V1 Mirage's Continuation Build of Goblin (#19) - 2007 LTZ 2.2/Auto

[Mirage775]

Hello, my name's Jason. I've lived in Alabama almost all of my life, with a brief stay in Georgia, when I was very young. I'm almost 50 years old, married, no children, we have 3 Pitbulls and own way too many vehicles! I'll be able to retire in about 4 years as well, maybe some of my other projects will be finished then, LOL! I saw the DF Goblin on Matt Farrah's YouTube channel, The Smoking Tire, in 2017 and I wanted one back then! Things were different back then and I wasn't able to get one, until last year. Hind site as of now, July 12, 2025, I should've just built one from scratch, after everything I've learned and all the money & time I've put into this one, but it really has made a complete insane change, from the time I bought it, to now! It's a fun car, even if it's an NA auto, I just don't have time to really enjoy it. I might have driven it 10 times in almost a year

I started a thread last September, but it got out of control, so I deleted it. I've learned quite a bit since then, so I'm going to post all the pics/progress of what I've done to Goblin #19 since taking ownership of it early September 2024. @RichN started the build process of #19, in May 2016. He finished it, but when he sold it to the guy in Colorado and by the time I bought it, it looked a bit rough.

Here's Rich's build thread, if you want to catch up to this new build, RichN City Goblin - 2007 LT donor

Here's what #19 looked like when I bought it (I didn't know it was #19, until I started looking on this forum and through all of Rich's build records I got with the Goblin):

This is what it looked like at 8:30pm, on Sept 15, 2024, sitting in my driveway, after driving it home for almost 2 hours. I would like to say that the POS seller I bought it from totally lied about everything. Said he had owned it for over a year and it wasn't finished when he bought it. Said he and his dad finished it and got it looking like it did when I bought it..... But once I found Rich's build thread, I discovered everything he said, was all lies...

Here's pics of the next morning, before heading in to work:

So, even though the car was already finished and registered in New Hampshire and titled in TN, it took me 4 days to actually get it titled in my name and tagged in Alabama.... It was the most ridiculous process I'd even been through... I had to prove to these local tag/license morons that these were street legal by mentioning that @Robinjo live a few miles from me and had one. Once they looked up his info, they finally gave my a tag and got the title transferred to my name! I'm glad I had meet him in early '22 or I have a feeling I would've been screwed at getting it titled in my name...!

So, after I actually received the title and locked it in my safe, I started researching parts and removing parts, practically everything that Rich did to it, I changed it! I won't bore yall with all my searching and question asking, I'll just post pics of the things I changed.... everything I changed....

So, seats first! I'm 6'5" and 250lbs. I fit in the NR-G's Rich installed, but they were worn out by the time I took ownership. I ended up getting the Corbeau Seat, DF Big Guy Mounts and Corbeau Harnesses from Adam @DF. It took a while for the seats to show up, so while I was waiting on them, I decided I wanted a track top, (not a fan of the city top/frame), so I order the Halo from Adam and got a local mobile welder to TIG it to the Goblin!

He raised it up 4" since I'm a tall guy and this is a custom add-on!

Took the welder about 8 hours to do everything, over 2 days. Once he was finished, I started mixing spray paints to get it close to the Granny Smith Metallic Green to match the rest of the frame... Finally found something that looked good.

A light base dusting of this, Rust-oleum Metallic Silver.

And a light few coats of this, Krylon Fluorescent Green.

I topped it off when a Gloss Clear Coat, but over the cold months and being covered up, the shine isn't as nice as it used to be, but at least it's covered still!

 

[Mirage775]

I had parts coming in left and right!

I got some tune up parts, oil and filter, gaskets, etc

New SS Aluminum Lower Control Arms, with the MOOG upgrades!

I forgot who made it for me, but one of the members on here made me a gas pedal extension out of aluminum stock.

NR-G Steering Wheel Adapter and Quick-Release.

MOMO Monte Carlo Steering Wheel

I decided to buy an HP Tuner for it too!

Ordered and received these custom fiberglass side scoops, along with some 3D printed stuff from @Jmar1622

Ordered the amazing LED Halo Headlights and Buckets from Amazon!

Ordered one of Talon's Front Splitters!

A Marine Gas Filler Neck.

New 17x9 Enkei Racing RPF1 in Bright Silver wrapped in 275/40R-17 Falken Azenis RT615K+

Some custom Enkei Center Caps

 

[Mirage775]

I decided to upgrade to the BC Rear Coilovers too!

