Caz's Camaro Journey
Caz's Camaro Journey
How is everyone doing? Just joined the forum after buying a 1998 Camaro (Coupe, v6 3800, T Top, 69k miles, previous front end wreck). Can't wait to see what fun things I learn on my journey here. This is my 2nd ever car, coming from a 99' Subaru Legacy Wagon. So this car is probably going to see a lot of changes and first timer mods. 
PIX
THINGS I HAVE "DONE"
October 2012 Replaced HU with Pioneer DEH-P5200HD, with Wiring Harness.
September 2012 No more Tint (THANKS COPS)
November 2012 Replaced Spark Plugs, Battery, and Alternator
February 2013 Took out hatch speakers (blown)
PIX
NEW Tentative Mod List for Summer 2013
After 6+ Months of having this babe. I have got a feel for things, and now I will start having money to spend, and it will be warming up soon, so mods will be incoming!
Audio
Bought a wiring harness and dropped in (literally...it is ONLY being held with tape on the inside because the dash kit I bought was garbage). Dropped in my Pioneer DEH-P5200HD from my last car and now have things running much better.
Still planning on a HUGE speaker system upgrade. I want to keep the HU I currently have, but since the 98Maro is a 1.5DIN I plan on detting a .5DIN EQ and dropping that in, then getting a nice dash kit to wrap that all together.
Dash Kit $20shipped
Clarion EQ $50Shipped
Seats
I would still like to get a nice pair of bucket seats for the girl. Maybe even heated. Definitely need a chevy bow tie on them.
This is a very tentative mod. Lots of other things will come before this mod.
Rims/Tires
This mod has come up and needs to be assessed. I like my stock stuff, but I would like to have some THINNER looking tires (not tread, just the side walls) as well as some newer rims.
I don't know of anywhere cheap on this. But over the last 6 months I have made lots of friends in the car community and I know where I can get work and deals done now.
I would be willing to drop a grand on rims and tires.
After 6+ Months of having this babe. I have got a feel for things, and now I will start having money to spend, and it will be warming up soon, so mods will be incoming!
Audio
Bought a wiring harness and dropped in (literally...it is ONLY being held with tape on the inside because the dash kit I bought was garbage). Dropped in my Pioneer DEH-P5200HD from my last car and now have things running much better.
Still planning on a HUGE speaker system upgrade. I want to keep the HU I currently have, but since the 98Maro is a 1.5DIN I plan on detting a .5DIN EQ and dropping that in, then getting a nice dash kit to wrap that all together.
Dash Kit $20shipped
Clarion EQ $50Shipped
Seats
I would still like to get a nice pair of bucket seats for the girl. Maybe even heated. Definitely need a chevy bow tie on them.
This is a very tentative mod. Lots of other things will come before this mod.
Rims/Tires
This mod has come up and needs to be assessed. I like my stock stuff, but I would like to have some THINNER looking tires (not tread, just the side walls) as well as some newer rims.
I don't know of anywhere cheap on this. But over the last 6 months I have made lots of friends in the car community and I know where I can get work and deals done now.
I would be willing to drop a grand on rims and tires.
October 2012 Replaced HU with Pioneer DEH-P5200HD, with Wiring Harness.
September 2012 No more Tint (THANKS COPS)
November 2012 Replaced Spark Plugs, Battery, and Alternator
February 2013 Took out hatch speakers (blown)
Last edited by Caz; Mar 19, 2013 at 10:13 PM.
Thanks man. The red is gorgeous for sure.
Thanks! Yeah, considering I spent like $6 at a $1.50 wash on washing it just before this, definitely need to learn how to clean it at my own place. Product, cloths, brushes, etc.
Thanks! Yeah, considering I spent like $6 at a $1.50 wash on washing it just before this, definitely need to learn how to clean it at my own place. Product, cloths, brushes, etc.
Yeah, I know. We will see how long it lasts. I will be broke until like October, so maybe then I can start changing that up.
Tentative Mod List in no particular order.
