Visual Modifications V8 Vantage
Discussion
After four years of ownership I wanted to make some visual changes to the car.
Rule being everything must be fully reversible if I ever decide to sell the car.
I didn't want to change the shape, add different bumpers or expensive carbon parts....just freshen up the look (to me anyway) without being excessive on price.
Much of what I did has been covered here before in one way or another but I thought I'd share this with you.
First up...wheels. I may purchase a second set of wheels in the future but for now I wanted to see how the existing wheels would look in satin black.
The wheels were cleaned (off the car) for what seemed like hours to strip off any protectant and dirt then the tyres were coated with a tyre gel (to help the removal of the dip from the tyre).
After one practise effort (we shall call it that) I achieved a finish I was really happy with.
Valve stems where covered and then the wheels treated to six coats (first two light) of gloss plasti-dip on both sides.
This is easily removed if required to the original look but in the meantime adds protection.
Next came rear wheel spacers (opinions vary on this I know)
I didn't want ones that needed the studs cutting so I sourced a pair of 12mm ones for reasonable price along with the required nuts.
These fit perfectly to the hub and wheel and just move the rear wheel out to fill the arch more.
Next up the front grill and bonnet vent grills.
After removing the front grill each slat was carefully removed and given the plasti-dip treatment before reassembly.
For the side strakes I wanted the carbon look without the cost.
These can be removed without taking off the wheels but as the car was up on axle stands for a brake pad change made for easier access to the wheel arch liner bolts.
Three nuts hold on the mesh to the strake which needs to be removed first before the nut and bolt (accessible when the door is open) for the side strake to be removed.
I decided to wrap the side strake with 3M carbon wrap
All the mods:
The window surround was also plasti-dipped but later removed as the finish was not as good as expected.
These will be professionally wrapped when the car gets a full colour wrap in part 2.......
Mansfield
Rule being everything must be fully reversible if I ever decide to sell the car.
I didn't want to change the shape, add different bumpers or expensive carbon parts....just freshen up the look (to me anyway) without being excessive on price.
Much of what I did has been covered here before in one way or another but I thought I'd share this with you.
First up...wheels. I may purchase a second set of wheels in the future but for now I wanted to see how the existing wheels would look in satin black.
The wheels were cleaned (off the car) for what seemed like hours to strip off any protectant and dirt then the tyres were coated with a tyre gel (to help the removal of the dip from the tyre).
After one practise effort (we shall call it that) I achieved a finish I was really happy with.
Valve stems where covered and then the wheels treated to six coats (first two light) of gloss plasti-dip on both sides.
This is easily removed if required to the original look but in the meantime adds protection.
Next came rear wheel spacers (opinions vary on this I know)
I didn't want ones that needed the studs cutting so I sourced a pair of 12mm ones for reasonable price along with the required nuts.
These fit perfectly to the hub and wheel and just move the rear wheel out to fill the arch more.
Next up the front grill and bonnet vent grills.
After removing the front grill each slat was carefully removed and given the plasti-dip treatment before reassembly.
For the side strakes I wanted the carbon look without the cost.
These can be removed without taking off the wheels but as the car was up on axle stands for a brake pad change made for easier access to the wheel arch liner bolts.
Three nuts hold on the mesh to the strake which needs to be removed first before the nut and bolt (accessible when the door is open) for the side strake to be removed.
I decided to wrap the side strake with 3M carbon wrap
All the mods:
The window surround was also plasti-dipped but later removed as the finish was not as good as expected.
These will be professionally wrapped when the car gets a full colour wrap in part 2.......
Mansfield
Thanks for sharing. Everything I've done to mine also is reversible, except for the manifolds. I've even purchased some spare parts, like the hood and side screens, so I can always swap back later.
Like the wheels and strakes. Not sure of the grill. Perhaps when you wrap the car. What color are you leaning towards?
Like the wheels and strakes. Not sure of the grill. Perhaps when you wrap the car. What color are you leaning towards?
It's nice to find this thread as what you've done is pretty much what I have planned for my 4.3 so it's cool to see it. Reversible mods make total sense.
My 7 spokes are being done in anthracite for when they go back on the car for winter, and I am planning to wrap the window surrounds, mirrors and side strakes in gloss black, paint the meshes, and get black exhaust tips.
I did a quick photoshop rendering a few weeks back to see how it would look and I that pretty much sold me, freshens it up and makes it a bit more sporty. The only thing I'm not 100% about is the grill.
Then the plan would be a full wrap a year or two down the track. I'm currently leaning towards something similar to Cinnabar Orange...
My 7 spokes are being done in anthracite for when they go back on the car for winter, and I am planning to wrap the window surrounds, mirrors and side strakes in gloss black, paint the meshes, and get black exhaust tips.
I did a quick photoshop rendering a few weeks back to see how it would look and I that pretty much sold me, freshens it up and makes it a bit more sporty. The only thing I'm not 100% about is the grill.
Then the plan would be a full wrap a year or two down the track. I'm currently leaning towards something similar to Cinnabar Orange...
Karlfranz, one of our USA forum friends, did a wonderful wrap on his previous Vantage.
As you will see, many other modifications too.
http://karlfranz.com/vantage4sale/
Mansfield said:
For the side strakes I wanted the carbon look without the cost.
I decided to wrap the side strake with 3M carbon wrap
With the greatest respect, that 3M stuff looks nothing like carbon. It's really obvious that it's vinyl.I decided to wrap the side strake with 3M carbon wrap
Try this stuff in 4D, its incredibly realistic.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3D-or-4D-Carbon-Fibre-Vi...
or
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8DM-Carbon-Fibre-Vinyl-W...
I know you've put a lot of work into getting them wrapped, but you might find its worth it to do it again.
Edited by divetheworld on Sunday 22 May 22:20
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