The_Last_SL1 gets modded! (slowly)

[OdieTurbo]

Hey everybody! Well, I finally got the time/energy/gumption to get started getting The_Last_SL1 up to snuff in the GasSavers world.

• Tires up to 45 PSI. - Done
• Removed antenna, plan to relocate under the plastic trim along the windshield.
• Purchased a great little mirror from Wal-Mart (see attached pic). I plan on getting a second one. I'll upload a pic of how they're attached (hopefully tonight). On Saturday, planning on going to the local junkyard to get some black plastic body panels from a dead Saturn; I'll use them to cut triangles to cover the existing mirror mounts.
• Lawn Edging at Home Depot is about $14 for a 20' roll. I'm going to get a roll to make a homemade airdam and hopefully side skirts. Pics to follow! Attached is a quick sketch of my idea. The Lawn Edging has some sort of lip along it, I suppose to keep it from coming out of the ground, I will use Stainless Steel screws to attach to the bodywork of the Saturn.
• Hopefully at the junkyard, I can find enough Saturn plastic to make some nice rear wheel skirts (I think that's the word).
• Still planning an engine start button and kill button.

[Matt Timion]

nice! I'll be watching this thread

[Hockey4mnhs]

cant wait to see the results. im thinking of doing aero myself because im at a platue of fe gains from driveing technics

[OdieTurbo]

Well, just picked up a second mirror at Wal-Mart. Once mounting them on the windshield (I promise I'll post pics) I realized they they "sag" in the heat of the sun. My co-pilot (I carpool with him) suggested clothes-pins mounted to the A-Pillar to keep them from drooping. I just put some 3M double-sided tape on a pair and will mount them today. Hopefully it works! (Again, yes, I know, I WILL post pics )

I also got the Lawn Edging from Home Depot for $14 for a 20 foot roll. Very heavy duty stuff, they had several grades available, I chose the heaviest to keep it from being deformed by the air pressure at 65 MPH. So this weekend I'll get under the nose of the Saturn and get the Air Dam built. If I have enough time and material, I'll take a shot at side skirts too!

[OdieTurbo]

Okay, today I've got time to work on the Saturn! Finally! I will (yes, WILL) post pics today!

[diamondlarry]

Here's a thought for the side skirts: Go to the junkyard and find a car that's the same color as yours and use the door panels for the skirting. My $.02 worth.

[OdieTurbo]

Well, the weekend didn't go as planned, ended up taking dad to the ER with a sprained ankle, had to go get a new grill as the old one died, and overslept too!

Anyhow, I did get an old door panel from another Saturn (white though) and cut out a piece to replace the Passenger Mirror. Just got to paint it and mount it with the stainless steel screws I bought.

Antenna did get relocated! Just unbolted the right front fender and the trim over the right front door. Took out the front bolt on the antenna bracket and tilted it back, covered it up with the trim over the door. No more visible antenna!

Also you will see shots of my internal mirrors I bought. Soon I'll get those exterior ones off!

[OdieTurbo]

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

Here's a thought for the side skirts: Go to the junkyard and find a car that's the same color as yours and use the door panels for the skirting. My $.02 worth.

Interesting idea diamondlarry, now that I am better at working with Saturn plastic, that just might work. Just need a black or charcoal grey Saturn now!

[FireMedic20]

Hey I just saw this thread, and wondered how good the field of view is with those interior mirrors. I have little convex stick ons on my side mirrors since I'm paranoid and need to see everything around me.
I like the look of this mod, and was considering it instead of one of those huge wink mirrors.
Looking good Dude

[OdieTurbo]

Originally Posted by FireMedic20

Hey I just saw this thread, and wondered how good the field of view is with those interior mirrors. I have little convex stick ons on my side mirrors since I'm paranoid and need to see everything around me.
I like the look of this mod, and was considering it instead of one of those huge wink mirrors.
Looking good Dude

Thanks! I almost forgot I had this thread!!! Bad OdieTurbo! Anyhow, I can see a car about 10 feet off my back bumper all the to parallel to me so they've got darn near 90 degrees of coverage! I'll post some new pics so you can see better.

[FireMedic20]

Thanks Captain
You say Wal-mart has these? Are they in the auto section or with the baby stuff?

[FireMedic20]

Couldn't find the mirrors at Wally world.
I'm also wondering what exactly you did with that antenna. Is it hidden underneath the A-piller plastic as your pics suggest?

[OdieTurbo]

Originally Posted by FireMedic20

Couldn't find the mirrors at Wally world.
I'm also wondering what exactly you did with that antenna. Is it hidden underneath the A-piller plastic as your pics suggest?

I'll have to get the brand name and type of those mirrors... I found them in the baby stuff section.

As to the antenna, yes. It is hidden under the A-Pillar plastic. Simply take off the A-Pillar cover, the antenna, and most of the front fender. Then remove one bolt (the top one) and loosen the bottom. Tilt the antenna base back and reattach the antenna. Put the fender and A-Pillar back on. Simple! I'll post more detailed instructions.

[FireMedic20]

Originally Posted by OdieTurbo

I'll have to get the brand name and type of those mirrors... I found them in the baby stuff section.

As to the antenna, yes. It is hidden under the A-Pillar plastic. Simply take off the A-Pillar cover, the antenna, and most of the front fender. Then remove one bolt (the top one) and loosen the bottom. Tilt the antenna base back and reattach the antenna. Put the fender and A-Pillar back on. Simple! I'll post more detailed instructions.

No worries mate!
I found one of the mirrors today at a different Wally World, and it was on clearance for $1 since it is discontinued. They have something to replace it, but it doesn't look as easy to use as this one. I'm not sure if it telescopes, and it looks like it uses a sticker instead of a suction cup.
Don't worry about the A-pillar pictures....I realized today after reading your post and looking at mine, that my 1st generation SL1 has an entirely different set up than your late model one, and I don't even have that plastic piece..oops.
Thanks anyway.
Cheers.

[OdieTurbo]

Well, as usual, my aspirations were higher than my ability to hit them. Still have the stock mirrors on, and no air dam And now the darn cold weather is affecting my MPG and double