D*mn! Now my car is lumpy!!!!!!! Ya just can't win can ya!

This is a perfect example of why I chose what I thought looked best vs. picking what I thought would be the popular vote!!!!!!! There's always gonna be a critic! (Rodney Dangerfield voice: I tell ya, I don't get no respect).

Seriously...

The previous hood was damaged which is why it needed replacing. I felt the stock hood was too plain. Ideally, I wish it could be 1/2" to 1" higher. Cause I didn't want to attempt that kind of custom work, I picked between stock and 2 3/4" hirise. Mine is too high, stock is too low. I picked the one that makes my car unique. I also picked the one that could allow for more radical motor changes in the future.

Generally, I like vettes better without wings (except I like the greenwood motorsport wing on early C4s). With the wheels, pipes, and hood, having a wing on mine just seemed like the thing to do. With everything else, the butt looks too empty without one.

gp

 

That really looks sharp! Those sidepipes are killer! FWIW I would go sans the rear wing!

 

Gregg, I didn't mean to seem sharp, I apologize. I wanted to provoke an answer like you just gave. Its a great reply I agree with just about all of it. No, really, I think the hood is nice, certainly it could be a little lower, but all in all it gives a nice semi-radical look.

I like what you had to say about future motor changes. With that look AND some more power to go with, that'll be a real nice ride

Now if you could only get rid of that wing for real.....

 

 

I've always liked your Vette Gregg. Very aggressive and muscular looking . But like most of the replies I never liked the wing. I've never liked wings on any C4's for that matter but it's there cars and it's what they like that counts. The strange thing is like you said on your particular setup it looks like somethings missing without it, maybe a smaller wing something a little more subtle. I was also thinking it would look sweet lowered but doing that would probably wipe out your sidepipes.

 

I didn't take your reply to heart. Never do. I like your banter cause it gets things going! Sometimes your views are a little to "conservative" and I'm not talkin politics. But everyone has their "position".

It's interesting that most people (including myself) feel that the motor has to match the facade -- for any car. But cars are meant as transportation devices unless they're in shows or raced. Mine probably won't be either. So, anything goes cause I only have to get from street light to street light.

Should I get there quicker. Yeah, why not.....

FWIW, I drove my family and the bodyshop crazy with how long it took me to decide whether to paint it black/red, whether to put the hirise hood on it, and whether to put a wing on it. In all, I spent several years thinking it over, chopping pics, looking for new options, etc....

In the pics, the wing sucks. I have no problem seeing this. Heck, I put it on because I finally picked (from all my options) what bothered me least! And, having a wing to balance the hood, wider wheels, and fullness of the sidepipes created the best balance.

Specifically, the (rear) wheels bulge slighty, the body rolls in as you go up, and the wing flows with that line. This can be seen from all sides (and particularly in person -- because of the 3D element). Before my mods, I liked C4 vettes more from the rear than the front -- any C4. This hirise hood makes the front view more interesting -- more bold. The pipes and wheels are no-brainers. They just look good. I love them both (but it took forever to find a used set of pipes!) Even at my current ride height, the pipes touch the ground occasionally so I have to be a little careful. Then, there's the wing..... Ahhhh, that controversial wing.....

Everyone around me was amused at how long it took me to decide for/against a wing (and which one to use). The only thing worse (more funny) was my inability to decide between red and black paint! I wrestled over that for four years. (It's my 4th black car and black was getting old). As much as I WANTED to change color, I couldn't do it. Finally realized I like black too much to have any other color. But the struggle (on paint color) was so intense for so long, I debated on getting personalized plates that said "REDRBLK".

-----

I just remembered "407Vette" asked about cost. I got a great deal on paint @ $4K. This included repeated r/r of the bumpers & hood (some by me and some by the shop). It included block sanding the entire car and especially the new hood. It included hand sanding and refitting the headlights (after I rebuilt them). It included the shop rewiring and relocating some parts for my updated front bumper. It included the shop removing my antenna and filling the hole. It included r/r of the front windshield. It included them shooting my door jams. It included them working with me when I tweaked their bumper and hood work -- by fitting them more precisely. It included color sanding and polishing the entire car (twice). But, most of all, it included them putting up with my picky azz. Everyone (and I mean everyone) at that shop knows who I am now). Oh yeah... The final decision to install the wing came after the antenna hole was repaired (filled) and I could see the repair. They'd already shot the entire car so my choice was to redo the hole and reshoot the left, rear quarter vs. installing a wing without risking a partial repaint (mismatch). Since removing the wing would now require filling holes in both quarters and the rear bumper -- in addition to shooting those quarters and bumper, it ain't happenin'. (As you can tell, I'm cheap)!

The total cost for the wheels, hood, paint, and pipes were about $7.5K. But, as I said, I got a good deal. It should have cost $10K. Now, I'm upgrading the interior for about $3K-$4K. The motor (54K miles) needs the least work and will be addressed last.

All this started because I was getting tired of black, because I had a cracked hood, and because the sprinkler system at work nailed my leather seats.

And, who says vettes aren't cheap!

gp

 

Read my post above for your answer!

 

Hey Gregg, thats a very interesting story! I can see where you're coming from

 

This thread started cause I was looking at a pic on one of my PCs. It's the original version of the one I posted. I realized that it would take less than 5 minutes to photochop the wing. So, for fun, I did it and decided to share it -- especially for those who like the options I chose, but without the wing.

None of the other pics I've taken so far could be so easily altered. As a result, you may not see any more without the wing. But it was fun!

From my post above, you can see I now have an opportunity to see how my car could have looked if one small detail had gone differently (the antenna delete).

Oh yeah. I was paid $4.5K from the insurance company for the hood/bumper damage. So, my final cost isn't as bad as it looks. Considering that I'll have a new looking, 54K mile car (no -- a 54K new, looking customized vette) when I'm done. So, the price isn't too bad @ $3k-$4k out of my pocket.

I could easily have spent the same amount of money on an everyday DD -- like everyone else drives! If I didn't have 20K in this car, I'd be driving a $20K 2-yr old car anyway. This way I didn't have to pay 2,000 is sales tax! Wooooo Whoooooo!!!!!!!!! Take that 2K off my 3-4K investment and I got the thing d*mn near free!

NOT!

 

i sympathize with the domino effect that sometimes very easily happens. (actually its not uncomon at all). it can get expensive, and involve unintended compromises.

but your vette is still hot wheels. the sidepipes are cool too. you know about wings, but the the nice paint and hood, you still got it all rockin' on.

you have the "room" and the excuse to add whatever power level on down the pike. at that point, nobody can say anything cuz you'll have the jack.

 

Thanks. You know the big problem with having a hirise hood is that you CAN fit so much under there. Kinda makes the option of putting a blower on it seem like overkill!!!!!

 

If you read my long story (above), you'll note I had trouble choosing between black/red. And, this went on for years.

It can now be told, I was hoping my wife would finally cave and tell me just to buy a second vette -- so I could have one of each!

 

I have a 96 conv/ht and I think a wing would improve the looks.What do ya'll think?
John