[sbindley]

Hey, everyone. I am determined to keep a good thing going for the Phoenix Children's Hospital, so I pulled the trigger on a used, but clean '07 GXP today. It's an auto, but the price was right, and it seems to be in pretty good shape. One owner, AZ car, no floods, smoke, cat hair, etc.

Anyway, I already have commitments from several vendors here to donate some great parts to build this into a nice car for the Jan auctions. I'm hoping there may be some pieces that you all might have floating around that could add to the build. Perhaps, we can all work together a bit and have fun as car nuts and maybe put together something special that will net 20 or 25 grand for the hospital.

Here is a list off the top of my head (no V8 this time, unless someone wants to offer one...)

As I said, it is an '07 GXP Auto. 70,000 miles. (Also, what are the red flags I should look out for on this? Car holds 18 psi all day, so at least that is good)

- Wheels and Tires
- Intercooler
- Exhaust and cat
- Springs or coilovers
- Brakes, pads, rotors, calipers, etc.
- Braces underneath
- Body panel upgrades (hood, rear valance, side fenders with vents)
- GMP upgrade sensors, etc.
- Good tune
- Stereo (I have head unit, need doors and tweeters, reverse cam)
- Seat recovering
- Door panel recovering
- Floor mats
- Lil' chromies
- Stubby antenna
- Body color door handles
* What else??

I'm open to anything and everything. New or used stuff, as long as it is in good shape. The car is black, BTW, and seems pretty loaded with leather and Monsoon. A/C is ice cold. I'd love to track down the original owner. I know it is a one owner car from the Phoenix area.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing what we can do with this. Hope you guys/gals will lend support with thoughts, tips, etc.

Pics soon.
Good to be back.
Thanks much.
Scott

 

[sbindley]

Oh, and just to tug at the heartstrings a bit:

 

[jeff465]

Norms fenders, hood, nose, and diffuser. Shortie muffler. Leather covered dash, doors, and tunnel. Paddle shifters. Basic eye and ear candy for an auction. You have a BIG heart for those kids. :thumbs:

 

[sbindley]

Thanks so much, Jeff! You rock. That's more than half the list! Can you send all that stuff to me asap?

JK.

Here are some crappy phone photos - bad light, no detail, etc., but body appears to be straight.

BTW, as a former coupe owner, it's amazing how the rear visibility is when the top is down! I'm used to turning my head and seeing nothing...

 

[sbindley]

Oh, and I was thinking of painting the windshield surround body color, and getting some black headlights like my old coupe (any leads on those? -- I did a search and they look spendy)

 

[jeff465]

I've read on here of some people are taking the chrome off the inside for a cheaper route. I forgot to suggest the w/s pillar body color. Being a coupe owner, you read my mind.

 

[sbindley]

Right you are. And I don't mind the silver on the humps in back. Just confirmed Don at Soundwerks in Scottsdale is donating a nice, simple Kenwood CD/DVD system with steering wheel controls, speakers and reverse cam. Don rocks. Go see him if anyone is in the Phoenix area.

Hope to keep this rolling.

 

[SolNut]

GXP Build

Pm me your USPS Addy and I'll donate a KKKK [Kwad] (Kappa Krap Kontainer Korral) for the Build. :thumbs:

Steve

 

[sbindley]

Wow, Steve. Really great of you. I'll will PM you. I looked and could not find any info on that piece - the website is down. Are there photos anywhere?

Thanks again,
S

 

[SolNut]

No Web Site anymore, I have one ready to ship to ya, I'll put some directions in the box.

 

[LatinVenom]

Scott:
You have a big heart, but in this case an 07 GXP with 70K miles is not going to bring 20 - 25K unless the person doing the bidding at the auction is going to do it for the charity.
Hope it works since is for a great cause.

 

[sbindley]

Right, that is the plan. Not really sure about Scottsdale auctions for this car. The hospital has several big functions with big donors and big drinks and people happy to overpay for all kinds of stuff. If it brings 15-20, that is good too. This is really about building relationships with vendors, sponsors, dealers, owners, etc. We're also building a proper website to track builds, promote vendors, and all that.

What I'm shooting for, eventually, is to inspire some of the collectors I know around here who have the wherewithal to sign over the title of one of their many six figure sports cars to the hospital, take a big tax deduction, and then convince their buddies to do the same.

My yet to come '13 Trans Am will be a big time auction car, but I need to drive that one for a while before I'm ready to give it up.

Again, thanks for the input, everyone. It has not even been 24 hours and I have already gotten a lot of commitments. The car is being gone over thoroughly as we speak. For sure, it will have more than a clean bill of health when it is completed.

 

[SolNut]

What is your accent color going to be on the Solstice?

I may be able to include a Kappa Krap Kabin Kolor Kit!

