[greggshere]

So this isn't really a "build" thread so to say, but is probably the best place to put the "stuff" I'm going to be doing. My Laguna Blue is anticipated to be here within the next couple of weeks, so I've already started ordering and compiling my "stuff". When I told the wife I was ordering some stuff for the new Vette, she was like, "Why does a new car with all of the options require you to order anything?" I think it was more of a rhetorical question, as we have been married going on 36 years now, so she already knows what I do to all of my cars.
Anyway, so far I have ordered and received a Curb Alert Mini system and the GM front and rear splash guards. I ordered a CAGS Eliminator, some stay in place jacking pucks, and 10 feet of bulk 4" Xpel. I also called my tint guy and made an appointment for June 6th to get 35% all the way around. (the legal limit in NC) I still need to order my Granatelli Nose Savers, a Filter Mag and my Blackfire products. The wife and I have a cabin reserved in the Tennessee Pigeon Forge area the second week of June, so I want it all on the car before we make the trip. We are SO looking forward to the cabin, and now we get to make the trip in the new Corvette, so we are REALLY stoked.

Plans for later in the year and next spring include some custom airbrushing under the hood (liner, engine components and accessory covers)and in the hatch area, some blue Granatelli ignition wires and a new Brownstone rear cargo mat with flags and "Stingray" lettering. I'll update with pics as they become available. A special thanks to Glen E, Mobius, John E and others that have helped me in some way on this exciting journey!

 

[Ragtop]

Nice to have some cash leftover for that after buying the car! Got the splash guards for now and will be doing some Expel. Anything left over going to new garage doors and racedeck flooring.

 

[Mobius]

Here's my list.


Completed Items:
Covercraft 380 Series Outdoor C7 Cover
FilterMag SS300 (fits 2-7/8" to 3-7/16" filters)
Whistler Pro 3600 Radar Detector
Jacking Pucks (homemade the "old fashioned way" - from hockey pucks)
Front/Rear Splash Guards (unpainted)
CAGS Eliminator
Magnetic Drain Plug (oil)
2.75" Xpel (per Glen E's build recommendation, http://www.stingrayforums.com/forum...-e-s-c7-corvette-stingray-build-thread-6.html)
3M DI-NOC Carbon Fiber Vinyl (per Glen E's build recommendation, http://www.stingrayforums.com/forum...-e-s-c7-corvette-stingray-build-thread-7.html)
Wax/Polish "system" - BLACKFIRE Total Polish & Seal, Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection, BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal Paint Sealant

Items Remaining:
Window tint (30% for IN) - still need to get this done.

 

[mjw930]

I'm limiting myself on this car, here's all I believe I'll need to keep me happy.

Jacking pucks
GM Splash Guards
Blendmount
VetteFX braces eliminator film (on it's way from WeaponX, THANKS)

Possible items, I haven't decided yet:

Xpel on the bumper only
Curb Alert

I Already have everything I need to detail so I'm good to go.

 

[Suzy Cruisy]

Our list of 'stuff' before our car even arrives will be near exactly the same as yours

Jacking pucks
Curb alert
Nose Saver
Splash guards

We will have an appointment made for the Xpel. For sure the bumper. Hubby doesn't like the line across the hood, so he is undecided on partial hood or full hood. We have time to think on it though!


And we're having our old broken driveway re-done this Summer. Something that should have been done a long time ago, but the new baby spurs us to get a move on.

Have fun!

 

[m3incorp]

Nice to have some cash leftover for that after buying the car! Got the splash guards for now and will be doing some Expel. Anything left over going to new garage doors and racedeck flooring.

I had to smile when I read this. Guess what I did right after ordering the car. Car is red and black, so black and red race deck flooring. Then I said wow, nice car and nice garage floor but dang I need a new garage door. Garage door being installed soon.

Gregg you are going to have a great time installing those parts......

 

[greggshere]

`I got a lot of "stuff" ordered this weekend for the Blue Beast and some items installed. I got the Curb Alert installed last weekend and it works perfect. I mounted it in the grill below the chrome strip (which I like by the way). Did it without any cutting, and mounted the calibration device in the passenger inner fender well under the hood. It works great! I also got the jacking pucks installed too.

Friday I ordered new Lloyds front mats and a cargo mat in Brownstone with the Corvette Flags logo and the silver "StingRay" on a black background. I was actually impressed by Southerncarparts, because they called me to make sure that was what I wanted, because he had not seen the black rectangle with the logo on a Brownstone carpet yet and was not sure how it would look. I told him it would be fine since the interior is both black and Brownstone, but the fact he called to make sure was nice. I ordered a new cargo shade with the "Flags" logo, and a bra for the front end. I am planning on getting Expel on the front next spring, but am making a trip to Tennessee in 3 weeks, so I wanted something on there to protect it from rocks and bugs. Once I get it back home the bra will be coming off. I ordered the Filtermag and will get that on just as soon as it comes in.

