Ok, this is it, this is the thread to end all of my threads. I know I've made quite a few but this one is my official build thread. Below is a list of things I intend to do to my car. Some are normal and some of them are very crazy and complicated. Some of them I can't even tell you about because you either wouldn't believe me or would just laugh in my face. So for now, the intense stuff will just have to remain a secret. I'll be posting the list below and then I will post some beginning pics of the car followed by the latest stuff. All this is in an effort to keep everything in one place. Remember this is going to take a LONG time. I don't have a lot of money and I have some of this stuff planned to take place in the next few years, so stick with it, we'll all see what happens. Thanks. SPACE.

This is an outline for what I am calling Project Bebop. The idea behind project Bebop is to take my car and more or less turn it into my own personal dream machine/space ship(Bebop is the name of the big ship in Cowboy Bebop so you can see where I got that from plus it just had sort of a techno sound to it)/concept car, and to create a car with its own distinct personality. Besides, the car is paid for and I'm going into mechanical engineering, what better way to learn and test my ideas than on my own car! The plan is divided into two stages, stage 1, the Silver Stage, and stage 2, the Dark Stage. The Silver Stage is called the Silver Stage because the car is silver and the Dark Stage is called the Dark Stage because the car will be painted a darker color… that’s kinda obvious, at least to me. The first part of stage 1 is in order for the most part of how I’d like to go, but we’ll see how it works out.
Stage 1. SILVER STAGE
Part 1. Fuzion front bumper (on but not yet completed)
Part 2. Sap spoiler
Part 3. Rs rally rims (dolomite gray with orange interior)
Part 4. Side skirts (Style yet to be determined)

Part 5. Aftermarket rear bumper (Style yet to be determined)

Part 6. Aftermarket Security System

Part 7. Short ram air intake

Part 8. Front sway bar

Part 9. 12” Sub woofer with new amp

Part 10. Aftermarket exhaust

Part 11. A-pillar Gauge Pod

Part 12. Under glow kit, multi color, programmed colors for different events.

Part 13. Orange brake Calipers

Part 14. Aftermarket headlights (most likely angel eyes)

Part 15. Aftermarket suspension

Part 16. Interior LEDs

Part 17. LED license plate frame!

Stage 2. DARK STAGE ( A.K.A Conceptual Stage)
Part 1. Paint car Dolomite Grey with off center orange stripe
Part 2. Interior color change (Color yet to be determined)
Part 3. Double din car pc
Part 4. Custom fiberglass dash (design and functions classified)
Part 5. Replace gauges with lcd screen
Part 6. Customized A-pillar gauge pod with fold out screen (function classified)
Part 7. Custom fiberglass trunk structure (abilities/description classified)
Part 8. Custom built doors (style classified)
Part 9. Custom car security system (custom functions classified)
Part 10. Custom suspension system, most likely air bags
Part 11. Classified nighttime illumination mod
Part 12. Custom ignition system (style yet to be determined)


The Beginning


Stock:

http://www.focusfanatics.com/gallery/data/507/30431Pics_of_my_car_007.jpg
http://www.focusfanatics.com/gallery/data/510/30431015.JPG
http://www.focusfanatics.com/gallery/data/507/30431Pics_of_my_car_001.jpg
http://www.focusfanatics.com/gallery/data/507/30431Pics_of_my_car_005.jpg
Was going for a geeky comic book feel.

The Bumper: VIS Fuzion

I fought a lot for this bumper. It took forever to get it but when I got it I could not have been happier!

Test fit:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2364660369_54fd04d937.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2365491934_bf5513185c.jpg?v=0
It was off a bit
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2365495264_a8c9e2b80b.jpg?v=0

I finally got it fitted and painted! That was a fantastic tuesday! I got my car back(felt like getting a new one), new ipods came out, and there was something else but I forget what it was. [headbang] It still isn't perfect but it's getting there. WOOT!

