Elbenzo // Bagged '92 190E Project

[JDMexican]

THEN I started doing a thing! Was going to start by setting up my exo mount and all that jazz with my tank BUT THEN I realized that the exo mount setup doesn't work with my Airlift 5 gallon tank cause the diameter of the rings is too large! FML! Sooooo I hit up my friend who runs a shop installing a bunch of air suspension and other stuff. He said he could get me one the next day (today). But then he suggested just bringing the car down to him and doing it on the lift in his shop! So that's the new plan!

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

But I decided to feel useful anyway and install my Hella euro smoked tails which I LOVE!
Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

One day I'll have LED boards made for these tails. In the mean time I'll just blast an LED shop light behind them and dream of crisp bright LED's
Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

[JDMexican]

Official before photos:

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

[JDMexican]

MORE UPDATES!

I got the things!
Final Bits & Pieces! by David Arellano, on Flickr

Final Bits & Pieces! by David Arellano, on Flickr

Let's see how long these things last
Final Bits & Pieces! by David Arellano, on Flickr

Final Bits & Pieces! by David Arellano, on Flickr

Final Bits & Pieces! by David Arellano, on Flickr

Final Bits & Pieces! by David Arellano, on Flickr

Then I packed up allllllll my shit and took it to my friend's shop where I'd left the car earlier in the week (where I'd be doing all the work)
Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

Air Ride Install by David Arellano, on Flickr

[JDMexican]

Oh and this. Since my car isn't cool enough to shoot, I decided to shoot the diecast cars I have! (PS, they're releasing an Evo II Hotwheels for anyone that collects) These ones are Majorette castings with opening doors.

I plan on having one or both of these customized to match my benz as close as possible once it's done!
Mercedes 190E Diecast by David Arellano, on Flickr

Mercedes 190E Diecast by David Arellano, on Flickr

Mercedes 190E Diecast by David Arellano, on Flickr

Mercedes 190E Diecast by David Arellano, on Flickr

Mercedes 190E Diecast by David Arellano, on Flickr

Mercedes 190E Diecast by David Arellano, on Flickr

Mercedes 190E Diecast by David Arellano, on Flickr

Mercedes 190E Diecast by David Arellano, on Flickr

[JDMexican]

Mini Update:

Ordered the following:

• OEM Grille Pieces (for DIY Avant Garde)
• LED Reverse Lights (Ricer mod)
• LED License plate lights (Ricer mod)
• Puddle Lights (VIP Ricer mod)

Additionally, I totally forgot to add this to my re-boot update! I ordered my custom plate for the benz! Hoping it shows up before Wuste!


Annnnnnnd just because I can't go a post without some sort of artsy fartsy photo, here's what I'm drinking.
Stella by David Arellano, on Flickr

[loekaaz]

I used to have one of those grilles on my w124. That chipping paint was terrible. I fixed it by taping the black parts off with black insulation tape haha
But yes; OEM grill is the way to go.

[JDMexican]

UPDATE!

Cinco De Mayo was a day of celebration for me, not because I'm Mexican, but rather because I dropped my wheels off with Juan to get some color! After discussing what my plans were with the wheels (black powder face and copper lips) he asked why I wasn't doing black chrome on the faces. I simply said it would end up being over my budget with all the copper and the black chrome, to which he responded " te cobro lo mismo" which means "I'll charge you the same". Ya'll know what this means?? Black chrome faces/plates and copper plated lips/hardware/emblems.

YESSSSSSS
image.jpg

Quick shitty phone shots of his shop. Think he might have a thing




And a shot of his very own, which I did a full shoot for just the other week. One of my favorite vehicles I've ever shot. Bagged Oval Window
801 Garage - Juan's Bagged Oval Window VW Bug by David Arellano, on Flickr

801 Garage - Juan's Bagged Oval Window VW Bug by David Arellano, on Flickr

801 Garage - Juan's Bagged Oval Window VW Bug by David Arellano, on Flickr

801 Garage - Juan's Bagged Oval Window VW Bug by David Arellano, on Flickr

Also, I decided that the cheap AvantGarde grill that I ordered sucks. Well... I already knew that, but it's been peeling a lot and I just can't handle it. It's not even worth it to try to paint it professionally since it's so cheap and crappy. You get what you pay for!








Luckily, my ex was taking her duckbill to get painted gloss black by my buddy so I decided now would be a good time to get my OEM grill painted! Luckily he can paint both at the same paint and it'll save me some money. I plan on buying the OEM Mercedes chrome inserts to basically re-create the AvanteGarde grill but much higher quality. Fingers crossed that it comes out nicely!

Link to OEM inserts for anyone interested: http://www.genuinemercedesparts.com/...A0JnI9NQ%3D%3D

And just because I like having pictures of everything
OEM Grill Inserts by David Arellano, on Flickr

OEM Grill Inserts by David Arellano, on Flickr

[JDMexican]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh, oh, here it is! Let's just dust this off. Wow, it's been a while... ahem

Soooo hey dudes and gals (perhaps?). I'm still alive. The benz is too, just kinda coming back to life finally.