Autopia is running a Pre-Memorial day sale through midnight tonight and Friday night and I ordered all of my car care stuff. I got $50 off and free shipping. I ordered a Griots 6" orbital polisher, a variety of polishing pads, Iron-X, Blackfire Total Polish & Seal, Blackfire Wet Diamond and Blackfire Crystal Sealant. I also ordered a couple of the Supreme Guzzler waffle weave drying towels Glen recommended, a Nanoskin Autoscrub Speedy Prep sponge, some Blackfire Microfibre Cleaner & Restorer and "Poorboys" Natural Look Dressing. Now I just need to take a day or two off work to do the actual work.

Yesterday I got the Xpel applied to the driver's side sill. I did the painted area all the way up to the black plastic and the aluminum Corvette sill plate as well. I made a piece for the handle opening too, since my ring tends to hit that if I'm not real careful. I bought some carbon fiber look vinyl to put on that black plastic to keep it from getting scuffed, but haven't done it yet. I think I might put some Xpel on the mirrors today to help protect them, and I'm thinking about putting like a 3" square on the door where I push to close it. I'm undecided about that and may do it and then take it back off if I don't like it. Anyway, here's a couple of pictures of the Curb alert on the front. Unless you bend down and look under the grill bar it is invisible, and out from a distance it just looks like part of the grill. It looks like scratches on the paint, but they are really just reflections of the grill in the shiny paint.

 

[glen e]

Nice adds guys, (and girls) - don't forget microfibers! You can really screw up a car with cheap/bad microfibers/something else, - I just got 10 of these in and they are the best priced all-purpose/rinseless wash/buffing/cleaning towels I've found. This is the company that all the other stores and sites get their stuff from - truly elim the middle man and get a great towel. You can never own too many - 20 is a nice number to have...

16''x16'' Extra Plush Elite Microfiber Towels - 530 gsm - 75.25 - Blue

also Turtle Wax rinseless at walmart - mix up a windex bottle 2oz/water and keep it with a towel above in the rear cubby. You will find a ton of uses for quik clean up and it won't scratch for removing bird bombs, etc (quik detailer will)

 

[greggshere]

Ok, so I apparently made my first mistake with all of my orders. The new Cargo Shade that I ordered from Southern Car Parts came in yesterday. All excited I open it up and it's not what I thought, and not what the photo depicts. It is black just like my normal shade, but the Corvette emblem is silk screened on in black as well. The picture on their site has the emblem showing up as white, mine is black. There is no way it will be visible through the glass once any tint is installed. Why would they silk screen a black logo onto a black cargo shade? Has anyone else gotten one of these? Also, I noted that the part number on the invoice does not match the p/n on the website. I'm going to call them today to see if they will issue a refund and an RA for the shade, because I can't use it. I would take a picture but I can't find the dang camera.

 

[glen e]

Ok, so I apparently made my first mistake with all of my orders. The new Cargo Shade that I ordered from GM Parts House came in yesterday. All excited I open it up and it's not what I thought, and not what the photo depicts. It is black just like my normal shade, but the Corvette emblem is silk screened on in black as well. The picture on their site has the emblem showing up as white, mine is black. There is no way it will be visible through the glass once any tint is installed. Why would they silk screen a black logo onto a black cargo shade? Has anyone else gotten one of these? Also, I noted that the part number on the invoice does not match the p/n on the website. I'm going to call them today to see if they will issue a refund and an RA for the shade, because I can't use it. I would take a picture but I can't find the dang camera.

just email partick - he'll make it right...

[email protected]

 

[greggshere]

I want to express a great big thanks to Glen E. with his help in providing me with his documentation and telephone assistance in getting the Blue Beast polished up. I called him last night and he walked me through it all. I got up early this morning and did the wash, clay bar (with the Nano-sponge, dry, Blackfire Total seal, then the Blackfire Wet Diamond. I took these shots with my phone and they don't do it justice, but I guarantee you it looks awesome. I still have to do the two coats of Blackfire Crystal Seal tomorrow and my wheels but it's already amazing! I can assure you that having the right products makes it an easy process. I used my new Griots orbital polisher and it worked great. I'll take some better pics outside tomorrow after she is completed. Anybody planning to do it yourself get with Glen and don't be afraid, it is easy. Thank you Glenn!

