Need help with new body kit installation

[steffenaj14]

so i dont know if you've seen it before but i had a post about how i got a new body kit. well i'm already tired of it sitting around. i was wondering how hard or how stupid it would be if i would try to install it myself. no paint for now but i just want to get it on and see what it looks like. any help would be appreciated

 

[2088 MSP]

jack stands are highly recommended. other than that there really is no difficulty in removing the bumpers and skirts

rear bumper is only held by a couple of screws:

2 of them u see when u open the trunk.
2 plastic clips under the taillights (yes u will need to remove the taillights, only 3 nuts each not a big deal)
i think like 4 screw on each side in the rear wheel wells
a couple of screws right under the bumper itself (u'll see them when u get under the car)

same idea with the skirts, u have to get under the car, and u'll see the necessary screws.
also a couple in the wheel wells

front bumper is a pain, but not too bad. here is teh link for the removal guide:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123782943-How-To-Bumper-Removal-for-Protege5-w-pics!!!

 

[808MP5]

Take off the oem stuff and replace with the new stuff. Front and rear bumper shouldn't be an issue, side skirts will be. If you remove the stock ones you'll probably break all the clips in the process. So reinstalling the stock side skirts will be a problem since your gonna just test fit the new stuff.

 

[Outlawstar98]

what body kid are you installing?

 

[thaikim]

what body kid are you installing?

Body kids, eh? Must be the new carbon fiber... But seriously does it even matter, 95% of the "kids" out there make the MSP look like crap anyways... Really makes me sad that the few remaining Speed's out there are ending up like this...

 

[steffenaj14]

well i have the bc2 kit. i'm thinking about keeping stock front bumper with an aftermarket lip. but i don't think it takes away from the originality of the car. its still a mazdaspeed protege. nothing will take that away from the car. i just thought it would be a fun cool looking thing to do to the car.

 

[Outlawstar98]

So your doing like what DanDan has on his, I see I see.

 

[blkspdfreak]

there are plenty of kits out there for the proteges' but for the most part, the one's being put on are the better looking ones....with a few exceptions...i've only seen a few riced out ones.

i think if people have any sense of style or knowledge of modifying a cars appearance, they do it right, mazda owners anyway.

make sure when you put it on that you take the time to line up the body lines so there are no gaps. make it look oem as possible, that's what makes a good kit in my opinion. i had mine on and off 5 times for sanding, filling, and lining up before i was happy with it. i know the fenders are not everyone's taste, but i like the look of them and thats what matters. its your car, you paid for it, modify it to your liking. there are always the guys that say not to do this or that. its not their car, its their opinion, take it or leave it.

oh yea: DONT DRIVE AROUND WITH A UN-PAINTED KIT ON!

 

[NOTSPCY]

i have the set up ur talking about . bc2 kit on sides and rear and the msp front end with dg lip
pix posted below

 

[hornsfan10609]

If you install it, PLEASE get it painted first. I'm not sure if there is anything that I hate more than an unpainted ricer body kit.

 

[steffenaj14]

lol i know if i get it installed permanently i will paint it no worries. that won't happen for another year or so though. (that is unless someone wants to offer me a free paint job ) lol but i have this body kit sitting in my friends basement and it looks awesome and it just sits there. i haven't even seen it on the car so i want to see what it looks like on the car. i'm not one of those people who drive around with a primered car.

notspcy- your car is sick. i love it! i'm thinking about the front bumper. either what you got or the bc2 front bumper. i havent decided yet.

blkspdfreak- your car is also sick and i love it too. lol thanks though. i've had so many people tell me i'm ruining a rare car. but honestly i think i'm making a rare car even more rare by making it mine. idk its an opinion thing like you said and everyone is entitled to their opinion. mine is that it looks amazing with the bc2 kit.

 

[ucMP3]

It's your car, do what makes you happy. As long as you make it clean & do it right, you're not ruining anything.

 

[littlemimus]

notspcy wtf is up with the crazy rake on the black msp ha.

 

[Outlawstar98]

notspcy wtf is up with the crazy rake on the black msp ha.

If I had to guess, Tien Springs. lol!

 

[littlemimus]

If I had to guess, Tien Springs. lol!

the back actually looks higher than stock!

 

[ucMP3]

He's got reg protege springs with MSP struts, IIRC.

 

[NOTSPCY]

He's got reg protege springs with MSP struts, IIRC.

yep you are 100% right . he is getting this fixed tho ... he has the parts to update it to something much better

 

[NOTSPCY]

here is my car back with the bc2 kit on it .. i loved it at first but the fitment was never right and it was fiberglass ..

 

[NOTSPCY]

thats before i painted her a custom burnt orange color and did away with the bc2 front and got the msp front end.
since my car is a ES

 

[steffenaj14]

yeah.. well i had the kit stored at my buddies house and haven't really looked at it cause of how busy i've been so i looked at it closer and its fiberglass when i ordered duraflex.. what do i do?? because i know that duraflex is a whole s*** ton better than fiberglass and is easier to install.. i hope i didn't just get screwed over. if so is anyone interested in a body kit out there?? lol