I upgraded to Stainless Brake Lines

I had to get some 5x110 to 5x4.5" Wheel Spacer/Adapter - Thickness: 3/4" from Custom Wheel Adapters

Someone put an old ZZP header on it, but it was disgusting looking, so I couldn't pass up a new shiny stainless ZZP header for $100!

I also wanted a different looking muffler, I thought and thought about it and then I pulled the trigger on this Forever Fab Dual Muffler:

I got the fiberglass AT cover from DF too, but modified it after this pic!

I think Rich cut the original wind screen down and on the way home, wind/bugs just smacked me in the face, so I ordered a new screen/mount from DF! Ignore the other parts in this pic, this is the only pic I have of the windshield with the protective film on it.

The underside of the replacement hood was tan fiberglass, so I sprayed it Mopar Grabber Green.

I installed the rear coilovers and did what everyone recommended, 400#'s in front and 300#'s in rear

I wanted a cool looking Green/Black wrap on the whole car. I talked with Adam about their P2 Prototype, (which is also where I got the idea for which wheels I wanted to use), here:

Adam got me in touch with their wrappers in TX, Car Wrap City. I emailed them and asked for some minor changes on the wrap above, plus I asked them to add vinyl for the custom scoops and they emailed me this:

I started removing all of the wrap off the side panels and that stuff was super stuck on there!

And installed the side scoops

Installed the new Shadeidea.com top sunshade.

 

[Mirage775]

Oh, I forgot these pics, LOL!

I went to check the engine oil and the dipstick tube came out with the dipstick and the tip of the tube broke off in the oil pan... I tried and tried to pull it out, but it eventually fell in the pan... So, as much as I didn't want too, I dropped the pan. The old pan was kind of grungy looking and a new AC Delco pan was cheap, so I ordered a new one, new dipstick tube and some AC Delco RTV to install it!

I replaced the plugs, idler pulley and belt. Old junk in pic! 2 of the plugs were rusted!

I also changed the oil filter and replaced the gaskets/o-rings on the intake manifold.

Pics of the DF Seat Mounts.

I installed some Green/Black Boat Decking for my non-slip floor pads.

The Corbeau Seats installed.

I sprayed the radiator with High Heat Black paint, because that aluminum was sticking out awfully bad... I also installed Talon's Splitter.

The right front brake caliper was sticking/freezing up, so I just replaced both of them and painted them red, to match the rears. I remember reading in Rich's build thread about the caliper sticking. It eventually just quit releasing...

I made a Carbon Fiber mount (first time working with CF) and changed the rear lights (for the 1st time). I ran new wires from the front to the rear, so I could have dedicated rear amber turn signals as well!

Made another Carbon Fiber mount and installed the Marine Gas Filler

Fabricated some aluminum brackets and installed the rear engine covers.

 

[Mirage775]

OK, now it's around the beginning of November, when I took the Goblin to the wrapper about an hour away from me. Was a chilly ride, but not too bad. First week of December, he sent me these pics:

December 7th, I picked it up and it was a cold, cold ride home! Back it under the carport and went inside to thaw out!

I order the Nine Lives Racing Rear Wang while the Goblin was gone. On December 14th, it arrived and although it was freezing outside, I installed it!

Same day, there was a car show, about 30-45 minutes away. I went to it, this was the 4th time driving it. It was another freezing ride out there! I didn't win a **** thing....

End of January, I said, it's nice out, I'm going to drive it to Lowe's (5th time driving it). Drive there was good!

Drive home, not so much....

February 1st, I removed the splitter and painted it Krylon Metallic Dark Metal, to somewhat match the 9LR Rear Wang?

Reinstalled the splitter and reinforced it with some steel flat stock bars!

While the front hood was removed, I cleaned up the dash wiring a little better.

I finally installed the DF Dash Button Panel upgrade.

Installed a UTV Rear View Mirror from Amazon

 

[Mirage775]

Decided that I wanted a nice, thick radiator screen. Ordered some cool looking Black screen from Amazon.

Made a rough template of the nose opening onto it.

Used some Black zip ties to secure it to the nose. I tried to line it up evenly and honestly, it turned out very nice!

I modified my rear engine hood brackets and added some decals. (spoiler, this is going to change a lot, lol!)

I decided to order some more Carbon Fiber sheets, to "build" a dash. It was a huge learning curve and I wasn't happy with it... I removed it, only to redesign it later. Here's the first version:

I also added a 3rd Brake Light, with some Amazon mounting clamps.

March 1, 2025. After Cars & Coffee. It felt awesome all day and I think this was the 5th time I had driven the Goblin. I thought I was done with it in this pic, but I was definitely wrong... I also thought it was sold in this pic, but the guy never called me back...

