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> Mkernz22's Progression Thread
post Sep 13, 2010 - 8:18 PM
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mkernz22



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Joined May 10, '10
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This is how my story goes. My name is Mike Kern and I live up in MA. I'm only 17 years old and I will be turning 18 in November. This is my second car because I totaled my first one in a snow storm. I'm scared as hell to drive in the snow ever since I lost control and hit a telephone pole. This is my first time ever working on a car this in-depth, and I thought it was going to be really hard to fix, but I took the challenge.
My first car was an Acura Legend. I loved the car for the way it drove. It was just very comfortable and there were a lot of features to the car. That's mainly because it was a luxury car back in the day. The suspension I didn't like because if I took an off ramp at 40mph, the car would nearly tip over because the suspension was that loose. It got up and going very fast, that's because it's a V6 and had 200hp.
My Acura Legend went from this:


To this:

I sold it to some guy for $550 or $500. Not bad I guess.
Then I saved up over a month or two and found this baby on Craigslist for $1500. smile.gif

^Only upgrade I had in that picture was the aftermarket fogs.
I got the seller down to $1200 so I think it was a steal!
Originally, I was skeptical about getting it cause of the rust, but when I drove it, I knew she was a winner.
My dad didn't want me to get a coupe cause they are not great in the snow, but he could tell I really wanted it.
I had her for a few months, about 4 to 5 I'll say, and I didn't do any upgrades at all to her.
Then, one lovely day on my way to work, disaster struck... frown.gif


At first, my mom and dad were telling me to scrap her, and I was like no.
I told them about this forum, and how there are so many useful resources, and that I know I can rebuild the front end of her.
So I did, whether they doubted I could do it or not.
It started off with the tear down, which was oh so very fun.




At one point I can say I had a reverse opening hood haha


After that I just kept tearing her down more and more.



Eventually, I got a new window installed and it was free cause insurance covered it.


Then I acquired this bad boy from a guy in Mansfield for $450!



Finally, the two Celicas meet face to semi face lol



I had originally gone to the junk yard to slowly get parts for my car. That is why the red radiator support is on.
Soon after I got the Silver Celica. I spent about $200 there so my total came to $650 for everything.
Slowly, but surely, the swap started progressing! smile.gif




Just did some mocking up to make sure it was going to be ok.



I got a new exhaust and intake with the car as well!

^Installed

^Not installed yet.

Some pictures of me cutting out the radiator support on the Silver Celica.









Some pictures of me lining the radiator support up onto my car!




I bolted down the radiator support, on both of the sides by the fenders with two bolts and on both the middle legs with a good amount of bolts as well.
I started installing some more parts on the front end little by little.



I also replaced the fuse box cover because it had a decent size hole in it from the crash.



Here is how the front of the car is as of right now. I don't have any recent pictures, but I'll be getting some soon smile.gif
In the picture the front bumper and hood are just mocked up, nothing is bolted down.




I have some goodies coming my way right now so I'll put them up as I receive them!
Right now I'm saving up for a paint job. I am hoping that will happen in late October or early November.
I'm looking to just get a Midnight Black, but Manny said he might be able to throw a small amount of Blue Pearl in it so it glistens in the sun smile.gif
I'll keep you all updated!

What I'm so pumped for is that I just convinced my dad that a manual swap will probably cost less than getting tires for the 18" rims off my parts car. WIN!
So that will go down this spring as well as swap out the 5s from the parts car (126k) into my car (214k).
I would love to save for a 3s over the winter, but I think that just learning how to drive stick on an N/A car will be easier. smile.gif

