Although it is a demanding and often tricky endeavor, installing a show quality body kit will engage and satisfy the persistent amateur body worker.
It is always important to heed to the difference in the proper outcome of a body kit meant for practical use on the street and for one meant to be shown, which logistically comes out to be a quarter inch.
Assuming that the body kit has already been sanded and prepped for paint, the first step is a process called "bedding," which entails custom fitting the after market body kit to the car. To do this, apply body filler to all the parts meant for use in the installation and continue to fill it in all seams. Begin with some masking tape over the area where the body kit meets the vehicle.
Then, sand over the edge of the kit to a get a coarse surface and apply a liberal amount of body filler to the body kit with a quick setting body filler mixture. This special body filler uses a higher ratio of catalyst in the mixture and is generally dark blue or red in color.
The filler dries around the kit and gives it its proper shape. As the process happens relatively quickly, it is important to put it in place swiftly and to keep it there steadily. Once the body kit is in its final position, hold it securely for several minutes. Because this can be especially challenging and unnatural for many people, it is recommended that, especially for beginners, someone helps with this step to avoid movement and ruining the body kit.
After the filler has set and hardened, remove it from the car. You should be able to see that gap is completely filled, and if it is not, repeat the process until the outcome is satisfactory. Then, smooth out the body kit by sanding it so it blends with the body filler. At this point, you may continually test the fit until you decide it is sufficient. If certain areas need more work, add a small layer of body filler and repeat the process again, without forgetting to sand each time.
Once perfect, you may remove the masking tape from the car. Drill pilot holes for the rivets, which are generally better than screws and tend not to come loose as easily. Use the rivets to secure it in place and finally, paint the car. Done correctly, this process will yield a perfect fitting and show quality after market body kit installation.
Becoming an expert on body kit installation may involve great joy as it may frustration. While this can be a highly enjoyable and gratifying activity, it is difficult, time consuming, and takes practice to build competence. A body shop will always be a convenient and easy alternative, but for those ready to tackle a challenge, body kit installation remains an enticing possibility.
I would personally suggest you find a reputable shop experienced in your type of body kit work. They should know how to work with the material you selected, and how to color match, prep and paint the kit. They should also know how to, if necessary, make adjustments to ensure a proper fitting. Your finished product will be as good as the effort put into it.
Having said that, it is never a bad idea to learn something new. Before you begin, make sure you designate enough time to the project to install your body kit right the first time. This type of body work requires a lot of patience if you are inexperienced at it. Here are some instructions to help you get started on the project.
The first thing to do is to prep the body kit for painting. It will be much easier to work on before it is installed. If you do not intend to paint the whole vehicle, it may be wise to color match and paint the body kit prior to installation.
Start by removing the pieces that will be replaced. This may include the front and rear bumper covers. You can find the bolts for the front cover in the fender wells and underneath the cover near the frame. Remove these bolts and loosen the cover. Depending on the application, be sure to remove any of the lighting that is attached to it, such as the headlights, side markers, fog lights, etc. Now check to make sure that there isn't anything else holding it in place, such as a grille or license plate holder. Carefully remove the front bumper cover and set to the side. Keep the hardware handy, as you will need it later. Remove the rear bumper in the same manner, as well as the trim panel located just above the bumper (if applicable). Most cars won't have side skirts at this point, but if it does, remove them by removing the bolts that hold it to the vehicle. They are located on the back of the side skirts.
Take your replacement cover and carefully align it to the car and check the fitting. Some of the kits will have 3M adhesive to help hold the kit in place during this process. You may find that the foam inserts are an obstruction to the new body kit. You can either remove them or trim them to size, depending on the application. I have found that if possible, it is better to trim them to fit because they will help sturdy the body kit so it doesn't appear as flimsy. If you have done your research and purchased a good kit, then you should line up almost perfect. Make some markings as to where you will drill your holes. You can also use the old bumper cover to line up the holes but it may not be as accurate as the fitting approach.
If you find yourself in a situation where the kit doesn't line up exactly, there are some things you can do to correct the problem. First, locate the problem areas. They will be most noticeable on the sides where it matches up to the fenders or in the very front where it matches up to the hood. If you notice one side has a bigger seam in these areas than the other side, try moving the cover to the larger seam side in very small increments until there is no longer a difference. The seam should be the same width as other seams on the car, most notably the same size as the seam from the fender to the door, or the fender to the closed hood. Using these same widths for the seams will create a "seamless" look for the finished product.
If your problem area is in the front, you will have to adjust the body kit in small increments until it lines up. If you have too larges of a seam, try gently pulling the kit from the two sides to tighten up the front. it should have a little bit of play in it since it is not bolted down. If the seam is to small, try pushing the sides in towards the front of the vehicle to free up any space. Once the front is adjusted, look to see if the sides are aligned property. If you are happy with the fitment, place the bolts in the holes and tighten them down. Start in the middle, and work your way out to the sides making sure that your seams line up properly. If your kit comes with 3M adhesive on the back side, adhere the kit to the car once the proper alignment is made. This will help hold the kit in place and allow the seams to be smaller in width.
In some unfair and unfortunate circumstances, you may find your kits not lining up after all these adjustments. These kits will require some body work or fiberglass work to be done for proper fitting, such as trimming or sanding up the side edges and refinishing them, or repositioning the bolts. Hopefully you won't encounter any of these types of problems, because they tend to have to be solved on a case by case basis.
With your front piece of the body kit installed, you can concentrate on the side skits and rear bumper cover. The side skirts should be fairly simple, and will require drilling pilot holes in the bottom of the car. To ensure proper alignment here, attach the side skirt to the vehicle using the 3M adhesive (if provided). It should line up exactly with a small seam in the front and rear next to the fenders. If the seam is larger on one side, split the difference and drill the pilot holes for the bolts and secure it in place.
Now move to the rear bumper cover. Follow the same procedures as above until you get a goof fitting. Again, you may need to remove or trim the rear bumper foam inserts, depending on the shape of the body kit. Secure it in place and enjoy the finished product.
Both Kenneth Kwan & Majestic are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kenneth Kwan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cars, Sports Car and Online Business. If you want to find some of the best body kits available on the internet for all makes and models, then check out . Kenneth Kwan's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Majestic has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cars, SEO Search Engine Optimization and Investments. Majestic Modifications is the complete car customization concept, specializing in , glow gauges and interior accessories,. Majestic's top article generates over 201000 views. to your Favourites.