One thing must be remembered above all things when rebuilding a vehical: You get what you pay for.

All parts are not created equal. If you are paying half the price of the Honda original you must expect to recieve a tawainese knock off imitation. Quality will vary. This is not always a bad thing but it will have to be considered when aquiring new parts. If you have an unlimited budget like it seems they do in these damn magazines then don't worry about it. If you are like me though this is not the case.

Ebay. Two trains of thought here.

First off research before you buy anything. You need to have an idea of what part you need (with a part number is best) and what is acceptable to aquire. Just because it says it is for your car and such a year doesn't mean that is entirely so. Take a good look at any photos supplied.

Take for instance this mirror (and yes you can all yell rice, but I like it so kiss my uncle bens ass). It was billed as a power mirror fitting all the 94-01 integras. Let us examine the truth of this statement (see photo one). The wire conections are different from the stock connections. I assume the fourth is a ground, but an Acura has three. Also the angle of the mirror is wrong. It will have to be unbolted and reattatched so that it is at the proper angle. It does fit nicely on the side of the door though. So yes it is a power mirror and yes it fits, but there are details...

Consider as well this imitation 98 Integra bumper cover. Yes it will fit, with some fitting. Once attatched I may have to do a little work on it with a heat gun to get it exactly in place, but I will cover that later. Point is nothing goes on exact when it comes to body parts. There is always tweaking involved. The second photo is what happens when you don't research. This is what a 94 Integra headlight looks like in a 98 cover (note also the bumper lenses are larger in a 98).

Second on the Ebay rant is this: Never buy from someone that doesn't take paypal. I see no earthly reason not to use it. Anyone who does not is likely trying to cover something up. See my post in the member's lounge http://hondaswap.com/members-lounge/...edauto-114200/ for full details. It is also a good idea to see what the cost is outside of ebay. You are not always getting a better deal.

Finally the aftermarket game.

Have a clear idea of what it is you want to accomplish. Then give it about a month while the idea roils around in that pot you call a brain. I guarantee you will change your mind about a dozen times. Do not be dazzled by the JDM bolt on horsepower world. You will only lose cash and waste your time without a clear vision of what to do and how. Plan, plan some more, and then execute.

And don't post questions in the blogs, that is for the forums. Use them. I have learned a lot. This is my attempt to give back a bit.

Next up: Most likely I will go into planning, execution and documentation. How to stay focused and most importantly, how to continue making progress. In that vein I believe I am going to continue on with my work on the quarter panel. This may have to wait til sunday though, or be posted in various installments.

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