Jmeo's 2020 Shelby American GT500 SE Wide Body Build (+ "Phase 2")

[Tomster]

Post auto body work Jmeo inspection, as well as an install. Let's just say, auto body shops are like finish carpenters. On the outside things look great, but underneath the caulk and paint, it ain't.

How so?

 

[Tomster]

And didn't I read something about carbon fenders?

 

[Jmeo]

How so?

And didn't I read something about carbon fenders?

Many missing bolts (more than 10), many missing push pins (at least 10), improper routing of things, loose attachments. I suspected this would happen, so I had always planned to check for myself because…. OCD. I’m not mad, or surprised, just disappointed.

At least the paint work came out great. In fact, the quality of the paint work is exceptional. I talked quite a bit with the painter and he was amazing. It’s just he is not the one disassembling and reassembling the car, so that’s where the loss of quality control comes from. You know, you can’t hire good help anymore, and if you want things done right, you have to do it yourself. Which is where I am at.

I decided against the fenders.

 

[Inthehighdesert]

I’ll chime in here. That’s not a hire good help issue, that‘s a poor shop management issue. Over two decades in paint and body and my shop did not have that issue. Was an occassional pin missed, it was, not difficult to do with simply how many are used on various manufacturers. But to have multiple on the same vehicle is crap management and qc. Thr biggest issue with body shops now is how the pay scale is broken down and how each step is its own entity, its much the same in construction as well. It’s like electricians(the worst), up there with a drywall crew, leaving their trash(wire cuts) every where. I set it up to where each step was looked over by the next and beat it to death that the whole car was represented to the customer by every tech all the way down to the guy that chased parts. I’ll leave alone, shouldn’t be like this, but with a vehicle like yours the owner is absolutely going to be ocd to a different level(rightfully so) and go over it with a fine tooth comb so to speak. Good to hear the your cars getting back to what you want it to be.

Many missing bolts (more than 10), many missing push pins (at least 10), improper routing of things, loose attachments. I suspected this would happen, so I had always planned to check for myself because…. OCD. I’m not mad, or surprised, just disappointed.

At least the paint work came out great. In fact, the quality of the paint work is exceptional. I talked quite a bit with the painter and he was amazing. It’s just he is not the one disassembling and reassembling the car, so that’s where the loss of quality control comes from. You know, you can’t hire good help anymore, and if you want things done right, you have to do it yourself. Which is where I am at.

I decided against the fenders.

 

[Jmeo]

I’ll chime in here. That’s not a hire good help issue, that‘s a poor shop management issue. Over two decades in paint and body and my shop did not have that issue. Was an occassional pin missed, it was, not difficult to do with simply how many are used on various manufacturers. But to have multiple on the same vehicle is crap management and qc. Thr biggest issue with body shops now is how the pay scale is broken down and how each step is its own entity, its much the same in construction as well. It’s like electricians(the worst), up there with a drywall crew, leaving their trash(wire cuts) every where. I set it up to where each step was looked over by the next and beat it to death that the whole car was represented to the customer by every tech all the way down to the guy that chased parts. I’ll leave alone, shouldn’t be like this, but with a vehicle like yours the owner is absolutely going to be ocd to a different level(rightfully so) and go over it with a fine tooth comb so to speak. Good to hear the your cars getting back to what you want it to be.

Maybe so, maybe both. The exception to the rule here is my car sat disassembled for long periods of time. The car was there for more than four months, so this is why, in my opinion, hardware went missing. Still doesn't excuse putting it back together and missing bolts here and there.

Luckily for me, I keep everything, so I had the correct hardware to get me back to my liking. All good now.

 

[Jmeo]

Everything was pulled for inspection and to install my new AlphaRex Nova headlights. A friend turned me on to these. They have signature lighting that resembles the stock headlights, but it also continues along the top of the headlight. With these, I have a refreshed look that is still reminiscent of OEM.

The signature lights can be white like I have it or amber. I like the white better, and it has a flashback that switches to amber when the directional is switched on. That and its sequential, which match by bumper blinkers.

I really like them. Here’s a short video. I also like the startup sequence.

 

[Evolvd]

Everything was pulled for inspection and to install my new AlphaRex Nova headlights. A friend turned me on to these. They have signature lighting that resembles the stock headlights, but it also continues along the top of the headlight. With these, I have a refreshed look that is still reminiscent of OEM.

The signature lights can be white like I have it or amber. I like the white better, and it has a flashback that switches to amber when the directional is switched on. That and its sequential, which match by bumper blinkers.

I really like them. Here’s a short video. I also like the startup sequence.

I have them on my GT500 as well. Although, I’m not too impressed with the high beams. I installed the Morimoto version on my vert and their high beams are superior.

