Need more GL bus advice...

[Panelfantastic]

I decided early on to ditch the front bumper, at 10" off the ground it wasn't gonna help in a collision anyway. I've been working on a front valance to cover up the bumper holes. My original thought was just like you see in the pics, simple, clean, with just a little splitter across the bottom. Now that it's on, the nose looks awful long with that extra chin hangin' down.

Soooo, do I need to break up the valance with some holes?

What about brake cooling ducts? functional of course but probably not needed.
...or...
What about driving lights set up just like the front of a DP/canam style Porsche would have...in at an angle with the clear covers?

[Panelfantastic]

...I don't really want either (ducts or lights). It would be more work and more money... but I'm not sure it looks right so plain??

[Bullyboy]

It does need something I don't know about more holes though. How about a thin 3/4" wide bar around the top of the new black panel? just to break the line, so it doesn't look so droopy. I would suggest a paint scheme to break the look but yours looks too good to be adding stripes and such.

[Panelfantastic]

It just so happens there is a body seam/pinch weld just above the new panel. I have the new panel butted right up against it. It does exactly what you image, kinda breaks the long nose. I think now that it is test fitted, I like the no more holes plan. I will paint the new piece dove blue same as the rest and then paint the splitter (the horizontal lip at the bottom) to match the wheels ( so it looks like a seperate carbon piece ).

[zen]

the real issue is how much lower it hangs than the rest of the bus. what if you shorten it by about half. i always like them with the bumper removed and the holes filled also. i like the tucked under look that gives. last thought (and my least favorite) is adding rockers and rear valance with same heigth. color matching as you have planned with certainly help the look.

oh, or you could add a big *** VolkSport Kafer Gruppe logo across the thing!

[zen]

btw, my wife thanks you for the bad influence. i now have two panels in my scope. just have to find the right example. BUT there is no way it is going to come out like this one. it will be a german rat, but a panel nonetheless. i honestly don't think ANYTHING can touch what you have here.

[Panelfantastic]

...I have been eyeballing taking about 2" out of the overall height. It does hang down too much with respect to the sides and looks out of porportion. 2"s is as far up as I can go before you see the actual stock sheet metal hanging out underneath.

Thanks for the compliments and for always giving it to me straight, when I ask for advice, I want it honest... good and not so good.
My wife giggled at the trouble you're in...

[NO_H2O]

I think that some brake cooling ducts would be sweet. Some fog/running lights would work too. I wonder if the aftermarket scoops for a Jetta (A-4) or Passat would work.

[Panelfantastic]

I've still got a whole box of assorted NACAs. If I was gonna duct it, I would probably use those again to keep some continuity. I'm just trying to be careful about knowing when to say when... I know, too late for that! My next door neighbor is big into rice, he and all of his buddies have the full-on "shogun" kits on their cars and I look at those and think "man I gotta keep this clean and simple cuz that she-ite looks awful"...

[Rob]

Hey Panel,

How did you create that lip ?

Do you have a pic of the whole bus, like a 3/4 front/side shot, I guess it would give a better idea if we can see the whole roof line.

Anyway, I agree that although it looks good from the front, the difference with the sides is too big. I don't think rocker extensions will look good.

I'd paint it first, the same as the body, just to see how it looks. Maybe if you taper the ends towards the wheelwell (not sure if I describe this properly)...

Anyway.....that's all of my brainfarts for now....

Rob.

[NO_H2O]

I don't think a pair of ducts would look "Ricer" remember, they take their ideas from Euro cars and then go overboard with them. If you put 3 pairs of ducts cover them with screen and 2 pair of driving lights with blue lamps and some graphics/LED lighting then you could hang out with them,,,,,,,,,,,well maybe you would have to put a big wing on the back and a big APC sticker on the back glass to fit in with the nieghbors

[Panelfantastic]

Thanks for the ideas Rob. Definately NO on any sort of side skirt, I really like the way the sides roll under. I'll try to post some more pics this weekend so you can see how it is put together.


H2O, I was thinkin' some 'o them GREEN neons would really be the shiznitz...shiznizzle...shibbidy doowop...uuuhmm, the cat's pajamas.

[jhelgesen]

If you could recess the whole thing back and under, say an inch or two, I think it would give you the look you want. It breaks up the big front panel, and give it the look of a racing spliter.

[jhelgesen]

Maybe like this?

[Panelfantastic]

Great idea, but major surgery. I know, I know, major surgery is my middle name but the gain vs. work is way too small. I'm gonna shorten it a little this weekend and take a few more pics and see how it looks...