The Grey Skid – Chevy Beat TCDi LS (December 2012)

VISHNUCARCRAZY · Jun 20, 2020

I think it might be due to painting without any pre preparation , your paint is coming off. [think]

What I have heard is for alloys , primer quantity should be way less and primer used is of heat resistant grade . (Am not sure).

Anyways Black looks killer. [clap]

deville_56 · Jun 20, 2020

VISHNUCARCRAZY said:

Previous guy changed colour at least 7 times. He changes alloys frequently [lol]

Seems some cheaper brand paint. Don't think he has ever used primer.

VISHNUCARCRAZY said:

deville_56 · Jul 6, 2020

June 2020 - Finally New Rubber - Maxxis Vectra iPro 195/50R15

Wifey was feeling very uncomfortable with the low profiles as slightest unevenness on road was felt inside, so was planning to change next month, but then the thunder struck, the news of import ban. Asked brother to check with the dealer on the way. I was planning to get some Accelera Alpha, PHI-R or 651 Sport or Achilles ATR Sport or at least some Nankang model. He went to Nayana Tyres and the tyre guy rang up other dealers and distributors to check availability and import tyres already out of stock at most places and he came with the pleasant surprise, Maxxis Vectra iPro, one of the options we were looking for Fiesta then. And more sweet part was the pricing, it's cheaper than all the options I had in mind. Asked him to get a set. He ordered them right away, even without taking any advance amount and promised in 1 day, but delayed by 2 more days due to COVID situation, but he promptly informed the delay. The changing staff was experienced as well. Did a quick job without damaging the freshly "jugaad" painted wheels. Changed rest of the 3 wheel stems as well. One was changed during first lock down.

Maxxis Vectra iPro 195/50R15 - ₹ 4,350.00 x 4
Tyre Valve - ₹ 100.00 x 3
Wheel Alignment - ₹ 400.00
Wheel Balancing - ₹ 500.00

Total Damage - ₹ 18,600.00

Maxxis Vectra iPro 195/50R15. Made in Thailand.

Jacked up like Chris Fix.

Done in an hour.

Lost the hubcap. It was some round plastic piece stuck by previous guy with super glue. Now looking for new Lenso like caps.

Cool tread pattern. Way too silent than the previous Sonat and Nankang tyres and obviously comfortable than the low profiles.

Maxxis

Victra i-Pro

195/50R15

March 2020 make.

Made in Thailand.

Rest of the story.

Sits flush with the body line.

195/45R15 vs 195/50R15

Old tyres. Two of them ran approx 3-4k km only (if the previous guy was right). I used them barely 700 km. Sold them on Olx. Got 3.5k for two of them. Gave the other 2 for free.

Enhanced looks.

Big fat ass [cheers]

deville_56 · Jul 10, 2020

June 2020

As usual rain wash.

Then incidentally noted, one of the glow plug connections dislodged. Checked and found all three glow plugs being disconnected. I gave it to Premier Automobiles a year back to check glow plugs and injectors to sort out the service light issue. Such a careless guy. (The same guy who used to charge without changing parts).

deville_56 · Jul 20, 2020

June 2020: Corona Time pass - Checking scope for rear wash and wipe.

Just one screw.

Another access,

but nothing in there.

Door pads. Note the hump to accommodate the wiper motor.

Motor would fit in that top hole.

The fascia comes off undoing 7 nuts.

Two of them hold the key latch.

Gotta drill a hole on that hump for the install.

Condition of number plate light housing. Cracked due to the heat generated by the incandescent bulb.

Sourcing parts would cost around ₹ 4500-5000 for wiper motor, combination switch, wiper arm and blade and extra washer motor and piping. Confused whether to go for new one or used one. I could get full boot lid from a LT variant for ₹ 7500 including the OE spoiler and demister.

vishnu vichu · Jul 23, 2020

deville_56 said:

June 2020: Corona Time pass - Checking scope for rear wash and wipe.

View attachment 279274

Just one screw.

View attachment 279271

Another access,

View attachment 279273

but nothing in there.

View attachment 279272

Door pads. Note the hump to accommodate the wiper motor.

View attachment 279269
View attachment 279268

Motor would fit in that top hole.

View attachment 279267

The fascia comes off undoing 7 nuts.

View attachment 279263

Two of them hold the key latch.

View attachment 279270

Gotta drill a hole on that hump for the install.

View attachment 279264

Condition of number plate light housing. Cracked due to the heat generated by the incandescent bulb.

View attachment 279275 View attachment 279276

Sourcing parts would cost around ₹ 4500-5000 for wiper motor, combination switch, wiper arm and blade and extra washer motor and piping. Confused whether to go for new one or used one. I could get full boot lid from a LT variant for ₹ 7500 including the OE spoiler and demister.

I would say go for the full boot lid. We can search around and if not easy to find one then settling around for the parts would be good enough. [cheers]

deville_56 · Jul 23, 2020

June 2020 - Squeaky door pad

For some time, the LH door pad was making squeaky noise intermittently. At first, thought it was the panel covering the seatbelt. Was too lazy to check it. Incidentally spotted gaping in the door pad and noted the dislodged clip. I don't remember removing the pad or the need to remove it the recent 2-3 years.

To start with, have to remove the ORVM adjuster cover.

It'll come off with just a pull.

Just 2 clips holding it.

Without the cover.

Two screws, one here

and one holding this.

And a gentle pull, the pad comes off. Disconnect the power window switch.

No tarry glue like Maruti.

Removed the clip with gentle prick with screwdriver. Harder to remove than the Maruti ones.

Found second dislodged one.

