How to mold T3 ports into bumper

[Rocky918]

Hey guys, I will be having T3 ports installed soon .. which are these http://www.acscomposite.com/store/st...product=748668 ...

however, you can see the crease around all of those ports. Has anyone used something like bondo to mold the port into the bumper? If so can you post some pics and how it came out?

2ndly, I was told that if I was to mold them into the bumper, then I shouldnt paint the ports black like I was going to (I have RJT car) becasue there would be no solid line to paint on so it would look ugly. Do you agree with this? or that even if it was molded into the bumper to get rid of the crease, that it would be fine to paint black still

thanks

[SummoneR]

Your body shop should be able to do it. If I were to do it, I would have asked ACS to CNC cut the wholes for me and not install the ports. When you order they CNC cut out the light sockets for the ports, much cleaner cut. IF they did that you could attach the ports from the back then transition to them easier. Otherwise the lip is really too large to try and get a nice transition between the two pieces. Also I agree if you did that I would just have them painted RJT. If you look at the ZL1 they are painted to match and plastic light mount insert thing is black which looks good.

[Rocky918]

Yes but I am not ordering the full bumper as it is a waste of $600 since I already have the SS. So in that sense, is there still a way to mold it in and still have them black?

The ZR1 is here, http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/02...amaro-zl1.html ... and theres is half molded, and half black inserts it looks like... I would want something similar, but have something like a mesh slot in there instead of fog lights so the air can flow through and somehow connect tubing to my CAI

[SummoneR]

I know your not ordering the whole fascia, I was just saying if I were to do as you are wanting to do that's how I would do it for the cleanest look. To try and achieve what you want any other way IMO, would not transition well. Unless you can find a body shop who can CNC cut the whole for the ports or can use urethane filler to keep the edges of the cut from looking like jagged edges.

If you can get it to look molded, I still think painting them black would defeat the purpose of trying to get the molded look, if you want them black have it installed per instructions, so you have a natural break in material for the change in color, otherwise you end up with an unnatural paint edge. You could ask then to fade the paint to black the further you get into the port, that would look good, if you get the molded look part taken care of.

[orange-prince]

before every thing you can see this thread and you can show it to your body shop if you can't do it right your self
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108652

[Rocky918]

yes thanks guys... thats a great thread btw.... but i still cant see any cars with MOLDED ports... to make the port part of the front bumper, and not see any visible attachment crease... or anyone who has done it or has any pictures?

[Rocky918]

Originally Posted by SummoneR

Your body shop should be able to do it. If I were to do it, I would have asked ACS to CNC cut the wholes for me and not install the ports. When you order they CNC cut out the light sockets for the ports, much cleaner cut..

ok not gonna lie... i have no idea what CNC means :( can you elaborate on your process to get hte clean non-crease look?

[scythezo6]

The ports come with instuctions. You have to take your bumper off, mask off the outline of the port which will be cut out of the bumper. The cuts should be made slightly smaller than the port itself. You can cut the openings out of your bumper with a dremel that has a jugsaw-like fitting. Just be patient and careful.

I don't know if anyone has installed these without a crease. Unless they bought the whole bumper.

[TheColorBlack]

Surprised no one has taking these ports to the body shop to get them molded in yet. That would be awesome.

Closest thing I can see to this is the Jay Leno camaro.

[Rocky918]

Originally Posted by TheColorBlack

Surprised no one has taking these ports to the body shop to get them molded in yet. That would be awesome.

Closest thing I can see to this is the Jay Leno camaro.

exactly!!!.. i dont get why everyone wants to have creases of the outline of the port... it looks stupid to me... molding it into the bumper makes it appear as 1 piece making it more natural looking

[Kreature]

i actually had my ports molded into my bumper. i think the body shop used bondo or some sort of fiberglass in a bag.

[Hess Motorsports]

Coming from a hi-end facility with a complete paint and body shop..... Molding these is not a good idea. They are made from 2 different materials so they will expand and contract in the weather at two different rates. You can mold them in if you want but it is only a matter of time before the paint starts to crack around the urethane bumper to the harder resin-based ports. They look amazing either way and are THE most popular cosmetic mod we do for Camaros other than spoilers.

[SummoneR]

Originally Posted by Rocky918

ok not gonna lie... i have no idea what CNC means :( can you elaborate on your process to get hte clean non-crease look?

CNC means Computer Numerical Control, you basically plug in a design into a computer which is attached to a cutting machine, or some use lasers or water juts etc. Or even a plasma torch. In this case they use a machine that cuts the outline for the ports very precise so that you don't end up with any jagged edges, which would make for a cleaner installs for blending it in.

Here is an example.

[SummoneR]

Originally Posted by Kreature

i actually had my ports molded into my bumper. i think the body shop used bondo or some sort of fiberglass in a bag.

WOW That looks a lot better than I expected!!! Thanks for sharing!! There you go Rocky918

They probably used a urethane filler. Eric makes a good point, the Fascia is Urethane, the ports are a composite material... I wonder what ACS thinks about this, if they would have any input on how to reduce the chance of a crack.