Rochester

iTrader: (9)

Go look, I bet they're there. And yes, it's very thick plastic, which is why the edges are so noticeable with dirt. And being a white car, probably why I see it so readily (and why it's been getting under my skin for years. Literally, years now.)

I'll be keeping an eye on things over the next few months (or over winter, IDK), so see if it chips up.

And I'm wondering if the chip guard is less relevant if you have the factory mud flap pieces? Which I do.

hexotic

The mud flap thingies help a little, still see some marks on the chip gates. Interesting that on black paint, that stuff didn't yellow at all.

Rochester

iTrader: (9)

I haven't pulled out the camera and taken many pics of the car in a while. It was completely overcast today, and I thought it might be a good option to get some daylight pics that's aren't harsh. Drove all around town for about 2 hours, with a handful of places in mind for location. It was a good drive, a really good drive. Really got to enjoy the car. And I've taken about 100 shots, so there should be a handful worth taking a second look at.

That said, my Canon PowerShot SX50 is getting old. Pretty sure my kid's cell phone takes better pics, dammit.

Anyway, working on it.

Rochester

iTrader: (9)

Almost nine years into this car, and almost 46,000 miles on the odometer. IMO, better today than the day I bought it nearly new.

4DRZ

iTrader: (7)

Nice pics Rochester. Maybe my recent set of photos inspired you. I forgot how clean and close to stock your car looks. Are you starting to consider any exterior appearance modifications? I'm not too fond of the weird orange fog lights and the fact that NY gives you those ugly plates, but not much you can do about those.

Rochester

iTrader: (9)

This year's appearance changes are low key: Two-piece rotors, chip guard delete, and two PDR repairs.

One of the things I noticed with more attention in these photo shoots... my driver's side muffler is no longer straight. It's hanging like 5° to 10° off level. I don't know what that's all about, tired old hanger maybe. I need to get underneath and see if it's something I can fix. It's one of those things that creeps up on you, never really recognized until you see it for what it is, and then you can't un-see it. Hmnm.

Rochester

iTrader: (9)

Looking at the exhaust, it's apparent that the driver's side, rear hanger is weak. It's a C-Bracket with a rubber bushing that the exhaust post rests on (doesn't hang from). Possibly the middle hangers are tired too. But I think the reason why the cans don't look level anymore is that the end-pipes have probably rotated a few degrees. Odds are there's a little play available when bolting up the two triangular flange plates, and over the years the weight has shifted.

That's my best guess. Clearly the design of the tail section creates a huge weight distribution in a counter-clockwise drop. But this is beyond me, because I snapped one of the C-Bracket bolts right off with the ratchet. Now I have to take the car to the shop and have them replace the brackets and bushings, dig out a snapped bolt, and align my exhaust.

On the upside, I did take this pic of the car on Race Ramps. I'm going to re-post it here, because it's a neat photo. Love those ramps.

Rochester

iTrader: (9)

Off to the shop on Wednesday for new hangers, and have the tech unbolt the exhaust, align it and bolt it back up straight.

Probably should have made those arrangements in the first place. Such a freaking incompetent feeling when you snap a bolt.

hexotic

I invested into a nice tap and die kit. Already retapped 5 snapped bolts in just 1 year of ownership.

4DRZ

iTrader: (7)

+1 I picked up a Craftsman tap & die kit when Sears was still a thing (and you got tons of discounts on tools). Those things have saved me a number of times.

Rochester, I feel your pain. When I installed my Stillen exhaust I must have spent just as much time bending brackets trying to get the damn tips level as I did with the total install. I swear they moved again when I installed the cats, when I upgraded to metal gaskets, and again when I had the headers installed. Now I try not to look directly at the tips or I start to cry thinking about the amount of time it will take to get them perfectly straight again.

Rochester

iTrader: (9)

Been thinking about it for years, and finally bought one of these things.

Rochester

iTrader: (9)

Just got the car back from the shop. (2) rear exhaust hanging brackets/bushings, (2) mid-pipe hangers, repair on my snapped bolt, 2.0 hrs of time on the lift. Not inexpensive for what it was, but also not unreasonable for what it was. The real sweetness out of all this is that my mufflers are straight again!

Yay!

That messed up alignment in the mufflers had really crept up on me over the years, and it wasn't until last week that I realized it was a thing.

SwiftKit

Probably my favorite G I've encountered on this site - just so perfectly put together. I hate stone colored interior with a passion, but my god, it looks amazing on this car

Also usually not a fan of skyline badges, but again, amazing addition on the car.

Can you see yourself selling it years into the future?

Rochester

iTrader: (9)

Sometime 3 to 4 years from now. On or around the time I retire and the kids move out. Somebody here on the forum probably.

SwiftKit

Welp, time to start building my savings fund for it!