by: John Wilson
Automotive Body Kit Parts for Your Car or Truck
The main points or positions of a car that allows for body kit products are the front and back bumpers, side skirts, hood and the wing or spoiler. If you are installing a full body kit but you are choosing different parts from different kits then you need to consider parts that have a similar style or look so that the parts flow together on the vehicle. A full body kit make over could deal with each component individually and make adjustments for a similar look. If the goal is to build a car that has similar features to a particular race car or street car, then it is possible integrate different parts.
The front and back bumpers is one of the first things you see when you look at a car. Bumpers also serve as the first encounter between the car and the passing air that is flowing over it. If you have a car that doesn’t have the most aerodynamic bumpers - you can change them. That is where the body kit materials come in. The bumpers can either be replaced completely or a "bumper cover” can be installed over your existing bumpers. It is like a skin that goes directly over your stock bumper. Another choice for you would be to add a Front Air Dam or Rear Skirt to your existing factory bumpers. Once an air dam or skirt is added to your bumper and painted it gives that appearance of an entirely new bumper, and many would think that you replaced the entire bumper. Looks and performance can go together- but at a price.
The side skirts of a car are what give it the sleek appearance- or a low profile one! Depending on your car, the basic contour lines and the existing side skirts will decide what needs to be done in this category. There are many different options with companies like Wings West and Xenon Body Kits delivering some of the best on the market.
Hoods serve as a great opportunity to give your car a “new” look. Some hoods have hood scoops built into them and are functional. . Universal hood scoops work well (and are easy to install) on any vehicle. Usually hoods are made of fiberglass material or you could choose to add a carbon fiber hood to lighten up your vehicle.
Wings, otherwise known as car spoilers usually sit on the trunk of your car and redirects where the air flows. The car wings alone will get your vehicle the looks and an appeal of a sporty car. This is probably why car wings are the most popular of car accessories.
For many, aerodynamics really factor into the body kit decision. Keeping a car aerodynamic is what most body kit enthusiasts are all about. Aerodynamics involves letting the wind fly over and around a car with the least amount of effort and in the freest way possible. The biggest factors prove to be the spoilers, hood materials and overall car shape. While most people just buy aerodynamic material to purely make their car more pleasing to the eye, many purchase with the intent of attaining higher speeds. Some items that are popular in this area are hood scoops, roof scoops and spoilers.
Hood and roof scoops allow for the look of a total transformation with the involvement of just a couple of minutes of installation time. The scoops are usually duel (two) or single (one) and rise up to several inches off a car. In the race car world, they would be useful for cooling off an engine rearing at 200 miles per hour. On the streets, they are more for show, as most cars come equipped with suitable ways to avoid overheating. While they won’t help with most cooling systems, a hood or roof scoop will make a car more aerodynamic as it allows wind to slide easily over the car making it easier to drive faster.
These are the some of the biggest adjustments that you could make on a car with a full body kit installation. However, there are other considerations and smaller items that can be of use.
Pin striping tape - put anywhere you wish, the sides, back or right over the top of the car to really give it a race car feel. Colors and graphics enhance the look.
Rear window graphics are a very quick customizable option. You can have designs; pictures or symbols in the form of decals such as racing flags, skulls, sayings, logos, etc… just peel and stick!
An exterior chrome accessory is among the hottest stuff on the market today, and anyone seeking exterior accessories will want to check those out too. These custom after-market add-ons will make your vehicle stand out for sure. Nobody will doubt your car has the best of the best everything when they see how it shines with these accessories. Door handles, mirror covers, headlight trim, pillar post covers, mirror covers, and taillight chrome are all some of the choices available. Even a nice chrome rear trunk trim is available. These accessories are unique and extraordinary, and will add the most bling for your custom after-market designed ride.
There are numerous decisions that could be made to get the look desired and it is always possible to have any car looking the way you want with quality materials.