Altezza's 96 brighton

[XxaltezzaXx]

build thread for my big green wagon of doom.

how it looked like the day i got it.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/169079_165392523509354_100001158216912_3-1.jpg

I've since then, reinstalled the roof racks, and removed those rims for some 02-03 WRX stock wheels. just haven't taken any pictures yet.

most of my plans for the car are to get most of the GT parts for it and just have a nice comfortably daily.

[chuckthefuk]

Sounds like a good plan and welcome to Sli.
-Chuck

[Zac]

nice clean wagon, fix that rear 1/4 rust! :D

[XxaltezzaXx]

thanks, and the rust is the last thing im going to tackle, not really looking forward to it.

today was a busy day, installed GT front bumper, driver-side mudflap, tach, rear strut bar, fixed exhaust leak, installed rear speakers, fixed windshield washer, cleaner rear hatch carpet, JDM side markers, and installed shifter bushings. long day was long.

crappy cell phone pic for now, well get better pics when my new wheels are installed.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/12f2f40f-1.jpg

[XxaltezzaXx]

new wheels installed.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/7131c7fb-1.jpg

i need to stop taking night pictures.

[Huffer]

Fix the rust! And take some daytime pics

[XxaltezzaXx]

rust is not that big of a concern right now, i still need to replace a lot of bushings and suspension parts first. i might take on the rust in late summer.

[Huffer]

Uh, RUST is the biggest concern. While you're not watching, or doing anything to it, it spreads FAST.
If you don't feel like doing a lot of metalwork later, fix it now.

Ask me how I know. Go on.

[XxaltezzaXx]

lol, the passenger side is the worst side, its almost up to the fuel door. if worse comes to worse ill just try my hand at replacing the whole panel. the driver side isnt to bad but will need to get worked on soon. also the passenger door is bad, but i can just get another door at the junkyard.

rust just sucks, but it cant be helped around this area.

[chuckthefuk]

I live in one of the most SALT covered winter cities in Canada.. Your trying to say that "it cant be helped" Fckin RIGHT it can.

You have to understand Rust = Cancer and it will spread faster then you think. Just because one side may have a few bubbles and not much rust showing doesn't mean that its fine.

Fix it before you end up parting it out like so many other members.

-Chuck

[Huffer]

lol, the passenger side is the worst side, its almost up to the fuel door. if worse comes to worse ill just try my hand at replacing the whole panel. the driver side isnt to bad but will need to get worked on soon. also the passenger door is bad, but i can just get another door at the junkyard.

rust just sucks, but it cant be helped around this area.

You can't replace a rear fender panel. It's not a panel. You'd have to cut it out (at least another 2" around the affected area) weld in new material, buff it, then body fill it, then primer it, then paint and clear. A lot more work if you can just stop it right now.

Check out some of the POR15 products. They work pretty well but it's all about prep.

Fix it, don't regret it.

[chuckthefuk]

You can't replace a rear fender panel. It's not a panel. You'd have to cut it out (at least another 2" around the affected area) weld in new material, buff it, then body fill it, then primer it, then paint and clear. A lot more work if you can just stop it right now.

Check out some of the POR15 products. They work pretty well but it's all about prep.

Fix it, don't regret it.


Thats not 100% true.. You CAN replace the entire rear quarter panel. However! This requires all the factory spot welds to be drilled out and an air-hammer / chisel to remove the panel from the uni-body structure and lets not forget finding a replacement panel.. this is ridiculous for a 15+ year old car.

Again this is $1000's in material and time so fix it while you have a chance like Huffer said :smt023

-Chuck

[XxaltezzaXx]

i was talking about cutting out a good piece of the panel in the rear. the rust on that side is just huge. the drivers side i could go and make a patch panel for, but the passenger not so much. either way, fixing maintenance things are a bigger priority then anything else. waiting for my tie rod ends, and axle to come in. then i need new trans mounts and engine mounts. i think after that is all said and done i will start the battle on rust. the bottom of the car is rust free believe it or not, not counting the sway bars and the such, body wise damn good down there.

[XxaltezzaXx]

You can't replace a rear fender panel. It's not a panel. You'd have to cut it out (at least another 2" around the affected area) weld in new material, buff it, then body fill it, then primer it, then paint and clear. A lot more work if you can just stop it right now.

Check out some of the POR15 products. They work pretty well but it's all about prep.

Fix it, don't regret it.


Thats not 100% true.. You CAN replace the entire rear quarter panel. However! This requires all the factory spot welds to be drilled out and an air-hammer / chisel to remove the panel from the uni-body structure and lets not forget finding a replacement panel.. this is ridiculous for a 15+ year old car.

Again this is $1000's in material and time so fix it while you have a chance like Huffer said :smt023

-Chucki knew i read that somewhere on here, pain in the ass yes, doable also yes. worth it? depends lol.

[Huffer]

I'd love it if I could replace the outer panels on my car with hi density plastic. :lol:

[XxaltezzaXx]

The same stuff they use on the saturns? If so in the cold months if it's cold enough you can hit them and the whole panel shatters lol.

[rallywagon]

What you need is a new paint job

[XxaltezzaXx]

i like my shitty green.

[XxaltezzaXx]

more dark night time pics, now that i have something to take pics of, i will actually take some day time ones tomorrow. just finished a lot later then i wanted too.

WRX struts with tein wagon springs installed. got them for free from my friend that just upgraded to coilovers on his forester.

also swapped out my map sensor cause my old ones was bad, and installed my bike rack.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/063f666c-1.jpg

now that thats out of the way, i will work on the rust now.

[XxaltezzaXx]

finally some pics in the day time, car is dirty as hell.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/leg-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/leg1-1.jpg

real good pic of how bad the rust is on the passenger side. going to be taking care of this next.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/leg2-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/leg3-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/leg4-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/03/leg5-1.jpg

[SeriousSubaru]

nice ride, looks a lot like mine right now

[XxaltezzaXx]

haha, it does.

[XxaltezzaXx]

changed my front axle today, i think it was time for a new one.....................

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/04/9cdbdaaa-1.jpg

[chuckthefuk]

click click boom

[Navi271]

Rust sucks... I can't get mine to go away. Just comes right back, it's pretty annoying.

Your car looks great lowered. Do you like how it handles now that it's lowered or are you gonna get some different springs/coilovers?

[XxaltezzaXx]

I think I'm fine with the way it handles, Its not the best but it's not bad either. might get some sway bars and what not but I'm not making a track car. I really just wanted it for the look more than anything.

I would want to go coilover in the future, but it's not something I need now.

[XxaltezzaXx]

installed some hella horns today.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/04/46b46036-1.jpg

[XxaltezzaXx]

havent posted in awhile, not much really going on with the car at the moment.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/dc5d4509-1.jpg

only new things are the RS seats, and black GT rear seats, and my wrx steering wheel. also a mod i didnt want, drunk driver did a hit and run my my rear quarter panel.

i am taking apart and slowly putting back together a WRX engine, for future use.

[Chief]

it's not cool(((((