How to Buy a Body Kit

While customizing your car with a body kit is mostly about looks, it can improve performance as well. Here are a few things to consider before getting started.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Body Kit

1. Understand that a body kit can include ground effects - typically an air dam and side skirts - that fit around the bottom edges of a vehicle and alter the airflow to improve down force. They also make a car look lower to the ground.

2. Note that the kit can also include a wing or spoilers. A front spoiler is commonly positioned under the front bumper to reduce aerodynamic drag. A rear spoiler is used to create down force to help increase traction during acceleration.

3. Decide on what type of material you want your kit to be constructed of. There are generally two types of materials used in fabricating kits - fiberglass and urethane. Fiberglass generally fits better and can be repaired if you ever damage a piece. It also has a better finish than urethane; paint will look better on the fiberglass. Urethane is much more resistant to soft impacts but it can't be repaired once it's damaged.

4. Call the manufacturer of the kit you're considering. Ask them what kind of materials they use, what their warranty is, and if you'll have to remove any factory pieces from the safety structure of the vehicle to make the kit fit properly. If removal of factory pieces is required, don't purchase the kit. Never purchase a kit that requires removal of any pieces from the safety structure of your car.

5. Remember - you get what you pay for. There's the high quality U.S.-made fiberglass resin and there's the cheap, brittle fiberglass. Decide how much you're willing to invest.

Tips & Warnings

• If you live in an area that has snow or rough roads, select urethane. If you live in an area where the roads are smooth and the weather is decent, go with fiberglass.