08 Altima Coupe - Replacing Billet Grilles

[xazilizax]

I bought new billet grilles to replace the ugly stock ones.

Can someone tell me step by step how to remove the top and bottom grilles and replace it with these ones I got? ...if it's easy enough. If not, I guess I have to take it to a body shop?

[RicerX]

Welcome to NICO! From what I have seen of those before, those just cover the existing grilles in place. Shouldn't be anything too terribly difficult to install.

[KMiller]

Welcome. I just joined myself last month & I haven't fully mastered how to use the site, but I installed a billet grill on my '10 Coupe a couple months ago, & I got instructions from a NicoClub forum, & also Ehow. The '08 & 9 is different. I'll drag the url here & hopefully you can link it in.

how-to-remove-the-grille-on-a-2008-alti ... 53556.html

[KMiller]

I just figured out photobucket. I hope.

[xazilizax]

Thanks for the replies.

So, I have a new dilemma. Since I bought the black billet grille for the bumper (on ebay), I was looking for the top grille in black to, of course match, but I can't find it anywhere. Now, I did find the top one, but it's in that shiny polished face, which is what I DON'T want. http://www.ebay.com/itm/260615578932?ru ... 26_rdc%3D1

Could I just sand it down and paint it black?

[KMiller]

Did you try utvproducts on ebay? I got upper, lower & fog light polished grilles for my '10 coupe. I'm pretty sure I remember seeing the black. Probably they'll even make it for you if it's not a stock item. I'm pretty sure they fab 'em as the orders come in anyways. I also have a phone# from my invoice: 727-848-3300. good luck!

[xazilizax]

Did you try utvproducts on ebay? I got upper, lower & fog light polished grilles for my '10 coupe. I'm pretty sure I remember seeing the black. Probably they'll even make it for you if it's not a stock item. I'm pretty sure they fab 'em as the orders come in anyways. I also have a phone# from my invoice: 727-848-3300. good luck!

I just looked on utvproducts on ebay and they don't have anything for the 2008 altima coupe. I guess I can give them a call and find out. Thanks for the #. I also did a search on Google and could not find anything on the black one...which is why I wanted to know if I can just sand down the shiny one and paint it black. That could be a lot of work though that I really won't want to resort to. Bleh!

[KMiller]

If I was painting 'em, I'd probably use medium or fine-grade steel wool(#00 or #000) & enamel spray paint. It shouldn't be that much work. I just try to make sure I use several thin coats & let each dry thoroughly. If the paint goes on too thick, you get pain-in-the-a** globs.

[KMiller]

Thought you might like to see.

[xazilizax]

Thought you might like to see.

That looks real nice! Did you have to remove the old grille to install those? Were the old ones hard to remove? Were the new ones hard to install? That is, if you did them yourself. Did you have to saw or drill anything?

[KMiller]

I found the tutorial, or whatever you callit, on a NicoClub Forum for removal. There's also one on eHow. The '10 is different from the '08 & '09, but they might have it. Installation wasn't difficult, but tedious. Took about 4 hrs removal & install for 4pc billet. The upper & lower each have 2 vertical, drilled metal bars that set behind inner bumper edges, with a screw through the grill & the bar @ each end. On my '10 I cut out the lower black plastic support 'cause I didn't like the look of the lower one not set back the same as the upper, but it could be installed without removal. I didn't tighten too much 'cause the bumper material starts to bend. I check it every so often. The fog grilles take 2 screws each through the grilles & through the surrounding bumper area with washers & nuts in back on one side, & a bar like the main grilles on the other. This was the hardest job. I'd previously installed A/M fogs, & I had to take them out again, re-install the housings, then squeeze the fogs back into the housings after installing the grilles. I don't know if it'd be the same for factory fogs. I had to buy longer screws than came with the kit & paint the heads black, & on the steering side I couldn't get one non-bar nut in place, so I left it with just 3. While I was at the hardware store, I also bought lock washers & lock nuts. I don't know if they make fog grills for the '08 anyway. Good luck!!

[apex2apex]

I just looked on utvproducts on ebay and they don't have anything for the 2008 altima coupe. I guess I can give them a call and find out. Thanks for the #. I also did a search on Google and could not find anything on the black one...which is why I wanted to know if I can just sand down the shiny one and paint it black. That could be a lot of work though that I really won't want to resort to. Bleh!

Some people will not like this however, the easiest way to paint it would be to plasti dip it. If you wanted to get rid of it later and sell you can just peel the plasti dip off.

I painted the chrome-plastic part around the front of the grill in black, as well as the rear diffuser. Piece of cake that took about an hour to do. Only prep work was masking and making sure it was clean.

[DJ_B_Easy]

I owned the originally posted billet grille for a time.
It is not a layover, it requires removing the OEM grille and is a direct replacement. You have to drop the bumper to install it, unless your arms are as thin as pencils.
I powdercoated mine, but the powder did not hold well (rock chips will ruin your life). I assume the paint route would be the same.

[KMiller]

After removing the stock grille, if you cut out the supports in the lower grille, & work the upper grille first, you can get your hands in back from the bottom..... Unless your arms are as thick as tree trunks. You could also pre-attach the top bolts thru the grille to each retaining bracket, swing & drop them in so only the bottom bolts need to be tightened.

[xazilizax]

I FINALLY got the upper grille I was looking for so now I have both.

Here is what they look like:


Here's the hardware for the upper grille:


Here's the hardware for the lower grille:


How do I install them?

[KMiller]

The grill mounting holes & brackets are different than my '10. Don't know if it's because of the model yr. difference or grill manufacturer, but without looking at the car, I really can't give much help. You might have to drill holes, which I did not have to, except for my fog grills. If you can't figure it out, you might want to contact the retailer or manufacturer. One tip that helped me was taping the grills in place while I attached the hardware. Good luck!