WUSTE IS A MONTH AWAY!... SHIT... I guess that means it's time to start cracking away on this thing and getting shit done. Hoping I can get everything done without any hiccups, can't afford those with the time limitation I have now.

ANYWAY

I've got tires, as of like a month and a half ago or something. Went back to my favorite tires for the fourth time in a row. Achilles ATR Sports in a 205/40. This is the exact same stretch that I had on my GC8 so I know exactly what I'm dealing with and I've always loved these tires and how they stretch!
Achilles For Lyfe by David Arellano, on Flickr

Achilles For Lyfe by David Arellano, on Flickr

Achilles For Lyfe by David Arellano, on Flickr


I've got valvestems, as of like a month ago or something. Long story, short: Lips valvestem holes were filled. Running valvestems in barrels. Ordered lil' stubby dudes that are really neat. HOWEVER I had to have the barrels drilled for them since the wheel builder had no way of knowing what stems I would running or what size I would be getting and how they would fit on the car. (Unless he would've asked me or something). Anyway, I got that done.

SSR Crenshaw Classics Build by David Arellano, on Flickr

Hardware pic just because
SSR Crenshaw Classics Build by David Arellano, on Flickr

Freshly drilled barrels. Literally just picked them up today from the guy that milled the holes for me.
SSR Crenshaw Classics Build by David Arellano, on Flickr

Annnnnd wheel pics just because I'm so pumped
SSR Crenshaw Classics Build by David Arellano, on Flickr

SSR Crenshaw Classics Build by David Arellano, on Flickr

SO YEAH

Wuste. Time to do some shit. Gonna be taking the car to my friend's vinyl installation shop to the bag install there. Not enough room at my house considering my dad has 4 trucks here, a trailer, my mom's car plus my three cars (yes I still have the damn Integra (please buy it!)).

I'm sticking to my original plan of doing a black face with copper lips, hardward and emblems on the wheels. It's just what I've envisioned and I think it's gonna look amazing. Here's the cool part! Originally I wanted to plate, but that shit is expensive. So I decided I would do a translucent copper powedercoat and call it close enough. BUT, the other day I did a photoshoot with one of the most gorgeous cars I've ever shot (fully custom, bagged, oval window bug). Long story, short: He's got a lot of copper plated shit on his car and I asked him who he goes through. Turns out he's got a local dude that does all of his stuff and he can get me a SWEET deal on getting my lips plated! So I'm gonna pack up my wheels tomorrow morning and take them down to him tomorrow evening to get a quote and probably get them plated! WOOT WOOT

[190Evan]

Stoked for those crenshaws!!!! I feel like those headlights and corners are going to take away from the elegant look the avant garde grill brings but I'll hold my judgement until then. Also super jealous about that four runner!

[DropCulture]

Looks great! I really love the detailed photographs of all the products you get, really sets that stance works mood to the build!

[proboner]

Curious to see how those wheels will come together...

[djlowd]

Those wheels are gonna be pure sex on the car... Congratulations, I think the result will be awesome !!!

[JDMexican]

Andddddd these wheels showed up at my door today. FINALLY!

• Manufacturer: SSR
• Model: Crenshaw Classic
• Diameter: 17"
• Width: 9"
• Offset: -3
• Style Bar: Maxed out eventually

Took a while, but they're finally here. Custom lips and barrels because of the shitty size of the face. Long story short, a ring has been machined and welded in to the edge of the face to fill the gap between the face edge and the lip. Long story short, the lips were machined to the wrong size face (leaving a gap between the face edge and the inner edge of the lip). Long story short, whatever, they're here, can't wait to get them coated, or plated, or chromed or plasti-dipped (jk that would be hilarious).

Some of those stories weren't short. So here's a short one, the valve stems are in the barrel because clean lips are life.

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

[JDMexican]

So it's been a long-ass time since I've posted on here. Mainly because not shit has happened really, nothing worth mentioning at least. Aside from the following:

• I still have the Integra (please buy it)
• I've been maintaining the Benz rull good and put 11k miles on it in a year
• I bought a 4runner (it's bitchin')
• Got my wheels finally (they're bitchin')

So yeah. Here's the 4runner cause it's bitchin' // 2001, 1 owner, 153k miles, 4WD Sport model, no rust (which is a mircle) and I got it for a great deal. Gonna start a build thread over on 4runner.org for it if anybody wants to tune in.

[JDMexican]

Welp, another virtually useless update of more parts! Maybe one day this car will be cool, though probably not any time this year because of how heavily delayed my wheels have been.

Tooling is still being made to machine the lips and barrels that will be created for my SSR Crenshaw Classics.

But in other news. I got new headlights! USDM's ones are garbage and I opted for something a little different than what everybody else runs (Euro market). I was hesitant about ordering these at first but decided to just go for it. I'm really happy with how they look and feel after having opened them up. Everything feels sturdy and well made which is nice, and they weren't too expensive.

I'm going to have the housings painted black to reduce some the aftermarket rice factor. They'll be painted black to match the car better and make them look more at home. Until then, pictures!

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr