New QLD 04 Liberty GT Owner

[muzzrx]

Hi All,

Name: Mike or Muz
Ride: 04 LGT 5PSD
Location: Southport, QLD
Mod: ZERO
Plans: 200k Service, Hail Damage fixed
Occupation: Software Developer (LAMP)
Year of birth: 1982 (30)
Interest: Travel, Snowboard, Formula 1, Tinkering with the soobs.
Previous Rides: 90 LGT

So I'm Mike. I've been on the lookout for a 4GEN for about 12 months. I have been procrastinating bigtime on purchasing what I know to be a hugely overpriced Aussie built Liberty - (IMO ,Protecting the Aussie car industry = flogging a dead horse)

So rant over. I've just jumped on a hail damaged 04 LGT 5SPD. Got it for a great price (5k)with 190km. Drove it up from Melbourne, drives like its brand new. Repirable write off due to hail damage.

Heres my plans for her, Feel free to suggest anything.

1. Being that ts been written off - I am in line for a WOVI Check, so no Registration till then. 1 Month waiting list, and apparently that's good.
2. Timing belt, anything else suggested at 200k (i have full service history - has been VERY WELL MAINTAINED, one owner)
3. Fix the Hail Damage. New Bonnet, Boot, then Tackle the roof. She wont be coming to meetups till his is done hehe. Keeping my ear to ground for silver wrecks.
4. Suspension (from owning my last LGT, id like to upgrade or add to the suspension setup to try and prevent the inside of the tyres chewing out)
5. Low Kings & Vented discs & 4pots. Brakes are ok, but not good enough. More stopping power please.
6. Bluetooth / Aux in fr the stock McIntosh (it sounds great! dont know why everyone complains ?)
7. Autometer C2 Electric Boost/Vac Gauge on pillar, I've had a full set of electronic before, they're hot.

I don't have any performance upgrades planned.

Thanks for reading !!

[zch91]

Welcome mate and nice car.

Decent mods list you have there, the brakes on your GT are actualy quite good. 316x30mm front rotors do pull up well, you may be surpsied in the improvement new pads and fluid could do.
4pots have a smaller rotor so I am not really sure on the improvements there over stock. Otherwise Brembo's are the way people normally go.

If you're planning on a suspension swap I reccomend either a set of Tein S-tech springs (PHAT edition - custom done for AUDM bilstein springs) or coilovers.

Check out the audio section for Aux in/bluetooth. There is HEAPS of info there.

By the way, your LGT was not made in Australia, the J at the start of the VIN means it was built in Japan, 6 means Aus.

Enjoy your stay!

[muzzrx]

Thanks for the reply !!

And thanks for all the info, I' been scanning the forums for all sorts of info already. I'll have to do some more reading on the brakes, see if i cant keep the larger rotors with some decent 4pots.

With the suspension, I'm hoping the stock shocks will hold up for now, and just put in some low kings.

For the audio - im liking the anycarlink with bluetooth/usb/3.5

And thanks for letting me know bout the VIN. Do you know if they are just assembled here ? In my into i was just referring to the fact that the same car is 60-70% cheaper in japan, and that the laws here either sting you for large amounts, or don't allow you to bring them in at all.

Cheers,

[ferret89]

Welcome mate! Pics?

About the brakes, I have the same stock brakes 316mm up front and 290mm rears and I've got some DBA T3 slotted on the way with some fresh performance pads with good fluid. I don't really expect to have a massive difference in braking power, but I think it brakes pretty hard already. Brembos are expensive and unless you are tracking the car regularly or chasing huge power not really worth the money (except they do look awesome).

Suspension: Check out BC BR coilovers, can get them off a vendor on here Street to Track for $1100 delivered which is the best price you'll find.

[muzzrx]

Sorry, I should have posted pics straight away !!

The GEN1 Was my first LGT. I miss her.

Obviously the GEN4 is my new baby. I've just found some PDR tools on the bay im willing to give a try. I'm short on money right now, not time. So I'll post progress pics.

[zch91]

Damn... Those rubber bumper protectors

Otherwise nice car mate!

[muzzrx]

Do you know if they just tear off ?

[zch91]

A bit of heat - maybe some fishing line or something, they'll come off. Then you have damaged paint/residue left behind.. Not fun.

[muzzrx]

Beats watching MKR.

[ferret89]

Beats watching MKR.

Haha, I wonder why anyone would option those bumper protectors they completely ruin it

[muzzrx]

They're coming off in the weekend Fingers crossed for no sticky residue...

I've also found a PDR Kit i'm going to try as well, Bit nervous about giving it a go, but nothing to lose but time.

Kit
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PDR-Paintless-Dent-Repair-Removal-Tools-Glue-Kit-/150580739317?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item230f4fbcf5&_uhb=1#ht_2222wt_1163

Pry Bars
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_ipg=200&_sop=15&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=pdr+pry&LH_PrefLoc=2

[zch91]

Jeez you're keen, I guess you don't know until you try! What prices have you been given to repair the dents?

[muzzrx]

500-600 each for boot and bonnet, in the right color, used.

Roof is another story. Cant be just bolted on. Another member has offered me a silver roof, with all the pillars cut off half way, but I would suspect that it will cost a shipload to get it welded in, cert'd and painted.
Lots of time and money.

So for the roof I will try the PDR. The boot/bonnet I will straight out replace. If the PDR fails, I will look at getting it repaired professionally.

[zch91]

Ah fair enough mate. I'd probably do the same at that price. At least you have the damaged bonnet to practice on/get the technique right! A bit of research and some YouTube vids and you should be able to sort it out !

Good luck.