The two people who have been following my cavalier’s upbringing through this harsh harsh world are like “Whoah, The Cavalier’s butt looks totally different!”
...to which I say, “Right on brotha!” Here’s a pic circa yesterday of what it looked like. Notice the stock base unpainted bumper still on it from when it left the factory in Stuttgart Janesville or Southgate plant. It was looking a little tired and dated. Time to bring the car out of the 90s and into the early 2000s! (...Still 17 years behind the times)
I peel away its skin like a cooked potato and see it’s sweet sweet squishy innards. The rust is slowly reclaiming my car back into the metal ore it once was...
The new bumper was scored from the junkyard awhile back, courtesy of a 2004 Cavalier in the same Bright White GM paint code.
Now my vision is for a quasi-hybrid whereas the rear bumper and corner taillights come from the refreshed 03-05 model years while the rear decklid/inner taillights remain classic 00-02 Cavalier. I just think it looks mega fun in that combo.
Next order of business is the Chevy Bowtie on it’s nose. I need the Savvy Cavvy to look the business. So I snag a performance Red bowtie from a Z24 trim brethren and stick it on with 3M emblem adhesive.
It’s easily good for +10 horsepower.
Wait, there’s moarr!
I didn’t have a tachometer from the factory and by Odin’s beard I want one. So this unit comes from Ebay courtesy of a 1998 manual transmission Cavalier Z24. Rule of thumb is the analog trip odometer units are compatible with each other as are the the digital ones respectively. You just can’t mix and match the analog with the digital so stop trying to make that a thing.
I wrote down the mileage discrepancies between the two since my car has way more miles (180,000 and counting!) and I need to update the replacement unit with the correct number once quarantine is over.
In the meantime....
GM VAT system pains, Hazahhh! For those not in the know it’s GM’s much hated anti-theft device that depending on the model year, you’ll have codes in the instrument cluster, ignition module, PCM, RFID on key fobs etc etc etc. What matters is that this redundant system matches all the codes to whats written in it’s brains or else it’ll cut the fuel off 1 second after ignition and you’ll have a rock on your hands.
Luckily 1997 was an easy year. The code is obviously different on my new cluster than what the car brain has programmed. I turn on the ignition and start the car. It predictably dies 1 second in from fuel starvation. I keep it on ignition...wait about 10 minutes until the “theft system” light stops blinking and turn on the car to a successfully ignition. The new instrument cluster code has been successfully rewritten into the computer and now we’re friends again.
Pay no attention to my ABS light, my car is a train wreck...
But wait, there’s moarr!!
I finally installed my OEM embroided pink “Rally Sport” headrests to give my car that pizzah of 90s because I like to relieve my 90s kid youth. I also have a set of OEM pink/teal rallysport quarter panel decals that will complete the look for a future date.
It’s been fun, ya’ll stay safe and thanks for reading!