2022 Sierra 2500

Fresh off the lot, this client was not satisfied with any of the available upgrades and service from the dealer. This truck was in need of customization to make the drive to and from work an absolute pleasure.

Fit and Finish was done to make sure everything looked like it rolled off the dealer floor.

The plan for this truck included:

  • Method Racing MR317 Titanium Finish 17″Wheels
  • Falken Wild Peak AT/3W 295/70r18 Tires
  • 2″ Wheel Spacers
  • AirAid Designs Fender Flares
  • Triming and adjusting fender liners to fit larger tires
  • Superlift Leveling Kit
  • MBRP Catback Exhaust
  • Viair Air Compressor
  • Air Horns
  • Remote Air Connection on rear bumper

And A Complete Audio System Overhaul

  • AudioFrog GB60 6″ Midrange
  • AudioFrog GB15 1.5″ Tweeter
  • AudioFrog GS62 6.5″ Rear Full Range Speakers
  • AudioFrog GB10 10″ Subwoofer
  • AudioControl D 6.1200 1200w 6 Channel DSP Amplifier
  • AudioControl LC 1.800 800w Monoblock Amplifier
  • Noico Sound Deadening mat (Used on all doors, door panels, rear floor and rear cab wall
  • Stinger Pro Wiring
All adapters were hand cut from starboard
Starboard is a HDPE Plastic
It allows for solid adapters that will not rot
Foam Rings and deadening added to optimize audio quality and reduce unwanted noise
Rear Door Panel
Front Midranges installed

A patch harness was made to allow the digital AudioControl DSP amp to work with the factory stereo and retain all features without needing to cut any of the original wiring. All connections are soldered and heat-shrunk to ensure the most reliable and secure connections.

The subwoofer box was custom made to fit perfectly under the rear bench seat. Volume was calculated to match the subwoofers specs and provide the best sound.

A custom amp board was made so no holes were drilled into the body of the truck. Some factory modules were relocated to provide a better fit for the amplifiers. All wiring was secured and fused.

Templates were used to make sure the amplifiers fit perfectly behind the rear bench seat.
A Real Time Analizer and Microphone Was Used To Set The Base Equalizer Levels and Ensure Balanced and Perfected Sound.

2.5 Gallon Air Tank and Compressor Motor Squeezed Under the Right Corner of The Bed.

Camaro 1LE/SC

After spending years sitting in a driveway, this car was in desperate need of some rejuvenation. A supercharger and facelift brought this car to modern standards.

This Build Included

  • OEM LSA Supercharger Setup
  • AFCO Heat Exchanger
  • Bosch Motorsport Aux Coolant Pump
  • Custom Supercharger Coolant Tank
  • Vibrant AN Lines and Fittings
  • DSX Tuning Flex Fuel Kit
  • DSX Tuning Auxiliary Fuel Pump
  • FIC 1000cc Injectors
  • DSX Tuning Billet Water Manifold
  • Gates Green Belt
  • LSX Innovations Belt Drive
  • Holley Valve Covers
  • NGK TR7IX Spark Plugs
  • 160 degree Thermostat
  • Crank Pin
  • JLT Big Gulp Intake
  • Mighty Mouse Catch Can
  • Custom Washer Fluid Tank
  • IKON Motorsport 6th Gen Facelift Bodykit
  • IKON Motorsport 6th Gen Facelift Headlights and DRL
  • Michelin Pilot Sport 4s 285/35R20 (front)
  • Toyo R888R 305/35R20 (rear)

What the Camaro entered the garage as

Custom powdercoated wheels with satin clear and Toyo R888R Tires

Pinning the crank to prevent belt slipage from the Supercharger
AN fittings used for all the Supercharger plumbing
Cooler pump installed and washer tank relocated.
Heat Exchanger installed

Everything installed and ready for dyno tuning

Final Dyno Run

554 HP on 91 octane – 622 HP on E85.
All Stock LS3 block, 1LE exhaust and emission devices retained.
Grilles – Paint matched to wheels
OEM Strut Brace – Painted

Detailing and Ceramic Coating

The car had years of drive through car washes, swirling and scratches all over. It definitely did not look as good as the newly painted bumpers. We did a 4 step paint correction to remove all the defects and return the car to show finish. Followed by a 3D ceramic coating to protect the cars finish for years to come.

