Any tips on doing this? I was going to put black aluminum mesh in the "hole." Wanting to know the "easiest" way to remove it and the best way to install the mesh also where to get black...I see regular aluminum all over the place. Any tips would be great.

Oh also, I started @ Lincoln Technical Institute today in the Collision Repair and Refinishing course. I plan on doing custom two toned paint following the body lines from the inside of the hood ridges to the door jams (from just under the window all the way to the top including the roof) but i'm not sure what to do about the rear hatch...and recommendations?

I havent taken the grill of but it would be easier if you remove the bumper.
Ive read that it is a PITA with the bumper on.

I prefer a 1 tone paint, but I should see how it would look to say yes I like it or no.

The grille would probably come off easier with the bumper off, but I took off my grille without taking the bumper off and it took about 30 minutes with a socket set and a stubby phillips.

I got my grille on ebay from The Grille Guy. He sells black also. I was afraid to get black though, because you have to curve the grille to fit and I didn't want black chips flaking off. Aluminum lends itself really well to priming and painting though so you could have any color you want.

I forgot about painting it. Cool thnx.

Rondy I tried to photoshop a pic of my car with a two toned paint job and couldn't get it to turn out right. There used to be a pic on here of a show car with a custom flat black hood two toned paint job. That was where I got the idea from. I'll try and find it later to give a better idea.

you mean the SR-X?

yeah i think so, sounds familiar.

I need some help...I can't get the bumper off and I dont want to break anymore clips...(lost one already). I've removed the screws, and the plastic screw clips. got the screw/bolt from the inside of each wheel well...and removed the headlights...but i can't get the last clip from each side to let go. If you look on the inside of the bumper near the wheel wells there is a little white rectangular clip. I can't get it to release and I can't figure out why.

HELP!!! lol

hmmm did you go to hmaservice.com ? I havent tried to remove my bumper, but maybe if you pull a little harder but gently?? PM r4square :D

I was wondering what that site was again...i forgot! No need now I got it to come lose. Lost only 1 clip on the passenger side...no biggie. I need to figure out what to do with that darned horn. It looks so stupid sitting there in plain view. Gonna have to get some aluminum mesh to fill the hole now...definitely going black. Would look very nice with black mesh.

Anyone know how much the mesh grill inserts cost and how to attach them to the bumper??

EDIT: I nede tu laern tu spel...

This post has been edited by Evan: Jun 21 2008, 10:25 PM

I got the mesh installed today. It looks SOO much better than stock. And it was cheap too. Other than labor (free) it only cost me I think $3.50 for two sheets of mesh. Home Depot carries the EXACT same stuff that most aftermarket mesh grills are made of. The only difference is that the stuff from the Depot is made for rain gutters (the roof kind). It took both sheets (more like strips roughly 36" x 6") But it looks REALLY good. I'll post pics tomorrow.

cant wait to see it :beer:

so it was 36" x 6" thats what it says on the package? i think i can do this tomorrow.

I have taken a few pics of the grill insert, I'll get those posted for ya soon rondy. I'm not exactly sure on the size of the mesh, the 36x6 was a guesstimate. It's plenty long enough, just not tall enough to use only one sheet. You'll have to double it up and try and line up the holes on the mesh so it looks like only one sheet. Also, I had to reapply my Hyundai emblemed grill portion. The one that goes over the black plastic backing. Once you get the bumper off you'll see what I'm talking about. The mesh didn't have a good strength to it just sitting there, and mounting it is difficult without the body colored grill portion. I'll try and get the pics up before I got to our DFW car meet.


EDIT: The sticker from the mesh says: "Fits standard 4", 5" & 6" metal gutters (36" long). Apropiado para canales de desague de metal estandar 4", 5" & 6" (36" de largo)."

Had to get the spanish in there for the genuine feel, lol.

This post has been edited by Evan: Jun 29 2008, 09:27 AM

(IMG:http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/2508/grillpicab3.jpg)

I'll try and get a better, closer pic. And also a pic of the mesh with the hood open. Didn't turn out too bad. The car was very dirty in the pic but you get the idea.

looks good on the black! with the way our grills are laid out, we could get away with using 3 smaller pieces and hiding the seams behind the plastic horizontal piece and a seam behind the H emlem...
looks real good dude! :thumbsup: :trophy:

This is the two-toned paint job I'm talking about. Just not the same colors.

Ok, the grill looks awesome!!

how did it stay in place?

Thanks! :liebe011: But it's actually Charcoal Grey Metallic :P


Thank you sir. Now I just need your retro-fitted projectors and I'll be happy! :grin: :liebe011:




on the back of the grill insert piece with the emblem on it, there is a series of screws that held it to the black plastic mesh that came from the factory. I have it set up so that I could use the existing holes to screw the mesh to the insert but still allow the whole assembly to screw back onto the bumper. if you take it apart you'll see to sets of screw holes. You have the ones tha held the whole assembly to the bumper and one that held the insert to the black plastic housing thing. I'll take a picture of the black plastic thing so you guys know what I'm talking about if you dont already. I can try and get a pic of the place that the mesh attaches to the insert also. It might be hard to see but i'll photoshop it so it's easier...hopefully. My photoshop skills aren't that great.

This post has been edited by Evan: Jun 30 2008, 04:09 PM