modding a car

tek2k

tek2k

tek2k

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5 Jul 2003
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157
I've been considering a new car lately but not too sure what to get, something sporty and something sedan.

Anyway I know that what I want to get looks a little "meh" standard but if i lower it a bit and put some nicer wheels/alloys and maybe an understated but slightly aggressive body kit it'll look much better.

I just have one question: how do i do this?

I've never modded a car before I have no idea how it's done.

Is it quite easy to lower a car by a couple of inches and add a bodykit or larger tyres, wheels, rims etc? Does it have any affect on the running of the car itself? Do i need to take this to a mechanic or should it be a body shop or something else?

Thanks
 
whats with people on here saying sedan lately? seen it in a few posts now.

what car are you getting?
understated but aggressive? hmmm :(
 
tek2k said:
Is it quite easy to lower a car by a couple of inches
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Let down the tires on teh rimz

and add a bodykit
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Staples

or larger tyres
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Try camskill

, wheels, rims etc
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http://www.kahndesign.com/automotive/kahnwheels/?page=collection&cat=wheels

Does it have any affect on the running of the car itself? Do i need to take this to a mechanic or should it be a body shop or something else?

Thanks
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Staples, hammer, and glue is all you need for modding a car. Bad eyesight helps too.
 
Lowering involves replacing the springs and preferably shock absorbers on the suspension. The car will need tracking / geometery after this. Expect to pay anywhere between £130 - £600 for the suspension, and around £140 for fitting + geo. If you aren't confident around cars this isn't something you can do yourself. And you'll still have to have it tracked / geo.

Lowered suspension will offer a firmer ride, which can often be harsh and bum-destroying if the wrong combo is picked. It won't effect running particularly, but if you select springs that are too low and fit them to standard shock absorbers, you can significantly shorten the life of the shock if its bottoming out (running out of room to travel).

A set of decent alloys and tyres will cost in the region of £650 new (This is what I'm looking at for a set of OZ Superleggs 17"). Fitting you can do yourself, jack it up, swap the tyres round.

A half decent full bodykit will cost you in the region of £800 to £1500 to buy, this will most often be primed (ready for paint) but will need touchup most likely. Fitting is doable yourself with time and patience, spraying for you is not. A (re)spray can cost anywhere from £600 to £2000 depending on how much prep you do yourself, and if you want the entire chassis, body, or just the new parts sprayed. You could prep and spray the bodykit parts yourself, which will cost you around £100-£200 in paint. This is several days work, waiting for coats to dry, and prepping.

A decent independant for the springs (and shocks). A decent bodyshop for the bodykit.

If you can't replace the wheels yourself, then don't even bother considering this.

Car modification is like anything, take your time and learn as you go. My audio installs are worlds apart from the barry boy botching I now shudder at the memory of.

Good luck, you may well need it ;)

PS. What cars are you considering?
 
WantoN said:
Lowering involves replacing the springs and preferably shock absorbers on the suspension. The car will need tracking / geometery after this. Expect to pay anywhere between £130 - £600 for the suspension, and around £140 for fitting + geo. If you aren't confident around cars this isn't something you can do yourself. And you'll still have to have it tracked / geo.

Lowered suspension will offer a firmer ride, which can often be harsh and bum-destroying if the wrong combo is picked. It won't effect running particularly, but if you select springs that are too low and fit them to standard shock absorbers, you can significantly shorten the life of the shock if its bottoming out (running out of room to travel).

A set of decent alloys and tyres will cost in the region of £650 new (This is what I'm looking at for a set of OZ Superleggs 17"). Fitting you can do yourself, jack it up, swap the tyres round.

A half decent full bodykit will cost you in the region of £800 to £1500 to buy, this will most often be primed (ready for paint) but will need touchup most likely. Fitting is doable yourself with time and patience, spraying for you is not. A (re)spray can cost anywhere from £600 to £2000 depending on how much prep you do yourself, and if you want the entire chassis, body, or just the new parts sprayed. You could prep and spray the bodykit parts yourself, which will cost you around £100-£200 in paint. This is several days work, waiting for coats to dry, and prepping.

A decent independant for the springs (and shocks). A decent bodyshop for the bodykit.

If you can't replace the wheels yourself, then don't even bother considering this.

Car modification is like anything, take your time and learn as you go. My audio installs are worlds apart from the barry boy botching I now shudder at the memory of.

Good luck, you may well need it ;)

PS. What cars are you considering?
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I don't think I can do any of that, I've never tried to do anything non-stock with cars, that's why I wasn't sure how to go about it i.e. Do I pay mechanic to do the suspension/lowering and do i pay a bodyshop to do the rest? I just kinda like the G37 lately, seen a few reviews and checked out some custom kits on forums and when it's kitted up/lowered it looks really good, like beefy and tank'ish
 
tek2k said:
I don't think I can do any of that, I've never tried to do anything non-stock with cars, that's why I wasn't sure how to go about it i.e. Do I pay mechanic to do the suspension/lowering and do i pay a bodyshop to do the rest? I just kinda like the G37 lately, seen a few reviews and checked out some custom kits on forums and when it's kitted up/lowered it looks really good, like beefy and tank'ish
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Do your research, decide on the springs / shocks you want, and get them off the bay. The find a decent independant garage to fit them.

Do the same with the bodykit, but find a decent bodyshop.

Do the same with the alloys, but fit them yourself.

Expect to pay in the region of £2500 to £4000 to achieve this, dependant on choices and garage.

Ant :cool:
 
you can lower it for free, if the car in question just has coils, not leaf sprung etc. Simply remove said coils, cut a bit off, and refit. Simples.

Fitting wheels is also simple, just need wheels with the correct PCD, offset, etc.

also, often just fitting a simple black front splitter, and nothing else can make a car look a lot meaner, and it's cheaper/less potentially chavy than a full kit
 
[TW]Fox;16475905 said:
Has this car not only just come out at a price of 35k?
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Thats what I thought. :confused:

Why wouldn't you just buy something that already looks subtle yet aggressive. :o

I predict a dreaming 15 year old.
 
[TW]Fox;16475905 said:
Has this car not only just come out at a price of 35k?
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Yep I think so, it depends on the options you choose as it could go up to 42k iirc but I can get 5 year financing for it so it's not too bad. I dont know why its just grown on me lately since I saw it mentioned a couple of times in recent weeks and the reviews are very positive

bug one said:
I predict a dreaming 15 year old.
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:rolleyes:
what a charming fella
 
tek2k said:
Yep I think so, it depends on the options you choose as it could go up to 42k iirc but I can get 5 year financing for it so it's not too bad. I dont know why its just grown on me lately since I saw it mentioned a couple of times in recent weeks and the reviews are very positive
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So you want to buy a £40,000 brand new car and then fit lowering springs and an aftermarket bodykit :confused:

How old are you out of interest?
 
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