Again, this is my first car that I am customizing, so I will ask for help from time to time, and even if I don't please feel free to post or PM me with some help. TOTAL noob at most of this besides car audio. I do a lot of research, but still, it will take far less time and maybe get better sources if others help guide me.
Interior:
Audio:
Need to buy Wire Harness and Dash Headunit Kit ~$40, then I will be installing a Pioneer DEH-P5200HD from an my last car.
Full speaker workup. Replacing everything, first the Tweeters and Mids in the Doors with probably Alpine Type S's and idk on the Tweeters yet.
From what I know about the sail speakers, they are 6.5" Subs, so I will probably replace those with something known ATM.
Lastly, in the back, I will replace the hatch speakers, which I think are mids again, but 4" 'ers.
(Really crazy how easy it is to check this stuff out, like take the interior apart. Love that.)
Way later on I might think about replacing the stock amp, and wiring, as well as an addition of a small sub, but honestly I enjoy the audiophile-ness of music now, more than the loudness or lower frequency loudness...even though I love me some EDM.
Fabric/Seats:
I love the red on the car, definitely going to keep it that way. I think some red/black interior would fit this car much better than the grey stuff it has now. I am definitely thinking of pulling all the interior out in the future and doing a nice job on some red/black upholstery and red/black seats. If anyone can link me to some sites for help, or give me some on this. Much appreciated. I want to keep everything in house (so to speak).
I would like comfortable seats, heated too, something that is classy and black and red with Camaro or the Chevy bow tie on them.
Other Asethetics:
Complete Gauge workup. Thinking all the lines of modern and techy. I would like to know my MPG as I drive and stuff like that, something with a lot of features. Need help on this for sure.
Wheel. I want a really classy and modern wheel, all new functions and buttons to my Audio and Bluetooth and such.
Dash Buttons. All redone and modern and techy, none of this 1990s crap.
(What I could see my car interior looking like when I am done with it, is something like what a 2013 Camaro or something of that sort would look like on the interior, black and red, maybe even more techy though.)
Body:
Definitely need to rethink the hood situation. I like a scoop, but I am not sure if this hood will stay. It also blocks 2-3 inches of your vision and makes guesstimating your depth for parking sort of an annoyance.
Keeping the stock spoiler.
Might add some ground effects, but I like it the way it is too.
Might drop it down an inch or two, but I like it also that the height it is at also.
Engine work:
So here is the deal on engine, I don't really want a beast yet. I am still young and honestly, I think speed is more about your ego than anything else. I could see it maybe 2 years down the line.
I could however see myself doing a Exhaust workup, make it sound mean, even if it isn't. I know NOTHING on car engines really. All I really know is the obvious stuff, and how my engine sounds.
Others:
Rims. Thinking of classy, something chrome off of a C6 Corvette, says chevy on them or something. Nice. Clean. Shiny. Classy.
Tires. I will probably have to buy snow tires, we will see. Other than that. I know nothing, but I might like a better set.
Brakes. I want red ones...that is all.
Thats all for now.
Again, this is my first car that I am customizing, so I will ask for help from time to time, and even if I don't please feel free to post or PM me with some help. TOTAL noob at most of this besides car audio. I do a lot of research, but still, it will take far less time and maybe get better sources if others help guide me.
Interior:
Audio:
Need to buy Wire Harness and Dash Headunit Kit ~$40, then I will be installing a Pioneer DEH-P5200HD from an my last car.
Full speaker workup. Replacing everything, first the Tweeters and Mids in the Doors with probably Alpine Type S's and idk on the Tweeters yet.
From what I know about the sail speakers, they are 6.5" Subs, so I will probably replace those with something known ATM.
Lastly, in the back, I will replace the hatch speakers, which I think are mids again, but 4" 'ers.
(Really crazy how easy it is to check this stuff out, like take the interior apart. Love that.)
Way later on I might think about replacing the stock amp, and wiring, as well as an addition of a small sub, but honestly I enjoy the audiophile-ness of music now, more than the loudness or lower frequency loudness...even though I love me some EDM.
