Initial Mods

[jmack]

Hello guys,
Its me again! Once again thank you for all of your help regarding the last issue I had. Now up to a more upbeat question.

I have a 2001 PT LE. I haven't really made any mods to it yet. I have done the following minor things:

Added Sony X-Plod speakers to replace the factory speakers.
Added the Chrome Side moldings on the fenders and quarter panels.

Just a small start. I want the car to look classy, but not too modded. My thoughts were to do the following things first. Please feel free to share your input.

Cosmetically:
Chrome window trim (mine has faded and its ugly)
Chrome Bumper Trim
Painted Brake Calipers (I was thinking Black or Red?)

Performance wise:
I have been told to immediately get a strut bar.
a new air intake (for better hp)
A little bit better tires (not low profile, but a little wider maybe?)

Any thoughts?

[quicksilverdon]

You're on the right path with your plans - strut bar, air intake. What about the grill? There's various things you can do to alter the look of the grill, up to replacing it, starting with a kit from StreamLineDesign.Com that has pre-cut matte black vinyl pieces that visually make the vertical pieces in the grill disappear, accenting the horizontal bars.

[PTRON]

Try to decide what you want it to look like when you're done (theme?). I've been trying to do only what I would consider mods that look like they may have come from the factory (with a few minor exceptions). These include -
tinted front windows (darker than factory)
custom "USA" vinyl overlays on back-up lights
custom "USA" 3bl
American flag "decals" on opera windows and rear window
painted antenna bezel
shorty antenna
painted washer nozzles
chrome grille strips
chrome beltline
chrome door-handle scuff guards
chrome door spears
chrome bumper inserts (not yet installed)
chrome bumper "center pillow" (not yet installed)
all red taillights (not yet installed)
painted mirrors (on my wishlist)
chrome wheel-well molding (on my wishlist)...
and then I'm done with the exterior, unless you count chrome baby moon rims and new tires that are also on my wishlist.
My "theme", as you can tell is "factory patriotic", and I had this in mind as I purchased all the bits and pieces.
To see pics, go to www.cardomain.com and do a search for ptron2003.

[jmack]

Yeah, I think the theme that I want to go with is "Suped up, yet classy"
I mean where I live there are a lot of cars that are modded. There is only one PT, and its BRIGHT YELLOW with Yellow flames down the side and Yellow wheels..I want it to look like its tuned and modded for performance and fun, not for the "Bling Bling" factor"

[Jimbo]

I like the wider tires I went with 225/50/R16. You won't
believe how many comments I get about them.(all good)
Take your time and think things through.I've bought
mods and than later I wished I would have done something
else instead.Thinking will save you money in the long run.

[TaylorMade]

is the strut bar really that important? and if i was to buy one, where would be the cheapest place i could get one?

[redrum]

what jimbo said--i have some trinkets on the work bench that just stare back and me and say "what the hell were you thinking??"
these cars are a lot of fun to fool with.
redrum
03GT

[fritz_t_coyote]

quote:Originally posted by TaylorMade

is the strut bar really that important? and if i was to buy one, where would be the cheapest place i could get one?

The strut brace is only important if you go around corners.

The Freedom Design brace works great at a low price. Try the various vendors websites... and compare the price With Shipping.

And before ordering... snoop around on the forums and find out which dealers to avoid.[^]

[redrum]

re: any mods including strut bar--don't forget about ebay. type pt cruiser in the search box and there are normally 1400(!) items up for auction. i see the strut bars, springs and anything on the planet that fits a pt or has a pt logo on it is for sale. if you can wait for the right auction, $ can be saved.
redrum
03GT