Ok, so this is kinda long but I would be forever thanking you if anyone can help me. I am in college and making decent money but not a lot. I have had a ken style body kit sitting in my room for months now and I just need to get it on. I finally have had enough waiting and want it on asap, but the lowest price I can find is $600. I know that is pretty good, but I am in college and that will hurt me really badly.

SO, I am asking two questions:

1) Should I remove the stock bumpers and side skirts and test fit the kit to make the holes myself? That way I could just have some shop paint it and I will mount it myself? (If so, I would really want to talk with all of those people who have done this themselves with the ken style kit)

or

2) Does anyone know a shop around Illinois that will do it for a really low price? I hate to sound like a cheap person, but college is taking a lot of my money right now.

I love this site and repect you all a lot, so please no flames about kits.... I bought it because I needed to replace something. Trust me, I would have much rather spent $$ on performance parts. Thanks ahead of time.

 

who did you get the kit from?

Also is the $600 for paint and install?

 

yes the 600 is paint and install (assuming no major modifiactions are needed) and its an accolade kit.....

 

install is easy ... i test fitted mine and it fits perfect. i spent 450 on just a paint job

 

We test-fitted my rear bumper and sideskirts since they were relatively easy to get to. The rear isn't that hard, just a bunch of screws and clips that you can't always see. I watched the shop go through the trouble of removing the front bumper and that took a little bit longer. That, and there is the trouble of getting the front clips that mount the stock front bumper to the frame right underneath the two headlights.

I can say that the rear is easy enough to do, as I was able to do it with a friend's help. I can't speak for the front though, because I didn't do it myself. And the $600 sounds like a pretty good deal. Did the shop already look at the kit to see if any repairs needed to be done? Even stuff like pinhole marks that almost every kit will have will add into the total cost. Just letting you know ahead of time, cuz I know my kit ended up costing a pretty good bit more to get prepped, painted, and installed.

 

THANKS so much to those of you who replied. This is why I love this site. Any other input?

 

DUDE!! DO IT YOURSELF!!!! its sooo easy! if you have a drill for the back and a spray gun!! i spent $100 on paint from local NAPA store.. check www.body-kit.com on the ken kit page for a close pic of my car. i painted the wing too! dont throw your money away towards a body shop

 

Hey bud, what part of IL are you from. Near Chicago? I am from West Michigan and I currently have a guy that it doing paint and install for $400-450. I am picking it up tomarrow, I know he does good work and I told him I would let others know about him. I travel to Chicago sometimes so if you wanted I could pick the kit up and bring it up here to get painted. Otherwise it is like a 2.5 hour drive.

Good luck.

 

B-Lancer03.... Ur car is Ultra Sik!!!! u painted your whole body kit??

 

yea man! thanks! i painted the whole thang on my back porch.. i just sat it ontop of the box it came in and sprayed and cleared it. took about 2 days to paint the parts.. and let it good and dry. then bout 2 hours to install.. it was SOOOO much better then payin out the *** to have someone put it on.. one of the other kids that got it with me payed $750!!

 

iiight!!! well... i brought an air brush and an air tank.... im not scared to take a stab at it... so i think i'll DIY..... was it you'r 1st time painting?... also were your REALLY satisfied with the end result? im talking in terms of quality / shine not just $$$$$$..........

and Also BlackLancer03.......

1. how many coats or primer, paint and clear did you do?
2. How Many quarts of paint did you buy/ need to finish the job
3. How many pieces came with your body kit?

 

OMFG blacklancer ur car is EXACTLY like mine except for bodykit and wing OMFG!!!! thats sooooooo wierd man! sosoooo WIERD!!!!

 

yea i was super happy with it till some stupidass trucker pulled out in front of me on a gravel road and sent and abunch or shiot into my front so i gotta respray the front.. it was $70 for the first base/clear coats and then i ran out of base after the skirts and most of the front so $30 more base we finished the front and did the back.. i think we put 2-3 coats on it.. also get normal black spray and spray the back of it.. that way the yellow doesnt shine thro with strong light.. at first the yellow showed thro and i was pissed but then just sprayed the back and it was fine! it took 2 pints of base.. and then the clear coat i just got one

 

i have the 4 pc ken kit with the big back bumper.. (want the short one)

 

ok... so I think I know all I need to. the only thing that I worry about is the airbag sensors. I read the "how to" section, but I just wanted to know if airbag sensors are a problem or not for either of the bumpers' removal.

by the way, thanks again everyone