Installed and clips and installed the pad back. Happy ending.

vishnu vichu said:

Hope we can find one of the same colour [evil]

vishnu vichu · Jul 23, 2020

deville_56 said:

It shouldn't be that tiresome [;)]

VISHNUCARCRAZY · Jul 24, 2020

Had the noise gone after this bro?

deville_56 · Jul 24, 2020

July 2020 - Black Pillars

I was always fetish about black pillars since I could remember of. First ever mod I ever did on any car was black pillar (and a gunmetal rims painted with a vacuum cleaner) in my teenage some 15-18 years ago. It was on my friend's Zen (which happened to be the first car I drove and the first car I crashed). Ever since then, I wanted to do the same with our household cars, but unfortunately all of them either came with factory black pillars or were black cars. I still remember pursuing @ilango[speed thirst] to do it on his Estilo in Orkut times and still behind @vishnu vichu do it on his Amaze.

Finally, did it on my boy.

Materials needed. Grabbed sister's hair dryer. Most helpful around the edges. Matt black vinyl, got it from Bhavani Stickers. Run by some Hindi-speaking guys. They got great collection of vinyls and related stuffs and tools in Trivandrum. With COVID, their regular staffs who understood Malayalam left for their home town and had a tricky time getting the sticker. He was repeating ₹120/sq.ft, and I was like WTF. I asked him for 1 x 4 ft, and he was saying price for the 1 x 4 only, ₹120 total. Squeegee blade, I had for some 10 years. That guy got a great collection of newer models and too tempted to get them. Normal paper cutting knife. Had at least 5 stainless steel ones, I hate the plastic ones. I misplace them during DIYs and not even a single one was found and ended up buying plastic one. Again, that guy had some amazing premium steel ones.

Colin, the inevitable.

WhatsApp Image 2020-07-24 at 8.03.15 PM.jpeg

Start off with cleaning the pillars.

Remove the window trims. Held with single screw behind.

The dirt ever since leaving the factory.

Clean it.

Pull apart the rubber beading. Start off the work. Put'em back when done. With blower/heater, working through corners and depression is pretty easy. Back those days, would end up with swollen and cut fingers.

One side done. Did the missing A-pillar as well.

Repeat on the other side.

Final outcome. Black pillars come default in top variant of Beat.

VISHNUCARCRAZY said:

Obviously.

Vishak · Jul 25, 2020

deville_56 said:

If you find a reliable and affordable scrapyard around Tvm please let me also know.I’m looking for few parts for a different car [drive]

deville_56 · Jul 25, 2020

Vishak said:

Both of those terms doesn't go well with Trivandrum scrap dealers most of the time. Only one guy I met was reasonable so far. One <r/ Salam, who is inside Power House Road, without a proper shop or display, but arranges what he can for cheaper rates, but he don't have abundance of parts. I got Lancer rims for Estilo from him. He quoted 750 and took from the bypass dealer who quoted 2000 per rim. We didn't bargain, and he gave for 650 or 550. He had Fiesta lights for 750, which others were quoting 2000+. I would get the number from somewhere.

deville_56 · Aug 14, 2020

July 2020: Restoring parcel tray

Parcel tray started sagging and linings started peeling off. Held well for 7 years without any chipping. Due to sagging, boot lid wasn't closing and had to lift the tray to close the door.

Materials needed:

Thermoform sheet. Pretty cheap. Sq. Meter was less than 50. Sourced from a store selling material for making mask.

Fevibond. This one I have known since I was 3 or 4. My dad always used it. Thicker one used for shoe making was better, but couldn't source due to pandemic. Found this in supermarket.

As usual, mom's scissors.

Remove the speakers,

and remove the old thermoform and it's residues.

Fix the rubber carpet first.

Then the thermoform and cut to shape. Pour superglue drop by drop at places where there is chipping. Learned from Chinese DIY videos. They used superglue and noodles to fix chipping.

Old school. Reinforce with rectangle section curtain rod. Scavenged from home [evil]

where curtain was missing.

Cut and painted black. Stand on the board while screwing to get it straight. Had the right number of star wooden screws.

Installed mounts back. Could've painted them black.

Ready to install.

deville_56 · Aug 20, 2020

July 2020 - Installing Rrear suspension jounce stopper bumper

Bought the Jounce Bumper in May 2020. Watched some Russian channels to get an idea of replacing.

Rear Suspension Jounce Bumper Stop - J95154454 - ₹ 327.00

To start with, make some room.

Removing the panel. One screw there.

One clip here, under the stock speaker location.

Two down there.

Didn't remove the panel entirely as it seemed unnecessary, but would've removed, but again had to remove seat belt, which had a bigger Torx bolt, which I didn't have the tool to remove. Suspension covered with black plastic cover. Pry it off.

One extra connector. Curious to know what it was for.

Before starting off, support suspension bottom with a jack.

Top part of the suspension without the cover. Aftermaths of old rat attack.

Need a 15 mm open-ended spanner and a 6 mm socket.

Hold the socket and loosen with the spanner, or vice versa.

Remember the order.

Jack up the car, needs a second jack.

Remove the bottom bolt, 14 mm. Better to loosen it up before jacking up.

Slowly lower the supporting jack and the shock starts coming off.

Top part (washer) simply comes off.

Needs cleaning off the residue.

Purpose out the stopper is to hold the dust cover in a floating position preventing it from rubbing against the shock absorber.

Car minus the shock.

Work en progress.

New vs remnants of old one.

Easter eggs!! Many parts of the car are still labelled Daewoo.

Just squeeze it in.

Spacer. Comes as kit with the rubber bush and metal washer removed at first. The whole kit costs just ₹161.00 (Leaf Spring Bushing Repair Kit). Would replace next time.