Fiber Glass Body Kits - Tough Enough?

Most people consider fiberglass to be pretty tough stuff. It's made from plastic resin and synthetic fibers, so it's been engineered to hold up in difficult situations. The problem is that depending on how it's used, it can have varying levels of durability. Fiberglass body kits, in turn, also vary greatly in quality from manufacturer to manufacturer. A body kit can quickly turn your car into a piece of art or a piece of trash, depending on how it was made and how it's maintained.

The problem is that a lot of people think fiberglass body kit parts will hold up like metal. This is because the other parts of their car are made of metal. The problem is that it just wouldn't make sense to weigh down a car with a metal body kit. Fiberglass, though, needs to be treated carefully, or it will easily crack and break. Once this happens, you'll have to get new parts, which you can install yourself or hire a professional to install.

Installing your own body kit shouldn't be a snap decision. It's a potentially very dangerous thing to do. Fiberglass contains synthetic fibers that could easily injure your eyes and skin. On top of that, damaged fiberglass parts have the potential to break further into small particles at which point any damage to the part will be impossible to repair. This means that a slip up in installation could mean purchasing a whole new body kit.

Fiberglass does have the advantage of being easy to mold. This means that body kits makers can adjust it to fit all sorts of artistic visions. There's literally a unique body kit out there for everyone. Fiberglass versions cost anywhere between $350 and $800 dollars, which may make the fragility of the material seem acceptable for cheaper kits, but infuriating for top of the line head turners. Again, it all depends on your situation.

There are other options. Some body kits are made from Urethane, which is stronger and less likely to break down after sustaining initial damage. Since these are tougher, they may be the better choice for those who expect their body kit to last longer. It also means, though, that they're more expensive and less unique. Body kits are all about customizing, and the choice is yours, but you should be careful to consider the roads and weather where you live before jumping in to fiberglass.