GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars - View Single Post

Randyman · #1 (**permalink**) 04-12-2008, 06:41 PM

I was so glad to find that this kit was available and that you can get it painted to match your Camry!!! I ordered my kit from Factory Wings: http://www.factorywings.com/StoreFront.bok?affiliate_no=24

I just gave them the color code off of the label in my driver side door jam. The kit arrived two weeks later - Factory Wings did a great paint job: it was a perfect match. It came in a large box that was light as a feather!!

I have to admit, I really love the way it came out – I think I have worn a trough around the car just circling it and admiring the look. I don’t want a fast car and never considered the SE version. I like saving gas – but that doesn’t mean we can’t jazz it up a bit!!!

I’ve scanned the instructions and attached it as a pdf. I’ll offer my comments where I think the instructions were too cautious and places where I think they left something out. Overall, it is an amazingly simple process, considering what a quantum leap in appearance the installation makes.

First, my biggest tip is – if you can get the car up on 4 jack stands and remove all four wheels at once, you could breeze through the installation in a couple of hours!!! The four Razzi pieces are held on with a combination of slow set adhesive (24 hours!!!) and screws driven into the wheel wells. You need the wheels off to have access. Also, I followed their tip of masking and spraying the wheel well tabs with rubber undercoat spray so you need the wheels off for that as well. If you can’t get all 4 wheels off at once, you are going to burn a lot of hours (and calories) loosening and tightening lug nuts, taking wheels off and putting wheels back on, chocking, lifting, lowering – you get it!!!

I used both Paint Prep from Griot’s Garage and 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner to wipe down the Camry Surfaces. You can get both from Griot’s Garage – I like their stuff. I think the 3M Adhesive remover is available at most hardware stores. The instructions also suggested lightly sanding the finish before installing. I could not bring myself to do that step. Actually most of the pieces have a lot of support - the piece that is least supported is the rear air dam. The front piece is supported because it slips into the lower scoop and the fog light holes. The side pieces clip pretty tightly onto the existing running boards. Razzi provides these stick on tabs that act as a ledge to support the rear air dam.

Front air dam: The instructions are very cautious about fitting and checking for interference with the front grill and the rubber covers where the fog lights go. I installed the Toyota Fog Lights in my Camry last year so I paid close attention to their warnings. I removed the grill (you just have to wiggle and push it in and it comes out very easily). I removed the rubber fog light covers. The fairing fit in without a problem!!! I removed all three items and after the fairing was glued screwed and secured, the grill and rubber covers popped back in right behind the fairing – no problems!!!!

Side pieces: These fit like a glove and slide on very easily and securely. I thought I would get wise and put the dabs of glue on the rocker panel instead of the Razzi piece. Don’t do this – follow the instructions!!! If you put it on the rocker panel and then push the fairing on, you squeeze the glue into the door well where you see it and then you have to wipe it off and clean it up. If you follow the instructions and put it on the pieces, when you push it on, it will smear back into the piece where you can’t see it.

Rear piece: The instructions don’t really describe the importance of the hole you have to cut in your bumper!!! The rear air dam has two exhaust cut outs and the Hybrid bumper has one. Grab a 2 inch diameter hole saw and attach it to your drill. Estimate roughly where the cut out is going to go. It is pretty much where that stylish crease ends near the bottom of the rear bumper. Basically, you are going to make a cut out in the rear bumper about 4 inches high and 6 inches wide. Drill two 2” diameter holes about 6 inches apart (on edge, not on diameter) and use a hand held saw to join the top edges of your holes. Use the saw, starting at the edges of the holes and cut downward.

Also, the Camry comes with an undercover panel sealing off the bottom of the car. You have to cut that as well to fit the cut out (think 3 dimensions). You also need to cut out this square to attach the fake exhaust. Crawl under the car (on jack stands) with the 2 inch hole saw. You will see the tow tab slot cut in the underside cover - that will form one edge of the square you have to cut. Roughly line up the edge of the cut out in the bumper and drill a 2 inch diameter hole. Using your handsaw, cut one edge back to the tow tab slot. Cut the other edge towards the bumper. See diagram and photo.

The Real Exhaust: They warn you that it is important to install the exhaust extension so the hot exhaust fumes won’t melt your beautiful air dams. At more than a $1000, I was not about to take a chance. The problem is the bolted on extension is made for the 2” diameter tail pipe coming out of the muffler. See Photo below:

I know the Hybrid was sold in two configurations – loaded (Nav System, sunroof, etc.) and bare bones. Mine has the sunroof and it also had a really nice stainless steel extension welded onto the 2” diameter muffler tail pipe. This cover needs to be cut off with a Dremel tool/cut off wheel or else the extension won’t fit on!! It is also a lot easier to cut off the nice welded on piece before the rear air dam is installed!!! I learned this the hard way, hopefully you are spared!!!! Use the Dremel tool, cut around the circumference of the decorative cover and avoid getting near the original tail pipe!!!

The Fake Exhaust: Not much to say here. I’ve marked up the instructions; there was a piece I did not need to use. They have a metal bar with two holes in it that jogs the assembly sideways. I just used the L-Bracket and it lined up perfectly. Razzi provides 2 metric threaded bolts that fit the threading on the tab on the frame of the Camry – no nut required. The slots in the L-Bracket were narrow and the bolts did not slide in them. I went through the trouble of grinding the slots open. The truth is - the correct position for me was the extremes – Fake Exhaust as low as it can go and as far foreward (in) as it can go.

Anyway, other than these little warnings, the installation is amazingly simple and you will be really happy. Find a way to get all four wheels off and it won’t be nearly as exhausting!! Please post pictures and let us all know how happy you are with your car!! I think this is a great way to spice things up!!!

Happy Hybrid Owners!!!
Randyman!!!

PS: I am trying to attach a pdf of the Razzi Instructions and a pdf of the Exhaust Extensions Instructions. I keep getting error messages. Any help??