Side Skirts - Need advice
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Side Skirts - Need advice
Just finished installing my front chin spoiler yesterday. Looks great from the front, but IMO it really needs side skirts to "complete the look".
I know quite a few of you have them, and over the years have also heard they are generally ill-fitting and a big PITA to get to look good. I've read this mostly about the Caravaggio ones specifically.
I know of 3 suppliers for these....ACI, Caravaggio, and RK Sport.
The ACI and Caravaggio are rather pricey at $550-600...the RKsport ones under $400. I am well-aware of how RKsport's hoods are known to fit, so I have to assume the side skirts are probably of no better quality (fitment wise) than the Caravaggio pieces, which I think look the best. I've not heard much for feedback about the ACI skirts that both Eckler's and Mid America sell.
So...what to do?
Some pics to compare:
The RK Sport: (best pic I could find sorry)
The ACI:
The Caravaggio:
Or, is there another manufacturer of a similar product I should be considering?
Any and all feedback welcome.
I know quite a few of you have them, and over the years have also heard they are generally ill-fitting and a big PITA to get to look good. I've read this mostly about the Caravaggio ones specifically.
I know of 3 suppliers for these....ACI, Caravaggio, and RK Sport.
The ACI and Caravaggio are rather pricey at $550-600...the RKsport ones under $400. I am well-aware of how RKsport's hoods are known to fit, so I have to assume the side skirts are probably of no better quality (fitment wise) than the Caravaggio pieces, which I think look the best. I've not heard much for feedback about the ACI skirts that both Eckler's and Mid America sell.
So...what to do?
Some pics to compare:
The RK Sport: (best pic I could find sorry)
The ACI:
The Caravaggio:
Or, is there another manufacturer of a similar product I should be considering?
Any and all feedback welcome.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,332
Likes: 7
From: Dayton, Ohio
Senior Member
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
Hey Tom....the chin spoiler looks great. Its definitely a nice addition.
As you probably know, I have the Caravaggio side splitters. Also, I'm sure you've heard me bitch and moan about the fitment. I think it basically sucks as far as the fit, but I am still willing to live with it. I still think they look pretty damn good.
My intention was to take them off this winter and have a body shop put them back on with some epoxy. "OCMike" did his with epoxy and they looked much better.
I cant really speak for the mounting method of the ACI ones, but the pieces themselves look identical to the Caravaggio ones. In my eyes, its not the pieces themselves, its the crappy mouting tabs that Caravaggio threw together at the last minute.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Here are some pics of mine. The gaps arent terrible, but enough to bug a perfectionist like you and me.
.JPG)
.JPG)
As you probably know, I have the Caravaggio side splitters. Also, I'm sure you've heard me bitch and moan about the fitment. I think it basically sucks as far as the fit, but I am still willing to live with it. I still think they look pretty damn good.
My intention was to take them off this winter and have a body shop put them back on with some epoxy. "OCMike" did his with epoxy and they looked much better.
I cant really speak for the mounting method of the ACI ones, but the pieces themselves look identical to the Caravaggio ones. In my eyes, its not the pieces themselves, its the crappy mouting tabs that Caravaggio threw together at the last minute.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Here are some pics of mine. The gaps arent terrible, but enough to bug a perfectionist like you and me.
Last edited by Ego-Trip; Apr 22, 2005 at 09:01 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 0
From: Fly Over State
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
I love the look of the Caravaggio splitters, but the fit & mounting
SUCK! (you do have to driil the rockers) Not to mention the price. I got mine from a forum member all ready painted @ a good price, so I'm living with the fit.
BTW, Your front spoiler looks Great!
Gonna have to be careful.
SUCK! (you do have to driil the rockers) Not to mention the price. I got mine from a forum member all ready painted @ a good price, so I'm living with the fit.
BTW, Your front spoiler looks Great!
Gonna have to be careful.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
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From: Gone
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St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by XCELER8
Is it me or do they all look the same. I would say go with the ACI. It would complement the front spoiler.
Jon
Jon
I know Spectre Werkes makes some too, but they are much more pronounced, stick out quite a bit, and, well, kinda gaudy IMO.
Joe, Thanks for your reply, and the pics. I never get tired of looking at your incredible car.
And yes I do recall reading of your frustrations with them in the past..A lot of the reason I posted this.
Hoping some ACI skirt owners can chime in and give their review. If I end up choosing these, I'll probably wait till Funfest and get the 10% off at the show.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
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From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by ALLKAR
BTW, Your front spoiler looks Great!
Gonna have to be careful.
Gonna have to be careful.
I was relieved and amazed I can still get it in my driveway w/o scraping it.
My original intent was to only put it on for shows and gatherings and such....but heck, if it don't scrape on my driveway incline, it's staying on.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by XCELER8
I understand the RK is cheaper, but keep in mind they do not always have the best quality. I have had 2 pieces from them and both have messed up over time.
Jon
Jon
I'm not concerned about the $ difference as much as the fit. I don't know of anyone on the forum who has RK skirts, so I figure i'd ask.
If they fit decent, the lower price is an added bonus...they just might be worth consideration in this case.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu Hawaii
I'm in the process of getting the side splitters on my car right now. The bodyshop mentioned the mounting tabs suck and they will definitely have to drill into the rocker as mentioned previously in this thread. Good thing I got black if for some reason my bodyshop can't get the fit perfect (god forbid), it should hide some of the gaps.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,838
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From: Volusia. Las Vegas FL, NV
I have the ACI installed about a week ago. The fit is terrible. It will not line up without lots of work. The front and center will fit but the rear half leaves a big gap and vice versa if the rear half is adjusted to fit. Not much can be sanded because it's thin. The body shop did an amazing job but cost lots of $$ for all of the man hours spent to get it right.
Last edited by Sportsdude; Apr 23, 2005 at 11:59 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 14
From: Baltimore Md.
I had the acI installed and they generally look good but if you have front splashguards( painted fiberglass ones) you will have to cut a notch in them to fit the side skirt on, ot take off the splash guard.Be carefull when you pull up to those cement parking things at convenience stores; I've hit them 3 times and payed $825 to repair the first two times and i didn't get the third time repaired yet: I figured I'll hit it again . Good Luck 
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
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From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Originally Posted by ragnar
a little off the original subject but if you like acp ....they are putting together rear flared fenders for the c5 so you can put some really big meats on the back
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,332
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Senior Member
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
Originally Posted by leaftye
They've had wide fenders for the front and rear in fiberglass and carbon fiber for years. Are you talking about something different than that?
Maybe that is what he was referring to.