Fabric/Seats:
I love the red on the car, definitely going to keep it that way. I think some red/black interior would fit this car much better than the grey stuff it has now. I am definitely thinking of pulling all the interior out in the future and doing a nice job on some red/black upholstery and red/black seats. If anyone can link me to some sites for help, or give me some on this. Much appreciated. I want to keep everything in house (so to speak).
I would like comfortable seats, heated too, something that is classy and black and red with Camaro or the Chevy bow tie on them.
Other Asethetics:
Complete Gauge workup. Thinking all the lines of modern and techy. I would like to know my MPG as I drive and stuff like that, something with a lot of features. Need help on this for sure.
Wheel. I want a really classy and modern wheel, all new functions and buttons to my Audio and Bluetooth and such.
Dash Buttons. All redone and modern and techy, none of this 1990s crap.
(What I could see my car interior looking like when I am done with it, is something like what a 2013 Camaro or something of that sort would look like on the interior, black and red, maybe even more techy though.)
Body:
Definitely need to rethink the hood situation. I like a scoop, but I am not sure if this hood will stay. It also blocks 2-3 inches of your vision and makes guesstimating your depth for parking sort of an annoyance.
Keeping the stock spoiler.
Might add some ground effects, but I like it the way it is too.
Might drop it down an inch or two, but I like it also that the height it is at also.
Engine work:
So here is the deal on engine, I don't really want a beast yet. I am still young and honestly, I think speed is more about your ego than anything else. I could see it maybe 2 years down the line.
I could however see myself doing a Exhaust workup, make it sound mean, even if it isn't
. I know NOTHING on car engines really. All I really know is the obvious stuff, and how my engine sounds.Others:
Rims. Thinking of classy, something chrome off of a C6 Corvette, says chevy on them or something. Nice. Clean. Shiny. Classy.
Tires. I will probably have to buy snow tires, we will see. Other than that. I know nothing, but I might like a better set.
Brakes. I want red ones...that is all.
Thats all for now.
Well, I just wrote 3 paragraphs of stuff and this forum decided to crash or something....so here goes again....aghhh.
I took the passenger and back seats out this weekend, definitely need to clean under there. Might leave my back seats out until I put my new seats in, whenever that will be. (Feb 2013 lol) Definitely like the feeling of having more space. Wish it would have been more weight (mpg/performance).
Question, what is with the HUGE bulge in the hatch...I took out all my interior padding on it, it is metal! Other than the fender/wheel-wells and cam and axle (which are definitely not taking up ALL that space) why does it need to be that high? Definitely thinking of a long term mod on making it smaller, for obvious reasons.
Also, what is this
plug from the speakers? Do I need to replace this if I want to do a custom wiring audio job (replace all components)? And where is the amp supposedly it is...'mounted on a bracket on the right quarter inner fenderwell (hatch area of a coupe'...according to this MONSOON FAQ...but I can't seem to find it whatsoever. I have looked all over the hatch area, but maybe someone can point me in the right direction.
Definitely getting a feel for the car. Wish I had money to dump in it, or even money to put gas in it lol.
I took the passenger and back seats out this weekend, definitely need to clean under there. Might leave my back seats out until I put my new seats in, whenever that will be. (Feb 2013 lol) Definitely like the feeling of having more space. Wish it would have been more weight (mpg/performance).
Question, what is with the HUGE bulge in the hatch...I took out all my interior padding on it, it is metal! Other than the fender/wheel-wells and cam and axle (which are definitely not taking up ALL that space) why does it need to be that high? Definitely thinking of a long term mod on making it smaller, for obvious reasons.
Also, what is this
plug from the speakers? Do I need to replace this if I want to do a custom wiring audio job (replace all components)? And where is the amp supposedly it is...'mounted on a bracket on the right quarter inner fenderwell (hatch area of a coupe'...according to this MONSOON FAQ...but I can't seem to find it whatsoever. I have looked all over the hatch area, but maybe someone can point me in the right direction.
Definitely getting a feel for the car. Wish I had money to dump in it, or even money to put gas in it lol.
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January 2010 ROTM Winner
January 2010 ROTM Winner
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,306
From: The 'Burbs of Chicago
Your gas tank is directly below that HUGE bulge, that's why it's there.
