Widebody VR4 Build

[green-lantern]

IDK, it's hard to pull off different color engine bays. Most of the time it looks like you painted the car without painting the bay. Not done on purpose

[futurevr4man]

Well, progress has been slow because I've been generally busy with other things. But I'll give a brief update!

I took my new black dash and swapped the wiring harness from the dash that came with the car. Thinking back on it now, I am not sure if the old harness had a spot for this sensor or not, but I didn't think it would.

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So I swapped the harness just to be safe. This is where the sensor plugs in:

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So I knew I needed to get that sensor out of my old dash, which required me to pull my old dash. I'm tired of pulling dashes (the third one for this project now...). In pulling my old dash I discovered something and was reminded of a lot of other somethings...

I discovered that my old car had the airbag go off on the passenger side in the past.

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And I was reminded just how bad my wiring woes were. Some of you all thought my current project's wiring was bad... now you see what I was up against on my last car (this isn't the worst of it either), and why I won't fix it after being wrecked... just too much to fix.

Crazy "Python" security system. I tried to mess with it once and the car wouldn't start again. So I somehow reset it, and left it be at that point.
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[futurevr4man]

I can only link 5 pics per post...

So after getting out the dash, getting off that sensor, making sure my other dash harness had the plug, then it was time to try and put it all together with my newly acquired dash vents that I got from Pete at NG!

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But, to my dismay, they didn't fit at all. I didn't realize how much they overlapped (but that's not the deal breaker)

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But they didn't line up correctly at all (deal breaker). The bend of the vent doesn't seem to line up with my dash either...

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So that brought me to the end of my evening. I was frustrated at that point. I'll get some plastic stock vents to put in there, and if they crack, then I'll replace them again. I may buy a few sets of stockers just to have on the shelf. Hopefully this car won't be sitting in the sun too much though.

Stealth sails will be installed in the near future!

[j2k4]

Gnate, check out some of the BMW blues over the last couple of years - there's a 'cobalt'-type blue that's fantastic, but when I went to look for it, I find they have several interesting blues...

[Alan92RTTT]

Are the vents for your year dash?

[green-lantern]

Your pics aren't working.

Is your dash 1st gen? If so and they will fit my dash I'll be glad to take them off your hands.

[futurevr4man]

Pics fixed, there is no difference in years that I know of... and there is no year option on 3sx's site.

Paul, if you would like them, I will gladly give them to you for a very discounted price!

[sergechronos]

I'm leaning towards blue. Like a nice deep cobalt blue.



I would paint it myself. I may just leave it gray, and get some touchup paint.

The kind of finish you are looking for would be a matte finish, which has slightly more sheen than flat which also makes it slightly more durable. Any base coat color would work, then just top with a matte clear coat for best of both worlds. That said, the factory finish is somewhere around a flat to matte finish, and it can look quite jarring. For any type of paint, flatter finishes hide imperfections more easily and glossier finishes are more durable. Typical progression of sheen is flat, matte, satin, semigloss, gloss.

With a good deep cobalt blue (I'm partial to the GM Lapis Blue personally as my current favorite) I'd likely just go full gloss anyhow as it's easier to wipe clean and more resistant to damage from fluids, and it would highly metallic flake and what not in the paint. Just my .02 though.

[futurevr4man]

Apparently the dash vents are supposed to be like they are. The pieces that come with them "hook" under the cover, and you don't actually use the screw holes. Makes sense now. I am still going to get some stock vents though.

Paul, I'll text you.

[green-lantern]

Paul, if you would like them, I will gladly give them to you for a very discounted price!

12 pack? lol

Apparently the dash vents are supposed to be like they are. The pieces that come with them "hook" under the cover, and you don't actually use the screw holes. Makes sense now. I am still going to get some stock vents though.

Paul, I'll text you.

I'm at work right now and can't have my phone. I'll call or text when I get off.