Have a Body Kit Installed
You can have a body kit installed on your car by a professional or you can do it yourself. It can be more expensive to have it installed professionally, but if you aren't experienced with installing a body kit, it might save you a lot of time and money to have it done by someone who knows what they are doing. Learn how to have a body kit installed to determine if this is a task you can complete yourself.
Contents
Steps
- Purchase and prepare your body kit as directed in the instructions. Once you are ready to install it, proceed with the next steps.
- Paint the bumper of your car. Do this unless you plan on painting the entire car after the body kit installation.
- Clean all surface areas that the body kit will be installed on. Use a grease remover or a lacquer thinner with a paper towel, and rub on the entire surface. Avoid leaving the paper towel on the car for too long as this can harm the car's paint surface.
- Apply a thin coating of adhesion promoter. This will help the adhesive to stick to the paint of the car and help to hold the body kit in place. Use a lint-free cloth coat on the entire surface area where you will apply double-sided tape.
- Repeat these steps each time you remove a part of your factory-installed pieces, including the front bumper, side skirts, and rear bumper.
Install the Front Bumper
- Remove the factory-installed bumper, and keep all the hardware for later use. The Styrofoam insert might need to be removed as well if the new bumper won't fit.
- Make sure that the new body kit front bumper lines up correctly. Make any adjustments needed by sanding or grinding carefully.
- Use the factory hardware to install the new front bumper of your body kit. Place the factory bumper on to the new bumper. This can help you accurately drill the holes.
Install the Side Skirts
- Pre-fit the new side skirts to ensure they line up correctly. Use sanding or grinding to make any necessary changes.
- Use a grease pencil, and mark where the body kit will be installed.
- Measure a strip of double-sided tape that will go along the underside of the car. Place the tape on the car carefully, and ensure that it goes on straight and flush.
- Install the side skirt portion of the body kit onto the car, and pull off the plastic backing once the body kit is properly aligned. Press down to ensure that it is properly sealed. If the screw holes do not line up, you will need to drill them on your own, and then use a screwdriver to secure the screws.
Install the Rear Bumper
- Remove the factory-installed rear bumper and the trim panel. Save all the hardware for later use. Remove the Styrofoam lining if necessary for a proper fit.
- Line up the new body kit rear bumper, and make sure it lines up correctly. If it doesn't, grind or sand to ensure a perfect fit.
- Use the factory bumper as a template, drill the new holes into the new body kit rear bumper, and install it onto your car with the factory hardware.
Tips
- Keep all factory hardware to ensure that you will be able to install the front and rear bumper properly.
- Make sure that you have all the parts and supplies you will need to complete the body kit installation at once. You may do one step each day, but you should complete each step before you go on to the next so you don't get overwhelmed.
Things You'll Need
- Car paint (optional)
- Grease remover or lacquer thinner
- Paper towels
- Adhesion promoter
- Lint-free cloth
- Body kit
