Body Mods "Newbie" Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 260
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St. Jude Donor '05
Body Mods "Newbie" Question
Howdy Folks! I'm about as new to Vettes as you'll find, and all I can say is that I wish I had found this forum BEFORE I found my Corvette, but hey... hindsight 20/20 
So I finally bought my dream car, something I've wanted all my life. Turns out to be a clean and tight 90 convertible. So now I find out that the rear bumper has been modified to get the square tail lights.
So I have a question for the group. How are mods like this accepted by the community? Is it a big no no, and I'd be totally laughed out of a showing, or is it widely accepted as long as the mod was well accomplished.
Also, can anybody shed some light on what tail-lights these are and why the mod?
Thanks
~SF~
OK, sorry I cant get the image to come up.
[Modified by ~SlvrFox~, 3:51 PM 6/27/2004]
So I finally bought my dream car, something I've wanted all my life. Turns out to be a clean and tight 90 convertible. So now I find out that the rear bumper has been modified to get the square tail lights.
So I have a question for the group. How are mods like this accepted by the community? Is it a big no no, and I'd be totally laughed out of a showing, or is it widely accepted as long as the mod was well accomplished.
Also, can anybody shed some light on what tail-lights these are and why the mod?
Thanks
~SF~
OK, sorry I cant get the image to come up.
[Modified by ~SlvrFox~, 3:51 PM 6/27/2004]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,857
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From: Ignore this post
St. Jude Donor '03
Re: Body Mods "Newbie" Question (~SlvrFox~)
Ecklers has a rear bumper for older C4's w/square lights, they call it a ZR1 conversion.
I haven't caught any flak for mine, lots of great folks here
I haven't caught any flak for mine, lots of great folks here
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
CentralTX Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Re: Body Mods "Newbie" Question (~SlvrFox~)
Its all a matter of personal taste. Some folks believe in keeping them bone stock, others modify the heck out of them. My philosophy is that its your car, do what you want with it. Just enjoy. Welcome to the forum! 
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Body Mods "Newbie" Question (~SlvrFox~)
Welcome to the Forum and congrats on your new Vette.
I agree about mods like that one. That is sort of like an "upgrade" to later style.
Of course I only do subtle appearance mods to my 35th Anna; most of my mods are stealth performance mods.
I agree about mods like that one. That is sort of like an "upgrade" to later style.
Of course I only do subtle appearance mods to my 35th Anna; most of my mods are stealth performance mods.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
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From: OBAMA IS HITLER
Re: Body Mods "Newbie" Question (~SlvrFox~)
Welcome SlvrFox, you made a good choice in the L98 lineup 
Your vette looks very good
The rear bumper update you have is a tasteful one; plus it looks like a top-flight job from the looks of the picture. It might not sit perfectly well with the "purist" community, but I think in the general vette community as a whole you will never get laughed at. What WOULD be a problem though are extensive body mods that never had anything to do with the beautiful creature that GM envisioned. I made this mistake once (previous purchase) - and believe me I'll never do that again!
Your vette looks awesome as it is. The wheels are probably going to make more waves than the rear bumper would.
It sounds like you're at a great start, just by asking the question that you did. Now if you wish to do any further mods, may I humbly suggest that you concentrate under the hood - thats what counts
[Modified by bradvette, 8:08 PM 6/27/2004]
Your vette looks very good The rear bumper update you have is a tasteful one; plus it looks like a top-flight job from the looks of the picture. It might not sit perfectly well with the "purist" community, but I think in the general vette community as a whole you will never get laughed at. What WOULD be a problem though are extensive body mods that never had anything to do with the beautiful creature that GM envisioned. I made this mistake once (previous purchase) - and believe me I'll never do that again!
Your vette looks awesome as it is. The wheels are probably going to make more waves than the rear bumper would.
