Forum:
Hello all,
right im looking to make my sportrak a little nicer. There are a few things i want to do:
Firstly, i want to tint the rear windows. Has anyone done this, was it difficult? I plan to use the film tint and apply it myself.Secondly, my wheels are starting to look rather tired and rusty so im thinking of giving them a paint. I have looked through the sporty images and noticed a few people with white wheels- and im thinking it looks rather nice. What do i need and whats the best way to go about spraying them-will it be necessary to remove the wheel or can i just mask up around the wheel? Im after some reasonably nice seat covers however the problem ive found is that most rear seat covers only come a 1pc but as you know the sporty seats are seperated. I thought about buying four 'front' seat covers, dont know if this would work?
And finally i would like to fit bull bars and side steps but im having a hell of a job tracking some relatively cheap ones! Ive tried ebay and there doesnt seem to be much-any ideas?
Many many thanks for your help
Sportycg
Tarting up your SPORTRAK
You can repaint the wheels and it is bestter and easier to remove the tyres first but it is possible to make a template to mask off the tyres and the repaint them. Obviously remove and treat the rust and then a good primer and then topcoat. You may want to look at new wheel, wellers are white and are the cheaper of the ranges available. The steel ones as long as kept clean and regularily waxed last a good number of years and are better than the originals in appearance.
The side steps clamp onto the chassi rails just rear of the front wheel arch and jusr in front of the rear wheel arch. They are not cheap and the chassis has to be sound. The bars are often cheaper but of little use to stand on as they are quite tight to the body.
Bull bars do come up on ebay but watch your insurance company as they used to have an adversion to them unless they came manufactured as part of the original vehicl. I was quoted £60 extra 10 years ago by Direct Line for bull bars that I could not prove as original so take care. I have no knowledge of the tinting proces but I have added Momo wooden steering wheels to both my Sportraks, expensive 1ive but well worth while and much more comfy than the enormous thin plastic item that comes as standard. I have to say that originally I looked at wooding the dash board and there was a kit around that did the key areas but, the kit was terrible, made of wood effect sticky plastic and real cheap skate so ignore that route.
Additional Spots and fogs are always a favorite, easy to fit using some of the existing bolts in the front bumper. Be sure to wire both so they comply with the laws relating to lights which I think is that spots can only be used with full beam and fogs must be wired to the lighting circuit so they come on when dipped or full are selected. I think a warning light for fogs is also necessary as they should not be used other than in suitable conditions, much like the rear fog. I have had a pull for having mine on with sidelights only.
OLDMINIMAN
M J Young
OLDMINIMAN, i dont know
OLDMINIMAN, i dont know where this forum would be without you! Brilliant info there!
Im not yet sure whether ill paint the wheels white but i am correct in saying i could prime them with white to get an idea of how they look, and if i dont like then i can top coat with silver?
Im going to have a crack at tinting- if it goes wrong then ive lost a tenner which isnt the end of the world. I think ill be looking at side steps in bit further down the line, cant afford them atm and mot will show whether the chass is up to it. Bull Bars- will indeed need to ask about them with my insurance company. I alread have some fogs on there, but i wired them up to there own switch on the dash, dont know if this is legal. Will have to look into it to see whether it will effect the MOT.
Thanks!!
Spots
The UK law onspots is that they mustbe wired i tothe mainbeam. Itis a good idea to have tem switchedd as you don't always want them on when using full beam. I have just driven up from Nantes withmine on and the fan belt squaling like a pig. It another problem you may experienc in the winter when drawing a lot of power and is caused by a very slightly loose belt on the ALTERNATOR but to be honest adjusting it is a pain. I think the belts used on later models which were multi ribbed have cured this problem.
I very much doubt whether the MOT includes the wiring of spots but if you have themonin the day without your other lights "plod" will no doubt waste your time by pointing out the law in a lecture and may even give you a ticket. It iseasy wiring them to the highbeam as most times the relays are placed near to the front of the car and you just tap into the appropriate wire there or on the wiring loom within the steering column shroud, your choice.
OLDMINMAN
M J Young
spots annd extras
your spots are leagal as long as they are on your full beam or on a switch and are not in a mot as i have fallen out with the plod more than once and was told by a mot station that they are fool of it and not to worry.If you are still iffy about it what to do is go to your local plod station and ask for the leagal requirments on spot lights from the traffic police and they do have that as i asked for it once and got it and i run with 2 in my bull bars and 4 on the roof.I also have fited a set of fog/driving lights to the front as well.The window tint isn't that bad as long as your windows are clean and when puting it on use a spray bottle with a light soapy solution and spray the window with that and make sure your window is wet and squigy out the exses then let it dry itself. Remember not to tint your drivers and your passengers front side windows or you will get pulled but from the center post back you can go limo with it and it will be ok as i have done it with light smoke and put my car through a mot with this.I got a set of side steps of a frontera and welded them on and are strong enough to stand on they just needed a few tweeks.
spotlights
I just came back from the states, the area where they shoot Top Gear presenters, and they mount their spots to the roof above the front glass. Is this legal over here? Is a pedestrian likely to fly that high? I ask this because it's a project I plan to do in the future (putting lights on, not mowing down ramblers.) Partly cos I think it looks cool, and partly cos apparently it is cooler, engine-wise. It's worth bearing in mind that, according to other posts i've read, the spotlights mounted on the front bumper in front of the grille can seriously mess with airflow, very essential for an older car, more susceptible to over-heating problems.
tart her up!
