Body Kit and Aerodynamics

Sick of your ride looking way too much like the boring daily drivers all around you? Let me tell you the secret to helping your car into a new body. Body kits are the fastest, simplest, and least expensive way to separate yourself from the crowd. When done right a tasteful set up can really set you apart from Johnny down the street. The right body kit and a good paint job can turn your ho-hum ride into a one-of-a-kind rolling eyeball (and chick) magnet. Search around and you can find some kits designed to lighten your car and improve its aerodynamics, leading to lower ETs and lap times. Don't be fooled: body kits are 99% eyecandy and aerodynamics is only beneficial at higher speeds.

Most aftermarket body kits come in four parts - front bumper, rear bumper, and a side skirt for each side--and range in style from mild to extra wild, mayo on the side. Some high-end "wide" body kits will add parts like fenders, fender flares and door caps. Most kits are made of either fiberglass or polyurethane. What's the difference? Well I'm glad you asked, but just keep reading and I'll fill you in. Besides, the best picture is at the bottom of the page anyway. Fiberglass is lighter, easier to work on yourself, and is easier to mold than polyurethane. It's a good choice if you're looking to lighten your car or you're looking for a wild mod. Polyurethane, on the other hand, is more flexible, so it will stand up better over time, and takes a lot less prep-work to make paint look show quality. Many body kit manufacturers these days are making kits from fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) or "poly-fiber" which they say combines the best of both worlds.



Here's another tip: Most pieces can be purchased separately so you can design your own unique look. As long as the pieces are all from the same manufacturer, the price of a complete body kit won't change. Once you start mixing and matching, variances in materials used and manufacturer pricing for single pieces will affect the end price. Because they are designed to make your ride unique, there are literally thousands of body kits available from dozens of manufacturers, and choosing from them all can be like trying to pick your favorite Jenna movie. If you check out the SCO store you'll see a huge selection of body kits, ground effects and aerodynamics for every taste and budget. As you browse, remember this tip: don't be afraid to look at body kits for different cars. Many manufacturers make the same kit for several different cars, but publish only one photo to represent them all. So if you drive a DSM and find your ultimate kit on a Honda Civic, don't freak out - chances are that kit is available for your car, just call us up.

I recommend you get your body kit installed by a professional body shop so that all alignment and painting is done correctly. Be sure to have your body shop dry-fit your kit before they drill, cut, or paint. Once they've been modified in any way, you'll be up a creek if there is a problem with fitment. Which brings us to our last tip o' the day: most body kits ship in boxes bigger than coffins, so have your kit shipped directly to your body shop in order to minimize hassles.

information is taken from sportcompactonly.com