High Downforce eclipse body kit, gauging interest

[greengoblin]

Very impressed John!!! Thanks for all the info you have shared with me throughout this. It will help me as things move along with mine!

Kevin

 

[arrowhead]

That is simply beautiful.

 

[bmoha7321]

What?! Not a fan of the wing?! You're crazy! One of a very select few that actually have the wing attached correctly! The wing is badass!

 

[1990AWD]

....

 

[TSiAWD666]

My car's done! Where the heck are the rest of you?!

Picked up the car today. I won't bore you guys with lots of pictures because it's really not much different looking now than it was in the last set, just some small issues worked out and the stickers put on.

<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/2/0/6/0/0/resized_3.jpg" alt="Body's Done!!!! 3/20/2012" />

<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/2/0/6/0/0/resized_2.jpg" alt="Body's Done!!!! 3/20/2012" />

Andrew Brilliant did one hell of a job on the body on looks alone

I wanted to share a picture of the way the gas door turned out. It's scalloped to clear the body work and works very well as I filled for the first time in months tonight. I just have to hold the pump handle sideways.

<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/2/0/6/0/0/photo_1_864424.jpg" alt="Finishing Touches On The Widebody" />

The body shop guys were worried about rocks shooting out from the front tires and added some mesh to the vents of the front wheel wells. Came out pretty well.

<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/2/0/6/0/0/photo_2_189844.jpg" alt="Finishing Touches On The Widebody" />

<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/2/0/6/0/0/photo_3_563179.jpg" alt="Finishing Touches On The Widebody" />

I got hood struts to work on this hood if anyone's interested in that. I don't have pictures of those but can share details on the parts.

About the bumper attachments problem we thought about before we made some additions. First we epoxied in a metal plate the the center top of the bumper cover to spread load over the fiberglass. Next we switched from the aluminum dzus fasteners I had to steel as from what I read the steel have higher shear limits and I just wanted to be extra safe. Lastly we added some vertical pins at the corners that drop down through the fender bracket and prevent the bumper cover from sliding forward when they're inserted. These add a small additional step to remove the bumper cover but they're easy to reach back and remove, and won't fall out on their own as they have some small ball detents. I don't have pictures of any of this yet but I will take some if anyone wants to see these stuff. These are the pins I used:

Wicks Aircraft Supply

I wouldn't necessarily suggest my solution as it's honestly a hack to get some additional support without much invasive work since we were all painted and ready to be done with the body. I'm sure someone who puts some thought earlier on in the process into securing the bumper not only for acceleration but also for braking will have a better more elegant solution.

Next for me it's some additional sensors, gauges, a 3qt. accusump, some reflective heat tape in various places, some small issues to fix with steering and a squealing a/c tensioner, engine tuning, and possibly new spring rates to accomodate the new downforce (and then re-tuning of the suspension settings, or even a re-valve, ugh!). Should be interesting but those aren't really relevant to this thread. I guess it's time I start a build thread if anyone cares to read about all this crap. Once that's all done, track time!

 

[EDM95]

That looks sick man.

 

[twicks69]

Ummm, I think a photo shoot is in order; from every angle, aaaannnndddd I want that right now!!!



I need a new desktop background, so be sure to have it fit my 19" widescreen laptop!

 

[Spyder FX]

That is a work of art! I can't wait to see some vids of you tearing up the road course!

 

[olmytsi]

Looks AMAZING in black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Seeing it on a car now... eh. Now it just looks like something that belongs in Fast and Furious 6.

 

[LandoAWD]

Erm, it's been on a car for years...winning Time Attack's, not hardparking or blazing through an 8spd on the skreets.

 

[snowborder714]

I got hood struts to work on this hood if anyone's interested in that. I don't have pictures of those but can share details on the parts.

More info please. Knowing hood struts to work with a light weight hood would be nice.

I guess it's time I start a build thread if anyone cares to read about all this crap.

Do it

Ummm, I think a photo shoot is in order; from every angle, aaaannnndddd I want that right now!!!

I'll hopefully be meeting up with him in the next couple weeks to do this and we'll be sure to grab a ton of photos. And don't worry about the size - they'll be shot with a DSLR.

 

[TSiAWD666]

Seeing it on a car now... eh. Now it just looks like something that belongs in Fast and Furious 6.