ON!:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2844283351_28ede37aba.jpg?v=0
Not in love with the mesh but I'll figure something out. Might make it dark gray or something in the end. I may just decide to go meshless.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/2845121354_bf7ac8b0ac.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2844287651_3cb9c8638b.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2845123946_247774258c.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2844290823_411defa61a.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2844291585_f192c0ab0f.jpg?v=0

Next step, spoiler.

SAP Spoiler: Now I've got a regular spoiler I can trade for a SAP if anyone is interested. I can throw in some cash too of course. I really want to get the spoiler next to balance the car out momentarily till side skirts and wheels come along. Any takers??? [popcorn] [8)]

That's all for now. More updates when they happen. SPACE

stage one, part 12 - please don't do it!

other than ^ good luck! can't wait to see the progression.

That sounds like of work. It looks like your car has the Chin of Jay Leno now. Or Quagmire. Giggity Giggity.

Well it sounds like you have alot ahead of you. And i agree...don't do underglo! But kee us posted.

everything seems reasonable and im sure it will look very nice, didnt really get the stage 2 part 5, the lcd screen? u mean like digital gauges?

Someone in the BST thread had a SAP rally spoiler for trade. Ill see if i can find the thread.

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=168920

There you go

just realized you had posted in that thread, my bad

I vote yes for the underglow. But if you do go with the ICELED UFO. Wont be kit for several miles. Trust me i had it more than worth the money and is expandable out the ass.

Also i think a drop needs to be somewhere in the very early stages. Because no one likes a 4x4 space cowboy ship ;)

wish you luck. most people's "build threads" don't make it very far. I don't have a crazy amount of mods, and it took me around four years to get where I am now.

good luck!

good luck, ive had my car for 10 months now and ive got new alloys, resprayed them, new angel eyes, tinted rear tail lights and side repeaters, got tints, lowered 40mm all round, sub and amp, new intake and other little mods like interior lights and numberplate bulbs, im looking to get exhaust next then who knows .. like some of ur ideas though :) respraying my wheels was the longest/hardest mod as was my first time and wanted to take my time make sure they looked ok. again good luck.

good luck with your project! sounds like you have some work ahead of you...

i love cowboy bebop!!

Ok, here's some updates. I'm revising some of my plans due to unforeseen economy stuff(i'm broke, but I'm in college, so that makes it ok.) Before I do anything else, spoiler, skirts, wheels(all cost mucho money) I want to paint the grill dark gray, the the middle of the front bumper on the inside of the cowl(?) dark gray, the two mini grills on the outside dark gray, the lower middle section of the rear bumper dark gray, and the brake calipers orange. Along with that I'd like to get the dark gray vinyl overlays for the head and tail lights along with the blacked out side markers. Also like to get a shorty antena and one of those led liscence plate frames cause I'm a geek and it lets me be ma self. I'm also thinking about (eventually) getting some custom floor mats, dark gray with Focus in the middle in orange. (seeing a theme here?) Oh, do you guys think 100 something dollars is too much for custom floor mats? Opinions on all please... opinions on all. See pics for more details. Thanks, SPACE. Ah, almost forgot. Body match the grill and make the plastic grill part on the inside dark gray to match the dark gray of the mesh below.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2304/122/103/47907828/n47907828_33340455_7444.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2304/122/103/47907828/n47907828_33340457_8741.jpg

ello?

i dont think 100 is too terribly bad for custom floor mats. dark gray will look good, and the entire color scheme goes well!

paint job on bumper doesn't quite match....makes me think about an entire repaint when I kit up. you need to paint the mesh in the bumper the same color as the mesh in the grille to tie everything in. still looks like it doesn't really belong on that fofo. not flaming you dude just an observation and suggestion.

paint job on bumper doesn't quite match....makes me think about an entire repaint when I kit up. you need to paint the mesh in the bumper the same color as the mesh in the grille to tie everything in. still looks like it doesn't really belong on that fofo. not flaming you dude just an observation and suggestion.

