I'm looking for ideas for cheap mods/upgrades I can do to my tC...cheap as in less than $100. Performance and Appearance ideas are both welcomed

Shift ****
Shift Boot
E-Brake
Leather Arm Rest Cover
Carbon Fiber Appliqué Kit
Pedals
HeadLight Bulbs
Parking Light Bulbs
AC Filter
DC Strut Bar
Doctor Isotope's GearSwitcher w/ cable and cage bushings
Diversion Plate
KeyHole Covers
Tanabe Strut Bar
Taillight/Headlight/Turn Signal Overlays
Thermal Pipe Wrap for Intake
GFI Intake
LED Swap
Caliper/emblem/rim/interior trim/engine cover paint.
Silicone rad. hoses
DIY braided steel sleeves
Taillight covers
Shorty antenna
Performance brake pads
Window vent visors
Interior lighting (map, dome, and hatch lights)
Tc Cover cool mod
Deadening
Door Sills

Pretty short list I have going so far. Any ideas?

Edit: Updated the list...quite a long list now!

 

you can actually get a strut bar for less than $100.

 

A good one? If so, what brand?

 

I think some folks claim they can get the DC Sports bar for $90 new........ but I'm not sure.
edit: you can also get a creativecompacts short shifter for under $100

 

I bought a DC bar for $100 shipped. You cold do a diversion plate. keyhole covers, lighting

 

overlays maybe?

 

The DC bar used to be $89 shipped, but the price now sits around $130 for some reason, even where I bought it.

 

tanabe strut bar was $72 now its $82 shipped, might be due to christmas. i got polyeurothane eyelids for $35 and had them painted fm to match exactly my paint.

 

1) Thermal pipe wrap for your intake is less than $20 for R-2 or 4. It should make a small difference even on the stock intake.

2) 9006-9005 headlight mod (search for details.) 70% more lumens for about $40 or less. I've been using this over a year with no problems, just don't get silverstars or other overdriven bulbs that burn out quickly. Just get OEM replacement, it'll last a long time. Trust me, OEM 9005 is much brighter than you'd think, about as bright as heavily tinted HIDs.

3) Search GFI-intake on yoursciontc.com . This could be done for cheaply, and theoretically just as effective as any cold air intake.

4) Changing needle / gauge color if you're comfortable with LED swaps.


You can also buy touch up paint, a claybar, good polish and wax. Sometimes an extremely clean car says a lot about you .


Thing is, if you were to say "200 or less" your options start to fill out. There you could get springs/struts, spipe, megan header, etc.

 

I like my TRD leather shift ****.

Paul G.

 

GFI - Best bang for the buck.

 

Caliper/emblem/rim/interior trim/engine cover paint.
Silicone rad. hoses or DIY braided steel sleeves
Taillight covers
Shorty antenna
Performance brake pads
ScionLife stickers :D
Window vent visors
Interior lighting (map, dome, and hatch lights)

 

Tc Cover cool mod for $100

 

and the one that nobody's gonna say to you because you can't see it at all....sound deadening! you could get almost 75 ft of Elemental Designs eDead V1SE^2 for about 100 bucks. it'll boost your stereo tremendously and help keep a lot of road noise out!

 

You could also just start tearing stff ess weight=better performance. And it's free.

 

Thanks for all the replies!

I'm currently looking at getting a strut bar...when did they get so cheap? Is it better to get a strut bar or a sway bar?

I've never heard of this before...I'll look into it. I don't think I quite understand what it is
I was afraid to do this. Also, the main reason I changed out my headlights was for the color, extra lumens was the second reason. What whiter lights could I get that last a good while? I've also heard that you can burn up the wiring because the 9005 bulbs use more energy...any thoughts?
Sounds interesting...
I actually have had LEDs sitting around forever...just haven't had time
Yeah...I know...but $200 every month sounds and looks a lot worse on your credit card bill than $100 or less. I'm gonna get an exhaust and springs eventually, but that can wait.

I really must look into this now...

I've always liked the DC Strut Bar

Tanabe or DC? Which is better performance wise?

Any more info about hoses and/or braided steel sleeves?

Performance brake pads for under $100? Like what? I never knew that were that cheap

What do you suggest I tear off?

 

check this thread:



The price range is a bit lower but still some great ideas.

 

go with a short shifter, my creative compacts was only $70 about a year ago

 

In regards to the 9005 swap... if you notice, your highbeams and lowbeams seem to use the same connecters and wires.

I could be wrong, but it appears to me that Toyota made one type of harness for use on all 4 (2 high, 2 low) lights. This would explain why it handles an OEM 9005 bulb so well.

Avoid luminics or other fancy B.S. Just get OEM "brights". They'll work great. You run into trouble when you start getting fancy (silverstars don't last for crap, blue tint REDUCES light output, etc.)

 

i like my piaa's, better than silverstars but they are costly. they do last, i've had mine on since i got my car back in 04 and still running strong and my set on my accord died because of the accident that totaled it :/