"Elle" <elle_navorski@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in
news:MjYwe.2091$8f7.1498@newsread1.news.pas.earthl ink.net:


>
> Clarence, thanks for the tip about avoiding aftermarket. My friend is
> buying OEM for about $125. Not sure what her plan is for paint at this
> time.
>


I'll second (and third...) Clarence's aftermarket warning. They're a bitch
to make fit, and often they refuse to no matter what.

Until you try making parts fit that came off another car (especially when
one or both were in a collision), you have no idea how squishy car body
alignment really is. Even the factory makes impromptu "modifications" with
wooden-handled rubber mallets during assembly.

Get used OEM, and expect some bending before clearances are correct. If it
falls into place with no fiddling, consider yourself lucky. Don't snug down
ANY bolts until everything is lined up properly. There's a reason many
holes are oversize or slotted. You may have to temporarily reinstall
bumpers and lights to make certain everything is correct before you tighten
the fender bolts.

If you have to remove the bumper, a helper is handy. It's only about 20
lbs, but it's long and awkward to handle. I remove mine by unhooking the
driver's side end first, then "unwrapping" the bumper from the car like
peeling the lid off a coffee can. The passenger's side has a small hook
that holds that end up when all the bolts are removed, so the last bolt I
remove is one of the driver's side ones. Yours may be similar. Inspect the
consturction as you disassemble.

Another few warnings: Fenders are very floppy when they're not bolted in
place. It's easy to kink or bend them if you pick them up wrong. Be
careful. Watch for sharp edges that can (will) slice you. And if the lights
or bumper are really in the way, remove them, don't try to work around them
or you'll bend the fender or scratch something.

If you have to remove the headlight, use Wite-Out to make marks on all the
mounting bolt flanges. This will enable you to replace the light exactly as
it came off.

Good luck and have fun.


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/