What do you mean the paint doesn't match??? The bumper itself? ... The dern car isn't done yet. If i could get all the parts right now and put it together like i see it in my mind it would be awesome but I'm broke so... The friggin right side isn't perfect either, needs to be brought in more. Maybe if I didn't like in the most redneck part of the world and I could find some real professionals who know what they are doing and weren't in prison on work release, maybe then I could get a great job done the way I want it instead of.... whatever. It's a friggin focus. Not mad at you, sorry if it sounds like it, I'm just at a very frustrating point. The drill paint and mesh paint are the two things I'd like to get done first, asap. They are the main things bugging me, that's why I put em up here when i did. Doesn't help I don't know anything about painting anything. That body paint better be matched though. The bumper looks like it belongs to me... You want me to be frankly honest, and you can interpret this however you want, I don't think the rest of the car matches the bumper! It's like, the bumper is my idea of what this stupid car should be and the car is still a Ford Focus! So I'm sorry for my little rant here, it's just there are SO many people who don't see what I see for this car and so many little things always getting in the way of me making progress and finally achieving the ideal image of it, sometimes I just need to vent. So yea, it's cool man, I appreciate the insight, I need to know if it looks like the bumper paint doesn't match the car paint. I'll tell ya one thing that doesn't help at all. The bumper has no continuation of the fender creases, they just terminate at the crease between the two!!!!! How retarded is that?!?! I'm seriously considering fiberglassing the creases in. Maybe that's one big reason why it might look out of place? You tell me, I need to know. Thanks man, SPACE.

just saw this thread, though i saw your car again in a thread not too long back and i did notice both things that a) the paint on the bumper looks slightly off (though it happens when you get a piece added and have to paint it. only way to fix it is to be blended into the fenders so there's no noticeable line between new and old paint, but don't worry about it if you plan to repaint the whole thing within a few years, or play with the bumper some more soon) and that the bumper, as you just said, doesn't have the crease there that goes around the wheel wells, which i find to be the biggest flaw in that bumper. anyways, plans sound interesting and i'll keep an eye out for your progress, it's different for sure.

Ok, got some updates here. Posted some of this in another thread but I gotta keep this one current too. I got the SAP Rally wing. The price was decent for it being new though it's dark gray not silver. I really like that color gray and I think it is going to be the color I'm going to use on other parts of the car. Part of me wants to keep the wing gray but it will look a lot better if it's color matched. I have some pictures but they suck so i'm going to take some new ones today. As far as my plan goes I've decided that I need a more fluid approach to all this, something flexible... so now it is... magic. Still getting the gunsmoke overlays for the head and tail lights. Still painting the stock upper grill dark gray and the silver trim will be color matched. The lower grill and the two little side vent this will also be dark gray. The brake calipers will be orange and I've thought about painting my stockers dark gray but that would be a bit much so I'm just going to wait and get the gray rally rims. Still thinking of lowering the car maybe an inch, wouldn't mind having adjustable stuff... whatever it is, in the shocks. I still think it would be cool to have the inside of the wheels orange but whatever. Anyway, I'll get some pics up later. Thanks for reading, SPACE.

The SAP spoiler is a great addition to your project.

Good luck with the list of goodies!

Hey guys, I've got some updates but I'm having a hard time settling on how I should lay all this out in this post. Should I just continue to edit and post things in the first post and if I just keep editing it will it show up in the forums as being updated? Know what I mean? I don't like all the information spaced out through the thread, too difficult for people to keep up with. Thanks. SPACE

Having more and more problems with the battery light coming on followed by the car shaking, think it might have something to do with the a/c, don't know how. Also have some small chips in the fiberglass up front. Thinking about getting a coat of that invisible shield paint stuff. Still wish I knew how to edit this thread so that everything was together, probably not possible. Oh, thinking I might just get some new headlights, maybe like angel eyes or whatever and also already tinted instead of buying the film and doing it myself.
ALSO I was working on this picture mainly just for the rims. I like them in gray with the orange things on them... plain, shiny metal could look cool too. What do you guys think? I like these a lot but I still like the rally rims, just can't make up my mind. Opinions?

