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As of two hours ago, I am the owner of a 2006 MCS, 6 speed manual, 82k miles, 1 owner. Needed a daily driver that wasn't boring to keep the miles off my truck. Just popping in to say hello. Car is extremely basic, but I oddly like it compared to my fully loaded Tundra. Just looking to start out small (all weather floor mats, center console arm rest, tint, and a head unit upgrade for Bluetooth). Once I have no need for the daily driver, I'll be looking to upgrade everything else (17% pulley, downpipe, exhaust, TVS900, intake, intercooler, etc etc). For the quick fixes (dull trunk and hood badges, no center console arm rest, etc), is there a sticky anywhere? I checked the stickies at the top of this forum but they were mainly for maintenance / DIY gauges and what not. Thanks everyone.
Last edited by ckatz53; Oct 10, 2020 at 04:20 PM.
Reason: transforming post to a build thread, did not want to post duplicate information
So just an update for those who care. Car has changed quite a bit already. I've ran +/- terminals to the driver's side floorboard for any future electrical updates I may want to add. Swapped the outdated headunit out for a run of the mill JVC bluetooth radio with a bluetooth mic for phone calls. I hate listening to AM/FM and needed my music so that was a huge thing for me. I also made my own tachometer phone mount with a wireless charging base (cord ran through the dash to eliminate the clutter as much as possible. Pics at the bottom.
Edit: I'm giving the phone mount a week to identify any changes I may want to make before pulling it and painting it black. It's a "rough draft" for now.
I've been researching Nexus 7 applications for mounted/hardwired tablets and ignition hot cold installations. I think I have it figured out. Long story short, I will be stripping the outdated nav screen from the car and replacing it with a Nexus 7. I run a bluetooth OBD2 scanner in all my vehicles with a phone app to keep tabs on vital engine components. The plan is to utilize the Nexus hardwired to the ignition (on/off with the car, programming within the Nexus to enter/exit sleep mode when 12v power applied) and bluetooth stream the OBD2 scanner so that I can fit all my important car vitals on the "new" nav screen. Beats running hard lines throughout the car to gauges and having a cluster obstructing an already small field of view. I'll keep tabs on my process here.
I have a 17% pulley, DDM intake, new spark wiring (field mouse got to the rubber grommets and had a buffet), and colder plugs on the way. Think I'm going to drop some coin on the Invidia N1 catback and snag a downpipe from somewhere while I'm at it.
So just an update for those who care. Car has changed quite a bit already. I've ran +/- terminals to the driver's side floorboard for any future electrical updates I may want to add. Swapped the outdated headunit out for a run of the mill JVC bluetooth radio with a bluetooth mic for phone calls. I hate listening to AM/FM and needed my music so that was a huge thing for me. I also made my own tachometer phone mount with a wireless charging base (cord ran through the dash to eliminate the clutter as much as possible. Pics at the bottom.
Edit: I'm giving the phone mount a week to identify any changes I may want to make before pulling it and painting it black. It's a "rough draft" for now.
I've been researching Nexus 7 applications for mounted/hardwired tablets and ignition hot cold installations. I think I have it figured out. Long story short, I will be stripping the outdated nav screen from the car and replacing it with a Nexus 7. I run a bluetooth OBD2 scanner in all my vehicles with a phone app to keep tabs on vital engine components. The plan is to utilize the Nexus hardwired to the ignition (on/off with the car, programming within the Nexus to enter/exit sleep mode when 12v power applied) and bluetooth stream the OBD2 scanner so that I can fit all my important car vitals on the "new" nav screen. Beats running hard lines throughout the car to gauges and having a cluster obstructing an already small field of view. I'll keep tabs on my process here.
I have a 17% pulley, DDM intake, new spark wiring (field mouse got to the rubber grommets and had a buffet), and colder plugs on the way. Think I'm going to drop some coin on the Invidia N1 catback and snag a downpipe from somewhere while I'm at it.
I would be forever in your debt if you chose to write up a detailed how-to on the Nexus install.
The most frustrating thing about this car is that antique nav screen occupying so much usable dash space.
I'm not a techie, but I can follow instructions. 😊
I would be forever in your debt if you chose to write up a detailed how-to on the Nexus install.
The most frustrating thing about this car is that antique nav screen occupying so much usable dash space.
I'm not a techie, but I can follow instructions. 😊
Once I source a busty Nav unit that I can tear apart to reverse engineer a placement for the Nexus, I will definitely document everything. I dont want to pull the nav system as the unit has the fuel gauge attached and end up destroying the only accurate fuel monitor I have hah. So I'm currently looking for a broken nav unit to disassemble and work out a clean fitment first.
Been a bit from posting as I'm not as active on this forum as I am with the truck forum. Got a few things done:
-DDM air intake
-Canton coolant/power steering tank
-NGK wires
-VIP strut bar and top plates
-Full paint correction
Car is currently torn apart in the garage. Have the K frame dropped and replaced all ball joints with OEM, Powerflex LCA bushings, Powerflex steering rack bushing, and OEM sway bar bushings. Just got finished swapping in a 15% pulley, colder sparks, and a smaller belt. Ended up having a tensioner bolt snap inside the block. Lucked out with the extraction though. Slowly but surely coming along.
Last edited by ckatz53; Feb 15, 2021 at 04:12 PM.
Reason: adding photos, wouldn't add before
Buttoned everything up today. Pulley and plugs feel amazing and the steering is a snap with the poly upgrades and new inner/outer ball joints. No steering wheel pulsation on decel anymore. Slight brake pedal pulsation going on that I suspect is the rear rotors. Car needs a full brake job. Going to try and source some R56 calipers and get slotted rotors and some good pads in the near future.
Quick update. Got some R56S front calipers. Rebuilt both those and the rear R53 cals. Painted black and put a custom vinyl logo on the front calipers. Clear coated over. All paint is high heat temp paint so should last a while. Put on some R56 Stoptech slotted rotors up fornt with rear R53 Stoptech slotteds in the rear with Stoptech race pads. Running ATE Type 200 blue stuff fluid (complete flush). Replaced the rubber brake lines with stainless steel. Ended up rusting through both rear hardlines so replaced those with some stainless steel ones. Built some brake ducts out of some common household items. Still having a soft brake issue even after ABS bleeding at the shop. Think it may be a master cylinder failure. So, I have a new brake MC and booster sitting in the garage waiting to go on sometime next week.
Edit: Also sourced a R53 JCW exhaust for $200 on Marketplace. Cut the resonator off and straight piped the resonator portion. Sounds great!
Last edited by ckatz53; Apr 2, 2021 at 06:56 PM.
Reason: missing info
