Lo-Pro Install & Pictures (long)
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 298
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From: Camano Island, WA
Lo-Pro Install & Pictures (long)
I just installed an MPulse Lo-Pro on my 2000 Lightning, and I thought I'd share my observations.
Packing:
The box was sturdy and there were no scratches or blemishes from the delivery. However, the cover was screwed to the support 2x4's, which left holes in the bottom:
Instructions:
They were written for a professional installer, and are pretty sparse. The photos looked like 100th generation photocopies and were mostly useless:
Construction:
The support mounting brackets had to be bent because the inside of the OEM rail cover isn't quite vertical. The front hinges are a good design and allow the cover to be removed by lifting to about 60 degrees and sliding out. They stick out the front of the cover but are low enough that they are only visible from the side between the cab and bed.
I had to take off one of the hinges, fill the holes, drill new pilot holes and screw it back on because it was mounted incorrectly at the factory.
The front mounting brackets are ugly galvanized L's. Notice also how the weather-stripping leaves a big gap in the transition from the bulkhead plate to the side rail:
The weather-stripping is about twice as thick as it should be. In the front it crushes down and forms a tight seal, but at the back the locks don't have enough leverage to compress it so it leaves 1/2" in the back compared to 1/8" in the front.
The back support mounts are a clever design that allow the cover to be easily removed. The problem is when it is off, small rods stick out into the bed that could get broken or bent and are sure to scratch up cargo.
The locks are supposed to engage with a bracket that screws to the tailgate. One problem is you have to open the top every time you want to open the tailgate, which is only a minor inconvenience. The major problem with that is the tailgate brackets stick up over 1/4" inch. This isn't very compatible with a Bedrug, and you can forget about ever sliding anything into the bed from the tailgate. I wish I had ordered mine without any locks. Right now I have it fastened to the bed tie-downs while I devise some other scheme of locking it.
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Mark
'00 Lightning
'79+ Corvette
Packing:
The box was sturdy and there were no scratches or blemishes from the delivery. However, the cover was screwed to the support 2x4's, which left holes in the bottom:
Instructions:
They were written for a professional installer, and are pretty sparse. The photos looked like 100th generation photocopies and were mostly useless:
Construction:
The support mounting brackets had to be bent because the inside of the OEM rail cover isn't quite vertical. The front hinges are a good design and allow the cover to be removed by lifting to about 60 degrees and sliding out. They stick out the front of the cover but are low enough that they are only visible from the side between the cab and bed.
I had to take off one of the hinges, fill the holes, drill new pilot holes and screw it back on because it was mounted incorrectly at the factory.
The front mounting brackets are ugly galvanized L's. Notice also how the weather-stripping leaves a big gap in the transition from the bulkhead plate to the side rail:
The weather-stripping is about twice as thick as it should be. In the front it crushes down and forms a tight seal, but at the back the locks don't have enough leverage to compress it so it leaves 1/2" in the back compared to 1/8" in the front.
The back support mounts are a clever design that allow the cover to be easily removed. The problem is when it is off, small rods stick out into the bed that could get broken or bent and are sure to scratch up cargo.
The locks are supposed to engage with a bracket that screws to the tailgate. One problem is you have to open the top every time you want to open the tailgate, which is only a minor inconvenience. The major problem with that is the tailgate brackets stick up over 1/4" inch. This isn't very compatible with a Bedrug, and you can forget about ever sliding anything into the bed from the tailgate. I wish I had ordered mine without any locks. Right now I have it fastened to the bed tie-downs while I devise some other scheme of locking it.
------------------
Mark
'00 Lightning
'79+ Corvette
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Camano Island, WA
<continued>
Finish:
From 10 feet away it looks fantastic. It is flat and it transitions to the edges very smoothly. Get up close and the waviness is pretty apparent. Get even closer, and in some places you can just make out the fiberglass grain through the paint.
A power pole reflected in the paint showing how much orange peel there is:
Notice the reflection of the cab and garage are quite wavy:
The underside is... Well, see for yourself:
The underside edges are completely unfinished and in some places large gaps appear where the top and bottom were joined during construction. There were raw fiberglass splinters sticking out all around the edges.
Other:
For some reason it came with a large bottle of the thinnest touch-up paint I've ever seen. It was the correct color, but I don't know what it was for. Maybe they expect shops to scratch the hell out of customer trucks while they install the cover.
Final Verdict:
If I had to buy another cover I wouldn't buy this one. It's too bad, because it really looks good on the truck. The problem is it's going to take a lot of work to make it perfect. The cost is $629, but I'd say it's really only worth $350.
------------------
Mark
'00 Lightning
'79+ Corvette
Finish:
From 10 feet away it looks fantastic. It is flat and it transitions to the edges very smoothly. Get up close and the waviness is pretty apparent. Get even closer, and in some places you can just make out the fiberglass grain through the paint.
