Grande Punto beginner styling - GP progress (feedback wanted)

[TempleCain]

I've just started styling my car last week after stumbling across this forum lol, but i didnt want something that i had seen before so i have went out on a creative limb and started styling it. so far i have added:

17" Fox FX2 red/black shadow alloys
Stub Ariel
18% tint to rear windows
removed 'punto' badge
editing rear FIAT badge to match alloy red (as i type this)

next steps:
paint rear drums black (aquired paint)
paint front calipers alloy red (need to find colour match)
lower by 20mm
badgeless FK front grille in post
painting wingmirrors alloy red

i'm hoping to find that line between classy and chavvy that i love. hoping anyone can provide ideas or tips to help

some photos:

 

[lukemortlock7]

The only way you'll be able to lower 20mm is by fitting abarth springs or coilovers and have them as high as they go. Most springs will lower 40-50mm. From my point of view (after fitting abarth springs) 20mm is sort of a waste of time. It won't remove the huge arch gap and it won't really make much difference to the handling, mine is just a little stiffer. Most people on here go for eibach sportlines (I have some in a box waiting to be fitted), they lower about 45-50mm and make the stance really nice, or FK coilovers which if I remember correctly allow the car to be lowered 20mm-100mm. They cost more money than just the springs but least you can go lower if you want!

 

[TempleCain]

oh right, i had no idea tbh. a local bodywork place told me between 20 and 30 would be what he would recommend. where should i get the right lowering springs etc from? im pretty clueless

 

[c13uko]

the best place would probably be ebay pal, there usually 30 mm to 40 mm unless your going for the coilovers. 30 to 40 would be perfect for any car it drops it enough without being hard to sit in.

The car is looking well and i would like to make my badge black with orange fiat are they hard to do?

 

[Sean23491]

The only way you'll be able to lower 20mm is by fitting abarth springs or coilovers and have them as high as they go. Most springs will lower 40-50mm. From my point of view (after fitting abarth springs) 20mm is sort of a waste of time. It won't remove the huge arch gap and it won't really make much difference to the handling, mine is just a little stiffer. Most people on here go for eibach sportlines (I have some in a box waiting to be fitted), they lower about 45-50mm and make the stance really nice, or FK coilovers which if I remember correctly allow the car to be lowered 20mm-100mm. They cost more money than just the springs but least you can go lower if you want!

I have Abarth Esseesse springs fitted to my GP and the result I was really happy with, the springs were on eBay £80 so shop around, I was in the same position as you by the sounds of it you dont want alot of drop so I would go with the Abarth unless you want more go with Eibach.

For extra info - The standard GP will lower slighlty more than 20mm as I have droppped 20mm and the sporting springs I had on my GP were already a 10mm drop on the standard GP springs.

 

[lukemortlock7]

I have Abarth Esseesse springs fitted to my GP and the result I was really happy with, the springs were on eBay £80 so shop around, I was in the same position as you by the sounds of it you dont want alot of drop so I would go with the Abarth unless you want more go with Eibach.

For extra info - The standard GP will lower slighlty more than 20mm as I have droppped 20mm and the sporting springs I had on my GP were already a 10mm drop on the standard GP springs.

Yeah the essesse springs are slightly lower than the standard abarth what I'm using currently. But yeah it just depends what you want from lowering: removing the arch gap, reducing body roll, stance etc etc

 

[TempleCain]

Alright, cheers lads, i dont want to drop it so much that the lowering becomes a noticable addition to the car - if you get what i mean, i would rather drop it enough so that the car seems sleek and smooth and runs together more subtly as opposed to intensionally lowered.

Yeah its really easy to do badge mate, just pry it off with a flat screwdriver wrapped in cloth, remove clear plastic cover and remove existing paint. ive done mine black with the sliver fiat writing, makes the back look very smooth.

i sprayed my drums black today, was much easier than i first anticipated, whats the best way to paint front calipers?