What we started with
Wetsanding imperfections
1st buff with cutting compound
Wet sanding – cutting compound
After finishing polish

2016 Toyota Tundra TRD STAGE 2: Audio/Electrical

After getting the suspension and braking setup, our client wanted to add some creature comforts. A full Digital audio system with DSP. We went with Audiocontrol amps/processors and speakers from Audiofrog. We also repurposed some amps we previously installed in the truck. All of this was controlled from a large android based “Tesla Style” headunit.

Fully Removable amp board, to provide clean and easy install in the vehicle.
The Goods
Mounted In the truck. Behind the rear bench (not accessible after seat is installed)
Door Panel Fully Sound Deadened, Mid Woofer installed. Air gaps closed off to allow the door to function as a sealed enclosure and provide better sound quality.
Custom Lexan speaker adapter plates for the Mid Highs up on the dash.
Before installing the audiofrog grill. The Factory grill only had a small opening for the OEM tweeter and was blocking the newer larger mid.
A full set of Baja Designs front LED Fog/Driving and Light Bar Setup.
Test fitting the front bumper and light setup
Rear bumper and lights installed.

200 Series Land Cruiser: A performer on and off…

What started as a all-stock 200 Series, became an elegant on/off road performer. For this build our client wanted to retain the daily drive ability and subtle elegance the land cruiser had offered him off the lot. These mods were all done to keep the car from looking like another wild obnoxious off-roader that really didn’t belong on city streets but could still tackle any trail the weekend had to offer.

First round of upgrades included:
-King 2.5 Coilovers with Adjustable Compression adjusters and remote resivoirs
-Satin Black Powder coated OEM Wheels
-Plus Sized BFG All-Terrian KO/2 Tires
-CNC Aluminum Wheel Spacers
-Baja Designs S8 LED Light Bar (stealth installed behind OEM Grill, retaining all OEM Grill accesories/electronics)

1971 Chevelle LS Swap

Another botched job. This car came in with the radiator rubbing the body, it turned out to be a much worse issue than that. After inspecting the vehicle we saw that the engine swap was done completely wrong and unsafe. The customer wanted to address all the issues and have the swap done correctly. This meant we had to remove and re-install everything the previous shop did. The engine was installed “junkyard style” tons of parts were mixed, matched, cut, welded, drilled and even beaten to get the motor to fit.

Thankfully Hooker makes a line of products specifically for this application to allow easy and seamless install.

-Hooker black heart long tube headers

-Hooker full 3″ exhaust

-Hooker engine mounts

-Hooker cross-member

-Custom made 4.5″ intake

-Custom engine ECU wiring

-Custom made coolant lines and aluminum radiator

-Custom made A/N Transmission fluid lines

-Custom made driveshaft

LS6 Fuel Injection motor swap with mild cam
All wires and lines cleanly installed
Custom longtube headers made specifically for the engine/chassis combo. Allows for a perfect fit and pefromance
Previous “custom setup” very restrictive and poorly installed exhaust/headers.

FJ Cruiser Getaway Rig

This FJ Cruiser came in stock, already renowned for its off road capabilities from the day it left the dealer lot. This client had one thing in mind, a sensible, capable getaway rig for those weekends and holidays away from the city. He wanted everything to insure the car and its passengers could get away from it all and make it back!

For this build we went with:

King 2.5 Coilovers – +2″ Lift
Metaltech Springs
ICON Delta Joint UCAs
Domello Front Bumper
All-Pro Rock Sliders
All-Pro Spindle Gussets
All-Pro Motor Mount Gussest
IAS Tight Radius Body Mount Chop
Warn Winch
DUAL Odyssey Batteries
Baja Designs LED Lights
Baja Designs LED Light Bar
Prinsu Aluminum Modular Roof Rack
Method Racing Wheels
Falken Wildpeak Tires
ARB On Board Air Compressor

2016 Toyota Tundra TRD STAGE 1: Suspension

A typical Tundra came in, the owner had specific request; it needs to look different but it should drive and feel like it did from the factory and remain reliable.