A power pole reflected in the paint showing how much orange peel there is:
Notice the reflection of the cab and garage are quite wavy:
The underside is... Well, see for yourself:
The underside edges are completely unfinished and in some places large gaps appear where the top and bottom were joined during construction. There were raw fiberglass splinters sticking out all around the edges.
Other:
For some reason it came with a large bottle of the thinnest touch-up paint I've ever seen. It was the correct color, but I don't know what it was for. Maybe they expect shops to scratch the hell out of customer trucks while they install the cover.
Final Verdict:
If I had to buy another cover I wouldn't buy this one. It's too bad, because it really looks good on the truck. The problem is it's going to take a lot of work to make it perfect. The cost is $629, but I'd say it's really only worth $350.
------------------
Mark
'00 Lightning
'79+ Corvette
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Sorry you don't feel like you got the best deal in the world.
I was very pleased witht the finish on my red Lo-Pro that I got last year. Definitely was no fibreglas showing through.
I think you may find that the lid will lie flat in time, as they suggest that it takes about 90 days for the 'glass to cure. Also the locks will suck the lid down when they are closed. (By the way, I agree that the locks on the tailgate are a pain in the a$$. I'm filling mine and using a hidden system for my remount to my '01)
You may also be experiencing the gap difference because you mounted the the front plate too low. We put some shims under it to raise the front plate by about 1/8". I was very pleased overall with mine.
------------------
2001 Red Lightning Delivered 3-15-2001, Factory Tonneau, 2" Aim Lowering Shackles, Hitch Removed, Group Purchase Floor Mats, Modified Light Switch for Fogs.
2000 Red Lightning - #835 of 4966 Sold 3-8-2001
2000 Red Trans Am Ram Air WS6, 6 Speed - Delivered 2-15-00 - Awesome Looking Car
My Zing.com Album Click Here
I was very pleased witht the finish on my red Lo-Pro that I got last year. Definitely was no fibreglas showing through.
I think you may find that the lid will lie flat in time, as they suggest that it takes about 90 days for the 'glass to cure. Also the locks will suck the lid down when they are closed. (By the way, I agree that the locks on the tailgate are a pain in the a$$. I'm filling mine and using a hidden system for my remount to my '01)
You may also be experiencing the gap difference because you mounted the the front plate too low. We put some shims under it to raise the front plate by about 1/8". I was very pleased overall with mine.
------------------
2001 Red Lightning Delivered 3-15-2001, Factory Tonneau, 2" Aim Lowering Shackles, Hitch Removed, Group Purchase Floor Mats, Modified Light Switch for Fogs.
2000 Red Lightning - #835 of 4966 Sold 3-8-2001
2000 Red Trans Am Ram Air WS6, 6 Speed - Delivered 2-15-00 - Awesome Looking Car
My Zing.com Album Click Here
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach, Florida, USA
Mark_2Kl
I also just finished the install of my lo-pro yesterday and I can concure about most of the problems that you had also. There are a few things that I didn't have problems with though. I did order mine WITHOUT locks. The installation looks so muck cleaner, and the locks that I got from Mike at Ultimate Servives work great, and they even pull the back down enough to compress the rear gasket. In the front corners, did you do anything about the gaps where the bulkhead meets the side rails? I'm thinking about a little clear silicone to make sure it doesn't leak. As far as the finish, mine was very good, except for one area that looks like some dirt fell in the paint, but I'm planning to buff it anyway, so that should take care of it. Over all, I am happy with the product. Wish they offered it with a carpeted liner on the underside, that will definately be a project for me in the future. I don't like the raw fiberglass look.
Just my opinion.
Spencer
------------------
White 2000 L
#2250
Mods:
PSP filter
F-1 AAD Hood
Clear Corners
Keyless Entry Keypad
Mpulse Lo-pro Tonneau
Chrome Motorsport SVT rims
I also just finished the install of my lo-pro yesterday and I can concure about most of the problems that you had also. There are a few things that I didn't have problems with though. I did order mine WITHOUT locks. The installation looks so muck cleaner, and the locks that I got from Mike at Ultimate Servives work great, and they even pull the back down enough to compress the rear gasket. In the front corners, did you do anything about the gaps where the bulkhead meets the side rails? I'm thinking about a little clear silicone to make sure it doesn't leak. As far as the finish, mine was very good, except for one area that looks like some dirt fell in the paint, but I'm planning to buff it anyway, so that should take care of it. Over all, I am happy with the product. Wish they offered it with a carpeted liner on the underside, that will definately be a project for me in the future. I don't like the raw fiberglass look.
Just my opinion.
Spencer
------------------
White 2000 L
#2250
Mods:
PSP filter
F-1 AAD Hood
Clear Corners
Keyless Entry Keypad
Mpulse Lo-pro Tonneau
Chrome Motorsport SVT rims