This post has been edited by mkernz22: Jan 31, 2013 - 8:14 PM

Posts in this topic
- mkernz22   Mkernz22's Progression Thread   Sep 13, 2010 - 8:18 PM
- - HectortheRican   Once you learn, it's second nature. I'm ne...   Sep 13, 2010 - 9:17 PM
- - mkernz22   Everyone says it's not that hard, and it reall...   Sep 13, 2010 - 9:21 PM
- - HectortheRican   Main thing is the clutch foot. The actual act of c...   Sep 13, 2010 - 9:32 PM
|- - Zake   QUOTE (HectortheRican @ Sep 13, 2010 - 9...   Sep 19, 2010 - 1:20 AM
|- - HectortheRican   QUOTE (Zake @ Sep 19, 2010 - 12:20 A...   Sep 19, 2010 - 1:26 AM
- - mkernz22   that's going to be really fun to learn lol i g...   Sep 13, 2010 - 9:50 PM
- - mkernz22   Complete story is up right now, will add more as i...   Sep 14, 2010 - 4:37 PM
- - presure2   good stuff man, your dad is a super cool guy, i ho...   Sep 14, 2010 - 5:24 PM
- - zakinabox   man i did not realize how much work you'd put ...   Sep 14, 2010 - 10:37 PM
- - mkernz22   yeah i've put a lot of work into her so far, a...   Sep 15, 2010 - 3:05 PM
- - mkernz22   auto is boring as hell anyway! i drive it like...   Sep 19, 2010 - 7:09 PM
- - NOVAKx17   To each his own my friend, to each his own! b...   Sep 19, 2010 - 11:16 PM
- - mkernz22   It's going to keep on getting better and bette...   Sep 21, 2010 - 8:20 PM
- - HectortheRican   I got LEDs from them and the one that lights up th...   Sep 21, 2010 - 8:55 PM
- - mkernz22   In that picture, it's cell phone quality and I...   Sep 21, 2010 - 9:02 PM
- - HectortheRican   I'm gonna take it all out and see if it's ...   Sep 21, 2010 - 11:56 PM
- - mkernz22   I hope you didn't man! That wouldnt be goo...   Sep 22, 2010 - 1:12 PM
- - mkernz22   To start off, I have to say sorry for the bad qual...   Sep 22, 2010 - 3:30 PM
|- - jcbass7   QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Sep 22, 2010 - 4:3...   Oct 28, 2010 - 7:59 AM
- - pipes   looks niice i take it no 404 for you!   Sep 22, 2010 - 5:21 PM
- - Batman722   Looks good Mike. JDM tails would really make it lo...   Sep 22, 2010 - 5:57 PM
- - richee3   Good stuff, Mike I had no idea you were only 17 a...   Sep 22, 2010 - 6:52 PM
- - mkernz22   pipes: Nah sorry man, I need all the extra cash I ...   Sep 22, 2010 - 9:03 PM
- - mkernz22   Alright so today I went to DQ with my girlfriend a...   Sep 24, 2010 - 11:44 PM
- - HectortheRican   LAWL!! That's really funny man xD But ...   Sep 24, 2010 - 11:51 PM
- - mkernz22   Thanks! I just have to figure out how to do th...   Sep 24, 2010 - 11:56 PM
- - mkernz22   soooo today my steering wheel came in! Thanks ...   Oct 1, 2010 - 3:30 PM
- - HectortheRican   Sweeeet. I really wanted it, but the blue stitchin...   Oct 1, 2010 - 4:00 PM
- - mkernz22   I wanted it too! lol so I jumped on it cause i...   Oct 1, 2010 - 8:37 PM
- - HectortheRican   I hate cruise control anyway. Thought my whole 10 ...   Oct 1, 2010 - 10:45 PM
- - mkernz22   I don't hate it, but I'm not a fan of it. ...   Oct 1, 2010 - 10:56 PM
- - mkernz22   so today I got the piece I need from Manny (pressu...   Oct 11, 2010 - 8:06 AM
- - mkernz22   Finished swapping out the steering wheels! too...   Oct 11, 2010 - 12:21 PM
- - jcbass7   Looks awesome Mike , glad to see you got the ste...   Oct 11, 2010 - 4:46 PM
- - cyprus_gt   Nice wheel mate cheers p.s. keep going....   Oct 12, 2010 - 2:32 AM
- - mkernz22   Thanks you guys! My next project will be to ma...   Oct 12, 2010 - 10:59 AM
- - 4-eyed-freek   wow that looks great!! nice job!   Oct 12, 2010 - 11:18 AM
- - Ted95   wow dude.. look alottt different since the meet lo...   Oct 12, 2010 - 11:55 AM
- - mkernz22   thanks man! I'm not even sure if the paint...   Oct 12, 2010 - 12:10 PM
|- - Ted95   QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Oct 12, 2010 - 1:1...   Nov 4, 2010 - 5:05 PM
- - mkernz22   yeah, so I'm getting another Celica within a w...   Oct 14, 2010 - 10:07 PM
|- - jcbass7   QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Oct 14, 2010 - 11...   Oct 15, 2010 - 10:23 PM
|- - HectortheRican   QUOTE (jcbass7 @ Oct 15, 2010 - 9:23...   Oct 15, 2010 - 10:48 PM
|- - mkernz22   QUOTE (HectortheRican @ Oct 15, 2010 - 1...   Oct 16, 2010 - 3:57 PM
- - mkernz22   So i realized my car has been guzzling a quart or ...   Oct 17, 2010 - 6:39 PM
- - HectortheRican   Is your valve seals and maybe piston rings. Same t...   Oct 17, 2010 - 6:46 PM
- - mkernz22   well the good thing is that I'm putting the en...   Oct 17, 2010 - 6:55 PM
- - HectortheRican   Yeah bro, it's already coming out, you might a...   Oct 17, 2010 - 7:10 PM
