DIY custom grill

LGT4ME · 02-19-2009, 04:55 PM

so after looking through all the galleries at everyone sweet looking cars i got a little jelous at the custom grills. so i looked up how much they would be to get for my car, 250-300 is a little too much to spend for me if it doesnt make my car go faster. so i got up from the computer still with that feeling of jelousy lingering and i went out to look at my car. it started with the thought "if i did get a new grill how tough would it be to take the old one off. so of coarse i decided to do some tinkering... i got it off (very simple) and decided to give it a whirl... i got some bondo, blue painters tape, sand paper, my angle grinder, a hack saw (in hindsight should have used the dremel) and some spray paint.
i did it all for 36 bucks and about 2 nights!!

What do you think?

havanisda · 02-19-2009, 06:26 PM

I think u did a nice job on it. IMO it would look better w/some kinda mesh behind it and the surround painted 2 match your body color, which is BSM looks like, but if your happy w/the way it looks now thats all that matters.

LGT4ME · 02-20-2009, 04:53 AM

i actually did paint it silver the same as the car and didnt like it, i like the darker color because it makes the opening look bigger... i actually did put some mesh behind the unit its hard to tell from the last picture but its a 1/8" mesh, tough to secure, i ended using 5 minute epoxy and that worked great but i felt like my hands were gonna fall off before it dried all the way because i didnt have any clamps! haha. but im also thinking about using that accent color on the bottom scoop below the grill..... just a thought.

TSi+WRX · 02-20-2009, 06:21 AM

Looks great!

cl162 · 02-25-2009, 01:29 PM

DSC02300.JPG

So you all got me hooked on the DIY mods, so I decided to paint my grill. I didnt want to just start cutting, so I just painted it..... so here it is.

LGT4ME · 02-25-2009, 02:41 PM

hey that looks great!!! it looks like almost the same paint i used! really sharp!

urabus · 02-25-2009, 02:56 PM

what color paint is it, what brand name.

cl162 · 02-25-2009, 08:56 PM

I used the Rustoleum Metallic black night....... picked it up at Lowes.

**Dookie** · 02-25-2009, 09:42 PM

Looks good without the chrome.

john · 02-26-2009, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dookie

Looks good without the chrome.

Agreed. The 'chrome' is what turned me off to my stock grill in the first place.

Nice job lgt4me.

rtbrjason · 02-26-2009, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cl162

Attachment 466

So you all got me hooked on the DIY mods, so I decided to paint my grill. I didnt want to just start cutting, so I just painted it..... so here it is.

That looks great. Been wanting to do something similar with mine. Did you just paint the chrome pieces separately from the whole grill?

cl162 · 02-26-2009, 08:58 AM

I taped over the emblem leaving the chrome exposed. Used some high grade sand paper to rough it up, then primed and painted it.

**Dookie** · 02-26-2009, 09:19 AM

Here's my before and after with the chrome.

With chrome...

After Chrome...

Side view with my new "bling...bling" lights...

cl162 · 02-26-2009, 10:15 AM

how long did it take you to clear your lights?

**Dookie** · 02-26-2009, 10:50 AM

Depends on which way you do it. I used a heat gun, which is faster for me. Took me about 15 mins each.

The baking in the oven works too, it takes 10 mins to heat up, 5 mins to take out the amber, and 10 mins to reheat and reseal. 25 - 30 mins this way.

LGT4ME · 02-26-2009, 05:27 PM

do you have a step by step process thread posted for clearing your lights? and did you have to buy yellow lights for your blinkers or just left them? very interested!!! looks awesome!!!!!!

**Dookie** · 02-27-2009, 10:08 AM

Thanks.

We don't have a step by step thread for clearing headlights, but here are some simple steps.

1. Remove bumper, mostly popits and a few bolts.
2. Remove brackets under headlights
3. Disconnect harnesses and remove bulbs.
4. Remove the few screws holding the two pieces together on the housing.
5. Heat the edge either using heat gun or oven (250 degrees for 10 mins).
6. Pry the the two housings apart, it may require some grunting.
7. Remove the 4 screws holding the chrome reflector.
8. Carefully snap off the amber reflector, to much force and you can crack it.
9. Replace the remaining parts
10. Press the housing back together and reheat. Once heated press firmly around the edges and replace screws to secure the housing.

This is the bulb I used for the turn signal. Turns amber when it lights up.
http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm

rtbrjason · 03-10-2009, 05:11 AM

Way to consolidate those instructions! I'm wanting to clear mine but don't want to end up buying new lights when I screw them up.. I'm also really concerned with condensation in the lenses after reassembly.

On step 8.. you say "snap off amber reflector". Does it need to be broken off, or is it clipped/fastened in?

ih8vtec13 · 03-10-2009, 06:42 AM

I think it is clipped in but its lot like you are gonna take it appart and put it back in

**Dookie** · 03-11-2009, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtbrjason

Way to consolidate those instructions! I'm wanting to clear mine but don't want to end up buying new lights when I screw them up.. I'm also really concerned with condensation in the lenses after reassembly.

