Hello, this is my first post, so please be kind

I was wondering if there were any cons to the JDM(Metal OEM) front end conversion for Integras. If this topic has been covered, my apologies. I've been lurking on this board for a while and didn't see anything.

Specifically:

1. Collisions. I had heard somewhere that the JDM front end isn't as good at absorbing collisions and may not prevent intrusion into the engine bay(vs. the same impact with the standard front-end)

2. Insurance. Would a modification like that affect insurance costs in any way?

3. Weight/Aerodynamics. I'm assuming the cons here are neglible, but figured i'd put them here just in case.

Just to be clear, i'm talking about the full metal front-end vs. the fiberglass doohickies.

thanks for your time,

-J

 

I would think weight wise, the JDM would be lighter... considering you've pretty much got no bumper!

 

JDM = EXPENSIVE

 

get the full carbon fiber front end with oem core support and lights off ebay, 2500 bucks but goddamm bling bling i would buy theat if i was rich bitch

 

your car will become more of a theif magnet

 

thanks for all the responses. I'm not really worried about price or anything like that. I would be looking for a car with this modification already done. In fact, I wasn't even really looking for one, per se, but i've seen some of them with that mod in my price range.

I'm mostly concerned with the technical aspects and any possible cons or problems that i would need to deal with.

(Though the car getting stolen would be a pretty hard technical problem to overcome

thanks again for your time and responses,

-J

 

sounds like you are more concerned about the CONS. I think the biggest part is finding parts in an accident. The USDM parts can be bought and installed in reasonable time at just about any shop. The JDM will pretty much always take longer to get parts... and like I said before the JDM bumper support is much smaller.

 

another con is that your car becomes that much more attractive to theives

just a thought

 

your car will look like foo@king accord front end
ugly

 

The only real con, other than the car lookin tight as hell, would be decrease in weight. Parts are a little harder to find in accidents, no one is willing to give you a real bargain if they have the parts, if the core support is not put on right, it'll affect the whole front end. Insurance wise, it didn't raise the price on my rate. DOllar for dollar, JDM parts cost the exact same as USDM parts @ list price. But if ur car gets totalled, dont expect insurance companies to give u a dime for the front end.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by robotsquirrel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
1. Collisions. I had heard somewhere that the JDM front end isn't as good at absorbing collisions and may not prevent intrusion into the engine bay(vs. the same impact with the standard front-end)</TD></TR></TABLE>

This may be true. In JDM land I don't think they have as strict of crash rating requirements, so the bumper support is smaller to save weight. But this causes it to also be a lot weaker. So in US you have either 3 mph or 5 mph bumpers (I forget which one it is) but with the JDM front end, a dog running into your bumper will probably dent something.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by robotsquirrel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
2. Insurance. Would a modification like that affect insurance costs in any way?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I guess this depends on your insurance company. You can call them up and ask them to add the cost of the front end to the value of your car and it could go up. But I don't have any experience in this field.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by robotsquirrel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
3. Weight/Aerodynamics. I'm assuming the cons here are neglible, but figured i'd put them here just in case.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

In lurking around the ITR forum and http://www.team-integra.net I've read that the JDM front end actually has more drag than the USDM 98+ front end. "But JDM is always better than USDM" you say to me. Well, usually. But the USDM 94-97 front end wasn't very popular in Japan, so for the 98+ they switched to the JDM front. But in Europe and North America the round headlights were more popular, so they got the round headlights.

As for weight, the JDM front end is lighter because of the bumper support. But I can't quote exact numbers.

Oh, and another con. The JDM front end is illegal in all 50 states of the US. It does not meet US DOT crash standards.

 

GET'S THE GIRLS = PIMP!

 

I can't find the link, but I remember a site that used the USDM bumper support in the conversion. If I remember it correctly all they had to do is remove the foam from the support and trim the JDM plistic bumper a little. I hate we people mod things to make other things fit, and end up having it look like ****.. This however was done well and would be hardly noticed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hammerdgolfer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get the full carbon fiber front end with oem core support and lights off ebay, 2500 bucks but goddamm bling bling i would buy theat if i was rich bitch</TD></TR></TABLE>

If any car had that w/o paint on the panels, I would point and laugh because it would look GHEY AS HELL

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ThePro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Oh, and another con. The JDM front end is illegal in all 50 states of the US. It does not meet US DOT crash standards.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Watch out they might go crash test your car

 

Im not sure about this, but i thought i heard somewhere that the radiator support from the JDM front doesnt fit our USDM radiators, and that you will need to get a radiator from a jdm car, is this true?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by r0ck182sh0w &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Im not sure about this, but i thought i heard somewhere that the radiator support from the JDM front doesnt fit our USDM radiators, and that you will need to get a radiator from a jdm car, is this true?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes.. well half of it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B20VTEC(V8KILLER) &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">your car will look like foo@king accord front end
ugly
</TD></TR></TABLE>
i dont think it looks like an accord--i think it looks hot!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b18punk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
i dont think it looks like an accord--i think it looks hot!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

WHY ARE YOU SO EXCITED!!!! GWYAHA ROTFL LOL BRB POOP!!!!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlackThorN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">another con is that your car becomes that much more attractive to theives

just a thought</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blacknbean &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">your car will become more of a theif magnet </TD></TR></TABLE>


park in the garage or sumthing a good *** car alarm with every possible opotion...

 

Search the archives, with some small trimming of the JDM bumper cover you can get the USDM bumper rebar to fit. This will probably make the conversion just as crash worthy as a USDM.

 

dude, don't worry about it.. if u want it get it.. The radiator works, u have to drill all the welds on both supports, and do little cutting, and take the top part off, don't go cutting ur whole support off, theres no need. The jdm rebar is WAY smaller/weaker than the usdm one. That, and the headlights wouldbe the only thing that would make it illegal. Im not sure what ur ins. company would do if u crashed w/ it on. I didn't tell my ins company, prolly never will. Don't know, sometimes u gotta compromise

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ThePro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Oh, and another con. The JDM front end is illegal in all 50 states of the US. It does not meet US DOT crash standards.</TD></TR></TABLE>

O dang... i didnt know that.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ThePro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

But the USDM 94-97 front end wasn't very popular in Japan, so for the 98+ they switched to the JDM front. But in Europe and North America the round headlights were more popular, so they got the round headlights.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
actually
the only years that that integras in japan had the round headlights was 93 and 94. all other years after that had the jdm front.