 

[Mirage775]

First off, I changed my tail lights, again (2nd time).

I love the way these look, but discovered that they were super, super dim, even at night....

I also got rid of the hyper-flashing turn signals! I completed it the same way one of the members on this forum did his, sorry, I forgot who it was...? I'll try to look for them tomorrow?

My turn signal/multi-function switch was broken, so I installed a new one.

Made a slight modification to the rear hoods

Installing DF Steering Rack Limiters, as my new tires/wheels were making small contact with the front control arms...

Installing a folding helmet/wheel holder

New Roll Bar Mounted UTV Side Mirrors installed, from Amazon! These are super nicer than those CBR mirrors!

Installed my custom built adjustable splitter support arms

Small bullet style LED running lights installed on front lower control arms. My blinkers are in the halos of the head lights.

 

[Mirage775]

I upgraded the negative terminal, so I could install things easier on it. The OEM positive side can already do this, but I have a new terminal for it, if I ever want to change it out too?

I also installed a trickle charger weatherproof plug into the side panel and wired to the battery.

Also, during this time, I redesigned my Carbon Fiber dash (2nd version) and installed it. I installed a BOSS Marine Radio with rope antenna and some Rockville 6.5" Tower Speaker Pods under the front hood! I also installed a white faced SS 140mph cluster.

I replaced the crank pulley seal and installed a new 6 ribbed LSJ crank balancer.

Tail light change again (3rd time):

 

[Mirage775]

I ran out of pic room above....

I pulled the muffler off, to install an extra O2 bung. While it was removed, I pulled the header, cleaned it and wrapped it with Titanium Exhaust Wrap. I also used some Orange Exhaust RTV sealer along with the gaskets.

I also readjusted my rear coilovers. I honestly didn't know how to do it properly the first time... It's done correctly this time and rides much nicer now! There's just a tiny amount of preload on all 4 corner springs now and it handles great!

I also finally upgraded the front steering parts and readjusted the front coilovers as well!

 

[Mirage775]

I liked what Josh did with his quick release rear hood panels and I wanted to do something similar. I don't like to use fiberglass, like he did with his hoods, even though it looked amazing! I did something much different, but with the same (more or less) affect!

I eye balled this and used a sharpie on it. I then used a diamond tip cutoff wheel on my angle grinder and cut them out!

I used some 1/8" thick aluminum flat bar stock and bolted it to the outer hood pieces. I then drilled through the detachable hood pieces and used M6 Rivnuts. I used enamel Black paint and a brush to paint the alloy pieces, but changed that today!

After doing this, we drove to a random car show, (wife's first ride in it!), didn't enter, just took a pic of it in the shade:

After the car show, I didn't like how there were so many Black Allen head bolts on the rear hoods, so I ordered some Green M6 thumb screws and used some Testors Lime Green paint for the hood bolts to blend them in a little better! I removed the alloy pieces and sanded them this time and sprayed them Flat Black. I used the thumb screws for my "quick releases". I still have some work to do on these hoods though.

 

[Mirage775]

A couple weeks ago, I made a wing cross brace support thingy. I might have to change it up some and make another one, but here's what it looks like:

Yesterday, I replaced the old e-fan (left) with the correct DF one (right), since someone installed the one with that shroud, after Rich sold it....

Upon removing the fan with the shroud on it, I was able to finally be able to attach the top of the radiator to the frame!

I had just enough Aircraft Paint Remover to remove the awful Green that I had painted the cam cover a couple months ago!

Thoroughly cleaned and sanded it, then sprayed it with Red Wrinkle Paint

So, the latest pic of what it looks like finished is from last Saturdays' Cars & Coffee.

My dash coolant temp sometime works and sometimes says --- I ordered a new AC Delco Coolant Temp Switch, which should be here in a couple of days. Maybe that will fix that issue?

 

[Mirage775]

Friday, (a full week after it was supposed to be here), thanks to the awful USPS here...., I got my new AC Delco Coolant Temp Sensor installed and that was the issue with the --- on the cluster! Thank goodness!

Old OEM sensor with 50-60k miles on it

New sensor installed.

Also, got a new O2 bung plug installed.

Since I had a 2.25" hole in my new carbon fiber dash, I decided to order a cool analog clock, since my phone sits too low to see it, I can keep an eye on what time it is I was going to put a temp gauge in here, if my coolant sensor didn't work...

Didn't get a chance to install it today, too many storms around. I will install it soon though.

 

[Mirage775]

 

[Mirage775]

As of 11am this morning, the Goblin has a new owner! Thanks @Timdwhite78 Have fun with it!