DIY stock to "aftermarket" grill ***finished
This is at your own risk as with any DIY
If someone gets stuck when attempting this:
my cell is: 405-361-five-eight-five-eight
I can try to help the best i can
Needed:
-screw driver (one that angles at 90 degrees helps)
-metal mesh or plastic grating
-bondo **(i found the epoxy bondo, comes with black epoxy and a clear/white hardener, worked much better than the standard chalky car bondo)
-dremel
-file
-Breathing masks
-sand paper
-screws (if making temporary grill)
-firm but agile grip
-patience and ingenuity
-spray enamel
Time: however long it takes you to get it perfect
First take your screw driver and remove six plastic scews and two plastic screws on the bumper right next to the tab sticking up by the headlight
Now remove the six screws on the back holding the grill to the bumper
Being very careful not to break any tabs like i did (dont worry though the other 5 will suffice)
Since i'm taking my time i decided to make a temporary "grill" while i whittle away at the stock one.
Just trace the stock grill on some chicken coop fencing or w/e and trim to fit taking note of the hood latch to make room for it. I then cleaned up and painted the mesh white.
temporary mesh replacing grill.
continued:
Cut carefully around the inside of the grill noting where the tabs and screw holes go into the bumper so as to not cut them off. I left two tabs on the bottom as accents. I also went to lowes and grabbed some expanded metal as the grill insert. Now to touch up, trim, and sand before it goes to paint and installation hopefully tomorrow.
A mock-up of close to what it will look like once finished.
After my friend left that coxed me into leaving the bottom tabs there i found them extremely tacky and removed them. If you look close you can see holes in the grill where the inserts used to be. For this i called on bondo. I found an epoxy mix that bonded well. Mix, cover, and sand until you feel it's "good enough". Final Prep and paint today.
After prime/base/clear. The grill was held to the grill piece with epoxy and 3 small clips. With better supplies i could have made it look much better.
Grill finally attached to car
Sorry this took so long guys. My national guard unit messed up orders and i got called in for two weeks of Active Duty two months early.
This is at your own risk as with any DIY
If someone gets stuck when attempting this:
my cell is: 405-361-five-eight-five-eight
I can try to help the best i can
Needed:
-screw driver (one that angles at 90 degrees helps)
-metal mesh or plastic grating
-bondo **(i found the epoxy bondo, comes with black epoxy and a clear/white hardener, worked much better than the standard chalky car bondo)
-dremel
-file
-Breathing masks
-sand paper
-screws (if making temporary grill)
-firm but agile grip
-patience and ingenuity
-spray enamel
Time: however long it takes you to get it perfect
First take your screw driver and remove six plastic scews and two plastic screws on the bumper right next to the tab sticking up by the headlight
Now remove the six screws on the back holding the grill to the bumper
Being very careful not to break any tabs like i did (dont worry though the other 5 will suffice)
Since i'm taking my time i decided to make a temporary "grill" while i whittle away at the stock one.
Just trace the stock grill on some chicken coop fencing or w/e and trim to fit taking note of the hood latch to make room for it. I then cleaned up and painted the mesh white.
temporary mesh replacing grill.
continued:
Cut carefully around the inside of the grill noting where the tabs and screw holes go into the bumper so as to not cut them off. I left two tabs on the bottom as accents. I also went to lowes and grabbed some expanded metal as the grill insert. Now to touch up, trim, and sand before it goes to paint and installation hopefully tomorrow.
A mock-up of close to what it will look like once finished.
After my friend left that coxed me into leaving the bottom tabs there i found them extremely tacky and removed them. If you look close you can see holes in the grill where the inserts used to be. For this i called on bondo. I found an epoxy mix that bonded well. Mix, cover, and sand until you feel it's "good enough". Final Prep and paint today.
After prime/base/clear. The grill was held to the grill piece with epoxy and 3 small clips. With better supplies i could have made it look much better.
Grill finally attached to car
Sorry this took so long guys. My national guard unit messed up orders and i got called in for two weeks of Active Duty two months early.