On step 8.. you say "snap off amber reflector". Does it need to be broken off, or is it clipped/fastened in?

They are clipped in, it's best to use a flat head screw driver and slide it in between the reflector and it's housing. This should pop it out without cracking it.

If you don't care to put it back in, then you can just yank it out.

02-19-2009, 06:26 PM	#2
havanisda Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pencilveinyea Posts: 1,704	I think u did a nice job on it. IMO it would look better w/some kinda mesh behind it and the surround painted 2 match your body color, which is BSM looks like, but if your happy w/the way it looks now thats all that matters. __________________ 2013 Corolla S 5MT w/TRD springs & rear sway - Mike -

02-20-2009, 06:21 AM	#4
TSi+WRX Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cleveland/Shaker Hts., OH - USA Posts: 2,268	Looks great! __________________ <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges Me: '16 Outback 2.5i Limited Wifey: '16 WRX Premium CVT 7th Subaru Family

02-25-2009, 01:29 PM	#5
cl162 Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 19	DIY Grill DSC02300.JPG So you all got me hooked on the DIY mods, so I decided to paint my grill. I didnt want to just start cutting, so I just painted it..... so here it is.

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02-20-2009, 04:53 AM	#3
LGT4ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 30	i actually did paint it silver the same as the car and didnt like it, i like the darker color because it makes the opening look bigger... i actually did put some mesh behind the unit its hard to tell from the last picture but its a 1/8" mesh, tough to secure, i ended using 5 minute epoxy and that worked great but i felt like my hands were gonna fall off before it dried all the way because i didnt have any clamps! haha. but im also thinking about using that accent color on the bottom scoop below the grill..... just a thought.

02-25-2009, 02:41 PM	#6
LGT4ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 30	hey that looks great!!! it looks like almost the same paint i used! really sharp!

02-25-2009, 02:56 PM	#7
urabus Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 368	what color paint is it, what brand name.

02-25-2009, 08:56 PM	#8
cl162 Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 19	I used the Rustoleum Metallic black night....... picked it up at Lowes.

02-25-2009, 09:42 PM	#9
Dookie ;-0 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fresno - The arm pit of CA Posts: 5,045	Looks good without the chrome.

02-26-2009, 08:58 AM	#12
cl162 Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 19	I taped over the emblem leaving the chrome exposed. Used some high grade sand paper to rough it up, then primed and painted it.

02-26-2009, 09:19 AM	#13
Dookie ;-0 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fresno - The arm pit of CA Posts: 5,045	Here's my before and after with the chrome. With chrome... After Chrome... Side view with my new "bling...bling" lights...

02-26-2009, 10:15 AM	#14
cl162 Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 19	how long did it take you to clear your lights?

02-26-2009, 10:50 AM	#15
Dookie ;-0 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fresno - The arm pit of CA Posts: 5,045	Depends on which way you do it. I used a heat gun, which is faster for me. Took me about 15 mins each. The baking in the oven works too, it takes 10 mins to heat up, 5 mins to take out the amber, and 10 mins to reheat and reseal. 25 - 30 mins this way.

02-26-2009, 05:27 PM	#16
LGT4ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 30	do you have a step by step process thread posted for clearing your lights? and did you have to buy yellow lights for your blinkers or just left them? very interested!!! looks awesome!!!!!!

02-27-2009, 10:08 AM	#17
Dookie ;-0 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fresno - The arm pit of CA Posts: 5,045	Thanks. We don't have a step by step thread for clearing headlights, but here are some simple steps. 1. Remove bumper, mostly popits and a few bolts. 2. Remove brackets under headlights 3. Disconnect harnesses and remove bulbs. 4. Remove the few screws holding the two pieces together on the housing. 5. Heat the edge either using heat gun or oven (250 degrees for 10 mins). 6. Pry the the two housings apart, it may require some grunting. 7. Remove the 4 screws holding the chrome reflector. 8. Carefully snap off the amber reflector, to much force and you can crack it. 9. Replace the remaining parts 10. Press the housing back together and reheat. Once heated press firmly around the edges and replace screws to secure the housing. This is the bulb I used for the turn signal. Turns amber when it lights up. http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm

03-10-2009, 05:11 AM	#18
rtbrjason Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 53	Way to consolidate those instructions! I'm wanting to clear mine but don't want to end up buying new lights when I screw them up.. I'm also really concerned with condensation in the lenses after reassembly. On step 8.. you say "snap off amber reflector". Does it need to be broken off, or is it clipped/fastened in?

03-10-2009, 06:42 AM	#19
ih8vtec13 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 666	I think it is clipped in but its lot like you are gonna take it appart and put it back in

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