Official Cheap Mod Thread

[somatic]

how about decals? rep your mods!

[SalA]

How about a $16 rear camera!!!!!!!

Color CMOS/CCD 420 TV Lines Car Rear View Camera for Nissan Livina - Tmart.com

[KevinB]

I bought the same camera. Pops inplace of current light cover. I did this when i intalled my license plate leds and it was easy

[LMBmikeZ]

Is this camera hooked up to your OEM Nav?

[happytheman]

Originally Posted by LMBmikeZ

I added another cheap mod to my to do list and thought others might like to as well.......

Anyway the stillen grounding kit is <$100 and is worth while putting in. Found my old Z (z32 TT) ran much better after I installed the grounding kit FYI! Just reduces the interference from other electronics.

Very curious to see this installed in someone else's z and it really looked like crap.

In for

[Guard Dad]

Originally Posted by happytheman

Very curious to see this installed in someone else's z and it really looked like crap.

In for

I did the grounding kit and I didn't like the look so I did it again using 1/4" black plastic flex conduit from Harbor Freight over all the wires so it blends in and looks like the factory wiring harness. My kit was red and it just looked out of place to me. Just my opinion.

[Guard Dad]

Originally Posted by gaveup

There's interest....

What materials are they made from?

The skirts are made from a 50% plastic/50% wood blend (think Trex patio decking) that can be fabricated with wood working tools and is pretty much water proof and warp proof. It was painted with Rustoleum dark gray automotive primer and finish coated with black Plasti-dip spray.

The material is readily available at Lowe's home centers. I got a 1"x12"x12' plank for $50. It's wood grained on the face and textured on the back side. I used the back side and applied 5-6 heavy coats of primer on the back side (which became the finished side in this application), I sanded (220 grit between coats, 320 grit for the final sanding) lightly between each coat until the texture was filled in and the surface was smooth. I sealed the underside with some satin black paint I had on hand and finished the top with two cans of plasti-dip spray.

It is attached with a combination of plastic trim clips and 6mm bolts with washers and nyloc nuts, also available at Lowe's.

To reduce weight as much as possible I eliminated as much material as possible from the unseen areas and I used a router to reduce the 5/8" thickness (like almost all lumber items listed as 1" it's actually only 5/8") to 3/8" everywhere except the exposed edges of the plank which were left at 5/8".

If you are short of cash, have some spare time on your hands and have access to some tools this might be the mod for you.

If anyone wants to check them out PM me. A DIY will be posted soon.

[LMBmikeZ]

Originally Posted by Guard Dad

I did the grounding kit and I didn't like the look so I did it again using 1/4" black plastic flex conduit from Harbor Freight over all the wires so it blends in and looks like the factory wiring harness. My kit was red and it just looked out of place to me. Just my opinion.

That's good to know, good tip +1repped! I know it doesn't look that good in my old Z but at least it is some thing functional. I think I might go with the black conduit to help blend it in when I do it.

[SalA]

Originally Posted by LMBmikeZ

Is this camera hooked up to your OEM Nav?

I have a Kenwood HU. The great thing about this camera setup is it replaces one of the license plate lights. Daytime viewing is great, night viewing is poor. For $16, my expectations were not very high!

[happytheman]

Guard Dad +rep for ingenuity! Ill be looking for DIY! Did you weigh them before installing? I assume they can't weigh more than four or five lbs each.

[Guard Dad]

Originally Posted by happytheman

Guard Dad +rep for ingenuity! Ill be looking for DIY! Did you weigh them before installing? I assume they can't weigh more than four or five lbs each.

I didn't weigh them but that sounds about right. The stuff is fairly dense so I made a real effort to remove it where it wasn't needed.

[Guard Dad]

Originally Posted by LMBmikeZ

That's good to know, good tip +1repped! I know it doesn't look that good in my old Z but at least it is some thing functional. I think I might go with the black conduit to help blend it in when I do it.

They offer a silver kit, which might look better but for me this was one mod that was better unseen.

[Nikkolai]

Originally Posted by somatic

how about decals? rep your mods!

Advertisement for thieves.

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by somatic

how about decals? rep your mods!

those go on my work bench. (as decoration)

[b1adesofcha0s]

Everyone knows that stickers give you more power