Fiberglass body kit...

[DkShadow]

Who here uses fiberglass body kits. How does it hold up to daily driving? Any damages? Does it chip easily? Just wondering because I may be buying a fiberglass kit (its CHEAP) because I recently banged up my front/rear bumpers and rocker panels.

[DkShadow]

Oh and how much would it typically cost to prep and paint a fiberglass kit?

TIA!

[Silverbolt]

Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky

[DkShadow]

Originally Posted by Silverbolt

Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky Sticky

Read it. Which is why Im asking "How does it hold up to daily driving?" to see how it gets after a few rock chips has taken their toll on the bumper.

Just asking for first hand experience.

[eckoman_pdx]

Hand Laid fiberglass will most likely fit better and be less brittle than fiberglass shot out of a chopper gun. Chopper gun glass is pretty brittle, not to mention it can be kinda wavy. Qaulity hand laid glass is a lot stronger. CHances are a cheaper fiberglass bumper is shot from a chopper gun for cost and that it's brittle, though I really can't say without knowing the manufactorer, seeing it, etc. Urethane is harder to paint and you can't mold it, though it will hold up if they know how to paint urethane, here's a link to a page on urethane paint prep:
http://www.wingswest.com/pdf/URETHANEPREPPAINTINST.pdf

Now I know Silverbolt doesn't like it, and crappy fitting urethane (a result of a bad mold or baked at too high a temp, so it warped) must a)be preped correct, plus you's want a flex agent in the paint. This is so b)creative fitting can make a absolutly crappy fitting bumper look decent with urethane, I know this first hand from working with it, though it's a paint in the ass to do. Since you can't mold it, it take creativity. Anyways, urethane can withstand curb impacts and bottoming out better, it's very hard to break. However, if it ever does, you need a new bumper, sicne you can't fix busted urethane. Fiberglass can be fixed. I have Urethane, silverbolt has Fiberglass. My urethane fit like ass a first due to a shitty mold and the jerks at the body shop baked way to hot and warped it...so I dropped it off the car and re-installed it all...thats how I know creative fitment can close a lot of gaps and improve the look. I hope this helps a bit. Anyways, lhand laid fiberglass tends to be less brittle than fiberglass shot from a chopper gun, though it costs more.

[Tranzlogic]

yeah i agree..get it from some where like carisma, Wings West, VIS ....Dont pay less than 300 for a front bumper or never less than 600 for a kit..good rule of thumb. stick with the hand layed fiberglass no more...no less

[Silverbolt]

I've had the same fiberglass kit for the past 6 years... and all 6 years of daily driving, racing at speeds to 130mph, 3 car accidents, and 2 bad drifting incidents... and my kit can be ready to go back into a show anytime... if I wanted to. If you go fiberglass, make sure its good quality... thats all.

[Tranzlogic]

yeah...just check out the info or the "about us" section on whatever company(s) your looking into and If it doest say anything about " our kits are made with hand layed fiberglass " or whatnot , then its definatly not so always make sure to look! for that

[castback]

Ive gotta full figerglass kit and it has help up pretty well. The only problem i have with it is tiny spider web cracks in it. they are not very noticable but they are still there.

Most body kits look nice but they are annoying when it comes to speed bumps or steep driveways.

also if i could go back and choose between the body kit/paint or $2000 makin' it faster i would have made it faster.(not that i don't like the body kit)

[Civic_D16Y5]

and besides, even if the fiberglass does have cracks in it, or chips in it, you can easily replace that small area woth more fiberglass, and even if ur that paranoid about it, you can even fiber glass a couple more layers in the back, so that way its more durable than it came, hmm i havent done it but it seems like a good idea to do and fiberglassing is easy

[castback]

hey civic d16y5 do you want me do fix that pic. in your sig. or is it a joke?