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My official Prius mods thread.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by DocVijay, Dec 18, 2005.

  1. SaeGai06

    SaeGai06 Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(talonts @ May 13 2006, 05:44 AM) [snapback]254683[/snapback]</div>
    talonts,

    I have the flat "Tom's" emblem like you see in the Docvijay's trunk lid picture. It came with one of the "Tom's" item I received. I don't plan on using it and have ordered the raised emblem from sigma. Your more than welcome to it, espically since you helped me wire my OEM EV switch.

    Send me a message with your address and i'll mail it to you.
     
  2. RONIN 47R

    RONIN 47R New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DocVijay @ Dec 18 2005, 12:14 PM) [snapback]175326[/snapback]</div>

    These are great looking/sounding mods especially the wheel ideas. And as a crazy Jap myself I can attest that we like to be called Japanese a lot better. Hearing Jap kinda seems to make us go crazier then the sword accidently comes flying out slashing randomly. It gets messy and I hate to get crazier than I am. B)

    R
     
  3. pre-cbs

    pre-cbs New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DocVijay @ Dec 30 2005, 08:06 AM) [snapback]181367[/snapback]</div>



    I'm thinking of doing this mod. How is this kit holding up? Any peeling issues?

    thanks
     
  4. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    Sorry, haven't been keeping up with my thread.

    -- Sorry, no offense meant.

    -- The kit is holding up great.

    Now for the updates!!!!

    My TRD kit arrives TOMORROW! Yay. Very Excited. Going to have it installed very soon. Probably have Toyota do it when I get my 15,000 mile service.

    Still beta testing the new VAIS SLI unit. Good stuff. Really cool unit.

    Hopefully I'll be getting either the remaining braces/exhaust or the lightweight wheels soon.

    Also, check out my Father's Day/Birthday gift. Pretty sweet!
     
  5. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DocVijay @ Jun 14 2006, 10:58 AM) [snapback]271228[/snapback]</div>
    s

    I'm in the market for a grill.. I was tossing between the Jen Airs and the ducaine.. the ducaine does have nice thick stainless!
     
  6. Rick Grahn

    Rick Grahn New Member

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    FYI, Ducane was bought by Weber. The "lifetime guarantee" promoted by Ducane does is not honored by Weber...that is, unless they have changed things lately.

    Boy is this off topic!
     
  7. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Grahn @ Jun 15 2006, 04:06 AM) [snapback]271572[/snapback]</div>

    Yea, I think I'm favoring JenAir so far!

    Off Topic?... how they know we aren't mounting these in our prius? :rolleyes:
     
  8. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Grahn @ Jun 15 2006, 07:06 AM) [snapback]271572[/snapback]</div>
    Nah, it's my thread, so nothing is off topic as long as I start it! :p


    TRD Sportivo kit is "Out For Delivery" according to UPS! Soon!

    There, now it's back on topic...
     
  9. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    Got 'em!

    The kit looks great. The springs are a really nice pearl white powder coat. Looks great. Here are some pics.

    I'll probably have them installed next Friday, along with my 15k mile service. Stay tuned for pics. I'm going to get some before and after pictures from the same spot/angle to give a good comparison.
     
  10. Alnilam

    Alnilam The One in the Middle

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    FWIW, since you only weigh 135 lbs, you might not want to refer to any mechanic from the Prius's homeland as a "Jap" (original post) unless you are brown belt or higher. This term went out of fashion shortly after 1945. I think "crazy" is still OK.
     
  11. PriusMax

    PriusMax New Member

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    Thanks for the pics Doc,

    anxiously waiting to see how the drop looks on aftermarket rims/tires.
     
  12. Presto

    Presto Has his homepage set to PC

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    Doc,

    Thanks for the install instructions for the tower brace. I just got my braces today. I'm going to try and install them by the weekend. The instructions are japanese, and I'm trying to figure out which torque numbers correspond to which bolts. The lower brace is pretty obvious, but the strut brace has 3 torque values. I'm going to guess 39N/m (29lbs/ft) are the brackets, 69N/m (51lbs/ft) for the bar, and 21N/m (15.5lbs/ft) for the wiper/relay?

