I have a 97 accord ex 2dr and was thinking about getting a body kit for it. im now starting to find out that the reinforcement bars have to be removed in order for the bumpers to fit. so i didnt get it. I prefer safety over anything since my last crash with my 94 civic hatch. but are there any certain body kits that would actually fit with the reinforcement bare in place?

 

they have lips kits that just attatch to the bottom of the factory bumpers and cover the factory side skirts. xenon and wings west make some nice ones (especially wings west) and there are lots of knock off lips on ebay.

 

lips are zexy

 

a lot of body kits fit over the exusting bumper, you just have to remove the bumper cover...but yeah lip kits are sexy

 

Thats weird that you have to remove the reinforcement bar for your kit, ive had many different kinds of kits on my car and i never once had to remove the bar (well once, but that was because i was going to black house my headlights and couldn't figure out how to get it off), maybe you should try a different kit, and yes i know im a ricer but who wasn't back in the days, im back to stock now so don't worries-
Try some kits from companies that actually make good kits ie:
ground designs
apc (i know how much H-T hates them but they do make some good quality some)
jt evolutions (if they are still in bussiness)

 

how about the r34?

 

You have to be careful about getting those kits that cover the stock bumper. Especially if the blinkers are in the bumper. People don't know when you are turning left or right. Not safe.

 

body kits

get some nice lips and your good to go

 

People need to stop saying "all you need is a lip and that"

if you are not in for answering his question, please do not reply.

he's asking a tech question which have little to do with YOUR personal automotive style taste.


to be honest with you, it's not so much of the problem with it.
Yes you need the metal and the foam bar for your protection, but 99percent of the kit you can buy today is a replica, knockoff, copy of the real japanese stuff.

the real japanese stuff might not fit the usdm spec bar because most of them have a thinner bumper.

what do you do now? go ask the bodyshop if any modification is need, they get that kinda of question all the time.

although most of the "line" of bodykit might look the same but they are very likely to be made by different manufacturer. for example, the R34 style bumper might be a knock off and fit differently from, let say your friend's R34 bumper, fiber glass molding is never perfect, this is way you need to get it to the bodyshop to fit it.

 

thanks man so there is someone who is smart here