Car Builds....Where have they gone?

Eraser head haircuts were a fad, corduroys were a fad, even the pop groups like 98 degrees were a fad.

Trends and fads come and go with time, eventually being taking over by something or someone more liked than its/their predecessor. There is always a process: someone tries something different/crazy, few people like it, many think its weird, until it starts to spread like wildfire and all of a sudden more and more people are doing "the cool thing to do."

Well as I see it, fads and trends are meant for things like clothing, haircuts and music. Not in the car world. It is amazing how many people now take their auto, slap on a simple bolt-on turbo kit, get a boost controller and then brag about how much horsepower their car has made. Or those who buy 10 12" speakers with no-name generic amps just to reach 100dbs.

Nowadays you see less and less those who put top dollar in their rides and put their creations to use for what they were made for. I have failed to see the time where the car world started spinning backwards making it alright to cut corners when working on your car to make it to your liking. I see this as a direct correlation to the decline in automotive activities, mainly car shows. There was once a time where car enthusiasts drive for miles to enter their car in a show vying for a trophy bigger than themselves with outreagously built vehicles. Don't get me wrong, all of this is still around, its the decline that I am talking about here. Big time shows not to long ago had strict guidelines as to what was the minimum requirements to just be able to register for the show. Now you can see a stockish looking honda and just because it has a k-series swap its allowed in.

I almost certain this isn't the first time this has been said, read or heard before. Hopefully there will be a change soon and I am sure there will be....

Finally....

Its been quite some time posting up on here but our website it up and running!
www.noicsgarage.com, make sure to check it out and let us know what you think!.


We still need to fix up a few things and already have plenty of parts to add to the store, so make sure you check out our online store as well.
Earl Stewart Scion is putting on a Scion show this Sunday which we will be attending, so if anyone who ever reads this is out there, make sure to say whats up!

xB Build Off

Some people help build a house for charity, others donate money, but Scion Freaks are a whole different story. Hence the brilliant idea otherwise known as "xB Build Off."
The Scion brand is all about unity and continuing keeping the brand as a family, not as a money hungry manufacture. So Southeast Toyota (SET) decided to put together a charity event slightly different than the norm. "Scion Pros vs. Club Joes" is the theme and in essence two completely stock Scion xBs were given to two teams with a 'small wager of money' (considering the style of builds they constructed). The object is to build two xBs that will travel and be displayed at various events to show a different side of Scion, "the grassroots side" and eventually be auctioned off with all proceeds going to charity.
To many people this looks like the run of the mill event in which Scion is just trying a different approach to sell cars, but to a Scion owner (especially a Scion Freak) this is an opportunity to bring together Owners and Freaks alike to let their creative skills run wild all the while bringing their Scion family closer together.
For the Scionpros you have: Ivan Garneff and Steve Saporito
Clubjoes: Brant Good and David Hickman

If you really like what you see you can text a vote to 83895 and in the body include "Joes" (Bike rack xB) or "Pros" (Surfer xB)

Members of both teams have greatly contributed to the Scion community and plan to continue creating the path for others to follow. Just as an example: the xBs and some money were provided but the time that was put into these two rides was not. All hours that were put into these two builds were volunteer, members from various Scion car clubs were called in to help as well.

Just goes to show, the next time you see a Scion commercial or speak with a Scion owner and think they may be a little "freakish," that is a small taste as to why......


More pics can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=166595&id=171876565925&ref=nf

DUB 2009

First time at the DUB show and it was a blast.





We mainly hung out at the Exclusive Motoring "club" section. Between the security, and roped off section, people where wondering what the big deal was to get into the Exclusive space. Well for starters, Akon's own Spyker was on display, along with Dwayne Wade's impala, and Antoine Walkers Mercedes.
For those who do not know Exclusive Motoring, imagine a auto customization shop for all high-end vehicles for celebrities who either live or visit Miami frequently; or have you ever seen the show "Unique Whips?," well imagine that shop with bigger-named celebrities and a sense of style only found in the Magic City.





As it was great to see all the high-end and rare vehicles, Noics was still founded and has their heart with Scions; with that, there was only one registered at the show....."The Transformer." Which it was no surprise that it won "best Scion"



You can find more pics at either:
www.facebook.com/noicsgarage
www.myspace.com/noicsgarage

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZzEVwTD624

Small progress

Thanks to school, updates are a little slower, but its been a couple days since the last update and a couple new updates have surfaced. The engine is bare and sitting on the stand ready to be cracked; as for the other accessory pieces, the sanding and primer process has begun.....color will be added real soon.
Stay tuned.......

Almost to the case

No pictures but got to work in the garage a little after school tonight. Got the oil cooler off and started degreasing/cleaning some of the bolts already taken off that are full of sludge.
Tomorrow hopefully will get more done and looks like I have figured out how to remove the torque converter....

Tomorrow is another day and hope to bring another update.

Squareback Update

Here is a small update after working on the motor last night....
After digging through some sludge and picking out some weeds in between the cylinder head and the block, we were able to make some progress on the motor of our project Squareback.

Made some progress by taking off the sheet metal covering the engine, removed the alternator, fan belt, coil, carberator and other little accessories in our quest to reach what some call the "basic engine" (the bare engine with no accessories attached).

Next task is to take off the oil breather and remove the torque converter so stay tuned..... If anyone who reads this has any hints for the torque converter feel free to post!


More pics can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/editphoto.php?aid=2012885#/album.php?aid=2012885&id=1579636743