Black 97 Civic HX 2 door

A few years back, I got into a series of accidents (only one of which was actually my fault, mind you), and by the end of it all, the coat hangers that were holding up my poor bumper were getting weak, and the bumper had seen far better days.

Being a teenager who was only just starting to get off of a NFS:Underground high, I 'invested' in a fiber-glass Blitz-style bumper, as well as an adhesive-attached Evo-style hood-scoop. I know, I know... I took the first dangerous steps towards ricing it.

Anyway, back-story aside, I'd like to think that I've grown up as the years have passed. The fiberglass bumper has a few large pressure-cracks, as well as a sizable crack on the front left where it hit the ground on a steep driveway one day. Instead of paying to get the fiberglass repaired, I'm giving serious thought to returning to a stock bumper, and possibly a lip. Also, I want to remove the hood-scoop-thing.

So, on to the questions:

1. If I were to get a stock polyurethane bumper (black 97 HX 2-door, again), where should I shop/look for one? In the past, I've gotten used parts from junk yards, but never anything painted.
-In this regard, how much would it cost to get a bumper, from a junk yard, and repaint it if necessary?
-Or is there possibly some way to get a brand-spankin'-new stock bumper for a 97? I doubt it, but figure it's worth an ask.
-After I return to the stock bumper, what lip kits would you all recommend, any particular brand? style? company? etc

2. Now, about the hood. The piece I have on there looked cool in the magazine (again, I was in a NFS:U mood back then). However, when I saw it after the car came out of the shop (I had to replace my hood at the same time I replaced my bumper), it just didn't rub me right. There was a gap between the piece and the hood, and I just didn't like it, but I decided to give it time, and maybe I'd warm up to it. Truth is, I haven't. I want to remove it, but am afraid that if I do, the adhesive will peel up the paint off the hood. Since I had the shop put it on, I don't have the box anymore, so don't really know if there is some way to dissolve the adhesive without damaging the paint, or if I'm just going to have to have the hood repainted after I remove the piece. Any advice here?

Sorry for the long post, but my piggy-bank isn't exactly overflowing (I'm the stereotypical broke college kid haha), and I'd really like to find the most cost-efficient way to 'undo' the ricing I did a few years back, without cutting corners in terms of quality. Thanks for any and all help you can offer.

 

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...atcgry5=BUMPER

thats your front bumper... www.hondaautomotiveparts.com is an excellent website for oem parts.

you could always try painting it yourself, its a valuable skill to learn and if you get good at it you can paint your own **** and even your friends stuff for them =]. if not youre looking at 200+ for prep and paint i think

i have no idea about the adhesive on the hood scoop thing... try heating it up with a blow dryer or heat gun and removing it like you would a badge. if that doesnt work say **** it and hit up the body shop

Edit: oh btw welcome to the forum. I;m happy that you are taking the steps to derice your car. =] and im sure a bunch of us will feel the same

One more edit lulz: http://cpwstore.carpartswholesale.co...294965840+9278 thats cheaper

 

Wow, thanks very much for the detailed reply! Those links will be very useful when I get around to doing this. If I were to learn to paint the bumper myself, what sort of equipment would I need? I assume I'd have to sand off whatever paint is on there, and apply a primer layer, then the actual black paint. Since I'm not trying to leave brush marks when it's done, I guess I'd also need a large airbrush or something? On top of the price of paint itself, I might just stick with a shop doing it--and if I can't cleanly remove the adhesive, I could have them redo the hood at the same time, save some money on the prep-work by combining paint-jobs.

quick edit:
I actually had an account on here a year or two ago when I was looking at doing some internal work (cold air intake for example), and headlights. I know it was registered to my school email, because when I tried to re-register (I forgot my p/w haha), it said that email was already registered, but I never got the "I forgot my password" email when I requested it.

 

got any pics of the riced out civic? lol. jprommel put it together pretty good, what i would say to do also

 

dont post the pix its for your own benefit. ppl dont read, they will scroll down to see pix and immediately start flaming you without reading about how u are trying to fix it.

 

Haha, if anyone really wants to see it, I'll post a pic. It's a very half-a**ed job (fortunately): I replaced the bumper out of necessity, but never got around to/never had the funds to put a rear bumper or side skirts on (and thank god I opted against that spoiler all those years ago...) If I post 'em and people flame me, I don't really care--I don't know them, and I know my intentions, so if they want to prove themselves to be ignorant, I invite them to heh.

I also feel especially ridiculous when I'm driving, and an actual tuned car pulls up next to me, because aside from the front, my car is entirely stock, engine et all.

But yeah, it's only the front bumper and hood, nothing too extravagant, which is good, because I'd hate to look back and have spent a ton of money ricing it out entirely heh

 

lol true. its just im trying to promote a friendly forum environment here =].

 

I would look into CertiFit (certifit.com). They make aftermarket stock replacement exterior panels. You could probably get new bumpers and a new hood for 100-150 bucks. But they only have limited locations and don't ship anywhere so you will have to see if there is one near you. Also you would still need to go get the parts painted.

And I know what you are going through. I went through the same thing, but luckily for me I didn't have any money when I was in the body kit phase, so I never got around to putting any body kits on my car, I just went straight to the lips. Fortunately you can always change the car back to stock.

 

Another great site, thanks very much. Those prices are incredibly cheap, are they quality polyurethane bumpers, the same as if I took the bumper right off of a 'new' car? If so, that'd definitely be worth the ~2 hour drive.

Just because I feel this is important, I'll re-ask, can I trust those bumpers to hold up well? The old 'get what you pay for' adage comes to mind..

 

As far as taking the scoop off the hood, do like jprommel said and use a heat gun or blow drier and heat the adhesive up real good. (not too hot you'll peel the paint off!) But then just take some dental floss and run it all around under the scoop between the adhesive and the paint. Then just use some body prep solvent or goo gone and a soft rag and remove the rest of the sticky junk.