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Is it possible to install a body kit by yourself?


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I.G
03-30-2004, 08:29 PM
Hi guys I'm thinking about bying a body kit and let some shop paint it(as someone adviced me here). Afterwards I want to install it by myself. Is it possible ?
I'm driving Honda Accord dx 96
If anyone did it before, or have any advice how to do it plz write me
Because I cant afford spending around 300-600$ on the installation
I.G

EG_Civic
03-30-2004, 10:47 PM
You can do it yourself. Knowledge of the characteristics of fiberglass (Im assuming its fiberglass) is a plus. Ive never installed one but my old car(1990 Cavalier) had a fiberglass skirt for the front and rear bumpers and they installed pretty much like a regular bumper. On the sides, where it meets the fenders it had these little plastic things that worked on the same concept as a ziptie lock and they held the bumper tight on the sides. I would really install the kit first though. Wouldnt it suck if you had it painted and then when you installed put a big scratch on it?

SenseiAccord
03-31-2004, 03:51 AM
i think it would be easy. Never did one but it just taking off a few screws here and (maybe) clips there to take off ur stock bumper and then putting on the bigger stock like bumper. If it has pre-drilled holes then it would probably be even easier since u kno where the hole is suppose to line up.

I.G
03-31-2004, 07:47 AM
I know how to remove the side skirts....
but the problem is that I dont really know how to remove front and rear bumpers...
Another question does the body kit comes with already made holes to fit the car or I need to drill them myself?

IntegraBoy2003
03-31-2004, 08:35 AM
Yeah it was pretty easy I did it my self, and it did not take that long, if you get cheap body kits you will have a bitch of a time putting them on, but if you spend the extra cash and get a non cheap one, shit should be easy to do

Silverbolt
03-31-2004, 06:04 PM
Just throw on the kit, and start screwing and bolting it on... usually where the existing bolts and screws were. To take of your bumper? Yeah, I remember the first time I worked on your model car. It pissed me off! Took me a little while to figure it out. Its been a while so I cant remember unless I have one in front of me... all I remember was thinking "it looks like I have to take of the headlights to take of the bumper... but it looks like I have to take off the bumper to take of the headlights! WTF???" lol. Go to the accord forum and ask them how to remove your model bumper.... thats if no one here knows, or remembers how.

I.G
03-31-2004, 11:21 PM
Thx for the help guys I appreciate it.
If someone have any other ideas I'll be glad to hear them...
Anyway thanks again

95civsi
04-07-2004, 03:56 PM
i did mine myself...it took me less than an hour to figure out how to take off all the stock bumpers and skirts and put the new ones on. once i figured out how to take off the stock ones it was all easy from there.....

Blitz_Runner
04-08-2004, 03:57 PM
Its easier then you'd think. just take off the screws and bolts on everything you can find for the front bumper. open the hood, take the strip of screws off there and anywhere else you can find them. remove the bumper (if it doesnt come off look all over it and make sure ALL the connections are off) and then slip the new bumber into place untill it fits just right. (you might need to file a little bit off or cut/shave some fo the new bumber off to fit just right) if the bumber is pre-drilled then put all the screws and bolts back in, if any break just replace em as close as you can. if its not pre-drilled then line it all up and drill your holes in where the ones are in the casing and brackets. i do all my friends cars, because they are to scared to break something. dont be! its fiber glass, or even if its urithane, thats even easier. so take the time you need to do it right and good luck!

jajimo
04-10-2004, 04:23 PM
I'm thinking about doing a Wings West Type-W Touring kit so everything should bolt right on to where the stock lips/skirts are (this is for a 94 Accord EX Sedan). Does anyone know about how much a body shop will charge to paint it?

eckoman_pdx
04-11-2004, 05:34 AM
It's pretty easy to drop off a bumper, and skirts, and install them. Most kits don't come with holes, so you need to drill the holes in line with the holes that exsist on the body. It's might seem confusing and frusterating at first, but if you keep at it, you'll get the hang of it. It's pretty easy stuff. Creativity, patience, and trail and error.

Tranzlogic
04-13-2004, 04:43 PM
okay this is what i do, and i can tell you this..get a friend to help you cause trying to hold it, line up your body lines and so forth can become annoying. but as long as you purchase a good quality kit, your fasten holes and lines should match up rather well, altho you do have to drill some pilot holes ot bore out existing holes sometimes. i would reccomend a kit from Carisma, Grounddesigns2000, VIS or wings west to make sure you dont have any major fitment probloms that comes with half ass distributors and producers.

Tranzlogic
04-13-2004, 04:54 PM
oh yeah and TEST FIT the entire kit and drill or bore any holes if you need to BEFORE you get it painted

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