yay.. my turn for photoshoot (56k watch out)
#37
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yea.... i must admit though that i was anxious to get rid of the PDW.... i like white... but i like bright whites...
this is a custom mix actually.... its a 05 RAV 4 base white coat with a lexus white pearl
it came out really nice... the pearl changes with the color of light that hits it.... under street lamps it looks like a gold pearl... under flourescent lights it looks like a blue pearl.... kinda cool
this is a custom mix actually.... its a 05 RAV 4 base white coat with a lexus white pearl
it came out really nice... the pearl changes with the color of light that hits it.... under street lamps it looks like a gold pearl... under flourescent lights it looks like a blue pearl.... kinda cool
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#43
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (5)
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I had the same VIS kit on my SC 400 and the same problem as you do. I got a little pissed as you did when I first received my car from the bodyshop. However, it took me 2 hours to turn it into an authentic Vertex style with some bending. The guy at the bodyshop was perhaps lazy or didn't know how to work with fiberglass. But don't worry about the front bumper flaring out. I got a cure.
You need these tools: (1) industrial heat gun (costs about $40 at Home Depot, or you buy & return...ha..ha...ha, no harm), (1) electrical saw or die grinder with metal cut-off wheel, (1) ruler, (4) 10/16"x20" holed bracket (or bar) in the plumbing section, (1) bag of 1/2" short sharp point screws that barely fit on the holes (you need to dril the holes to make them slightly larger than the screws), (1) bag of 3/4" screws with nuts at the other end, (1) bag of 1" washers that have holes slightly larger than 3/4" screws, (1) bag of lock washers that are slightly larger than 3/4".
It's best to have 2 people to make easy.
Procedure: Take the inside bumper liners out. Measure how much you want to bend it and the distance that after the 2 brackets are fit on the flat lower part of the bumper cross to the black OEM plastic under the car from the engine side. You may cut the brackets to fit. Make sure you find 2 stable & hard OEM plastic spots(to be screwed) for each bracket so the bracket can hold the bumper later. Turn on the heat gun at 1000 degree & heat the inside of the bumper from up to down around the second hole that's next to the fog light holes. Important: Don't go too far inside, don't stay at one spot too long & don't heat anything other than the fiberglass bumper. It'll only take several seconds to heat it up or you'll damage the paint. You may smell some paint but it's ok. Try to touch the outside bumper, but don't touch it hard because you may scratch the paint when it's soft....It's hot.!!! After several minutes, try to bend the bumper side in. Now, while 1 person holds & bends, the other fits the brackets with screws. For each bracket, 2 sharp screws to the OEM hard plastic and 2 screws & nuts to the lowest flat part of the bumper. Make sure the bracket stays on the upper of the flat bumper part with lock washers & use the big washers below the flat part. The better way is to predrill with much a smaller drill on the OEM plastic sides and slightly drill on bumper side. If you don't predrill, they might break when you "screw" them. Use 2 brackets on each side & both sides should be bent evenly. I might miss some details but I guess you can figure them out. Take it easy, no rush.
Why would anybody spend $2500 on an authentic Vertex kit why we can pay less than 1/5 of that. Ain't that cool? Good luck and let me know how it turned out.
You need these tools: (1) industrial heat gun (costs about $40 at Home Depot, or you buy & return...ha..ha...ha, no harm), (1) electrical saw or die grinder with metal cut-off wheel, (1) ruler, (4) 10/16"x20" holed bracket (or bar) in the plumbing section, (1) bag of 1/2" short sharp point screws that barely fit on the holes (you need to dril the holes to make them slightly larger than the screws), (1) bag of 3/4" screws with nuts at the other end, (1) bag of 1" washers that have holes slightly larger than 3/4" screws, (1) bag of lock washers that are slightly larger than 3/4".
It's best to have 2 people to make easy.
Procedure: Take the inside bumper liners out. Measure how much you want to bend it and the distance that after the 2 brackets are fit on the flat lower part of the bumper cross to the black OEM plastic under the car from the engine side. You may cut the brackets to fit. Make sure you find 2 stable & hard OEM plastic spots(to be screwed) for each bracket so the bracket can hold the bumper later. Turn on the heat gun at 1000 degree & heat the inside of the bumper from up to down around the second hole that's next to the fog light holes. Important: Don't go too far inside, don't stay at one spot too long & don't heat anything other than the fiberglass bumper. It'll only take several seconds to heat it up or you'll damage the paint. You may smell some paint but it's ok. Try to touch the outside bumper, but don't touch it hard because you may scratch the paint when it's soft....It's hot.!!! After several minutes, try to bend the bumper side in. Now, while 1 person holds & bends, the other fits the brackets with screws. For each bracket, 2 sharp screws to the OEM hard plastic and 2 screws & nuts to the lowest flat part of the bumper. Make sure the bracket stays on the upper of the flat bumper part with lock washers & use the big washers below the flat part. The better way is to predrill with much a smaller drill on the OEM plastic sides and slightly drill on bumper side. If you don't predrill, they might break when you "screw" them. Use 2 brackets on each side & both sides should be bent evenly. I might miss some details but I guess you can figure them out. Take it easy, no rush.
Why would anybody spend $2500 on an authentic Vertex kit why we can pay less than 1/5 of that. Ain't that cool? Good luck and let me know how it turned out.
Last edited by stevechumo; 03-18-05 at 12:24 AM.
#44
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (2)
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Originally Posted by stevechumo
Why would anybody spend $2500 on an authentic Vertex kit why we can pay less than 1/5 of that. Ain't that cool? Good luck and let me know how it turned out.
edit: forgot to add that the vertex kit one is FRP instead off full fiberglass
Last edited by LexAnt; 03-18-05 at 11:03 AM.
#45
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (5)
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Originally Posted by LexAnt
well i spent that amount because i didn't wanna have to go through what you went through as well as know that the material and way the kit was made by Vertex is better than what VIS does. Ie hand laid vs. sprayed. well that was the reason for me.
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