Diary Of A Cheapa$$ Modder....
04-13-2013, 01:33 PM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 159
Diary Of A Cheapa$$ Modder....
There were a few subtle things I wanted for external mods, which I could have gotten either factory or dealer installed, but I'm just too frugal for that.
Instead, I did some research and went the Ebay/Online market route. All the parts I purchased were brand-new.
1. Cowl stripes. Dealer wants a ridiculous price for these, and they were kind of boring looking plain spears. I found these unique-looking ones with the Pony logo and surround stripe for $20 shipped. I botched the application of one of them, and the ebay seller I bought them from offered to send me another one for free. (I still Paypal'd him $10 for his trouble.) TOTAL COST: $30
2. Decklid panel. I first tried a decal, but it didn't fit and was too hard to apply without flaws. It only cost me $20, I didn't bother trying for a refund. Instead I found the OEM Ford Decklid panel for $75 shipped "buy-it-now" price on Ebay. (Ford price is $225) I've seen this same Ebay seller have them go for as low as $25-50 in auction formats. TOTAL COST: $95
3. Pony Package Grille. OEM version is about $300 from Ford. Found an aftermarket one on Ebay for $100 shipped. Quality is as good as the OEM part. Just had to swap over the chrome running pony emblem. TOTAL COST $100.
4. Tailight Bezels. Seemed to be a "finishing touch" for the back-end with the decklid installed. Found them online (not Ebay) for $40 shipped unpainted. I wanted to try Plasti-coat first, but didn't like the results, So I peeled it off and just used Rustoleum flat spray paint - spent $13 on the two cans of spray. TOTAL COST: $53.
5. "OEM" Fog lights. I probably hated this stock look more than anything else about the car. As someone else here said, the front of a V6 Mustang without foglights installed "Just screams I'm too much of a cheapass to afford foglights!". Factory price is over $600, all the aftermarket kits sell for $339. I found the parts to make up a "OEM" Package all on Ebay... minus the "factory" switch. TOTAL COST: $87.
Additionally, I sold the original "Faux Gas Cap" from the car that I took off when I installed the decklid for $40.
I also tried out a set of color-matched mirror caps, but was unhappy with the fit & finish so I returned them. The seller gave me a full refund including shipping costs. Right now I'm checking into the possibility of getting the OEM black ones (which are better quality construction) color-matched at a body shop.
NET COST FOR ALL MODS: $325!
Instead, I did some research and went the Ebay/Online market route. All the parts I purchased were brand-new.
1. Cowl stripes. Dealer wants a ridiculous price for these, and they were kind of boring looking plain spears. I found these unique-looking ones with the Pony logo and surround stripe for $20 shipped. I botched the application of one of them, and the ebay seller I bought them from offered to send me another one for free. (I still Paypal'd him $10 for his trouble.) TOTAL COST: $30
2. Decklid panel. I first tried a decal, but it didn't fit and was too hard to apply without flaws. It only cost me $20, I didn't bother trying for a refund. Instead I found the OEM Ford Decklid panel for $75 shipped "buy-it-now" price on Ebay. (Ford price is $225) I've seen this same Ebay seller have them go for as low as $25-50 in auction formats. TOTAL COST: $95
3. Pony Package Grille. OEM version is about $300 from Ford. Found an aftermarket one on Ebay for $100 shipped. Quality is as good as the OEM part. Just had to swap over the chrome running pony emblem. TOTAL COST $100.
4. Tailight Bezels. Seemed to be a "finishing touch" for the back-end with the decklid installed. Found them online (not Ebay) for $40 shipped unpainted. I wanted to try Plasti-coat first, but didn't like the results, So I peeled it off and just used Rustoleum flat spray paint - spent $13 on the two cans of spray. TOTAL COST: $53.
5. "OEM" Fog lights. I probably hated this stock look more than anything else about the car. As someone else here said, the front of a V6 Mustang without foglights installed "Just screams I'm too much of a cheapass to afford foglights!". Factory price is over $600, all the aftermarket kits sell for $339. I found the parts to make up a "OEM" Package all on Ebay... minus the "factory" switch. TOTAL COST: $87.
Additionally, I sold the original "Faux Gas Cap" from the car that I took off when I installed the decklid for $40.
I also tried out a set of color-matched mirror caps, but was unhappy with the fit & finish so I returned them. The seller gave me a full refund including shipping costs. Right now I'm checking into the possibility of getting the OEM black ones (which are better quality construction) color-matched at a body shop.
NET COST FOR ALL MODS: $325!
04-13-2013, 09:00 PM
#4
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 159
I've had the spears for well over a year now - they still look new.
04-13-2013, 10:24 PM
#6
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 159
04-14-2013, 10:33 PM
#8
There were a few subtle things I wanted for external mods, which I could have gotten either factory or dealer installed, but I'm just too frugal for that.
