SP20 front bar on standard BJII

[chicaboo]

Hi guys,

Wanted to try this a few months back when I had the oportunity but it didn't eventuate. Will have to drive into another car again!
Will the bar just go straight on without any ginning around? Or do I need different mounting clips, etc?
I mean the guards, headlights and grill on the SP20 look exact as far as external dimensions go, I can't see that the 4 headlights are any bigger or that the wheel arches are more flared.
And since the Mazda foglights are soooo expensive ($500 each!) can I just use a typical aftermarket round foglight?
Failing this I like the Erebuni style 139A for the front bumper with Mazda or Talon/SSV side skirts/rear lip.
http://www.erebunicorp.com/ge/mazprot01.htm

Gav.

[platypus]

yep straight on, same structure and everything... *might* have to do some drilling, but nothing more

skirts are easy, just drill and push on, and the rear skirt is the same thing

[chicaboo]

That's really cool to know, SP20 front bars aren't that expensive from memory, but it wouldn't've cost me anything if that knob from the body shop did what I asked after my accident...!
Hey, any idea about the foglights? Just wondering if they need a special plate to hold on.

Cheers,
Gav.

[chipa]

I think they clip in. but your best bet is to check the HOW-TO's on msprotege.com:

There is one there that shows how to change the globes..

http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=124

[twilightprotege]

yeah should be a straight swap. oh and instead of fogs - why not look at the piaa driving lights for there? check out www.nopionline.com - well that's where they used to be.

anyway, what happened to your car? i saw an astina run up the bum of a commonwhore or something this morning near the royal bris horsepiddle, but it was navy blue

[chicaboo]

Hehe, this happened on Logan Road just past Garden City earlier in the year. There was this break in the median strip there (just been closed off!) 1/2 way between the music shop and McDonald's.
I was in the left lane, and a car stopped to turn right at the break in the median, and a car behind him tried to go around him and almost cleaned me up on the right side.
Anyhow, while my attention was drawn to the right, a car pulled out of a driveway infront of the car directly infront of me.
So in the 3 or 4 seconds I was trying to avoid an accident on the right I turned to look back at a Magna with it's bum up in the air under brakes!
So I submarined and slid on the wet road right under the back of the Magna. That's why the bonnet was so badly damaged as the other car dropped under rest.
I told the repair guy I want an SP20 bumper and I'd pay the difference. He said no worries, but then a few days past and I rang him up and asked how he went. He tells me he just put a stock bar back on it... F'ker!

Cheers,
Gav.

[twilightprotege]

what a lazy sod. i bet he just plain forgot

[chicaboo]

Yeah I asked him to touchup a scrape under the right doorsill too, never did that either!
Anyhow, I just checked out Ozeparts.com.au and they sell the SP20 front bar for $420, I think Mazda want upwards of $500. Their genuine foglights are $310 each. The black lip over the grill is $55 and the bottom bar grille is $45.
Well, nevermind foglights for now, it's going to cost around $300 I expect to have the front bar painted. So I'm looking at $800 unless I can find something from a wrecker. But there is prolly not much point having it fitted/painted until I have side skirts aswell. But they don't list those Ozeparts.
The front guard panels look identical except they have a hole drilled for the side skirt. Other than that it looks like a decent fit. Wish I knew about this site and the resources I have available now back before I had the accident.

Gav.

[twilightprotege]

try asking the guys at www.mazdaautorecyclers.com.au (i think). they will be able to get 2nd hand stuff for you i'm sure (they are at moorooka)

[chicaboo]

Thanks TP,

I'll give them a yell tomorrow. But they might see me coming I think.
Damn, I'm gonna be so happy with my car after I get the sways, seat covers, headers/exhaust and SP20 trimmings! Not that I'm not now, just always loved that bloody bumper style!
Oh, I noticed those PIAA lamps had cages, can these be taken off or are they moulded into the lense?

Gav.

[platypus]

get non standard fogs... if only coz they are cheaper!!

[twilightprotege]

not sure about the piaa's. they are probably removable

[dfvadr]

hey man you can buy my sp20 front bar complete with the bottom plastic mesh the fog lights an the grill ,no damage $650 the whole lot

[chipa]

now thats a sweet deal! :D

[chicaboo]

Odd12c,

Have PMed you about SP20 bumper.

Gav.

[twilightprotege]

roadtrip!

[chicaboo]

I say!

Who wants to come with? Many hands make light work! :wink:
Might be able to jag it in with a cruise get-to-gether?

Gav.

[twilightprotege]

i'm not going down to sydney until january 22nd (staying a week)

[dfvadr]

got it gav you have a reply with my number

[chicaboo]

OK guys,

Odd12c has fixed me up with front and rear treatments for my BJ.
Now I want your expert opinions on which of these SSV side skirts you'd think would best compliment the SP20 look.
http://www.users.on.net/~gavinstapleton/1068.jpg
http://www.users.on.net/~gavinstapleton/ma0736.jpg
I think they are both nice, however the skirt modelled on the BJI looks like it would sit pretty low compared to the front bar...

Gav.

[twilightprotege]

i'd go the first one

[chipa]

ditto.

[chicaboo]

I asked the big cheif sitting bull at SSV to send me some decent sized piccies of the skirts, so I will share them with the forum as they come to hand.
However I might end up with proper SP20 sideskirts depending on how things work out?

Gav.

[pr1mo]

be aware that BJ sideskirts also fit BA astinas well. you could also possibly have the pick of BA talon, veilside,carmate mazspeed copies and cyber

cheers mike

[platypus]

how'd you find that out???

[pr1mo]

a bunch a melbourneites once went and checked out a wrecked SP20 protege. we lined up a sideskirt on chris' hardtop lined up nicely :)

cheers mike

[chicaboo]

Hi guys,

Just incase I can't source SP20 sideskirts, here are some better pics of the SSV sideskirts I put up earlier (old ones removed).

I personally like this one, it gells with the chassis very nicely but it sits much lower than SP20 bars...
http://www.users.on.net/~gavinstapleton/0736.jpg

I really like the concept here, but it is not in keeping with the SP20 bars.
http://www.users.on.net/~gavinstapleton/1068_1.jpg

Same again from a rear angle.
http://www.users.on.net/~gavinstapleton/1068_2.jpg

Any other suggestions? And thanks to Craig for pointing out how to insert pictures!

Gav.