Once we started to go over the options available for this truck, we came to a decision that we were going to go all in on this one. A more dynamic suspension and better brakes.Stage 1

-BDS/FOX lift kit
-TRD Big Brake Kit (repainted Brembo Style)
-BFG All-Terrain KM/3 37″ Tires
-Fuel Alloy Wheels
-Viair Compressor and Patch Kit
– 4 Trumpet Train Horns (Why not?)
-New Headlight and Tail Light Assemblies
-HID Headlight BulbsNeedless to say it was a success. As soon as it was driving on the road, our client was ecstatic and couldn’t wait for stage 2. MORE POWER! I sense a supercharger coming soon along with some more aggressive aesthetics to tie it all in!

BMW E46 M3 – S54 VANOS rebuild, Valve Adjustment,…

This M3 came in for some routine maintenance with a little over 100k on the clock. The BMW S54 – a race grade engine, considered by some as an engineering marvel (& symphony to the ears) which debuted as the top production motor with with the most power per liter of any naturally aspirated engine in the market (333 hp)

We started with the top end, a routine valve adjustment and valve cover gasket. Additionally it was due for spark plugs so we knocked that out at the same time.

The timing chain guide had signs of wear and is a known weak point on this motor so we recommended a full VANOS bulletproof rebuild using parts from Besian Systems.

 

We found signs of a previous botch repair! RTV does not belong on o-rings!

New improved Timing chain guide vs the old damaged one

Everything going back together now!

 

Next it was on to the rod bearings, with the motor suspended from the upper body, we were able to drop the subframe and pull the oil pan off the car

 

Clear wear on the rod bearing surface

 

Bearing caps, still in good shape!

Signs of improper silicone used to seal the oil pan previously

Oil Pickup Tube with traces of failed sealant material in the strainer.


Supercharging the S52 Swapped e30

For this build the client wanted a little more punch for his already nimble e30 vert. In order to get it safely boosted we had to do a number of other supporting mods. Because you are only as strong as your weakest link! . . . and once you start modding its a little hard to stop 🙂

This was the plan for this build

  • VF engineering s/c kit
  • Custom made in-house silicone intake plumbing
  • 3″ Custom made header back exhaust
  • QTP e-cutout
  • Custom modified (for clearance) CSF Racing Radiator
  • Power-steering reservoir relocation
  • Modified intake manifold and IACV
  • Modify alternator for clearance
  • Modify motor mount for clearance
  • Spal pusher e-fan
  • Retrofitted e36 fan controller with lower temp sensor
  • AEM UEGO Wide-band senors
  • AEM X-Series oil pressure gauge
  • AEM X-Series boost pressure gauge
  • Custom made dash plate to hold gauges
  • Custom made coolant lines
  • e85 compatible fuel lines
  • Warlboro 255 lph fuel pump and modified to fit in place of the stock pump
  • Full e36 M3 drivetrain and z3 rear diff
  • H&R Front and Rear sway bars
  • Wilwood BBK
  • SPEC 6 puck clutch
  • B&M billet short shifter
  • other little odds and ends

    

Some pictures of the work in progress. Check out the tight spaces we had to work with!

     

2009 Acura TSX Collision Repair

This car came in for some insurance work (YES! We work with insurance claims too!) after a front end collision. After assessing the damage we were able to determine that the car was savable and we could restore the car to like-new condition! In addition to the front end damage the car had some scratches on both sides and a previous botched repair all of which the customer wanted addressed while the car was out of commission.

What we had to tackle :

  • New front inner sheet metal structure replacement
  • New front headlamps
  • New front passenger fender
  • New hood
  • Repaint entire left side
  • Repaint front end
  • Overhaul and paint front bumper
  • Paint half of the right side and blend the rest
  • Remove all the failing previous repairs from the last shop and do them correctly

Needless to say the was returned to our client in pristine condition and our policy is that the all repairs are completed to the highest standards using OEM or CAPA Certified Replacement Parts!

Notice the even spread of the metallics and no blotching in the paint

Factory Matched Orange Peel

 

And of Course The Before