Steve

 

[sbindley]

Not sure on the interior yet. I really liked the black and tan on my coupe, which I think is just classic, but may go with a red or an Audi style silver. Might depend on what the upholsterer has laying around extra...

 

[SolNut]

Shipped today, I can add the Kolor Kit later if needed AWA a KruiseID.....:thumbs:

 

[sbindley]

Thanks again, Steve. It's really cool of you to jump right in.

 

[sbindley]

Anyone happen to have a center console cover laying around? Charity car has a tear in it. I know there are all kinds of recovering options and the DDM cupholder, but for now, just looking for a replacement if someone has one gathering dust... GMPD has them for 78, but would love to find an extra.

Thanks much,
S

 

[sbindley]

Updates - a lot happening

- Found my DDM Center console with cup holders that I never put on my old coupe, so it will be perfect.

- Joe at Cordes Performance (the engine/performance sponsor of my charity builds) put the black GXP on a lift to have a look - no visible issues, nothing bent, not a drop of oil anywhere, so that is good.

- Jeff at Solo has offered up an RCD exhaust and high flow cat. Thanks, Jeff!!

- (Waiting to hear from Norm on the rear valance.)

- RKSport has offered a huge discount on a full body kit.

- Launched a FB page - www.facebook.com/wheelsforwheels

- I have a meeting with a dealer tomorrow about a red GXP.

- I received the care package from Steve with his nifty items. Thanks again, Steve!

A lot going on for just a week into it.

 

[sbindley]

Hey, all, just an update. Supporting vendors are really stepping up and parts are on the way. Will update more when I have a chance. Meanwhile, we put together a simple FB Page:

www.facebook.com/wheelsforwheels

 

[sbindley]

Update

- Solo RCD and cat is scheduled to arrive today (Thanks, Jeff!!)

- No word from numerous emails to Norm about rear diffuser with center outlets. Hope to reach him today.

- Dave at Werks is finishing hard pipes and IC should ship today. (Thanks, Dave!)

- Martin at GMRoadster has offered a 27 psi tune and lots of other valuable advice (Thanks Martin!)

* That's somewhere around 350 to the crank, so this will scoot around pretty good.

- RK Sport body kit should be here next week - I'm thinking of using the hood only (thoughts anyone?)

- Crate Engine Depot is making special deal on new black headlights from coupe.

- BC Coilovers is offering deal on a set.

- Have not looked into brakes, but there is a shop here who makes a set of the Sol - Solstice/Sky - Kits

- Don at Soundwerks Scottsdale is looking at simple system today and will schedule soon (Don is great - go support SW!).

- John at AZ Collision Specialists in Scottsdale has offered to install all pieces and repaint/touchup anything needed (same with AZCS!).

- DDM center console is installed (that was left over from my coupe, and I never put it in, and then this Sol came with a torn console, so it was meant to be).

- BTW, hoping Dave at DDM has some scratch and dent, garage sale type items. I left word, but no response. Thoughts on what we should look into? Probeam, backbone? Do those fit with Solo RCD?

- Still working through big corporate rigmarole at Discount Tire Direct to get a set of wheels/tires - funny, the smaller guys respond instantly and say, "Hey, love what you're doing, I'll send right away!" I get it, there is a process, but hope DTD comes on board as they are based here. (I've known the marketing director at Tire Rack for many years from magazine builds, and know he would send a set asap, but I'd really prefer DTD to support their hometown children's hospital -- not to mention I've spent big $$ there over the years, including paying full retail for the 19" staggered set on the charity coupe).

I do think they will come through.

QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:

* I'm painting the windshield surround black to match body - should I paint over the silver on the rear bubbles as well?

* Thoughts on the RK kit - hood only or nose and side skirts as well?

* Speaking to interior folks next - any thoughts on color combos? It has the charcoal seats with white stitching - thinking of red centers and door panels or going with the tan/carmel like I did with the coupe.

* I know that aftermarket seats are not easy to fit in the Sol. Is there one seat that does and would be an easy vendor to check with?

* I mentioned I went to see a low mile, red GXP at Certified Benz & Beemer and the gracious owner said he is interested in participating, but would prefer to donate something more akin to his inventory -- hey, bring it on -- BMW's, Mercedes, etc., make for great charity cars. He has a couple of Vipers, some nice Z4's, really cool stuff. Check out their site and let me know what would be a great car to auction off.

* Finally, this car is clearly not going to bring big bucks, but it is opening doors and really acting as a template for bigger things in the future -- it is amazing how many times one of my sponsors has said, "Hey, I need to introduce you to such and such..." Things build very quickly. Car people get excited and want to help. My body shop guy actually said, "I mostly do insurance repairs day after day after day, so this is something that will be fun and we want to get into more of the custom side..."

Anyway, thanks for the support here. I'll post photos as we go, but the FB page I mentioned above will be the main source.