molding urethane
May-18th-2002, 11:13 PM
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: augusta, GA
Posts: 332
molding urethane
okay, i am getting a urethane lip made for a different car, and i want to try and mold it for the front of the pro. what is involved with changing the lines of the mold that it was made in to the lines of my car. if i use a heat gun, is that enough to soften it? is this even possible? the urethane lip IS wider than the car, so i can cut the ends to make it fit, i am just worried about making it line with the car. any suggestions?
ben
ben
May-19th-2002, 06:25 PM
#2
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Southern-Ontario
Posts: 131
A heat gun or a hair dryer would do just fine. Heat area that need to be fitted, and press it against the bumper (your desired location), and let cool while holding. This may require several tries depending on severity of the shape. I've done it already for the fronts and backs. Check out pictures at '2000 protege body kit'. If your final installation still shows small gaps, a silicon (colour match) strip would solve it. Be sure you use masking tape along both sides of the gap before applying silicon, this will give you nice, perfect edges.
Last edited by znole; May-19th-2002 at 11:55 PM.
May-20th-2002, 07:48 PM
#5
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Southern-Ontario
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The fronts on my car required only minor bending, not too bad, the fit was very good. However, the backs were tougher, I have to bend a 90-degree corner into a wide curve. Trimmings and repetitive heating and bending were required to get rid off that nasty 90-degree corner. Of course, it wasn't that perfect fit, but very close, a tricky silicon strip did the job. You have to use your descretion on how far the lip would take the bending. I only can imagine without actually seeing it. Good luck. 
May-21st-2002, 08:21 AM
#6
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Location: Central New York
Posts: 1,241
Originally posted by benf000
i tried the tsunami lip for the 96-98 civic on today. fits great, just have to have a small section on each side cut off. no molding will really be necessary so im stoked.
ben
i tried the tsunami lip for the 96-98 civic on today. fits great, just have to have a small section on each side cut off. no molding will really be necessary so im stoked.
ben
May-21st-2002, 08:34 AM
#8
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Location: Central New York
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how much actually needs to be trimmed? do you know if ABS is the same as urethane? if the 96-98 civic under spoilers are that close in shape, there is so many more lip spoilers that could work. great find indeed!
May-21st-2002, 08:39 AM
#9
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: augusta, GA
Posts: 332
underspoiler
i would think the underspoiler would be fine. the actual shape of that part is what fit great. the part i would need to trim is around the grille, since the pro has 3 openings, while this year civic only has one large one. i just have to make it a little larger...i would even try the 92-95 civic, its a little rounder, more like our front end too, if you look at them. you will see what i mean later this week. make sure you have a yahoo account so you can view the pics.
i think that abs **** is harder than urethane. this spoiler is super squishy, you can basically fold it up like 4 times. its thick but flexible. i think abs is hard, like the factory lips on cars.
ben
i think that abs **** is harder than urethane. this spoiler is super squishy, you can basically fold it up like 4 times. its thick but flexible. i think abs is hard, like the factory lips on cars.
ben
May-21st-2002, 09:18 AM
#11
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Location: Central New York
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you can get a tsunami lip from almost any civic parts supplier for about $150-200 depending on where you go. they mount with screws, bolts and tape, but you will have to figure out how to mount it to the pro bumper. i'm not sure if they are the same underneath. haven't really looked.
May-21st-2002, 02:31 PM
#12
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: augusta, GA
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okay, the lip is in my backseat. i am taking it by the body shop after work to get an idea on the install cost. it is going to take a little cutting and pasting, but not much at all. ill give you the price they quote me later tonight. ill take a pic of it held up so you can see what i am talking about.
ben
ben
May-21st-2002, 02:36 PM
#13
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Tampa,Fl
Posts: 4,150
ben,what size are those red wire loom covers you put over the ac lines and such on your pro....I ve seen some bigger lines at the speed shop I go to but even the biggest diameter they have look too small...let me know
May-21st-2002, 05:25 PM
#15
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: augusta, GA
Posts: 332
wow, i don't know about this project anymore. the opening of the lip is just not right. i took it to my regular body guy, he didn't want to mess with it. took it to the custom shop here, he is interested in trying it, but no guarantees as a project, to the tune of 400 bucks. i just don't know if its worth it. it would be something no one else has, he is pretty sure he can do it, but i don't know. any opinions? pretend its your money...keep in mind i just spend 150 on the lip that i can still probably get back.
ben
ben