 

[Jmeo]

I have them on my GT500 as well. Although, I’m not too impressed with the high beams. I installed the Morimoto version on my vert and their high beams are superior.

I watched the review of them against the Morimoto and I think a third brand. They seem to all have one category that shines, so it comes down to preference. I like everything else better with these over the Morimoto’s I just took out. Luckily for me I almost never drive this car after dark. That and either option provides better than OEM lighting, so there is that.

 

[marklboris]

I watched the review of them against the Morimoto and I think a third brand. They seem to all have one category that shines, so it comes down to preference. I like everything else better with these over the Morimoto’s I just took out. Luckily for me I almost never drive this car after dark. That and either option provides better than OEM lighting, so there is that.

What I wish is if either one of those light sets you installed were all black instead of a bunch of chrome inside. The Morimoto version 1's I have on my 500 have an all black interior with no amber side reflector and have a sinister look to them. The high beams on my version 1's are really bad as in my high beams are not even as bright as the low beams on my other cars but I sure like the look of them when they are off.

 

[Jmeo]

What I wish is if either one of those light sets you installed were all black instead of a bunch of chrome inside. The Morimoto version 1's I have on my 500 have an all black interior with no amber side reflector and have a sinister look to them. The high beams on my version 1's are really bad as in my high beams are not even as bright as the low beams on my other cars but I sure like the look of them when they are off.

Mark, I have always loved the look of your headlights. To me, it's the signature lighting and not the fact that it's blacked out. Not that blacked out doesn't look good, it's just I like the details more visible, especially on my car.

I have heard about the lack of a good high beam on the Gen 1, but it's crazy to hear they are not even as bright as other brands’ low beams.

AlphaRex does make a more blacked-out version. They aren't as blacked out as what you have, but they are darker than mine. The rear housing trim is blacked out, the signature strip is darker, and maybe even the lens is darker. My friend @Tatonka went with the darker set, he may be able to give you some real-life pictures of this version.

Here are the glamor shots of them compared to the ones I went with.

 

[marklboris]

Mark, I have always loved the look of your headlights. To me, it's the signature lighting and not the fact that it's blacked out. Not that blacked out doesn't look good, it's just I like the details more visible, especially on my car.

I have heard about the lack of a good high beam on the Gen 1, but it's crazy to hear they are not even as bright as other brands’ low beams.

AlphaRex does make a more blacked-out version. They aren't as blacked out as what you have, but they are darker than mine. The rear housing trim is blacked out, the signature strip is darker, and maybe even the lens is darker. My friend @Tatonka went with the darker set, he may be able to give you some real-life pictures of this version.

Here are the glamor shots of them compared to the ones I went with.

Thanks Jaime for the info and photos. I have an issue with the amber side marker which the version 1's don't have and prefer it that way. I did see them on Tatonka's 500 and I'm still not excited about them. Just going to stick with my version 1's for now and like you, rarely drive the car at night anyway.

 

[Tatonka]

Mark, I have always loved the look of your headlights. To me, it's the signature lighting and not the fact that it's blacked out. Not that blacked out doesn't look good, it's just I like the details more visible, especially on my car.

I have heard about the lack of a good high beam on the Gen 1, but it's crazy to hear they are not even as bright as other brands’ low beams.

AlphaRex does make a more blacked-out version. They aren't as blacked out as what you have, but they are darker than mine. The rear housing trim is blacked out, the signature strip is darker, and maybe even the lens is darker. My friend @Tatonka went with the darker set, he may be able to give you some real-life pictures of this version.

Here are the glamor shots of them compared to the ones I went with.

Here are some reference pics of the process. I can’t post video but the startup sequence is pretty cool. I like that they can be run with white or the amber. I chose amber because it goes with the markers and the ford performance vehicles (raptors, b raptors, etc) all use amber lights. Thanks for the shout out Jaime! Let me know if I can help any.

 

[Jmeo]

Even though they are not in opposing directions, I like them. I just needed to find a new anchor spot for the oil catch can cable. It used to be on the center bolt of the stock bracket, but the new bracket uses stainless steel countersunk hardware.

Comparison:

Outcome:

Few, that was a tough install......

 

[agmattocks]

Things still unfolding, and hopefully will all work out the way it should. I took the car home on Wednesday and it felt so good to be back in the drivers seat. I drove it back there yesterday to show them something I found and they got me a ride home and kept the car to get it immediately fixed. Maybe getting it home (again) today.

I will say, the paint shop has been absolutely amazing to deal with and I am grateful for all they have done to produce a top notch outcome, but also how they are dealing with the situation.

I couldn't help taking this picture with my phone when I was about to get a ride home. Someone recently said to me that what's happening is not the cars fault, and he's correct. When I see this thing, it brings the feels to my cockles. That's how you know you love what your seeing.

Side note, I freaking LOVE the wheels!

those wheels tho!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!