Instead, I did some research and went the Ebay/Online market route. All the parts I purchased were brand-new.
1. Cowl stripes. Dealer wants a ridiculous price for these, and they were kind of boring looking plain spears. I found these unique-looking ones with the Pony logo and surround stripe for $20 shipped. I botched the application of one of them, and the ebay seller I bought them from offered to send me another one for free. (I still Paypal'd him $10 for his trouble.) TOTAL COST: $30
2. Decklid panel. I first tried a decal, but it didn't fit and was too hard to apply without flaws. It only cost me $20, I didn't bother trying for a refund. Instead I found the OEM Ford Decklid panel for $75 shipped "buy-it-now" price on Ebay. (Ford price is $225) I've seen this same Ebay seller have them go for as low as $25-50 in auction formats. TOTAL COST: $95
3. Pony Package Grille. OEM version is about $300 from Ford. Found an aftermarket one on Ebay for $100 shipped. Quality is as good as the OEM part. Just had to swap over the chrome running pony emblem. TOTAL COST $100.
4. Tailight Bezels. Seemed to be a "finishing touch" for the back-end with the decklid installed. Found them online (not Ebay) for $40 shipped unpainted. I wanted to try Plasti-coat first, but didn't like the results, So I peeled it off and just used Rustoleum flat spray paint - spent $13 on the two cans of spray. TOTAL COST: $53.
5. "OEM" Fog lights. I probably hated this stock look more than anything else about the car. As someone else here said, the front of a V6 Mustang without foglights installed "Just screams I'm too much of a cheapass to afford foglights!". Factory price is over $600, all the aftermarket kits sell for $339. I found the parts to make up a "OEM" Package all on Ebay... minus the "factory" switch. TOTAL COST: $87.
Additionally, I sold the original "Faux Gas Cap" from the car that I took off when I installed the decklid for $40.
I also tried out a set of color-matched mirror caps, but was unhappy with the fit & finish so I returned them. The seller gave me a full refund including shipping costs. Right now I'm checking into the possibility of getting the OEM black ones (which are better quality construction) color-matched at a body shop.
NET COST FOR ALL MODS: $325!
Instead, I did some research and went the Ebay/Online market route. All the parts I purchased were brand-new.
1. Cowl stripes. Dealer wants a ridiculous price for these, and they were kind of boring looking plain spears. I found these unique-looking ones with the Pony logo and surround stripe for $20 shipped. I botched the application of one of them, and the ebay seller I bought them from offered to send me another one for free. (I still Paypal'd him $10 for his trouble.) TOTAL COST: $30
2. Decklid panel. I first tried a decal, but it didn't fit and was too hard to apply without flaws. It only cost me $20, I didn't bother trying for a refund. Instead I found the OEM Ford Decklid panel for $75 shipped "buy-it-now" price on Ebay. (Ford price is $225) I've seen this same Ebay seller have them go for as low as $25-50 in auction formats. TOTAL COST: $95
3. Pony Package Grille. OEM version is about $300 from Ford. Found an aftermarket one on Ebay for $100 shipped. Quality is as good as the OEM part. Just had to swap over the chrome running pony emblem. TOTAL COST $100.
4. Tailight Bezels. Seemed to be a "finishing touch" for the back-end with the decklid installed. Found them online (not Ebay) for $40 shipped unpainted. I wanted to try Plasti-coat first, but didn't like the results, So I peeled it off and just used Rustoleum flat spray paint - spent $13 on the two cans of spray. TOTAL COST: $53.
5. "OEM" Fog lights. I probably hated this stock look more than anything else about the car. As someone else here said, the front of a V6 Mustang without foglights installed "Just screams I'm too much of a cheapass to afford foglights!". Factory price is over $600, all the aftermarket kits sell for $339. I found the parts to make up a "OEM" Package all on Ebay... minus the "factory" switch. TOTAL COST: $87.
Additionally, I sold the original "Faux Gas Cap" from the car that I took off when I installed the decklid for $40.
I also tried out a set of color-matched mirror caps, but was unhappy with the fit & finish so I returned them. The seller gave me a full refund including shipping costs. Right now I'm checking into the possibility of getting the OEM black ones (which are better quality construction) color-matched at a body shop.
NET COST FOR ALL MODS: $325!
...all i got to say
04-20-2013, 01:40 AM
#9
I did my rockers, never having done them before and it was easy and look good
04-20-2013, 07:23 AM
#10
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 308
I finally got my stripes on this week. (Couldn't look better!) I called the decal guy that the body shop guy uses. It took him almost 1.5 hours. I guess they had been rolled up a bit too long and he had to use the wet method. He said that he normally will put them on dry and it takes about 20 mins. Anyway, I know not everyone likes stripes on their cars but if done correctly, they can really look good.