    With the lower brace, which way are you supposed to turn the bolt? Is it supposed to pull the points together or push them apart?
     
  13. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

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    Alnilam. I LOVE YOUR AVATAR

    what a comfortable way to fllyyyy
     
  14. priusstreetracerFTW

    priusstreetracerFTW New Member

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    Your modification list is quite extensive and forgive me for only scimming through ten pages, but I'd like to ask you what your intentions are with your car? Is this simply to be your DD? All I see is a huge amount of money wasted for minimal gains at best.

    I'm interested in seeing a shock dyno comparison with the OEM shocks vs. the TRD units. Also a dyno comparison between your OEM exhaust and the aftermarket unit your installing.

    I also feel that advertising TOM's on your car is simply going to attract some unwanted attention.
     
  15. GasGuzzler87

    GasGuzzler87 New Member

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    good job, she's lookin sweet, I particularly like the chrome turning signals.
     
  16. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jun 19 2006, 11:58 PM) [snapback]273887[/snapback]</div>
    You turn the bolt so that it pushes out. Make sure you don't tighten it too much. You want it to be snug against the bolts so that the suspension doesn't flex inwards. I had mine too tight initially, and the bar was actually bowing a tiny bit in the middle. I loosened it and it's better now. Also, make sure you tighten it when the car is back on the ground, as the suspension will flex once the weight is back on it.

    As for the torque... Uh yeah, that sounds about right... :p

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusstreetracerFTW @ Jun 20 2006, 01:05 AM) [snapback]273910[/snapback]</div>
    Yes, this is my DD. Huge amount of miney wasted for minimal gains? Well, the gains are quite substantial, and as far as waste goes, it's worth it to me. I'm sure I could find lots of things that I consider a waste of money that you have no hestations about. For me, it is worth it. As far as intentions are concerned, I'm just making my car as enjoyable as possible, while still getting 50 mpg.

    I don't think I'll be doing any testing on the shocks other than by SOTP meter (Seat Of The Pants). I've been modifying cars for a long time, and my SOTP meter is pretty good.

    I am considering doing a dyno run on my Prius. Forst I'm interested to see just how much power it's putting to the wheels, and also to see what sort of gains the exhaust really makes. I'm guessing it's not going to be a huge gain, maybe 5 hp if extremely lucky, but you never know. Maybe the Prius is like a diesel, where you get huge gains with minimal mods!

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GasGuzzler87 @ Jun 20 2006, 03:43 AM) [snapback]273976[/snapback]</div>
    THANKS! :D
     
  17. Cheap!

    Cheap! New Member

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    Your new HID lights.
    They look great.
    Do you know how much power they use as compared to the standard lights? Is there any power savings.
     
  18. Presto

    Presto Has his homepage set to PC

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusstreetracerFTW @ Jun 19 2006, 10:05 PM) [snapback]273910[/snapback]</div>
    Wasted money is subjective. I think I've dumped about $4000 so far into the Prius, and I believe it was all well spent. People that aren't into stereos or suspension can call that wasted money.

    The difference with the stock shocks and springs vs TRD is significant. Body roll is greatly reduced, and my tires outter treads have slowed down their wear. The stock suspension just isn't made to handle hard turns. If someone in the Lower Mainland has some time, I'd like to take some video of my Prius and a stock Prius doing hard turns a parking lot. It'd also be a good chance for me to feel the diff between stock and mine.
     
  19. SCDrJ

    SCDrJ New Member

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    DocVijay -

    You mentioned tint a few pages back... What type did you decide on? Results?
     
  20. Sirhc

    Sirhc New Member

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    Presto- what is the ride quality like with the TRDs what do you plan to do with the car?