View Full Version : Bodykit Preference - Full Replacement or Add-on?
Just wondering what sort of front bar people would prefer (if they might consider a replacement front bar/bodykit in the future).
1) A complete replacement front bumper?
Advantage: Does not require any bodyshop work or cutting. The other advantage is you keep your factory bumper as a spare!
Disadvantage: A complete replacement (fibreglass) bumper is never as sturdy as the factory plastic bumper so it is more prone to damage if knocked. It wouldn't join up to the front of the car as securely as the original bumper.
2) A lower section add-on that can be fitted to a standard bumper?
Advantage: The front bar keeps all its existing mounting points, so could withstand a few bumps and knocks - it is simply the lower half of the bumper that is aftermarket. The bumper would be as secure as the original bumper.
Disadvantage: You would use your factory front bumper (so wouldn't have it spare). Most of the factory bumper would be remove (just leaving the upper section that mounts onto the reinforcement bar), and the add-on would be attached (with sikaflex). There would be a visible join where it connects to the factory bumper (although only slight, providing it was fitted well).
Both bumpers would look very simular... as the full replacement bumper I have in mind uses a mould of the top of the standard bumper anyway.
What would people prefer?
Cheers,
Kim
RoGuE_StreaK
15-12-2004, 03:46 PM
Do you mean with the second option that you have to actually cut the original bumper so only the top is left?
At the moment I'd only be after some sort of lip that could bolt to the bottom of the stock bar. Mainly a cost thing.
I guess another issue is whether a new or modified bar would look OK by itself, or whether it require side skirts etc., in which case your costs go way up...
I reckon you should investigate the use of polyurethanes, you could make a very durable bar from urethanes using similar methods as fibreglass, also without the need for the glass fibre...
Killbilly
15-12-2004, 04:11 PM
Number 1 for me would be better.
Big Paul
15-12-2004, 05:01 PM
number 2 for me
hehe, hmmm... 3 different answers! :Z
Rogue - yes, the original bumper would be cut so only the top is left - and then the bottom half would be aftermarket.
I'll look into the polyurtethane thing - that might be what the guy is actually using come to think of it.
Big Paul
16-12-2004, 08:08 PM
well, in that case, a full new bumper,
however, id rather see a full set of skirts made for it like on the 3rd gen sport wagon kits
well if option 2 dusnt involve cutting the bumper i woulda chosen that... but now reading that, i'd prefer option 1.
Dj_Bell
19-12-2004, 12:26 PM
heyas, i rekon some skirts woud neee to be made up first off
schwarky
19-12-2004, 01:23 PM
option one for sure u just gotta be care full and not hit ne thing :D . But yer 2 sounds like way too much work.
heyas, i rekon some skirts woud neee to be made up first off
Already got sideskirts. My old front bar (custom) was damaged, so i'm getting a new one custom made under insurance...
While its being made, the mould will be kept so more can be made in the future. Just wondering what would sort of bar others would be interested in if it were sold...
wen i get enough money to do anything to the car, i wanna get a custom front lip which clips or bolts onto the bar without cutting it, and i was thinking also to get flared guards and hav side skirts and all this..
how much did the whole kit set u back kim? just a rough idea on how much i should save
my original kit was second hand ($300 ebay), but the one I am getting done will cost around $1000 including the mould (just the front bar and excludes painting).
nicem8
20-12-2004, 07:07 PM
Hey Kim
I Went For The Front Lip As I Could Not Find Any One Who Wanted To Make A Custom Bar For A Second Gen , They Didnt Have To Cut The Front Bar At All And They Used A Lip From A Wrx , But As You Said You Can See Where It Joins To The
Front Bar , Mine Is Not To Low , But Took Me Heaps Of Time Learning Not To Hit It
hey there!
How come they wouldn't make a full bar for the second gen? Fitting problems or just places being too lazy?
Kim
nicem8
21-12-2004, 02:19 PM
hey there!
How come they wouldn't make a full bar for the second gen? Fitting problems or just places being too lazy?
Kim
JUST TO LAZY , MAGNA BAR WHY ?? , BUT STILL THE LIP GETS LOTS OF LOOKS AND I LIKE IT :P
JUST TO LAZY , MAGNA BAR WHY ?? , BUT STILL THE LIP GETS LOTS OF LOOKS AND I LIKE IT :P
Yeah it looks really good! :) I wouldnt mind getting some rear pods made up as well... and maybe in the future changing the side-skirts.
Oh, does anyone want to buy my old bar (damanged - its in 2 pieces and would require a fair bit of repair... but if your handy with fibreglass and have plenty of time, it might be a neat project.
Killbilly
21-12-2004, 07:29 PM
Hey kim, I have my old stock TR bar if you need it for working on.
i have my old(er) one also... thanks anyway tho :)
Dj_Bell
22-12-2004, 09:02 AM
where could i get some skirts and how much? didnt only veradas come out with em? if so i know the price is gonna be stupid and they didnt come in white :(
where could i get some skirts and how much? didnt only veradas come out with em? if so i know the price is gonna be stupid and they didnt come in white :(
side-skirts? I didn't think any Magnas/veradas came with factory/optional sideskirts?
Dj_Bell
22-12-2004, 09:20 AM
really? barstards!!! :rant:
hrm, take the ones off the elante :p hahaha
nah, i need some!!!!
the talon ones look ok ( or the ones from ssv.com.au )
M4DDOG
22-12-2004, 10:05 AM
How much is a spare bumper worth? i'm currently designing my own front lip/bumper atm, most likely gonna just chuck a lip on there as i dont want to cut anything without having a spare bumper to play with, unless they're fairly cheap to buy 2nd hand?
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