Shaved Trunk

[pimpalero2003]

Im thinking about shaving my trunk i painted my center lights to match my car color and i like the way it looks really good i also pinstriped the outside lights but what i am wanting to do is get another trunk so if i mess up i still have a trunk a new trunk here is 25 bucks im wainting to get rid of tail lights and the plastic license plate holder and then get a different holder and tilt it. please let me know if you think this would be a GOOD or Bad mod and also if any body has done this plz post some pics thanks!

[Menace]

Some guy with a maroon alero had a shaved trunk it was pimp

[natedawg9640]

lol... aftermath has a shaved trunk... haha...

[alerlow]

pictures please i covered mine while my tranny was getting rebuilt and the only part i didnt cover was my reverse lights and i have a white car and i think it looks great

[Str33tRacer]

Buy the extra trunk, Foam the big area where the plastic goes bondo the remaining areas and form it to the way you want your liscence plate, fill in the area where your planning to take out the lights.... inside ones only i hope... sand it paint it buff it.... that would be the most simplistic without going to custom fiberglassing... $$$$

[pimpalero2003]

yes im taking out the lights i might put some round fog lights in the back there for back up lights really bright ones! give it kinda of that lexus look with the two lights on the trunk

[Justy311]

I personally dont like the look, reminds me of the new cadillacs, trunk way too big looking. I am have been thinking of just making the inner lights light up with the brakes too, just not sure exactly how to do it, or if I will have to put a bigger fuse in the handle the power. But it is your car, you're the one who is going to drive it, if you want it by all means, I wish you the best of luck and who gives a crap what people say, just have fun doing it! And post pictures when you are done!!! :D

[racin4JC]

Just fiberglass it yourself, take your original one off, buy some foam to fill the license plate area and shape it how you want it, then put plastic wrap or tape around entire thing, lay it flat and start glassing. When the glass cures should be able to pop original out (this way if you ever want to put it back on it will be unharmed) and have a pretty decent piece made. Then spend like 20 hours sanding and filling and sanding and filling and you should have a pretty decent piece. (This is how I would do it, but it can be done several different ways).

[pimpalero2003]

will do racin

[pimpalero2003]

yeah i know its going to take a while

[Eh_nigma]

Why weld? Why?

We are about to start the fiberglassing/body work throughout the car. Previous to doing so, everything was planned out. My friend/partner in crime has done NUMEROUS fiberglassing projects (both interior and exterior). I had him read through this thread and all he said was... "Don't weld a bloody thing"... you've got two options:

1. If you want to shave JUST the area where the licence plate is, use Racin's method (Ie., the surran-wrap).

2. If you want to fiberglass the entire butt-end of the trunk, you could use something as simple as monofoam to fill in the area where the plate was, shave it down to the desired shape, and fiberglass as per norm.

Hope this helps.

[auchevyalero2004]

Originally posted by Eh_nigma@Mar 1 2006, 09:46 AM
Why weld? Why?

We are about to start the fiberglassing/body work throughout the car. Previous to doing so, everything was planned out. My friend/partner in crime has done NUMEROUS fiberglassing projects (both interior and exterior). I had him read through this thread and all he said was... "Don't weld a bloody thing"... you've got two options:

1. If you want to shave JUST the area where the licence plate is, use Racin's method (Ie., the surran-wrap).

2. If you want to fiberglass the entire butt-end of the trunk, you could use something as simple as monofoam to fill in the area where the plate was, shave it down to the desired shape, and fiberglass as per norm.

Hope this helps.
Quoted post


too bad "surran-wrap" wont work cause fiberglass dun stick to plastic. and i wouldnt do the foam poop either. i'd weld, anyone who's in custom work, hotrods, trucks, etc will tell ya to make it out of metal, weld it on, and use a bit of filler.

[Eh_nigma]

It's not supposed to stick it it... it's there to give you a shape, then remove the backing. And my partner in crime does work for a custom body shop.

For small scale work or for large scale work? Frankly, I wouldn't bother with welding for something the size of the area on the trunk.

