Fellas,

Can anybody tell me if this can be installed by an average Joe or does it have to be done professionally by a mechanic? I'm looking at ordering one of these bad boys for my '02 GT. My decision is going to based on if I'll need to have a mechanic do it or if my father and I can handle it.
If anyone has installed one, please share your opinions.

http://www.stage3motorsports.com/product/SM01-1K100-AA

Thanks guys,
Mark

 

do it yourself...

and be sure to get it painted

 

i am actually goin to get that bumper also...

should i take the bumper to get painted before it goes on my car or just put it on the car and then take it to be painted?

 

Get it painted first, then put it on.

 

I JUST installed mine last week. The instructions are absolutely terrible. It's not too difficult to install. I didn't even paint mine yet, I just put it on there lol. I'm not going to paint mine until I get my hood also. Let me know if you run into any problems. Make sure you have a rivet gun, because in order to attach the supports to the side, you have to rivet them onto the bumper. Just fold the tabs down and rivet your *** off lol

 

you ALWAYS prefit body parts before painting them. This way you know for sure they fit before you have them painted. Trust me they do fuc-up sometimes and they wont fit.

 

Yeah it wasn't to bad too put on. But as said...be sure to have a rivet gun. My bumper came with the rivets. Only problem I had was under the car, there are these 2 pop out plastic screws that are very easy to break and yes you need them back on there if you bust em. Other than that, I would test fit it and then get it painted first if you are gonna put it on. I had mine on before paint only because the other bumper was smashed but it is good to know if it fits. Good luck.

 

My 2 support clips popped right out. My only real problem was when me and my cousin were trying to get the damn bumper to line up and get the studs through the supports and the foam impact bumper was moving a little. Stage 3 motorsports send EVERYTHING you need. I also couldnt get my pony corral off my old bumper, the tabs kept breaking. Good kit, instructions are crap. Also, I just said screw it and clipped my fog light wiring and wired up the new connectors instead of the adapters and yada yada. It was easier and more secure I thought.

 

simple install. i prefit mine, then had it painted.

 

Yeah that wiring harness was a bitch but I finally found some pin-pullers and got my old pins out and put them into the new harness. One wouldn't plug in tight so one light was always going off and on. That is the only problem I had but electrical tape fixed that.

 

Yep, I was too impatient lol I clipped them. I like the foglights though, they're pretty bright. I thought about getting the side exhaust, but that sh*t is too expensive.

 

Yeah the damn the damn tips are $300..

 

...there are like four screws and two rivets....it's one of the easiest things i've ever done on my car..takes like 3 minutes

then again i've done it like 20 times

 

And yes the fogs are pretty bright. I can drive with those and no headlights and they are just as bright.

 

Yeah, it wasn't a terrible install.

Yup, screw the Roush side exhaust and yeah, I can drive with just the foglights too.

 

where should i buy my S3 bumper??

and there has to be more than 4 screws and 2 pins...cause i have tried takin my front bumper off before and it wouldnt budge

and what the hell is a rivot gun??

 

bought mine from www.stage3motorsports.com
cheapest i found

 

Buy it from Stage 3 motorsports. http://www.stage3motorsports.com I got mine for $430 because they took some money off for shipping time I waited.

The instructions like I say again are total CRAP. But what you'll end up taking off are the headlights, they are held in by 2 metal tabs. The bumper has a bracket on each side which you'll have to unbolt from the fender. Then you remove 2 screws from the radiator sight shield, 2 screws from the grille retainer and go underneath and you'll see 2 pins to remove. Here's an ok write up. http://www.fnsweet.com/garage/fascia/index.shtml

A rivet gun isn't hard to use, you'll get the jist of it. You can buy em at autozone or wal-mart I'm sure. It comes with the rivets, so all you need is the gun.

 

What cost I'm I looking for this to be painted? As much as the part? Just trying to get my ducks in a row here.\

Thanks,
Mark

 

a few hundred for a good one...

Yer gonna have to drive to a few paint shops for quotes...

depends on the painter

 

i had my hood, mirrors, and bumper painted for 575

 

wow where did u go for that?

at the ford dealer near me they will charge me like 400 for just my driver side door... and 400 to paint my rear GT bumper...which i didnt do

 

a place about 30 min. from me. its called jacobs custom autobody. if you ever watch trucks on spike tv they painted the harry hauler.