It sounds like you're at a great start, just by asking the question that you did. Now if you wish to do any further mods, may I humbly suggest that you concentrate under the hood - thats what counts
[Modified by bradvette, 8:08 PM 6/27/2004]
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Re: Body Mods "Newbie" Question (bradvette)
SlvFox,
Although I can't see the pics of your new baby, I think I know what upgrade you (and others) are referring to. I am a firm believer in the "It's your car, so do what you want with it" method. Others are the "purist" type (like previously mentioned). You have to take into consideration that fact if you decide to show your car. If you go to an NCRS-sactioned event, you'll probably get that skeptical eye you were talking about. If you're just at the local corvette club meet, people will surely compliment you on the uniqueness of your car. IMO, we (as a majority) enjoy to see variations on the common vette theme. Of course there's something to be said about the perfectly pristine, low miles, all original, '67 BB roadster, but there's also something to be said about a tastefully modded late-model C4. It just comes down to personal taste.
That said, yours is just fine in my book. 
Although I can't see the pics of your new baby, I think I know what upgrade you (and others) are referring to. I am a firm believer in the "It's your car, so do what you want with it" method. Others are the "purist" type (like previously mentioned). You have to take into consideration that fact if you decide to show your car. If you go to an NCRS-sactioned event, you'll probably get that skeptical eye you were talking about. If you're just at the local corvette club meet, people will surely compliment you on the uniqueness of your car. IMO, we (as a majority) enjoy to see variations on the common vette theme. Of course there's something to be said about the perfectly pristine, low miles, all original, '67 BB roadster, but there's also something to be said about a tastefully modded late-model C4. It just comes down to personal taste.
That said, yours is just fine in my book.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 260
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St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Body Mods "Newbie" Question (Perfusion)
Well thanks for the replys, and the welcomes.
I feel a bit more comfortable with it now, and I think I'll keep her
After all, she let me buy the Vette 
From the many postings I've read, I'd have to say this is among the better forums I've seen. Good to be among such fine people.
:flag
I feel a bit more comfortable with it now, and I think I'll keep her
After all, she let me buy the Vette From the many postings I've read, I'd have to say this is among the better forums I've seen. Good to be among such fine people.
:flag
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: somewhere between heaven and hell WI
Re: Body Mods "Newbie" Question (~SlvrFox~)
So I have a question for the group. How are mods like this accepted by the community? Is it a big no no, and I'd be totally laughed out of a showing, or is it widely accepted as long as the mod was well accomplished.
-----------------------------------------
If that was the case, I wouldn't be able to drive my Quasar blue 84 ZR-1
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If that was the case, I wouldn't be able to drive my Quasar blue 84 ZR-1
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
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From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: Body Mods "Newbie" Question (Bilyk)
Welcome to the forum!! 
Are you sure someone changed your rear end??? In 90 the ZR1'S had the new rear end at begining of year then all the coupes and convertibles built mid year 90 and on had them. You may have a 90 & 1/2
Are you sure someone changed your rear end??? In 90 the ZR1'S had the new rear end at begining of year then all the coupes and convertibles built mid year 90 and on had them. You may have a 90 & 1/2
Race Director
Joined: May 2002
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Re: Body Mods "Newbie" Question (skateparkdave)
Welcome to the forum!!
Are you sure someone changed your rear end??? In 90 the ZR1'S had the new rear end at begining of year then all the coupes and convertibles built mid year 90 and on had them. You may have a 90 & 1/2
Are you sure someone changed your rear end??? In 90 the ZR1'S had the new rear end at begining of year then all the coupes and convertibles built mid year 90 and on had them. You may have a 90 & 1/2
The 90 ZR-1 was the only model in 1990 with the square tail lights.
91 and later Vettes got the so called ZR-1 bumper with square tail lights.
It is not a real ZR-1 bumper, people just call it a ZR-1 bumper cause it looks like the ZR-1 bumper. Any ZR-1 bumper (90-95) is 3" wider then the 91-96 ZR-1 type bumpers.
It just depends on what you like. I am more of a purist but I did have a 92 that had 95 side gills on it. That was tougher to discern though cause the rub strip on the 92 is painted not rubber like yours.
On your car, you are at a disadvantage cause as soon as you see the rub strip and square taillights, it should be a ZR-1.
Your change is kind of like an upgrade. If you change your mind down the road, if the bumper gets faded or damaged, you can easily put the correct one on if you choose. Its a nice upgrade, lots of people also go to the 5 spoke rims but I am a big fan of the 90 stock rims myself.
Enjoy your Vette --