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=700

I think it looks good. Needs clear side markers. Also, if you need some extra cash, im still interested in those fog light wires.

Alright, here are all the wheels I am currently considering.
enkei gw8 bwc 2
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=717
I thought these might look good in chrome... but they don't make chrome. I don't think you can chrome a wheel can you?

enkei grab6 bwc 2
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=718

enkei perf. t fork
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=719

Then the rally wheels, either color.
http://www.fordracingparts.com/images/part/full/m-1007-s177b_cmyk.jpg
http://www.fordracingparts.com/images/part/full/M1007S177E_a.jpg
I like the idea of maybe spray painting them dark gray. Which brings me to my next thing, colors.

I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how to make these color combos work and I've decided that with the car being silver, somehow working some dark gray and orange into the mix will be very tricky, if not down right impossible. The rear spoiler is dark gray (stock focus gray) atm and I've been told by a lot of people it looks fine as is, but I'm not sure. I'll probably paint it silver.

I was just about to give up on ever finding a car that had successfully implemented the color scheme and wasn't a Lamborghini or something when today out of nowhere I found this! What you see here is a sedan (that I wouldn't mind having, the new lancers look amazing) fitted in "rally" trim that more or less has orange, gray, AND silver paint, give or take. It also manages to look sorta technoy and awesome and edgy at the same time.
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=951
So while I'm not planning on copying it I have been inspired and maybe have just found the shades of the colors I need to make this work properly... only problem now is design.... the focus, my year especially, is odd. For the most part the car is square but then you get to the stupid round fender lines and it gets thrown off. I'm still experimenting a lot w/ PS, hopefully I'll figure all this out soon. Here are some other things I've found that I'm using to get ideas.

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=726

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=723

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=725

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=724
this is where I got the idea for the wheels having the interior painted orange.
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=721
some possible color combos.

A few last things. The Recaro bucket seats from the euro st... I have to have those! I don't know if they fit (front or back) but man they look nice, they are perfect! Anyone know where you can get them???
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=965
Now a few last images that I've found that further illustrate what I'm thinking about.
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=966
and finally, I like this idea a lot... might be able to get something out of it.
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=164&pictureid=967
Thanks for reading, more later. SPACE

this thing on? [???:)]

Ugly!!!!!!. that is the worst front bumper i have ever Seen, and the paint def does not match. Def way to Fast and the Furious .

is this everyone's opinion... ?

i like the front bumper.. i'm actually looking it up now..

i like the front bumper.. i'm actually looking it up now..
Thanks. I just didn't know if anyone was reading any of my posts here cause not many people chimed in. I don't know if it's cause people don't care or they think the car is ugly or maybe they just plain hate me. I don't expect most people to like my ideas, most people never have liked things that I like and that may be why no one has said anything cause they think it's just that stupid. I like it though, and that's all that matters.

i think its going to be cool once its done, but its gunna take a lot of work

Honestly looking at it with just the bumper...it doesn't look that good its VERY aggerssive. If your car was lowered with some fatty wheels and a widebody to match that...I'd be saying the opposite. It gives a GERMAN TOURING CAR appearance in the front but you look at the rest of the car and ur like "um...this car isnt finished"

If you like it, great ur getting ur moneys worth then.
Posted via FF Mobile

myself if i had your bumper id try to fit some foglights in, bigger ones like subarus or something, without them it does look kinda aggressive.. foglight should make a bit better look... just photoshop them in first..
good luck :)

i dont like the front either at all. but if ur happy thats all that matters

Yea, I LOVE the aggressive look, but I totally agree that the rest of the car looks unfinished because... it is. I don't have any money right now so i'm having to put some things on hold. If I had my way I'd have this car done in less than two weeks but i don't have near that kind of money. Still debating the fogs, definitely think it's a good idea, and still trying to decide which skirts and rear to get, and also which wheels I should get.

