Version 2.0 CHICAGO_ONE's Build

[CHICAGO_ONE]

After much debate, I've decided to make a build thread. I've been hesitant as this will by no means compare to some of the TGC Champions, but here is my story.
Some of you may or may not know, this is my second 8G. I 've been on TGC since 2006 when I owned this 2001 ES:


It was simple, clean and the first car I ever modified. Built a great sound system, tints, coilovers, wheels, custom grille/eyelids, some JDM pieces here and there and loved the shit out of it. College was over and I had already started a world-traveling addiction so I sold the car. It's hard to say it, since I've been places I would've never seen, but I do have some regret in letting that one go.

So, onward to the next project. I picked up a 1997 240sx from an elderly couple. Ran fantastic, mint interior, great body, but a hidden rusty secret layed underneath. The owner patched the rockers poorly and quickly coated the underside of the car. So rather than investing in the S14, I decided to get back into the Galant game.





I picked up this '03 ES on Craigslist that was just brought over from Arizona. First thing I looked for was rust and found NOTHING. I've never seen a Galant so clean (keep in mind, im in the midwest). This car did have a bent rad support, broken grilles, slightly bent hood..but I knew I was going to change that anyways.
So, I got married, bought a house (which had to have a garage) and started a new job. My money was still tight, but the modding bug had already taken hold.

The car sat pretty stock for awhile with the exception of a few parts. A local member and great friend N30Acid retired his Dover White G, so lucky me I got an EGR visor and trunk lip that were pre-painted. Grabbed a set of Aspire tails from Trigger, JDM power mirrors from a member on here, and let it sit like that for a couple seasons.



On to some random pics

JDM Mirror switch/ Carbon wrap






Found this guy in my dash

Fog light Mod

Painted Door Cups

Pioneer screen / already sold and back to stock radio


My favorite tails


Dealt with this fun obstacle

72 TB

Injen CAI


Trunk Lip

Side Indicators

Special shout out to Jigz for all of the help, guidance, teaching and motivation


BC's installed

Playing with some fitment


3G Strut Bar




This is where is sat for awhile as winter was approaching and the wife and I were saving to go on yet another trip: this time India.

Came back to a dead battery...best time to upgrade

Dealt with a LOT of this

Which lead to this... about 3 days after I returned from India



This was the result of bald front tires, ice and snow.

Started some slow projects

HID's I believe these were the 6000K, later switched to 4000K


Quickly went and bought new tires for the GT wheels I was going to repaint... that had to be put off as safety was first:




Thanks to Coconut for these freshly picked/washed backing plates for the rear conversion




To Be Continued...

[CHICAGO_ONE]

so damn clean...


I hated how the Xentec HID kit comes, so I put together a harness for easy plug and play.



So in this meantime, my car was driveable, hood was being held down by ropes, rad support was jacked up, headlights were cracked, bumper and grille were barely holding on.. I decided to start collecting parts for the spring.

Thanks again to Coconut


Thanks to Dominicano for the lights



Easter weekend roled around and I was just itching to make the 4G wheels look better... Rusto paint job



Brought the car to SoSick to meet Mike from Garage Sixteen to get the new 99-01 rad support welded on





Finally the hood shut with it's own latch.


So I kept on collecting parts... you can see where this is going



Keep in mind, I'm still pretty new to actual car repair. Modifying little things here and there, hooking up speakers/subs/amp, small time fiber glassing.. Ok. But when I came across and replaced the Driver side axel, I was pretty pumped.


This guy helped me out too


And here she is as of a couple months ago. Still needs a hood, bought a SoCal JDM rear bumper and Duraflex VR4 front bumper that are getting ready for paint, and am finally getting these parts put in.





I always knew that I wanted this bumper, even with my last G. And I always knew I HAD to fill in the license plate bracket. I also went ahead and fiberglassed the tow cover in bc it seems thats the most common part for people to lose.


Again at SoSick watching Jigz fly through this like nobodies business





still waiting to get wrapped.


And I think this is close to completion



And this brings us all to today. I have a couple sharp dents that need to get pulled, get a hood, then fit the bumpers. I may not get around to paint this season, but I'm pretty set to go right back to a fresh coat of Dover White Pearl. I'll try to update my little projects as I go along.
Thanks for looking!

[8thLS6]

Really can relate to this build having gone from a s14 myself to a galant..liking the choices in mods too.

If you dont mind sharing how did you go about making the eyelids?

[pdubss]

I also have a pearl white G in Chicago. Looking good so far

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[CHICAGO_ONE]

If you dont mind sharing how did you go about making the eyelids?

Here you go.. I made a tutorial about it actually:
https://www.thegalantcenter.org/show...glass-Eye-Lids

[4g63lover]

This is awesome. I am really glad I can be a part of this build. You and me my dude taking over the Galant game in IL!

[wetamup2k3g]

Looking ill in IL! Lol

Coming along nicely Jon!

[99galantES]

Looking good can't wait to see it finished

[8thLS6]

Thanks for the tutorial link..staying tuned in for the bumper install. Sure its gonna set off the front end

[IVORY_G]

So much win! I've always like your taste in mods, simple and clean. Looks awesome, can't wait to see the finished product!

[CHICAGO_ONE]

Thanks a lot guys. It's been tough staying motivated after a crash, but looking at so many people bounce back makes me know it can still be worth it in the end.
I received my LED's for the city lights the other day. The pic makes them look much brighter, but they are still pretty intense. Thinking of just switching to an amber bulb. I still think they look awesome in early evening. Can't wait to get the bumper/fogs installed and have it all come togeter.

[4g63lover]

Sex

[CHICAGO_ONE]

[Ninja edit]


How I spent my Saturday. MmmHMM!

[2002BlackDragon]

Very nice!

Sent from my Z796C using Tapatalk

[Black8GV6]

Looking good Jon

[2002BlackDragon]

I love that bumper more than the other!

Sent from my Z796C using Tapatalk

[CHICAGO_ONE]

Little update. Not much has changed, except yesterday I picked up this vis Evo hood from Jigz. This is the first time the front end of this car has Ever lined up.
It had small front end damage when I bought it and obviously worse damage after last years accident.
I'm falling in love with this car more and more. Spring time = paint time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Palmz]

looks good

[CHICAGO_ONE]

Stripped and painted. I'm pretty happy and can't wait to install once I get some new hardware







Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[oakrdrs187]

Great job. I did my VC last weel also and didn't want to keep it silver. I thought black would look sweet on top of the aluminum head and outlander mani. I got wrinkle black and coated it twice after it had dried once before then baked it per instructions on can. Came out nice, lookung like bedliner almost.