installing a body kit

[strodda]

what type of shops do this? would normal auto paint shops install kits? or do i have to goto a special shop. also for those who have had one put on, when installing do you just drill the holes and mount onto the bolts on the car's frame? or are there brackets that you have to mount onto the bumpers themselves? if possible i'd prefer putting the kit on myself and just paying to have it painted.

the only reason im seriously considering getting a kit is because i dont have the money to make this engine fast, and i dont want to waste money trying. in the future ill be investing in a new motor anyways, so now i just want to look good.

i saw this pic and started to drool. except for the 4 doors, this could be my car. i like the low profile and how theres no huge wing ruining the sleek look.

[thomas crown]

the car in the pic has a buddy club front, that's what i had put on my car last year. my friend's roommate had a kit put on his car, and i asked him where he had it done and that's where i took mine. it was a pretty small place and his was the first one this guy ever did and mine was the second, and he did an awesome job and he said he wants to get into it more. my brother had his car to a bigger body shop and they didn't take the time to do his as well probably because of volume of cars they deal with, but the guy who did mine, it was the only car in his shop until he got it done. being in central PA is different from being in california though i'm sure. as far as mounting it, i wanted to mount mine before i took it to the shop too, but there had to be work done to it like sanding, etc. which would be done before paint in guess. as you can see in your pic in the front end how the mesh grille slopes back at the bottom - the hole in the front was even when i got it but the top had to be cut towards the front to fit the bumper brace behind it, that's why it's sloped. the rear also had to be cut out around my exhaust, and i don't know how to do any of that so i just let them handle everything.

t.c.

[strodda]

thanks for the info. i waned to get the buddyclub too, but now that you mention that front grill, i might not get it. if im forced to have the grill looking like that, i definetly dont want it.

i really want a milder looking kit. i was thinking about getting the bw kit and having the leftside muffler opening filled in, since 4th gens arent dual exhaust. how much should an average install cost w/o painting? i called aroudn and the cheapest i heard was $90. the guy was very helpful, and he went into more detail about how costs can change rapidly depending on necessary modifications, just as you mentioned.

[hondaman-iac]

i really don't feel that bumper. i'm looking at a ww kit for the 94-97 accord

[thomas crown]

well the one way to get around the slanted grill is to cut the bottom of the hole too, you can cut that towards the front so the hole is the same depth all the way around and the grill would be straight with the car and the kit. the top has to be done though so it goes on right. i don't know how much an install is without painting, i had everything all done at the same time and it was a long long way from $90 though. it will add up though if you have stuff done like filling in the exhaust cut-out, but i really don't know how much. this is on my '95 accord but after seeing your pic of the 4th gen they are all the same i think. i am going to post some pics of my car to see what people think of it as soon as the snow is gone, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen anytime soon.

t.c.

[strodda]

how much did it cost you for everything?

whats the difference between kits, i see some that say 4dr only. why is that? is it the length of the sideskirts?

[thomas crown]

it was 1100 for me, i don't even know if that's good or bad. that included getting the kit fitted to the car, everything sanded etc, the rear cut out for the exhaust and for the factory side markers, custom front turn signals along with the other work for the front bumper, and everything painted and installed (front, rear, sideskirts, midwing, grill between the headlights), and the mesh installed in all of the holes in the kit.

i wanted the buddy club kit all the way around, but the guy i got it from (on ebay) said buddy club only has 2door sideskirts, so i am assuming the 4door is a little bit longer (which is what mine is) so i have black widow skirts.

t.c.

[HondaEXBlood]

in my opinion i would check out the xenon kit for the 4th gen accord thats what i plan on getting it looks pretty sleek.

[hondaman-iac]

Originally posted by strodda
how much did it cost you for everything?

whats the difference between kits, i see some that say 4dr only. why is that? is it the length of the sideskirts?

i'm not familiar with the kit and how the side skirts look but the cars 2 and 4 dr have the same wheel base, and the lenghts of the skirts are the same. maybe the pins where you hook them to the car are a bit different, but that doesn't sound right. i think it has more to do with the way the side skirt molds into the door