Black grill or Dark grill IMO :)

Black rims with Orange lip - Check Team dynamics

The front bumper looks ok. It just looks like it's missing something, like fender flares.. and some color. I think you might want to consider painting the mesh grills black, or maybe paint the whold trapezoid on the bottom black. Just my thoughts.

I think the dtm side skirts and rear bumper would match this kit.

Personally I would paint the mesh in the bumper black and the grill too.
Posted via FF Mobile

go bebop [thumb] and I love orange. my zx3sap will be blacked out with orange accents in a perfect world. thats a helluva project youre taking on. good luck and keep posting the pic updates!

cheers

UPDATE: August 2, 2009

Hey all, it's been a while since I've updated my build thread but I decided I'd finally take the time to do it. I spent the last few weeks prepping the car for FocusFest. I cannot wait to get there! This is gonna be my first car show and I am supp psyched! I decided I want the car to have a color-matched silver grill so I went ahead and ordered one. Naively I thought that I had ordered it in time for the show so I decided I wanted to experiment with another color on my current chrome grill. It was my first time doing anything like this and I spent all weekend on it trying to get that chrome off. In the end I was left with a sliced open pinky finger and a plastic grill with tiny holes in it from where I sanded too hard with the dremel. No I went ahead and primed and painted it thinking it would just be temporary but now it seems as though I'm going to have to bring it to the show like this! I'm freaking out. rofl. It's so stupid. I should have just found a way to paint over the chrome. lol. Oh well, I'll have to make do. So I'm looking for plastic filler, like bondo for plastics. Anyone know of any one know of anything like that? Other issues i'm currently dealing with are the color scheme. The car is currently in a prototype stage. That's where it has gotten its new name, PROTOTYPE. Or if you want to be extremely technical with it, Bebop, PROTOTYPE ALPHA. lolz. Anyway, enough of the ridiculousness. The rear spoiler is dark gray, the outer grill is now dark gray and the inner is black, and the lower grill is light gray. I need to paint the middle part of the upper grill dark gray and also paint the lower grill the same color. Leaving me with, entire top grill and bottom grill dark gray and rear spoiler dark gray, with the car being silver. I was hoping to have the lights tinted by now but it doesn't look like that will happen on time. The only other thing i need to address is how to get the right side of the bumper from sticking out. I also got my scrolling LED license plate on(lol, I know... but I love it!) officially making my car the geekiest focus on earth! lolz. I promise you guys, I am DESPERATELY trying to keep this car clean. It's been debaged and despite a few scratches(which I'm dealing with) and some dirt it is not going to be the next autozone special!!! When I'm done this car will look legit. Promise. So thanks for reading, I know it isn't the most interesting stuff to read but thanks for sticking with me. Can't wait to be at the car show and meet some of you guys. Sincerely, SPACE P.S. Here's some pics of what the car looks like today.

http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv114/spacegravity4me/IMG_0934.jpg
http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv114/spacegravity4me/IMG_0936.jpg
http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv114/spacegravity4me/IMG_0937.jpg
http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv114/spacegravity4me/IMG_0938.jpg
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/%3Ca%20href=%22http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv114/spacegravity4me/?action=view&current=IMG_0934.jpg%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv114/spacegravity4me/IMG_0934.jpg%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22Photobucket%22%3E%3C/a%3E

looks good man. the project is coming along nicely

Lol at the graveyard on your bumper.

Hand sanding will always turn out better then any power tool. It may take longer, but its worth it.

YESSS LEDS UNDERGLOWS i look lights haha i have the ledglow leds multi color w/ remote start and love them