aero kits - bolt them on or have them molded on?? my car is by no means a show car, it is a weekend cruiser, but i want the new kit to look clean. is it worth the extra money to have the kit molded on?

also, is it better to paint the kit first, then install it, or have it installed and then painted at the shop?
all opinions wanted, tia

 

i think you should mold it, because it will blend in with the car and look like it came like that and not just stuck on with bumps going from one surface to the other.

 

I think if ur going to have it molded, then fitting it and molding it first would seem obvious as the order.
If ur just going to bolt it in, then get it all on first, line it up, make sure it fits right, etc., then paint it separately, and fit to ur car. Depending on the application, sometimes sideskirts can be a problem, and putting them on first works better.
I agree that molding the kits tends to look much much nicer with the lines of the car, but once u do this, I would pressume that it would be difficult to access things in the front of the engine bay if u were to mold the front bumper on. Another downside to molding it, is that there is no turning back unless you are planning on ripping all the mold work apart, and destroying any new paint that would be on the car. Affixing it with bolts allows you to fix it if u crack or scratch it by simply taking it off, as opposed to having to work directly on the car, which can take time at body shops. My plans for a body kit is to just bolt it on. I think it still looks pretty decent. The body cuts for the front and back bumper are really cosmetically not that bad. Small price to pay for peace of mind to be able to take the kit on and off, in case I ever want another kit, damage it so I can use the stock one to still drive with, or ever need to access things in the front of the engine bay. My 2 cents.

 

speaking of kits, I forgot to ask, do the fake c-west kits really fit that bad? I've heard things about them not fitting all that well, and being rather thin. Can someone with that kit chime in and let me know? I was planning on that kit, but dont have the cash for the real goods. However, if the fakes really are that bad, I guess I better start saving. And while I'm on fake aero kits, does any company make a fake version of the hammershark c-west wing? Not the massive carbon GT wing, but the somewhat low profile wing. I haven't really seen a good pic of that wing, but from what I've seen so far, I like that wing a lot.

 

is this the one?

 

That's not the Hammer Shark, that A R-Magic type2 rear wing. Although similar, the CWest version is only a few inches above the hatch.

 

my front fit OK. it didnt seem like it was gonna fit at all, but it came out ok. the fiberglass is already cracking around where it is bolted on though. i am still waiting on my sideskirts. the front seems pretty thin, i am getting my stock front painted too incase this fiberglass front bumper thing doesnt last long. im starting to wish i got a urethane one from INGS. -steve

 

i say to mold it, but remember, if you drive your car hard, its might crack at the edges

 

about how much would it cost to get a set of oem side skirts molded on???