Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior body kit self-install

i know, i know. everyone's recommending me have the body kit installed by pro, but i've finally decided that i will do it. (mainly due to $$$ issue)

i've done some researches here and many other places, but couldn't really find anything in detail. Even on this website, they show nice pictures of front, sideskirts, rear... but no detailed procedures.

Can anyone help me with this one? starting from how to paint the bodykit, and how to put 'em on.

i know there are lots of experts out there that can help me. i'd really really appreciate it.

the body kit is veilside (replica i think...)
i have 01 blue GT.

please please help. or recommend me a good site where they show how to do it.

thanks a lot man. i'm starting to love this website.

is it from VIS? coz if its from VIS Racing the fitment is just fine,i dont know about other companys on how well the fitment goes, if its off, dont work on it unless you know how to deal with fiberglass, take it to the bodyshop if the fitment is bad...

oh.. thanx! but how would i know whether the fitment is perfect? do i have to take front, sides, rear off and then try fitting them? Do i take off the original 'black' side skirt kind of thing, in order to install after-market side skirts?

i think it's a relica.. probably fiber glass.

how badly off can they be??? hmm...

any experts in painting bodykits,.. please?

ps: street prototype, your car is awesome...!! where'd you get that headlight ?

you put the sideskirt over the black thing that already on the car. and you have to take off your front and rear bumper. MY suggestion to you is that if you're already having trouble take it to a body shop to do. Its really hard and time consuming if everything doesn't go 100% smoothly.

First of all no body kit ever matches up PERFECTLY. So be prepared to have at least one or two spots not match exactly how you would like.
Now I just install a CL conversion combat kit on my buddy's integra and it really isn't is as bad as you think. 1) take of all factory body parts including gaskets.
2) Line up the piece to be installed and double check the alignment that you want then tape the piece in place.
3) Now take a marker and mark all of the holes
4) Time to drill. Be sure to start off with a very small bit and gradually get larger till you have the size that is required.
5)Now you are ready for the install. It helps to have a friend throughout this whole process.

As for painting that I would have a shop do, but take all of the pieces off to be painted and reinstall them yourself just be carefull not to scratch!

PLEASE leave it to a pro. I know its a bitch waiting to save money but please do not try this. There is a high chance that without expirence that the kit will get messed up. Save and wait for a pro to get the results you really want.

I third that.. you are going to be so pissed when you mess up your kit beyond repair.

yup and fiberglass is too fragile to work on

I put most of my kit on myself and got help from my friend towards the end. Now the only part im scared about is you don't know if its a replica or not and you don't know if its fiberglass or not. Rub your arm on the inside of the body kit and if you start itching like a mofo then you know its fiberglass:) No really if you have patience and all the tools set out to do the job you'll be alright. Get a drill, a drill bit set, a socket set, phillips head screwdriver and flat, a sander, a heat gun and a couple different shaving tools, some chunky ass low grit sandpaper. some tape, a couple labeled jars for all your nuts and bolts.
Be prepared to take out your headlights (bitch), just about every panel in your trunk, your front underplastics, have a jack handy you may need to talk off the back tires.
For perfect fitment I put the front bumper on one side at a time since it isn't perfectly contoured to begin with. Be prepared to crack your kit in several places only to bondo it back up. I took put on and took off the front bumper alone about 20 times to eliminate every imperfection. Open and closed the hood about 50 times to check how everything lined up with hood close. Used up a grease pencil with ease. I don't know what else to say im tired, later.

http://plaza.umin.ac.jp/~satoshi/modframeen.htm

click
FRP repair
bending
lip spoiler
side skirts
rear bumper

I'll also agree with this, save money and let a pro do it, if you're all ready not sure what to do and asking questions, I'd HIGHLY suggest letting someone else do it.

make sure the fitiment is almost perfect...

putting on body kits are easy if the fitiment is perfect just get a couple of your buds and its a snap.

