bump! I will be posting pictures tonight of my JDP Color changing halo kit. It looks great! Can't wait to show it off at a car show next weekend!

[MackMan]

JDP Lights installed


Also, the wife and I are working on a 'little' project.








Hope to finish this tomorrow and I'll post some pics.



ALSO, test fitting my hood tomorrow! Will post pics of that as well. Can't wait.

[MackMan]

Hood was a great fit. Getting painted now. Will have my car all shined up and ready for its first car show Saturday!

MPD1 Z-Force hood




Bottom is now painted.




Top is scuffed and ready to be painted.


Car exterior is cleaned and ready for the new hood. Ready for the car show Saturday as well.

[MackMan]

JDP Headlights installed!

[MackMan]

Will post pictures of my hood installed today sometime. It's all rainy outside.

[ActNup NY]

Looking real BOSSY there Mack !!! I like it.

[MackMan]

Originally Posted by ZIPNBY

Looking real BOSSY there Mack !!! I like it.

Lol. Thanks. Trying to figure out what I want to do next. Probably a new set of wheels and tires. Mine are pretty bashed up from previous owner. Can't decide on what I want/can afford.

[Ponte]

like the car! looks good

[MackMan]

Originally Posted by Ponte

like the car! looks good

Thanks! I'll be getting the heritage grill soon, and some grill lighting.

[SoCalThug]

Love the blue hash marks great choice! My next mod is to get halo lights after I get my rims on this weekend

[MackMan]

Originally Posted by SoCalThug

Love the blue hash marks great choice! My next mod is to get halo lights after I get my rims on this weekend

Sweet definitely check out the JDP kit it's pretty simple to do and they look great. I get lots of looks with them.

[MackMan]

Did a mini photoshoot today for the local paper. Getting a professional to take some pictures Sunday if the weather is nice.

Here's one picture I decided to edit and play around with. Came out pretty neat IMO.



Had a friend of mine take some pictures of my car yesterday. Here are the 3 I need to choose from to enter this local contest. It's called 'The hottest ride in Winchester'.

Here's what we came up with...




In the background is the courthouse watch tower.


Winchester sign.

[cyberLS]

i like what you did with the car. and i really like that hood on your car!

[MackMan]

Originally Posted by cyberLS

i like what you did with the car. and i really like that hood on your car!

Thanks man, I love the hood as well. Really sets the car off, and makes it different from any other camaros around where I live.

[MackMan]

Grill lights finally installed. Sorry for the camera angle, you can see the lights. They're really not crooked like that either haha.

[DPerry]

Originally Posted by MackMan

Grill lights finally installed. Sorry for the camera angle, you can see the lights. They're really not crooked like that either haha.

looks great! glad I could help too!

[MackMan]

Originally Posted by DPerry

looks great! glad I could help too!

Yeah man, I appreciate everything!

[MackMan]

Updated my interior with some trim. Gotta figure out how to fix the ends were the fabric comes together though. I think it looks great

Hoping my embroidered headrests come in today!

[was619]

Wow! Great looking car! I love what you have done with it so far! and the Hood.....
Does the JDP Colored halo kit have a bright white? I noticed that you can have some or most of the in between colors. Can you 'freeze' a certain color and have it set to that or just have to turn them on separately from your regular marker light setting?

Thanks and good luck with the car!
Ps. I am doing some blue accents on my car too! lookin good!