For this project, we opted for stucco mesh--an aluminum-coated steel product that's typically used in home building behind stucco or masonry.
Steps:
Remove the front bumper cover from the car. Most bumper covers are attached with several screws across the top, plus two in the fender wells and a couple underneath. Once those are removed, the cover will slide right off.
Once you get the bumper cover off, you'll see what you have to work with. Some covers have built-in tabs where you just slide the grilles on and bend over the tabs. Others have no tabs at all. If the inside of your bumper cover has no tabs, you'll have to glue the grille pieces into place.
First, take rough measurements of the grille openings.
Transfer the measurements to the mesh and cut it out a little larger than you need.
Important: When cutting, leave about an inch of overlap on all sides.
When the piece is ready, test the fit on the back of the bumper cover. You can always trim it down if you need to.
Once you're happy with the size, fold the edges of the long sides forward. The mesh should fit snugly around the outside of the flange.
The vents at the top of this cover only overlap on three sides so they don't interfere with sliding the bumper cover on.
Continue this process for the other vents until all of the unfinished areas are covered to your satisfaction.
When you have them all cut and shaped, you're ready to glue them into place.
Before gluing, clean off the attachment area with degreaser and a clean rag to remove any contaminants.
Then, run a bead of silicone around the outside of the flange, and set the mesh in place.
Go back over the top of the mesh with a second thick bead of silicone.
Repeat this process for the other pieces to complete the install.
Silicone takes a while to dry, so once you have the pieces in, let the cover sit overnight to fully cure.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Buying a Body Kit
STEP 1: Understand that a body kit can include ground effects - typically an air dam and side skirts - that fit around the bottom edges of a vehicle and alter the airflow to improve down force. They also make a car look lower to the ground.
STEP 2: Note that the kit can also include a wing or spoilers. A front spoiler is commonly positioned under the front bumper to reduce aerodynamic drag. A rear spoiler is used to create down force to help increase traction during acceleration.
STEP 3: Decide on what type of material you want your kit to be constructed of. There are generally two types of materials used in fabricating kits - fiberglass and urethane. Fiberglass generally fits better and can be repaired if you ever damage a piece. It also has a better finish than urethane; paint will look better on the fiberglass. Urethane is much more resistant to soft impacts but it can't be repaired once it's damaged.
STEP 4: Call the manufacturer of the kit you're considering. Ask them what kind of materials they use, what their warranty is, and if you'll have to remove any factory pieces from the safety structure of the vehicle to make the kit fit properly. If removal of factory pieces is required, don't purchase the kit. Never purchase a kit that requires removal of any pieces from the safety structure of your car.
STEP 5: Remember - you get what you pay for. There's the high quality U.S.-made fiberglass resin and there's the cheap, brittle fiberglass. Decide how much you're willing to invest.
STEP 2: Note that the kit can also include a wing or spoilers. A front spoiler is commonly positioned under the front bumper to reduce aerodynamic drag. A rear spoiler is used to create down force to help increase traction during acceleration.
STEP 3: Decide on what type of material you want your kit to be constructed of. There are generally two types of materials used in fabricating kits - fiberglass and urethane. Fiberglass generally fits better and can be repaired if you ever damage a piece. It also has a better finish than urethane; paint will look better on the fiberglass. Urethane is much more resistant to soft impacts but it can't be repaired once it's damaged.
STEP 4: Call the manufacturer of the kit you're considering. Ask them what kind of materials they use, what their warranty is, and if you'll have to remove any factory pieces from the safety structure of the vehicle to make the kit fit properly. If removal of factory pieces is required, don't purchase the kit. Never purchase a kit that requires removal of any pieces from the safety structure of your car.
STEP 5: Remember - you get what you pay for. There's the high quality U.S.-made fiberglass resin and there's the cheap, brittle fiberglass. Decide how much you're willing to invest.
How to Have a Body Kit Installed
STEP 1: Call manufacturers of kits you are considering buying and ask them to recommend a dealer in your area.
STEP 2: Go to car shows and ask owners who have body kits on their cars for recommendations of shops that can do the work.
STEP 3: Check the yellow pages and the Internet, where sites offer photos and information, if you can't come up with a personal recommendation.
STEP 4: Check the recommended shop's Web site.
STEP 5: Select a few shops that you can investigate and head out. You're on a mission.
STEP 6: Make sure that the shop can paint the kit. Don't get cheap here. A poor paint job can make the kit and your car look terrible.
STEP 7: Find out whether the shop has experience installing body kits.
STEP 8: Inspect the installation area. Is it clean and orderly? Is the installer careful about what he or she is doing?
STEP 9: Ask to see photographs of previous jobs the shop has done.
STEP 10: Select the shop with which you feel most comfortable.
STEP 2: Go to car shows and ask owners who have body kits on their cars for recommendations of shops that can do the work.
STEP 3: Check the yellow pages and the Internet, where sites offer photos and information, if you can't come up with a personal recommendation.
STEP 4: Check the recommended shop's Web site.
STEP 5: Select a few shops that you can investigate and head out. You're on a mission.
STEP 6: Make sure that the shop can paint the kit. Don't get cheap here. A poor paint job can make the kit and your car look terrible.
STEP 7: Find out whether the shop has experience installing body kits.
STEP 8: Inspect the installation area. Is it clean and orderly? Is the installer careful about what he or she is doing?
STEP 9: Ask to see photographs of previous jobs the shop has done.
STEP 10: Select the shop with which you feel most comfortable.
Body Kit construction
Automotive body kits are usually constructed of either fiberglass or polyurethane or with the latest material: PU Fibre (Which is softer and more resistant to knocks than fibreglass). Most car modification enthusiasts prefer polyurethane because it is more resistant to damage and does not crack in cold weather. In some cases, body kits may also be constructed of carbon fiber, which is a popular, lightweight material. This type of modification is not as highly regarded among speed enthusiasts, though, because it is very costly, and the difference in weight is minimal, versus changing other parts such as the hood or trunk.
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