Tinting windows, tough job, i've done it three times on different vehicles one of which is my fourtrax, yes you can do it yourself, I hope you have a sharp knife and a steady hand, im a bit of an artist(not the drinking type) and it was not easy and i can do most things, take your time and make sure you have a clean area for the film while preping it!
Wheels, get them powder coated they will last and look a million dollars, dont waste time and money on wet paint!
where do you live, cos if your near Beccles suffolk there is a fab place who do wheel refinishing and very very good price. there called Buckinham Blast Cleaning Service 01502 717699.
you will regret wet painting but you wont powder coating!
Good luck Digger.
Hi digger, thanks for the
Hi digger,
thanks for the reply. I havent the steadiest of hands but o well. See how it goes. The kit i bought includes a blade. Any more tips for applying film?
I am in fact near beccles. You have any idea approx on how much they'd charge for 5 wheels in white? How bad does the wet paint look?
Cheers
Sportycg
no such thing as too many lights!
I have front spots on my fourtrak with a seperate switch on the dash, the front lights on a foutrak are good enough that they don't really add that much extra light when main beam is on.
Also, when I bought the truck it had small spots fitted at the rear under the bumper, these were wired into the reversing lights, and are fantastic for reversing at night, dont know the legalities of these, but it has passed MoTs with them on and will be something I will be fitting to future vehicles!
Watch out with the Bull Bars
You might like to take a look at this web site, it gives loads of info on the legal aspects of bull bars and nudge bars, there is even a down load section which I can recommend as it has all the latest info from the DfT consultation on Frontal Protection systems.
http://www.frontalprotectionsystems.eu/media-centre/register.php
It also has some letters from the DfT and other articles you can read which detail all the legal side of things.
It turns out that the driver could be committing an offence if the vehicle has a non approved bar on it under the road traffic act. Mostly though the govt want to ban selling of non approved stuff.
check it out.
White wheels
Hi I painted mine silver for one main reason me being a lazy so and so white gets dirty rather quick so you got to keep washing them anyway what I did was take the wheel off and make a template out of cardboard covering half the wheel put masking tape close to edge and then spray away, do the same with the other half.
Alfie.
Old Tart
To fit window tint properly it is prudent to remove the glass, the additional time means a proper job can be done, after all its what the pro's do. Remove the glass one window at a time and follow the instructions supplied with the tint, it is not difficult, but needs care and is time consuming. Take the window into a warm place such as the house and allow it to dry before refitting.
Lights are best fitted as two pairs, spotlights provide a long narrow beam which lights up the road a long way in front of the vehicle. Driving lights provide a wide beam which lights up the area in front of the vehicle, and not to the distance of spotlights. Fit a pair of each for best lighting, both on and off road; ensure they are fitted correctly, using relays, fuses, and the correct size wiring for the lights.
Bull bars are a no no, too many problems are cropping up as regards their legality, differing Police forces interpret the legislation in different ways, some may prosecute you if you have one fitted. Insurers are also causing problems, some say they will insure with a considerable premium increase, and there are many more claims against bull bar equipped vehicles when they are in collisions with other vehicles. Pedestrian claims are the worst, one insurer has figures claiming personal injury claims have risen in excess of 700% when bull bar equipped vehicles are involved in pedestrian collisions.
Options are to fit light protectors, these can be the bar type, or the mesh type, these will protect your lights when off road, and look good on road as they can be supplied as chrome finish, or painted to colour code them to your vehicle.
Side steps are debateable, if you use the vehicle off road, the clamps which attach them to the chassis often get caught on rocks, if it is on road use only, you takes your pick and pays your money.
Wheels can be subjected to all sorts of treatment, get a spare set without tyres and get them shotblasted, you can then have them powder coated in a colour of your choice, or painted. If you paint them use base and clear, the base coat is matt finish cellulose, the clear is clear lacquer. If one gets the lacquer chipped, simply touch up the chip with the wife or girlfriends clear nail varnish. If one becomes severely damaged, you will have the paint and lacquer to repair it; simply deflate the tyre and place a short scaffold board on the tyre, drive your vehicle onto the board, this will pull the bead off the rim and allow you to refinish it. Once the paint is dry, simply reinflate the tyre. Always finish the inside of the wheel rim as they are prone to corrosion on the bead where the tyre locates, this causes slow punctures, particularly on alloys.
removing glass
as easy as that sounds.., how exactly do you remove the rear side windows from a fourtrak? i have had a quick look but i could not see a simple way of doing it!
1991 Fourtrak 2.8TDX looking for a lift kit and some mean offroad tires!!!
1991 Fourtrak 2.8TDX looking for a lift kit and some mean offroad tyres!!!
Well the best way to start
Well the best way to start of is the outer look. Try to choose the best paint you can think of and second the glass you'll use on windows and of course the windshield.
windshield replacement