Alright guys. The Car is finally out of the body shop. Meet the first car in the world to do a 2006 Lexus IS350 Headlight conversion!!

Let me know what you think. I also put a new front bumper on it and shaved the side moldings and extended the bottom of the vents into the doors. $12,000 later, here is the car.


Doors Before:



Doors After:




Front bumper/headlights Before:




Front bumper/headlights AFter:

Wow! That looks mean! Very nice looking and goes with the front very well.

i like the headlights and doors, dunno about that widebody lip in the center, something looks "off"
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97 RS-T, STAR Stage 2, HAHN FMIC, Decah Lambo Doors, 19" Axis Hiros, Built 420a
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Frontend looks like a pokemon. :-(
Craftsmenship however = :thumbsup

front end looks really weird. all smooshy in the middle where the headlights meet the bumper meets the big fish mouth hole thing... and where the hood lines up with the bumper seems to have an uneven gap. But props on all the work, or should I say all the money spent.

The sides turned out great, great job. For the center, I agree it kinda looks like an angry fish, the headlights look good though. Nice work

Originally posted by djtrickee
front end looks really weird. all smooshy in the middle where the headlights meet the bumper meets the big fish mouth hole thing...

Totally. I was gonna say that.

The front should be totally smooth instead of that rise in the center to make your 'money spent' look good.

Originally posted by djtrickee
front end looks really weird. all smooshy in the middle where the headlights meet the bumper meets the big fish mouth hole thing... and where the hood lines up with the bumper seems to have an uneven gap. But props on all the work, or should I say all the money spent.

Well, actually the hood latch is not on the car in that picture, so that is why it looks uneven. LOL. As far as the bumper goes, I respect your guys opinions, but I am happy with it. It is a change of scenery from the old bumper. Besides, the new owner is picking the car up at the end of May. So I will only have the car for 3 more weeks.

I like the doors, thats what I planned on doing with mine next winter, kinda...

I dont like the front end though personally. The idea was good, but the headlights just look like they are too far out, and then everything looks smooshed in the middle like some other guys said.

Dont know if I would have spent $12,000 on that either, you could have bought another car and some hookers for that :)

A++ for the idea though John.

headlights look sick . the front bumper i think would have looked better if you kept the middle wide body piece off

The quality of work looks top notch but it isn't my cup of tea. IMO the front end looks like a catfish.

went out and took some better pics

the hood seems to fit up a little funny around the headlights, but as with most custom work nothing will every be perfect, still not my taste, although the lights go awesome with the car, the bumper kills it, i think without the lip it would look great
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97 RS-T, STAR Stage 2, HAHN FMIC, Decah Lambo Doors, 19" Axis Hiros, Built 420a
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The hood latch is not on the car, that is why the hood sits funny. The body shop lost it and had to order another one. Go figure. Without the lip, the headlights over power the bumper. It was the only way to break up the headlights and keep with a clean look.

saw that you said that... so your driving with no latch or pins? (Assuming that from the officemax pic)
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97 RS-T, STAR Stage 2, HAHN FMIC, Decah Lambo Doors, 19" Axis Hiros, Built 420a
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Originally posted by R34Eclipse
saw that you said that... so your driving with no latch or pins? (Assuming that from the officemax pic) ----------------------------------- 97 RS-T, STAR Stage 2, HAHN FMIC, Decah Lambo Doors, 19" Axis Hiros, Built 420a -----------------------------------

Hahahhaahha. It is tied down by a piece of rope. Ghetto style. LOL.

shhh i wont tell, we all gotta do it ghetto at some point
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97 RS-T, STAR Stage 2, HAHN FMIC, Decah Lambo Doors, 19" Axis Hiros, Built 420a
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i kinda like it..but there is a huge flat area which i think..needs something..

maybe the eagle talon logo? or the mitsu logo? just something..


EDIT..maybe not

First off let me say this: I cannot do any better.

Ok with that being said the good:

Headlights look pretty sweet from a front view, nice job with the slight overlap of the front bumper. Doors blend sweet with the ground effects, very nice.

