Replaced Passenger Side Visor

Ordered and installed replacement, pretty simply.  You just have to remove the screws, then re-attach the plastic wire connector. 20150612_210550

7/2015 – Sold the Madness GoPedal after installing the Unichip tune.  It no longer worked, as the Unichip modifies the throttle, as well as other things.20150629_200307

Best MPG on >10 mile commute, in traffic 33.0 via Ultra-Gauge. 20150716_090231

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HID Headlights

HID’s? GET IN THERE!

Bright as Hell! Single error at startup, but some flickering, then sometimes they wouldn’t fire. Winter seemed to be worse.

These were a generic, Chinese knock-off brand, likely purchased through Alibaba.com.  They said “Canbus Pro” on them, and the numbers never matched any cross referencing.  The Eagle Eyes headlights changed the bulb socket from 9012, to H8/H9/H1.  They ended up flickering, a bit.  I adjusted the grounds, but didn’t help.  The left ballast finally went out Jan 2017, so they were replaced with Xenon-Vision HID’s.

The Xenon-Vision HID’s are the real deal!

These are error free, and many have gotten great results, even in the extreme cold.

Once at the site, select Canbus 35W ballasts, and choose 9012.  The 55W will be too hot, and may cause issues.  These will work bright, and error-free.  On checkout, use the code “dodge-dart” for a $20.00 discount.  As of Jan 2017, mine were $80.00, shipped with the discount!  Here is the link.

These work very well, and are quite simple.  I got rid of the dedicated battery line and relay, and simply draws power from the stock headlights.  No additional resistors were needed, and the build quality is top notch – a very rugged looking product.

Mine were the wrong bulbs, at first, due to the Eagle Eyes.  They even sent me a replacement, and paid for the shipping!  I really recommend these guys!  Other great websites for HIDs are Diode Dynamics, Morimoto and Xenon Supply.

The best video I’ve seen, that explains HIDs and light temperature is here:

Here is a chart, cross referencing light color temperature and perceived lumens:

 

 

 

There is a great review on dodge-dart.org, by my friend, Matt “Cntrollerfanboy” here.  He goes into detail, and the product really is good.

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Exhaust 1.0

Next up: Exhaust! I spent a lot of time on youtube, annoying my wife with loud car videos. It seems like the 1.4 runs best without that muffler – deleted! That really was the way to go – my buddy told me that it kinda sounds like a Lambo now. It really growls! It was a little much in the cabin at first, but once I got used to it, now I love riding with the windows down so I can hear her purr. I used James Dean Muffler in the Chicagoland area – he was great!

First, he cut off my muffler so we could hear how it sounded, and I took it for a spin to check performance, sound & efficiency.

Gone:

After I drove around, he put her back up and started making the pipes. He used all stainless steel (I’m in Chicago) 2.5″ and it was cool to watch him make it on his bench and then start putting it on the car.

Here he has one side done, and is starting to build the “Y” piece.

Some welding action:

Done:

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LEDs Grille Lights and Wheel Lighting

Next up: More Orange! I added LEDs inside the front grill, another set under the front lip, and a pair inside the front wheel wells – Now the underbody lighting goes all the way around – Ridiculousness Level 11!  The best way to do this is by adding LED strips to the inside of the front bumper, and along the bottom portion, just in front of the FMIC, if you have one.

The wires can easily be routed to the battery, and then to a switch of your choice.
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I installed an illuminated toggle switch for these suckers: (the first of many)
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It looked much cooler, months later, after I removed the front crosshair, and added multicolor demon eyes:
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New Wheels!! TSW Bathurst in Gunmetal Black

TSW Bathurst – gunmetal black. Under 20 lbs. per wheel (19.4 lbs. @ 19″) – yes, I DO feel a difference!  Wheels are matched 19×8″ – tires not stretched, an no rub!

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Plasti Dip Door Handles and Fascia & EZ Lip

  1. Plasti Dipped the crap out of my door handles. I used a brush and painted between the handle opening area, then sprayed the rest.
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    I should have taped it differently, but we live and learn. What do I know, I’m just a music producer!
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  2. yodamusic's Avatar

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    I had some Plasti Dip leftover, and I had been photoshopping the front grill/fascia black – I thought it would look ok, and boy did it ever! It turned out fabulous!  I also added the EZ Lip on the front and sides.  (Both the plasti dip and the EZ Lip were later removed / upgraded.)

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Footwell Lighting and Interior Pinstriping

I really dig what some of you guys have done with the interiors! That being said, I can’t find a way to change the display color in the LCD – everything on the interior matches in red/black – which I like! I realize red and orange looks bad, but inside the vehicle, I cannot see any orange. The red interior is pleasing to the eyes, and red is a more calming color than the orange, so I went with it. I added (no big shocker here) red footwell lighting under the dash on both sides, and added them inside the dash, peeking through the vents – I generally keep it on the “breathing” effect. There is also red led’s under the front seats, shining into the back seat.
I bought some red gap trim and used it in a few places. It came with adhesive, but I supplemented this with the epoxy on the ends and corners. I don’t know why, but I added the turbo sign to the glove box. I even bought a short, red usb cable to charge the phone.



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Underbody LED lighting

As if I don’t stick out enough with this ride – I need more! Underbody LED lights…oh man, here we go!
The transmitter is wireless, so no need for another line through the firewall- everything on the box tucked under the hood can be changed remotely. The thing has about 18 patterns – in orange, of course!

At night (with the orange LED’s on)

During the daytime/evening, also with the orange LED’s on:

Closeup with the LED’s off:

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Intake – not a true CAI

I installed the K & N typhoon intake, which sounds pretty awesome, but I wasn’t seeing the gains I thought I would with it. It doesn’t really cool it enough. It is safer, living in Chicago, from the water – but who wants to be safe?

I want more power and more MPG’s! Here is the mod, although looking back at it, I may go with a true CAI, as this seems to be mostly a sound improvement. MPG barely changed, and the little it did go up was likely me learning the gearbox more efficiently.

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