- - mkernz22   Yeahh, I'm definitely doing the water pump as ...   Oct 17, 2010 - 7:25 PM
|- - HectortheRican   QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Oct 17, 2010 - 6:2...   Oct 17, 2010 - 7:26 PM
- - Bigblock   Great work you're doing!!!   Oct 17, 2010 - 7:34 PM
- - mkernz22   Thank you both!   Oct 17, 2010 - 7:44 PM
- - mkernz22   i hate curbs! I was on my way to school and i...   Oct 19, 2010 - 5:41 PM
|- - HectortheRican   Hopefully it's still structurally intact!   Oct 19, 2010 - 5:50 PM
- - mkernz22   it didn't lose any pressure while i was in sch...   Oct 19, 2010 - 6:21 PM
- - Batman722   JDM tails.   Oct 19, 2010 - 9:35 PM
|- - mkernz22   QUOTE (Batman722 @ Oct 19, 2010 - 10...   Oct 19, 2010 - 9:44 PM
- - Batman722   RE: Mkernz22's Progression Thread   Oct 19, 2010 - 10:41 PM
- - mkernz22   Thanks! haha I want to get a CF hood or mirror...   Oct 28, 2010 - 8:12 AM
- - mkernz22   so...yeah.... little bit of an update... hmm, ho...   Nov 4, 2010 - 4:38 PM
- - mkernz22   I heard yah on the the money issue Updateeee...   Nov 4, 2010 - 9:07 PM
- - HectortheRican   Nice! M/T swap will be sooo worth it.   Nov 4, 2010 - 9:13 PM
- - mkernz22   heck yes it will be!   Nov 4, 2010 - 9:25 PM
- - delusionz   what was wrong with the silver celica? i dont unde...   Nov 7, 2010 - 4:42 AM
- - mkernz22   I'll give you a list right now: tranny was cr...   Nov 7, 2010 - 9:57 AM
- - jcbass7   QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Nov 7, 2010 - 9:57...   Nov 8, 2010 - 2:21 PM
|- - HectortheRican   QUOTE (jcbass7 @ Nov 8, 2010 - 2:21 ...   Nov 8, 2010 - 2:41 PM
- - mkernz22   I knoww! haha So yeah I'm 18 today, wooo...   Nov 8, 2010 - 6:48 PM
|- - HectortheRican   QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Nov 8, 2010 - 5:48...   Nov 8, 2010 - 7:17 PM
- - mkernz22   hell yeahh! haha   Nov 8, 2010 - 8:09 PM
- - mkernz22   picking up tails from Dustin tomorrow? I f*cking h...   Nov 13, 2010 - 12:18 AM
- - mkernz22   hehe, got my tails yesterdayyy   Nov 14, 2010 - 12:34 AM
- - Batman722   PICS !   Nov 14, 2010 - 1:06 AM
- - mkernz22   I'm putting them on today after work! Send...   Nov 14, 2010 - 9:51 AM
- - HectortheRican   Haill yeah!!   Nov 14, 2010 - 2:49 PM
- - mkernz22   Pictures Before: After: Side by Side: Othe...   Nov 14, 2010 - 3:46 PM
- - HectortheRican   I'm glad someone else can now appreciate the b...   Nov 14, 2010 - 5:27 PM
- - presure2   looks great mike, had fun with you and your boys l...   Nov 14, 2010 - 8:05 PM
- - mkernz22   had fun with you, dustin, and steff as well! ...   Nov 14, 2010 - 9:11 PM
- - HectortheRican   I think if you cut them, your blinkers may go supe...   Nov 14, 2010 - 9:14 PM
- - mkernz22   it's one of the driving lights so i wouldn...   Nov 14, 2010 - 9:29 PM
- - HectortheRican   Yeahh you may be right lol. I just got the JDM har...   Nov 14, 2010 - 9:31 PM
- - mkernz22   i have the jdm harness as well lol do all the ligh...   Nov 14, 2010 - 9:49 PM
|- - HectortheRican   QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Nov 14, 2010 - 9:4...   Nov 14, 2010 - 11:06 PM
- - mkernz22   well i mean i have the jdm harness but im not usin...   Nov 15, 2010 - 9:28 AM
- - HectortheRican   Switch NAO! Hahaha   Nov 15, 2010 - 9:28 AM
- - mkernz22   lmaoo i mightt, but I have 3 sets of usdm harnesse...   Nov 15, 2010 - 9:40 AM
- - HectortheRican   Oooh creative! I'm fine with the amber in ...   Nov 15, 2010 - 10:35 AM
- - mkernz22   yeahh i knoww lol i'm hoping it turns out good   Nov 15, 2010 - 10:40 AM
- - Ted95   looks good mike! keep up the good work bro...   Nov 15, 2010 - 11:24 AM
- - mkernz22   So I've been putting everything into a Spread ...   Nov 15, 2010 - 2:46 PM
- - mkernz22   my friend just told me today that im burning oil ...   Nov 15, 2010 - 8:52 PM
- - HectortheRican   Just go get a quote for the price for the fix, and...   Nov 15, 2010 - 9:25 PM
- - mkernz22   well i have another 5s in my parts car with 124k o...   Nov 15, 2010 - 9:28 PM
|- - HectortheRican   Oh good! Well then you're set. You should ...   Nov 15, 2010 - 9:31 PM
- - mkernz22   i mean it still runs good, but I might get some ne...   Nov 15, 2010 - 9:34 PM
- - presure2   mike, just have steff set you up with timing belt ...   Nov 16, 2010 - 9:49 AM
- - mkernz22   Do you think I should do that stuff with the motor...   Nov 16, 2010 - 10:52 AM
- - Ted95   QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Nov 16, 2010 - 10...   Nov 18, 2010 - 7:06 PM
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