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SZRimaging
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Alright, I am starting with a pretty much factory stock 1998 4 door with AWD. I am just graduating college, and can't afford a new car, but the Rav needs a few improvements. 1 item in this list is really expensive, but it would be done if I got a new car, and that is the paint. Pretty much i want my vehicle to be unique to be a rolling advertisement for myself. I am a photographer (visit my site if u wanna see my work), and the rav makes a great vehicle for this line of work. I live in upper lower Michigan, so I have to contend with snow and lots of water, so I am debating a few things.
First, a cold air intake. Will driving through deep snow (it happens more than u think, they don't like to plow my road). I wasn't sure if it would suck up the snow and cause a hydro-lock. Or is that valve that was mentioned earlier in the CAI chain good enough to eliminate that problem? Wasn't there a mod where someone made a ram that got the air from under one of the headlights? Is a sports intake a better idea?
Next is cornering. I would like a bit better cornering, but don't really want to sacrafice my ride height/clearance. It is helpful when I gotta drive in the winter, and when i gotta hit some trails to get to trailheads. So any ideas on a way to improve the cornering a bit? Does anyone make sway bars to help with body roll? Is there a good set of shocks/springs I should get? I guess lowering it about 1 inch wouldn't be too bad either.
I also want a little more aggressive, street tuner look, so I was going to install a body kit (rather, have the body shop do it when they put on the new paint). Are the Bomex kits pretty easy to fit over the plastic on the bottom half of the body? It needs new paints because the campus parking has been harsh on it, my parents ran over a can of latexx paint before they gave it to me (there is a tiny splash of it on the plastic, have yet been able to get it off) and there is a weird dent/crack in the factory paint that is bubbling. Like I said, the vehicle will be a rolling advertisement, so I want it to be unique.
Also, to draw attention, I am wanting to change the engine sound. I know the CAI will do that a bit, so will a new exhaust. Outside of a total engine swap, is there something else I can do to shange the sound to a classic high pitched tuner whine? Is a turbo worth the cost?
The car has 95000 miles on it, and should be runnin strong for much beyond that. So I am planning on having it for another 3 to 4 years, maybe longer, if it looks good it may just keep getting new engines as needed.
Oh, and there is a really loud grinding sound from the braking. the breaks are still in good condition (had a dealer check them, and it only happens in warmer weather (over 60f). Think new pads of ceramic or some kind of noise reducing composite should help? I am doing a brake/rotor change, and a few other things as needed to keep her runnin nice.
Sorry that was so long winded.......maybe next time I should split those up......
First, a cold air intake. Will driving through deep snow (it happens more than u think, they don't like to plow my road). I wasn't sure if it would suck up the snow and cause a hydro-lock. Or is that valve that was mentioned earlier in the CAI chain good enough to eliminate that problem? Wasn't there a mod where someone made a ram that got the air from under one of the headlights? Is a sports intake a better idea?
Next is cornering. I would like a bit better cornering, but don't really want to sacrafice my ride height/clearance. It is helpful when I gotta drive in the winter, and when i gotta hit some trails to get to trailheads. So any ideas on a way to improve the cornering a bit? Does anyone make sway bars to help with body roll? Is there a good set of shocks/springs I should get? I guess lowering it about 1 inch wouldn't be too bad either.
I also want a little more aggressive, street tuner look, so I was going to install a body kit (rather, have the body shop do it when they put on the new paint). Are the Bomex kits pretty easy to fit over the plastic on the bottom half of the body? It needs new paints because the campus parking has been harsh on it, my parents ran over a can of latexx paint before they gave it to me (there is a tiny splash of it on the plastic, have yet been able to get it off) and there is a weird dent/crack in the factory paint that is bubbling. Like I said, the vehicle will be a rolling advertisement, so I want it to be unique.
Also, to draw attention, I am wanting to change the engine sound. I know the CAI will do that a bit, so will a new exhaust. Outside of a total engine swap, is there something else I can do to shange the sound to a classic high pitched tuner whine? Is a turbo worth the cost?
The car has 95000 miles on it, and should be runnin strong for much beyond that. So I am planning on having it for another 3 to 4 years, maybe longer, if it looks good it may just keep getting new engines as needed.
Oh, and there is a really loud grinding sound from the braking. the breaks are still in good condition (had a dealer check them, and it only happens in warmer weather (over 60f). Think new pads of ceramic or some kind of noise reducing composite should help? I am doing a brake/rotor change, and a few other things as needed to keep her runnin nice.
Sorry that was so long winded.......maybe next time I should split those up......