usdmJON

Hey all.
Ive been away from the boards for some time purchasing a new car and researching on it. I sold my 1994 Acura Integra ls for $3,100 (buyer also paid for smog) with a K&N oversized intake, F&F Type1, and DC catback as well as some extras. I bought it 6 years or so prior for $4,000 after everything was said and done.

The integra before it was sold.


Then the ILX the day she came home before the Integra was gone.


I originally wanted to go with the 2.4 6speed ilx. I drove it around and thought it was a funny engine and tranny; I saw myself rowing through the gears too quickly for what I wanted as a more luxurious commute.
I got back to the dealer and asked if they have a 2.4 in the gunmetal color. They had black white and silver only.
The salesman then came around the corner in a gunmetal tech package which was the next higher trim level with navi and extra add ons. I test drove that and enjoyed it. Being automatic, it was a more luxurious drive but with less power. I also liked the paddle-shifter option when the auto tranny isnt holding gear long enough and it came in my preferred color so I went for it.
In the end I figured I am always going to work on the performance so why not get the fully loaded model.

Ended up with a 2013 PMM Acura ILX 2.0 Tech

usdmJON

Started with some cosmetic mods.

Lamin X fog covers in yellow.


Turned on they aren't that bright so later I picked up some nokya yellow dipped bulbs that gave a really gold tone when lit up.







Time to get a little lower.

Presidential_Detail

Nice car! Cant wait to see what you do with it.

usdmJON

At this point I was happy with the height of the car being in the first few months of ownership. Coilovers will definitely be in the future but I am ok with springs for now.

I felt I could use a more aggressive look up front but there was no way I was going to put a garage door sealer on a luxury car, even be it an entry level luxury vehicle.
So I looked around for a non Acura front lip I could make work. I took some inspiration from the Subaru guys and found an STI lip that would fit right with some tweaking.

After it was mocked up I knew it was the perfect choice.





At this point I was hearing every other day that I should plastidip the front grill so I figured I would give the product a try.
Picked up some plastidip smoke and this was the result after about 6 layers.


In the end I opted to tear it off. I feel the black grill it better suited to people going for the race car look. I enjoy the polished and brushed aluminum surfaces on the car and feel it works more for the luxurious look I want to achieve.


A shot at work without the front plate on. Looks great but I got a ticket a few months into it so the plate is back on... I got a tint ticket at the same time from my front tint, yeah cali can be a bitch. Come December I'll get the taken care of then keep the front plate on but put the tint back on as well.

usdmJON

Thank you sir!
Means a lot coming from someone involved in a track build like the one in your sig. Keep up the damn fine work and thanks for the compliment!

Presidential_Detail

That lip is PERFECT on that car! Nice find!

usdmJON

Still looking around and researching performance parts so a few more comsetic changes in the mean time.

Behind the gun range I work at. No front plate and with newly plastidipped Cream wheels... or as my gun buddies like to think, Flat Dark Earth. haha



^Interesting day.


Saw a peacock!

And a sweet audi in a not so sweet position.

Then some better shots.




After a few weeks I learned I did not lay the plastidip thick enough and one wheel from both sides got a snag in the dip so I peeled it all off.



Also, check out instagram #usdmJON for a lot more pictures of my ILX. A lot of photoshops in there with wheel options.

usdmJON

Happened upon a Takeda/AFE intake for a great price that utilizes the oem resonator to draw in cold air but frees up air flow significantly.
As well as a couple bay dress up pieces compliments of moooogen and yospeed.




Soon after I got a free can of plastidip black that was left over from helping my buddy black out his emblems on his legacy so I did my rear emblems black.
I did a bit of heavy spraying to try and get a textured look that ended up not too bad.
Only picture I could find of the black emblem... the ILX is black as well.
Also pictured is one of the new LED lights replacing the tired soft white halogens. Big difference.

Also finished off the can doing my grill real black (before i tested the smoke plastidip on the grill) I ended up keeping this much longer than the smoked grill.


Random shot...
My low pro jack doesnt like front lips. Also before I got my plate frame to sit correctly.


Tuners favorite sight

Both in one day!! hahaha

usdmJON

I am a big fan of it. I suggest it to any ILX owner that posts on my instagram.
Because of that though, I may switch it up to one of the S2K front lips... maybe the mugen one, just to change it up as well as continue a mugen them with the bay socks.

It is holding up well but twice now I have had to fab better brackets to hold it up. The ground is simply to high!!

Deetz

Dude, there is a very easy way to do this without wreaking your car...........drive you front tires up an a couple pieces of wood, problem solved! I do it all the time for my rsx

usdmJON

haha No worries about wreaking the car. The jack makes it under just find, that sti lip hangs down real low. The lip is the only thing I have to lift up to get the jack underneath.

But yeah I am aware of the wood blocks, believe me I had them in the trunk of my integra for every time I had to raise that thing. Even had two pieces screwed together to make a ramps since one 2x4 wasnt enough


During install.