[Eh_nigma]

such a sinical and sad sad man...

We all have our own methods... just as each shop has their own ways of doing things. The foam is only temporary for the first method mentioned (read the writing). And frankly, looking through this guys portfolio of pictures of the things he's done... I'll take his word on the quality of the finished product.

[racin4JC]

ppgnut obviously metal fab. is the ideal way to do it, however not everyone has the skills or tools if they want to do it themselves, therefore, glass would be the easiest. And obviously pimpalero2003 isn't Troy, Chip, Boyd, Bob Mole, or Dave Peterson, because I doubt they would have to ask directions on how to shave a trunk (especially Foose).

[bnight04]

do a photochop of your idea....

[AftermathAlero]

hey ppgnut.. leave them alone, when they spend in like 200 bucks in materials for all that work and realize it won't work.. They'll come back and admit your right.

I never heard of the saran wrap method, I've been doing bodywork for a while. Been through alot of fiberglassing myself like my whole interior, stereo system..etc. You can use 2 part expanding foam though, its not cheap. But that can work. Really messy too. Have fun with that. But if your going to get regular foam.. it still wouldn't work.

Like ppgnut said.. welding is the only way togo. My own shaved trunklid is all welded. Wasn't hard to do. Get a full sheet of sheetmetal, then pay a friend to weld it cuz i don't have a welder.

[natedawg9640]

i agree with aftermath... it's not as difficult as it seems... as a matter of fact welding it is quite possibly easier than any other method of glassing it over... more permanent and less messy... but then again if you have no access to a wleder and can't afford a couple bucks to have it done at a welding shop then go for it

[2sidesoftodd]

if u use fiberglass instead of welding it, it's gonna crack like a mothaf***ka...

[pimpalero2003]

i was going to glass just because i suck at welding it would take me forever to clean the welds up im going to get the 2nd trunk lid saturday the best thing is theres no scratches or dints on it and its costing me 25 bucks

[pimpalero2003]

also how much do you think a shop would charge to weld then i can just use some bondo and fill lines yeah im no chip foose

[Eh_nigma]

Initial cost (20-30?), then it is usually an hourly rate (approx. 30-50 total I would say, if it is a quick weld).

[pimpalero2003]

it should look good also theres a place where i live that makes custom parts im waiting for them to call me back about coilovers for our aleros i dont just want springs i wan adjustible and i cant afford air so winter sucks here and i want to be able to adjust my ride height

[Chucklez05]

If you don't care if filler goes on it and don't want it perfect just have a welder quick weld on the panels and take it home and put some filler on it (good filler not bondo from walmart) sand it down use some kind of iceing as a skim coat to fill any pinholes then prime and paint.

If you want metal and only metal on the trunk, aka metal finished. then you are going to pay alot more to have it welded. The welder will have to take his/her time so as not to warp the new or existing panels. If it is done using a MIG welder (wire feed) it won't be as long but you or the welder will not be able to hammer and dolly the seam to smooth it out or fix any warpage do to the shrinking of the weld. If done with a TIG welder it will cost more but can be hammered on and will produce much better results.

If you don't wnat to spend the time or money on using metal then i would say go with the idea's about glass but i can bet that you will have problem with the glass to metal adhesion. Also if the glass gets to thinck it you could have problems there to.

Just a note on filler or bondo, it WILL crack esaily if applied to think and if you try to fill holes or gaps with it. Now I know that there will be plenty of guys/girls on here saying that they have put it on thick and its worked ok, and yes that'll happen i just sandblasted a 63 Chevy truckbed and found and area were the puddy was 2 1/2 inches thick. But its not a for sure that it won't crack ive seen were its been applied no thicker then 1/8 of and inch like recameded and its cracked after a month.

[pimpalero2003]

thanks

[Chucklez05]

yup

[AftermathAlero]

thats why you kitty hair first cuz its stronger than bondo over the metal. Then once u get close to shape, then use bondo to smooth out perfect.

[Chucklez05]

thats true to, i forgot about kitty/tiger hair.