The bad:
Front bumper between the headlights, the bodywork is wavy and not symetrical, looks like poor quality (not to be taken as insult please). Front bumper paint doesnt match color of body, need to blend shades of silver. Sides of front bumper, the corners dont flow well with the car (IMO) and the bodyline in the front corners fades in and out as far as definition.

The front bumper needs a lot of tedious and meticulous bodywork. I dont mean to insult you, liek i said, i cant do any better with plastic.

I do like those headlights very much, great idea's there.

Keep going, the work and creativity are definitly there
Terry

holy!
that shit is toiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!
time to blow every penny i have on body work :)

No problem, I am not the type of person that takes criticism personally. I understand alot of the points you are making. The only one I dont quiet understand is the paint color not matching. It may just be the pictures, because the entire car was repainted, therefore, it was all sprayed from the same can.

In regards to putting the Mits or talon logo on the car, I decided to make it a car that nobody knows what it is. With any type of logo on it, it gives people an easy way out. LOL. With no logos, they have no idea what it is.

what made you decide to paint the rubber moldings, over time don't you think the flexing will cause the paint to spyder or flake?

I have always had the moldings painted. Never had any problems with them except around the side mirror moldings. It gives it a neat look and makes it look different.

props for doing something different. I do like the headlights. the front bumper does look like a fish though, I mean REALLY like a fish, and specifically one of those sucker fish that attaches itself to the side of the aquarium and cleans the glass and the gravel. LOL. nice color.

I'm in the mood for sushi now

Originally posted by ez
the front bumper does look like a fish though, I mean REALLY like a fish, and specifically one of those sucker fish that attaches itself to the side of the aquarium and cleans the glass and the gravel. LOL.

lol, yea it does. Nice work tho man. Even tho it looks kind fishy, the car does have an exotic appearance to it. Maybe removing that front bumper flare. Still great stuff tho. Good job.

Originally posted by R34Eclipse
what made you decide to paint the rubber moldings, over time don't you think the flexing will cause the paint to spyder or flake?

Those parts dont flex that much. As long as the paint is thin layered, the proper adhesion promoter is used, and correct amount of flex additive used, the paint wont spider or flake.

Delamination is usually based on a lack of preperation to the underlying layers.

Terry

Originally posted by Star Turbo Talon

Originally posted by R34Eclipse what made you decide to paint the rubber moldings, over time don't you think the flexing will cause the paint to spyder or flake?

Those parts dont flex that much. As long as the paint is thin layered, the proper adhesion promoter is used, and correct amount of flex additive used, the paint wont spider or flake. Delamination is usually based on a lack of preperation to the underlying layers. Terry

Exactly, Check out my makeover thread for pics...I ve had mine painted for over 3years with no problems at all. The right materials mean everything.

OP- i like everything you did man..looks great. very creative and great choice of headlights. Also.. Nice to see someone else has the painted moldings and also incorporated the skirts into the door. First one ive seen besides mine. :thumbsup

Do you drive around town like that with out any license plates?

one more thing... is it the same color? because in the pics it doesnt appear to be as bright may just be the pics. Looks more of a pewter color

also call me the asshole but i thought it was funny =) and you def. got way more work in your car than mine so this is out of humor not hate but....

If the whole car was sprayed it is either the pictures or the primer underneith. If the bumper is new (no paint layers) and the rest of the car was just painted over(existing paint layers), that would make the silver tint differently. Now if you stripped the entire car first them it must just be the pictures.

I dont know what to say about the fish comment....lol Those haedlights are really sweet though. I love em.

the color being off is probably just the pictures. I would assume the whole car was shot with a sealer first anyway to the it all one solid color before the metallic base was layed down. but yea the bumper is wavy as shit. car looked better in the "in progress" pictures i think.

Sealer doesnt protect shading

Originally posted by R34Eclipse
one more thing... is it the same color? because in the pics it doesnt appear to be as bright may just be the pics. Looks more of a pewter color also call me the asshole but i thought it was funny =) and you def. got way more work in your car than mine so this is out of humor not hate but....

I honestly saw something like this coming in this thread, lol.

That picture is funny as hell. I have to admit, I laughed my ass off about it.

