As long as you like it, that's all that matters

 

Now you should do the same treatment to the whole vehicle = instant patina..

 

I think I like the all black better. It really boils down to what you like though.

 

Looking pretty cool there Slide Right

 

That's exactly right, and I LOVE it.



Proud to say I took an idea and created them from it. Plus, there is slim to no chance I will ever see anything similar on another HHR anywhere on this spinning rock, and to me...that is awesome!

 

This is all that matters. I'm sure many people dislike my wheels or the plasti dip painted strips but you know what, I like it and I drive it so it doesn't matter what others think!

 

+1 to that! I have never been one to follow the crowd, or do what's "cool"...so I am used to it, no worries!

...but my truck brings a smile to my face every time I see it, and that's what really counts.

 

Today I jumped out of the wagon to clean it and noticed this horrible door gap. I had previously noticed in my side mirror that the door looked misaligned, but it never appeared this bad.




Got to checking things out and found this...not loose enough to vibrate around or make noise, but surely wasn't holding the door closed tightly. Could pretty easily move it around any which way....yikes!




After checking the other doors and measuring out the mounting distance on the passenger side door, I was able to fix the problem! No more unsightly gap, and no more highway howl! The picture below is also after clay barring the wagon...smooth as glass now.




A few more shots after hitting her with a clay bar. I don't think she's ever gotten this done...she was dirty! Amazing how much more crap you can get off with a clay bar...surface looks vastly different.







Can't wait to wash her again in the morning when it's cool, and throw on a fresh coat of wax! Then she should really shine!!

 

My original plan was a rat fink style shifter with brass knuckles, but their possession carries pretty stiff legal penalties here in TX (and most other states too). So I had to alter my plan. Instead I went with a .50 caliber round for my shifter handle. Used all copper piping & fittings to keep with my intended look...and here is my process, in pic's of course.

Parts involved in the creation of my rat fink style shifter...



Just for reference...my stock auto shifter.



1/4 turn & pop this chrome sleeve down to reveal the hex head screw to remove the shift knob.



Remove the sleeve and it's bye bye chrome! You can also see the white plunger inside the shifter arm, which needs to be engaged to allow you to shift.



1/2" diameter tube creates the base sleeve...



A small reducer fitting lets me step down the tubing to an easily bendable diameter...from 1/2" to 3/8".



Since the diameter of the shifter arm and my extension sleeve are the same, I had to create a plunger to engage the previously mentioned button inside the base shifter arm.



Worked out exactly as planned. Allowing me to simply push down on the shift handle to engage the shift mechanism. The handle and shift arm extension pop back up once shifted into any chosen gear.





...

 

All cut, fitted, sanded, polished, and ready for install!



Polished base & reducer fitting.



Contoured & polished extension arm + .50 caliber shift handle.



Completed shifter in park.





This is the shifter position while in drive. Cleary visible through the side and front windows...a la Rat Fink style!





Soon I hope to have most all of the interior chrome re-plated in copper to match.