FD OEM side skirt installation question.
 

How do you guys install the OEM side skirt on your FD? Besides 3M double sided tape, do you use self taping sheet metal screw fasten the side skirt at the bottle of the rocket panel?

BC

Yeah I think that's what you'd use too. I have the oem skirts sitting in my garage. Haven't had a chance to install em.

Painting that OEM side skirt is expensive :(

BC

I think you need to put silicone in with the paint to help it out or it will crack cos they are very flexible? Not sure, I might be wrong.

Self tapping screws too, for the front and rear. I think there are 4 mounting places in total though.

Yep. Jason knows his stuff. Here's a kinda dark picture, but it shows the spots where the self-tapping screws go in.

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...d=142726&stc=1


Ppl sometimes usually use double-sided tape or glue from a heat gun etc to get 'em on secure all the way through, and seal 'em w/ the edge of the car (see pic below), and some ppl even place another screw at the very edge, in the wheel well.

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...d=142727&stc=1


~Ramy

How much did the quotes run?

Since my side skirt is used, they need to strip the old paint and repaint it. They have to put flex additive to the paint so it will be flexible. I was quoted 800 for paint match my car. Not cheap though.

How much you guys paying?

BC

Its best to find them in your color of course, but since the sideskirts were more popular in 99 and also in the 95 time frame, the colors might be faded or different then US available colors. I see them every once and a while USED, white would be a good start, if you can find them in your color.

I'm in the same boat as you, except that I haven't bothered to get quotes yet :)

:iwstupid: :tonque:

Even if you find them in the correct color it's near impossible to find a set where the paint hasn't cracked atleast a little, since the skirts are flexible, in which case you'll still need to have them refinished.

Yeah, of the few sets that I've seen for sale, most of them are black.

I've had mine sitting in my garage for half a year or so, and mine are also black. Painting's going to be expensive from the sounds of it.

Mine been sitting around for more than 6 months and now I decide to paint match and install them. It would be a waste if I am not going to install it. I have heard you can still order new one from Japan with correct color for your car. I tried to find the source but was not able to. It wouldn't be cheap either.

BC

Excuse me if this stupid but I am not a paint/body guy at all.

For the ones that bought used and painted:

Why don't you guys lightly sand them and primer them yourself?

Jason's right. I've come across a bunch of sets now, and given that they're coming from Japan, that long trip alone will have 'em bumped and flexed just a bit. All it takes is ONE small piece of paint to chip to necessitate repainting them. That's why I clearly state on every set that I list for sale "these sideskirts WILL require repainting," because even if they don't when they arrive to me, they may need it by the time they arrive at the customer's doorstep ;)

BC, unfortunately, that was in the past. The skirts have been discontinued for a while now, so you can't order them at all. Just used ones (or replicas, which are made of fiberglass).

~Ramy

I would rather strip down all the paint before painting since the side skirt has different color than my car. Striping and sanding at you backyard will be messy and time consuming. I strip and sand my mirror at home and it took me at least two evenings to finish a set. The sideskirt is so big and I think it will take me forever if I do it myself. Maybe someone else has the time to DIY but not me since I work full time and would rather let the professional do the job.

BC

Can you just use regular primer if you decide to DIY? Or is there some kind of special flexible primer that you need too?

Not that I'm gonna paint it myself, but just curious.

JT-Imports sold me a black set and it definitely has multiple cracks once I received it. I was NOT happy when I got it. I just decided to install it and live with it until I get the whole car repainted or remove it and install a body kit.

Even with the price of $500 used compared to $1300 brand new, I wish I just bought brand new. I advice NOT to buy a used set with cracks because it is going to be hard to get it repainted and stay perfect even after a repaint.

Just my .02cents.

Maybe I should repeat myself...the skirts have been DISCONTINUED. You CANNOT buy them from Japan new. And I promise you, no matter how good condition they're in, by the time they're shipped from one continent to another, then to you, they'll have flexed just enough to chip the paint.

So if you don't want used, I guess you won't be buying OEM sideskirts, huh? ;)

I have MANY people express GREAT interest in obtaining OEM sideskirts, and have sold quite a few sets already, all to individuals knowing up front that they have to be repainted. It's part of the territory. Ya gotta pay to play. Not sure at what point exactly that obvious point was lost on this forum... :scratch:

~Ramy

I love the look of my oem sides. :)

Attachment 718932
Attachment 718933
Attachment 718934
Attachment 718935

Oooohh ooohhh!!! Damn Gene. You had to bust out w/ the big guns, huh?! :bigthumb:

With pics like that...you can post in every for sale thread I have LOL. I dunno how anyone can resist!!! :rofl:

~Ramy

Ramy,
I can check that for ya, not that anyone really buys them but I did a brand new set from Mazda about 6 months ago. Or is this more recent?

Mazda stopped a lot of parts this year though, what is up with that. They are trying to make it hard on the FD guys I guess...

How much for a new set. May that be possible that there are some new old stock parts in Japan.

BC

RAGE,

who installed your sideskirts? if I may ask.