I saved, had a pro do it and it looks like sh**!!!! Seriously, Im having to take the guy to court because I stopped pymnt on the check it was so crappy. I have estimates on how much its gonna cost to get it done correctly. So, Im gonna have it totally re-painted, Copper...black VIS hood, and get black rims with a carbon fiber wing!!! Oh!!! I had the VIS Blitz kit, either it was way off...or these guys just did a crappier job than I thought!!!!!!!!!!

yo, thanks all man.. all very helpful.. whichever i choose, i'll make sure that i show you the result.

i got the drilling part and fitment part alright.. but can anyone tell me how to paint in steps? (i know i know.. but please help) thanks

paint?

pre-fit the bodykit
wet sanding
priming
wet sanding
paint color several times
wet sanding
paing clear coat several times
wet sanding
compound
compound , compound,, compound,,,,

harsh work and need experience

don't paint it your self man!

thanks satoshi and everyone else.

i'm still gearing towards painting them myself.
i understand why everyone's saying that i should leave it to the pro.. but i think working on my car myself is part of the fun part... (although it's not so fun to mess up -_-; )

here's another beginner question.. what's so hard about painting? What are the risk?? It sounds like as long as i becareful it won't be that difficult.. hmm?

okay.. why not start painting some small parts?

with more practice, you will get better result

dont paint it yourself...unless you got the experience. just get a shop to do it.

This is why you should NOT paint a body kit yourself...

you will never be able to get the same grade of paint from a spray can, that a professional bodyshop can do for you

another shot taken - about 2 weeks after the paint

yes isaacs pictures show one thing "not even low budget ricers would paint there body kit themselves" the paint on that front looks soooo bad!!!!

PRO INSTALL =
SELF INSTALL =

This is someone you should all aspire to be. He don't have to say Fat Bob's auto body put his kit on. He can say he put it on. Plus that's the fun of it people. When he looks at his car he can say its "HIS" creation. Not Fat Bob's Autobodys. If someone ones to do some of their own shit to their car you all should encourage it. Certain things don't take rocket science to do, (putting a body kit on for example). Now about the painting. There are certain steps and ways to do it which is why I wouldnt do it myself. I don't have a paint gun and i don't know the properties of auto paint. All I know is my silver celi has metallic paint which requires certain steps and the metallic flakes clog regular guns.

Hey FatBob's does a bang-up job, don't hate!

my body kit should be arriving in a week or so..

i don't know when i'll be able to work on them.. but i really hope that the fitment would be near perfect so that i won't have any extra problems to solve..

if i get them messed up, that's my fault. None of you are to be blamed, because everyone here threw me their 2 cents. And i also respect that everyone has different opinions about different matters. As for me, i chose to do it myself (after reading all posts) because that's what gets me excited. I'll post the result however it comes out.

and.. i'll use satoshi's steps to paint them.. (do you have any recommendation on products?? ) by the way, i visited satoshi's homepage. there were lots of valuable information there.. ^_^

Oh god, please let someone else paint. PLEASE??? But even if you don't, I suppose you can always strip it and let someone else do it. *sigh* Good luck man.

I recommend having it painted, you will not get the same results as a professional paint-shop. Installing it yourself is very much doable.

this should be worth a couple laughs

Just pay for the paintjob and install the body kit yourself, thats the way i'm taking. My paint is only going to run 200-300 for the whole kit and as long as you take your time and ask questions on putting the body kit on, you should be ok, but you have to have patience. I strongly recommend getting a professional to paint it though, you'll be happy you did.

iced, i hope i won't disappoint you.
You might have to go somewhere else to find something that'll make you laugh.

Do me a favor and let me know what type of problems you incur. I am doing the same thing with the same kit. We are all Pros at some things, glad to see someone else has the patience and BALLS to do it yourself.

will do! but.. since it'll be a long process, i am not sure when i can start working on it. But i will post reviews and pics. can't wait~!

...nah..this should be keep my laughing for weeks

Whats the laughing matter again?

the fact that this guys painting and installing his body kit himself

if you wnt to if the veilside kit is real . it will be fiberglass and the rear bumper will have the word veilside stamped into the fiber glass, i don't know about the front ,i only have the rear.and my rear fit perfect,like a glove. i hpoe it turns out better than my perfessional paint job did

Interesting, because I've done everything to my car so far and its just as quality as the next persons. Lets see: Sportline Springs myself, Exhaust myself, intake myself, all strut bars myself, wheels and tires myself, o yea, body kit myself. at least if you do it your self you can do it to your specifications. If i get a shop to do my body kit and i find a flow im stuck, if i do the process myself i catch that flaw.