New look for my VX...

[SilverBullet75]

I've been doing a bunch of mods over the last few months, so I thought I'd share the new look of my VX.

1st:
I bit the bullet (the silver one... LOL... I kill me) and did a completely un-orthodox front cladding mod.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/018.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19057)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/025.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19058)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0310.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19059)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0510.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19060)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/067.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19061)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/076.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19062)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0810.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19063)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/097.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19064)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/118.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19066)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/107.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19065)

It started out as an attempt to create my own version of the front skid plate... but ended up as just the lower ribbed section with a screen intake.
The ribs were molded from PVC plumbing pieces (my wife found them at Lowes!) I think it worked pretty well!
Here's the final pic of the front...
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/193.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19074)

2nd:
I went decal-happy...
This turned out to be a very economical ($10) alternative to a Clear-Bra... It's just a roll of black decal vinyl!
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/126.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19067)
You can barely tell the difference!!! It covered the paint chips perfectly!!!

3rd:
New hand-made front emblem. It's Boba Fett's "Mandalorian Skull" shoulder logo. (I'm a huge Boba Fett fan.)
See on other pics...

4th:
Added Mandalorian Skull decals to back-side windows.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/182.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19073)

5th:
Added my VX logo to the back. Not sure about this one yet. May move it to left side.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/132.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19068)

6th:
This was actually my Christmas present to myself.
Wanted a mild amount of bass and overall improvement to sound system. Added an amped 10" sub tube, and a Sony Explode 1200 watt 4ch. amp for the standard speakers... to be continued...
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/142.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19069)

7th:
Bought an economical $30 "strap-on" (no jokes plz... lol) roof rack, modified it to be semi-permanent with ratchet straps.
8th:
Cut up an old jet ski hood and made a fairing/wind deflector for the roof rack... had to add another Mandolorian Skull.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/174.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19072)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/202.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19075)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/152.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19070)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/162.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19071)

The rack was originally planned to carry my jet ski's "Wedge" body kit. It worked very well... BUT, killed my back trying to lift it onto the roof at the lake... (so I bought a cheap trailer... lol).

So, this is my favorite pic of the final product:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/212.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19076)

---JIM---

[Ascinder]

Lookin' good!! How well were you able to match up the ridged skidplates finish to the cladding? I'm going to be doing some hack and slash to my cladding and I'm looking at what options would be closest to the original finish.

[SilverBullet75]

Not at all actually.
I used stone spray as a texturizer. I really liked the way it looked on my hood insert, so I used it on the skid plate too. Primed and painted gloss black afterward. 2 months later, no chips.

I like the look so much that I'm considering doing the entire cladding some day...

BTW... the area I cut out, I intentionally cut smaller than a standard fiberglass skid plate, just in case I wanted to add one later.

[pbkid]

lookn sharp!

i like to see someone tryin thier own mods rather than paying a shop to do stuff for em!!! :thumbup:

[RickOKC]

Wow, good job! I think the decal used as a bra is brilliant!

Hey, you didn't mention your modified hood insert.

[Mile High VX]

Looks sharp for sure...

Where did you get the decal vinyl?

I put the VX logo on the drives side on mine...I think it evens out the back.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSCN0044.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSCN0045.JPG

[SilverBullet75]

Hey, you didn't mention your modified hood insert.


That's actually an older mod I did on my ex-Astral and transferred to the Ebony when I sold it.
Here are a couple threads about it. :)

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=9978&highlight=naca

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=16522&highlight=naca+ducts

[SilverBullet75]

Looks sharp for sure...
Where did you get the decal vinyl?
I put the VX logo on the drives side on mine...I think it evens out the back.


Ok, I'm definately moving it to the left side then. That looks great!

I got the vinyl at a tint shop that also does vinyl logos. I think you can also get it from Kinkos too.
It's just vinly "stock" on a roll that feeds into a cutter machine.

[Mile High VX]

Thanks.

Is it removeable if it gets scraped and nicked?

Also, when you kept the hood insert from your other VX, did you cut the hood on the current one to accomodate the NACA ducts? Did you ever mod a collector for the airbox?

[SilverBullet75]

Yes, I had to cut the metal part of the ebony hood.

No, I never got around to putting a collector together. I'm waiting to do that for when I get a new intake system.

I did add a nice looking screen for the ducts though.

BTW: the screen that I've used in all my mods is a swimming pool fence screen. I got a 10' x 3' roll of it from Lowes for $18. Easy to cut and work with, and looks good!

**Oh, and yes, the vinyl is removable. I even bought a spare roll of vinyl to replace it with.***

[samneil2000]

Impressive! Good job man.

[vt_maverick]

Wow, good job! I think the decal used as a bra is brilliant!

+1 - The match to the paint is unbelievably identical, did it just match up out of the box or did you have to custom order a color? I'm sure they have black on hand at the store, but still, to get it to match exactly right is amazing.

[SilverBullet75]

+1 - The match to the paint is unbelievably identical, did it just match up out of the box or did you have to custom order a color? I'm sure they have black on hand at the store, but still, to get it to match exactly right is amazing.

I couldn't believe it either!
It was like that "out of box". Not custom ordered.


Also, I just put my order in for 919 rear OME lift springs!!!!! :drool2::clap::dance::jump:
I'm just a little excited about this one...
:bgwo::bgwb::bwgy::smilewink

I was way suprised to find them CHEAPER locally (4 Wheel Parts, in Las Vegas). $178 SHIPPED. Should (hopefully) be here within 2 weeks.

Now the fun shopping begins! (My wife finally said "ok"... hehe)

[crotchrocket]

Good work Jim, The end result looks great!