 

[glen e]

nice talking to you...you can use any of the great products out there, but nothing is easier than blackfire, that I've found....

 

[greggshere]

just email partick - he'll make it right...

[email protected]

I corrected the previous post, it was actually Southern Car Parts I purchased the cargo shade from. I will call them Tuesday and get an RMA from them. I''ll check their site and see if there is something else I need and just apply the credit towards that. I'm sure there's something I need I haven't bought yet.

 

[Mobius]

I want to express a great big thanks to Glen E. with his help in providing me with his documentation and telephone assistance in getting the Blue Beast polished up. I called him last night and he walked me through it all. I got up early this morning and did the wash, clay bar (with the Nano-sponge, dry, Blackfire Total seal, then the Blackfire Wet Diamond. I took these shots with my phone and they don't do it justice, but I guarantee you it looks awesome. I still have to do the two coats of Blackfire Crystal Seal tomorrow and my wheels but it's already amazing! I can assure you that having the right products makes it an easy process. I used my new Griots orbital polisher and it worked great. I'll take some better pics outside tomorrow after she is completed. Anybody planning to do it yourself get with Glen and don't be afraid, it is easy. Thank you Glenn!

Yep, no doubt Glen has had a positive influence on many here. I like that he's not "pushing products" - he's just giving solid advice and sharing his years of experience.




I just wish I was using some Blackfire on my new toy today, but it looks like I'll have to save that pleasure for next weekend.

 

[glen e]

Yep, no doubt Glen has had a positive influence on many here. I like that he's not "pushing products" - he's just giving solid advice and sharing his years of experience.




I just wish I was using some Blackfire on my new toy today, but it looks like I'll have to save that pleasure for next weekend.

Thanks, yes, it's all about the procedure more than the products, with a good polish, pads and the griots polisher, I can make your dad's simoniz look good. No one has superior chemist IMO, but some are easier to use like blackfire. If anyone wants the complete step by step, that was used here complete with links, email me at [email protected]....but be prepared to read, it's 6 diff short docs

 

[greggshere]

Here's a couple more shots I took outside today after she was completed. The two coats of Blackfire Cystal Seal went on beautifully. I did one about midnight last night and the other when I got up this morning. Pulled the wheels and IronX'd them, washed them then a good coat of Wet Diamond inside and out.

 

[glen e]

nice - and now comes the part that separates the WOWA products like crystal seal from conventional products...every 2-3 months or so, wipe on a new coat in 15 minutes and walk away...while others are buffing off haze and crap from the cracks, you're driving!...

 

[greggshere]

I was going to install my CAGS Eliminator today while I had the rear jacked up and the rear wheels off. Unfortunately I just couldn't get my arm in a good position to do it. I'm having shoulder surgery in less than a month. because it just hurts too dang bad to move it around anymore. I guess I'll just have to wait until the first time I take her in for a software update or something and have my dealer tech put it on there for me. Darn it anyway.

 

[greggshere]

By the way another useful tidbit of information, The tire/wheel assy. is heavier toward the outer, as I'm sure one would expect. That said, I rolled one of my front wheels out onto my driveway after removing it for a thorough cleaning. I stopped it, made sure it wasn't going to roll, then went into the garage to grab a micro-fiber. Then I heard a loud ***, and looked and saw it had flipped over onto the face. Damn it! I ran over and sure enough one of the chrome spokes was marred up! A spot about the size of a nickle has about 7 or 8 deep little dents from the sand in the cement. Nothing I can do about it, and I was pissed, but entirely my fault. So this is just a heads up so no one else let's this happen. I certainly did not for the other three wheels. Now she wears a badge of my idiocy on her left front wheel from now on.

 

[glen e]

By the way another useful tidbit of information, The tire/wheel assy. is heavier toward the outer, as I'm sure one would expect. That said, I rolled one of my front wheels out onto my driveway after removing it for a thorough cleaning. I stopped it, made sure it wasn't going to roll, then went into the garage to grab a micro-fiber. Then I heard a loud ***, and looked and saw it had flipped over onto the face. Damn it! I ran over and sure enough one of the chrome spokes was marred up! A spot about the size of a nickle has about 7 or 8 deep little dents from the sand in the cement. Nothing I can do about it, and I was pissed, but entirely my fault. So this is just a heads up so no one else let's this happen. I certainly did not for the other three wheels. Now she wears a badge of my idiocy on her left front wheel from now on.

been there done that, mine get rolled onto the grass ever since then....PS- Iron X does not hurt the grass....

seriously, you can do this yourself with a dremel kit - and a good thread like this one:

http://www.autopiaforums.com/forums...hes-restore-shine-forged-rims-volks-gt-f.html