In regards to the color, the bumper is new but we blocked the entire car down and primed the entire car before painting, just the pics.

The color is the same, it changes colors in different light. Some light it is pearl, some it is metallic, some it is silver, some like a gray/pewter color. All depends on the lighting and shadowing. I love the color. Liquid Silver by Color Rite.

Not sure about the waves in the front bumper. Point them out to me in the pictures, because you cant see any in person, may just be the shadows you see. I dunno, I could be wrong.

The headlights may not be everybody's taste, I just wanted to be unique. The car was the first in the world with the G35 tails and the first in the world with the IS350 heads. I dont like to follow trends, I like to start them. No offence to the Supra, S2000, and silvia conversions out there. I just think they are overdone and wanted to do something no oneelse ever has. I appreciate all the comments and can accept criticism as well, however, when it comes down to it, I am 100% happy with the way the car turned out and thats all that really matters.

Originally posted by Extreme Eclipse
when it comes down to it, I am 100% happy with the way the car turned out and thats all that really matters.

werd brother.
I don't see the wavy-ness the other members are talking about... then again, I have a shitty Dell monitor.

your side skirts are moulded on too right? have you had any problems with them? cracking etc.

Cuz mine started to crack due to the amount of pressure put on them from the bolts i'm guessing, and rather then just getting the crack fixed, i wanted to mould on the whole thing.

Not sure if you were talking to me or not...but. The only problem ive had is from the weight of the door over time (been done like that for 3.5 years)rubbing in the corner. No cracking and we didnt use any bolts so no pressure cracking. VVVVVV

i guess that was directed at anyone who molded their side skirts on, lol.

anyways yeah the rubbing from the door for sure had something to do with the crack..but i think the skirt wasnt put on perfect when it was installed, because the passenger side seems fine.

but yeah..so yours was molded on, and started to crack, so you put some like...putty-like filler there? or how was urs put on without bolts

I love your Car. Absolutely the hottest, most "Done" eclipse I've ever seen. I love the sides, the rear tails, the molded spoiler, the headlights fit the whole car pretty good too. Beautiful.

I just DO NOT like the bumper at all. Period.

Maybe once you sell it in a couple weeks you'll "Hate" the bumper too :P

Yes I had major problems with the door sills cracking. I just shaved them down so they dont rub to bad any more. I hate the vertical door kits and would never put vertical doors on a car again. They look hot and attract a hell of a lot of attention but they are a pain in the butt to deal with and not worth it to me in the long run.

Originally posted by CustomGS
Not sure if you were talking to me or not...but. The only problem ive had is from the weight of the door over time (been done like that for 3.5 years)rubbing in the corner. No cracking and we didnt use any bolts so no pressure cracking. VVVVVV

thats the exact place where mine rubs

OMFG man i think i just busted a nutt. your cars hot as shit. keep it up man. you must get tail out the ying yang with that baby. dmn let me take another.....yupp still sexxy looking.

Originally posted by eclipse982nrRST
Do you drive around town like that with out any license plates?

Actually, I do. Cops usually dont bother me, and if they do I know most of them.

I think the next venture that would really make your car look different would be to chop the top. Then nobody would be able to tell what it is. lol

what body kit is that?

Originally posted by RacingEclipse
what body kit is that?

It looks like a bc2 front, bomex rear, and the rest is the quwhees kit (which I have for sale :D) all molded together with an ass load of custom stuff.

do you have any pics? and price?

Originally posted by WIDECLIPSE

Originally posted by RacingEclipse what body kit is that?

It looks like a bc2 front, bomex rear, and the rest is the quwhees kit (which I have for sale :D) all molded together with an ass load of custom stuff.

More or less you are right. Those are a majority of the base kits I used. I used those as the base and then customized everything from there. So in answer to your question, there is no place you can go buy this kit, you would have to buy the base, and then it is nothing but custom fabrication from there.

Originally posted by WIDECLIPSE
I think the next venture that would really make your car look different would be to chop the top. Then nobody would be able to tell what it is. lol

I thought about doing a Targa top, but not going to. Car is being sold this Mememorial Day weekend.