It's a good thing this isn't about looks really. Looks weren't a focal point of the design as aerodynamic performance was paramount. I think the beauty in the results here are, for many at least, knowing there's real engineering behind these assembled bits individually and how they work as a system, unlike the ricers in FF movies where it's just "man I dunno what that is or how it works on that race car but man it's cool let's use it on a totally different car amg look at me i'm just like a race car!"

However if that holds little value to you then I can totally understand why you might think this all looks very similar to FF wannabe crap. This is the stuff they try to copy and implement.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Oh I'm well aware of the function and it's proven design. But seeing it assembled on a different car besides the original, to completion....I don't know. It just doesn't sit right with me now. I mean, don't take offense to it....but sonething about it just seems too much. If you're out there time attacking with it, awesome. I'm sure you're loving it. I just don't know whatstood out and made me think "Ech....I don't enjoy this at the moment." In all truth it may just be the color. I can't put my finger on it.

 

[ed1380]

I get what you're saying. It looks a little bloated. None the less it's damn awesome

 

[Flash]

I wonder when the next iteration of body work is going to be seen?

 

[bmoha7321]

I think this bodykit is the ultimate. As an artist I'd love to see it in a titanium silver color. Maybe even with a matte finish. I do NOT see anything fast and curiouser about this bodykit AT ALL. This bodykit is not wannabe F&F. It is hardcore. If they make it again I WILL buy one. I don't care. I'll rock it on the street and then drive it to Road America and Blackhawk for SCCA events. Honestly at this point I would take awdtsi666's car over any Porsche, Corvette, Viper or Mustang. Why? Because there are only 6 of these bodykits in the world including Andrew's own. Especially on a car like awdtsi666's or Greengoblins where it has been installed to the highest standards; these potentially could be quite valuable and like the Archer DSMs sought after pieces of DSM automotive history.

As an old punker I would refer to this bodykit as hardcore. Not poser.
I still kick myself for timing things wrong and buying big screen TV and mega home theater system instead of this bodykit. I have to hand it to Andrew. He really followed thru on this and made it happen in a very very timely manner. Had I realized he was such a motivated man of his word I would have skipped the home theater and bought one.

 

[TSiAWD666]

When I got the body kit and began musing over paint choices I really liked the idea of using that chrome paint, like that one Audi R8 or the Bugatti Veyron, at least until I heard how insanely expensive that is. Would've been pretty cool though in my opinion with some parts a matte black like the winglets, splitter, air deflector, etc.

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Settled on black since, well, I just really like black and it was a lot cheaper

 

[bmoha7321]

I can appreciate the all black too. And I have no doubt the black would look just amazing in person!

now... some cars are chrome painted and some are actually chromed. I forget what car it was... but the first one I saw that was chrome colored I found out was actually chromed. All the metal parts were actually dipped and chromed. and all the plastic bits were also chromed however they chrome plastic parts. It look the same but isn't actually chrome.

 

[Lofty]

Probably the coolest swagerrific dopest body "kit" ive seen. I use the term kit loosely. I agree with you, beauty is in the function.

 

[97gen2]

so i dont remember seeing a price of just some parts like hood, fenders ect i would love f bumper and fenders

 

[twicks69]

so i dont remember seeing a price of just some parts like hood, fenders ect i would love f bumper and fenders

Seriously??? This is not some "bodykit", this is a fully functional aerodynamic package designed for a serious race car. These parts were not individually sold because it was designed to work together. Your car would also look ridiculous with simply fenders and a hood and bumper. Andrew is running 325 series tires up front, this is not some street ricer, nor was it designed for the masses. It was designed solely for function, and wasn't intended for street cars.

The aero packages were small volume and sold to people who were serious about road racing, not to ricers.

[/rant]

 

[97gen2]

sorry mister serious racer you dont know what i wanted that for i might have a gsx im working on and was looking for a frount to mach the back end dont act like you know me and what i want to do im not some guy that puts a intake and a fart can on and calls it a race car i may be new to the DSM world but this is not the first car i have owned so dont act all high and mighty

 

[TSiAWD666]

Twicks69 should now be referred to as "Mr. Serious Racer".

It should be said the same way those commercials say "Priceline Negotiator!"

 

[bmoha7321]

I like that Mr Serious racer.