Love the big navi screen.


Masonic symbolism whaaaaat?!

usdmJON

Little while after plastidipping the grill again I decided to pick up four cans of white and do the wheels. Only cost $26 bucks so why not.



Made a 3D image I remembered how to make from high school.


Then went ahead and finished up the lighting for the time being. Already had new license plate lights but there were still reverse lights, fogs, and DRLs to replace.

Passenger side stock halogen, driver side Nokya Arctic White halogens in the lower watt option.

As well

New reverse lights from iJDMtoy, plate lights are no name off amazon, DRLs are Nokya Arctic White, and fogs are Nokya Arctic Yellow (I guess someone peed in the snow?)


I still need to replace my footwell lights with LEDs but other than that the lighting is done for now.

Brice.Hayden

iTrader: (15)

Didn't realize you could modify a leased car.

Black R

I'm seen at least one magazine cover car turned in at the end of the lease period - with all the mods on it.

Quite lulz.

usdmJON

Small bracing piece. Couple more to come soon.

New year shall bring a dopwnpipe, rear sway bar, wheels, then soon after some coilovers to replace these H&R springs.

My list in progress
Motor:
downpipe - megan
exhaust - magnaflow custom 2.5-2.75/vibrant/megan
intake manifold - weaponR
throttle body and spacer - p2r/maxbore
intake revamp - blox/heatwrap/spectre
pulleys - skunk2/xlr8
Then Finally FlashPro! And lots of weight reduction.

Suspension:
wheels..undecided
coilover
rear sway bar - eibach/asr
camber kit - asr
front & rear bracing - cusco/megan/custom
TL brake kit

Cosmetic:
vinyl gloss black roof
full OEM kit and new retrofitted front lip
headlight taillight VIP retrofit..undecided
custom exit exhaust//undecided
vip time- jp/dad/custom

And some shots from the Gun Range

usdmJON

haha

I wont be giving this back. May sell sometime down the road but I have a lease to buy that I plan to honor.

usdmJON

Throwing different wheel chops at my car to see what I like best before tax season comes. Looking at set ups from 18x8 to 19x9.5. Offset depending.









Suggestions?

billboard

the first 2 wheel choices would be my choice. #1 my favorite

Presidential_Detail

#2,3 and 5 is where its at!

usdmJON

Still unsure on what wheels to go with. Still have a couple months before I will be purchasing.

Couple updates.

Out with the old DRLs. They were Nokya Arctic Whites. They did a good job as DRLs and still worked as high beams but I got tired of how dim they were in daylight with the blue film to make them white.


Upgraded to some Cree LEDs with forward facing projector lens and 360 degree 12smd housing and error free resistors.


Im happy with how bright they turned out. They are on the lower wattage end so the resistors shouldnt get too hot.
I now want something a bit brighter though so the headlight housing lights up more but they are definitely an upgrade.

As well you can see Im not longer sporting the front license plate.
Got that ticket as well as a speeding ticket handled. Now that shopping for xmas is over money can go into the car again.

Picked up a roof spoiler with an awesome discount.
I had originally responded to the company advertisement with no price saying Id pay $50 for one. Just some plastic/rubber roof spoiler, unpainted with CHEAP 3m tape.
They messaged me back saying "well then you dont get one". LOL ********.

At that time it was set at retail at $79 which was more than I paid for my front lip so I said no.

Then found an Instagram code which took it down to $69 shipped with free glass epoxy. So I jumped on it.
Fast forward to Thursday when it arrived. I open up the box to find not one spoiler but TWO.
So now I have two spoilers and epoxy for only $69... making it $35 each... THAT was the price I wanted hahaha. Oh Karma how I love thee.



Some IG shots. I am loving the spoiler.
Was a slight hassle to get on. The 3m tape didnt work worth a dam n so I used more epoxy than I wanted. Had to keep walking around the car making sure the corners were holding.



Picstitch type shot I did to show front and rear.



On my mind for the immediate future is the OEM front lip to cover a small scuff firs and foremost.
Then I need to work on the exhaust and purchase a rear sway bar.
Wheels will come with the tax return around February-March.

usdmJON

One more thing.
I did this chop the other night and am very proud of it.

Mugen Accord Wagon front bumper/grill, Mugen TSX skirts/visors. Acura OEM Jewel eye headlights, and lowered.



Original here

Presidential_Detail

That shop looks great!

On the Cree LED lights, are those only bright enough for driving lights? Im guessing they are not bright enough to be used as headlights right?

usdmJON

The 20w that I got no, but the 50w or 80w maybe.

Im obsessed with the shop. I want to find a replica mugen accord bumper and try fabing it up.

mikekh10a

iTrader: (2)

ilx's are so nice, can't wait for more updates!

usdmJON

Thank you sir! Small update tonight with some Tsuna love.