altima coupe how to replace grill brace

[Infantry1327]

Ok, hear is how to get rid of that unsightly grill brace. This is not a difficult install, but it does talk a good eye and some thinking. I am new to the whole car mod scene. So if I can do this, anyone can.

First you are going to haft to take a trip to your local hardware store and pick up a few things. I went to Home Depot and walked around for an hour before I came up with this idea.

You need:- Saw- I used a reciprocating saw (not the best, but that’s what I had)- Drill- Hack saw or bolt cutters.- ¼” Ratchet- Pliers- Vise is suggested, but I didn’t use one.- 1- ¼” aluminum rod- 2- ¼”synching rope claps- Sand paper- Spray paint

1. Remove the front bumper, and the grill.http://www.nicoclub.com/articles.php?id=293385

2. You will be cutting the plastic brace right in front of the lowest bend and right after the highest bend. But before you make any cuts, you want to bend the aluminum rod into the correct shape.

3. Line the rod up from the bottom bend to the top bend. Give yourself 1- 1&1/2 inches of slack on both sides. Then cut the aluminum rod. I used a heavy duty set of bolt cutters. Once you have the rod cut to the approximate length, bend the bottom part of the rod so it is flat against the lower part of the old brace. You want the bottom part flat against the brace and the top part to run up to the top bend. (To bend the rod, I used a set of pliers and the ground. Grip the rod just above or below where you want the bend, then use the floor or a vise for leverage.)

4. Make a bend in the center to conform to the original shape of the plastic brace. (Or you can leave it straight if you are installing a deeper grill) Once you have established your center bend. You will bend the top part of the rod so it is flat against the top section of the stock brace. You will probably need to cut a little bit of the excess off. But wait until you have removed the brace and have

5. Now that you have established the proper shape of your brace, you will need to cut the stock brace out. I used a Reciprocating saw with a fine toothed blade. I cut just before the bottom bend. Make sure you have enough of the flat section to mount your bracket. Now cut the top portion just above the top bend. Again, make sure to leave enough room to mount your bracket. After cutting, you may want to sand the ends down for a cleaner look. After sanding I taped off the bumper and painted the tabs black.

6. Now line up the rod in the proper position and make any necessary last minute bends. The most important part is to make sure that the flat bends are flush against the brace. 7. Line up the ¼” clamp set on the bottom side of the lower brace. Drill the two mounting holes, and then check for proper fitment. Place your new brace in the clamp and make sure it fits and the top of the brace is still flush with the top part of the brace. If it is not, make the necessary bends. Then repeat this step for the top brace, but you will want to put the metal plate back on before to mount your clamp.

8. After you have your new brace in completely mounted, you will want to disassemble the brace and paint the parts what ever color you want. Once the parts are dry, mount and enjoy.

[Forrest80]

very good job writing it up, i think i can do this my self too.

[mcheddadi]

custom tag GET!

[PhillipRumans]

Could you also do a tighter knit for the mesh so that it would be more difficult to see through the mesh. Or maybe a double or even triple layer of mesh. I don't know, just trying to think of something else as an option to cutting the middle support.

[Infantry1327]

Thank you, it took me awhile to write this up. Philip you probably could, but I like to be able to see threw the mesh. Plus that would mean makeing a whole custom grill. I orderd my grill and I like the way it came out. I just hated that big plasic brace in the center so I cut it out. I also wanted to show stillen that it is possible to take that brace out and make something better. Now they can try and make a grill and incorperate a new brace in it.

[adidas2go]

Nice job buddy. I've added this to the list of articles to be written. Shoot me an email with a custom title you would like

[Infantry1327]

Blake, I just sent you the email about the custom tile. Thanks

[alticoupe3.5]

im gonna do this myself tomorrow hah...did you go out and buy a mesh grille and just fit it?

[08whitecoupe]

pepboyz sells the mesh i dont see why it wouldnt fit after some cuts. I think i might try it now wat a great write up this.

[alticoupe3.5]

if you do it 08whitecoupe let me know how it looks. take some pictures...im thinkin of doing it tomorrow too

[alticoupe3.5]

infatry....i really like what you did with the grille...you said you ordered yours....but where did you order it from?and the white frame around the grille...at first it was black and painted white......did that bracket come with the grille and did you have to take off the "moustache"? your coupe is hottt

[Infantry1327]

I bought the grill from autothing dot com. It is the T-rex premium mesh grill. It comes in chrome and black. I ordered the black and then had the outside trim painted with the winterfrost paint.

When you take the stock grill off, the mustache comes with it. Just take the old grill off and put the new grill on. Its as easy as that.

I new I wanted to get rid of that big dumb brace, so I just walked around homedepot untill I found some stuff that would work.

Hear is the thread I did about my grill.http://forums.altimas.org/zerothread?id=364055

Hear is where you can pick up the grill.http://www.autoanything.com/bi....aspx

[alticoupe3.5]

thanks very much!! WOW...310 for the upper mesh???? but i like the design on your coupe...i think its worth it.....for now. i will get that in the mean time till i upgrade to a stillen front fasia

[Infantry1327]

yea 310 is kind of pricey, but it is a total grill replacement and it is all stainless steal. Plus I am not sure who paints the grills black for them, but they are powder coated and painted. So it holdes up really well.

Thanks for all the compliments guys, by the end of the week I will have new 20's and my pro kit installed. Then the outside will be done (other than deul projection headlights) and I can start working on my sound system.

[alticoupe3.5]

this is also a permanent replacement isnt it?? since you cut out the brace....you could probably weld it back right?

[Infantry1327]

Yes and no. This is a perminent replacement, but it can be taken off if a new grill was developed with a built in brace. But know you cant put the stock brace back on. The stock brace is plastic, so once you cut it, it is gone for good. That is why THIS JOB SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. You should not cut anything unless you are 100% sure your new brace will fit. You also should only do this if you replace the stock grill. Yes the new brace is stronger, but it is mostly for asthetic value.

P.S. I sent this thread to kyle at stillen, maybe he can use it to devolop a new grill.

[alticoupe3.5]

good call with sending it in to stillen......when you made your new brace....did you follow the shape of the factory brace?

your grille lays flush against the new brace correct?

can you take a picture of the car without the grille on so i can just see the new brace and the hole where the grille is supposed to be from the front view up close

[Infantry1327]

No the grill doesnt touch the brace. The brace is made to re-enforce the upper part of the front bumper. It doesnt actually support the grill. Yes I went with the stock shape but I made mine so it sits a little deeper. I think I took a picture from that angle and I will try and post it up later.

[alticoupe3.5]

im thinking of making the actual grille myself. what material is the frame of the grille?how is it installed onto the bumper?

[Infantry1327]

the whole thing is stainless steal and there are threaded screws built in that perfectly fit into the stock mounting holes. I think this will be a very hard custom build unless you are an experienced metal worker and welder. But if you think you can do it, then go for it. Just make sure to take some pics while you do it.

[vi3tboispike]

do you really need the rod or you can just leave it out?

[Infantry1327]

You could possibly leave it off, but that could create sag when you are driving. The top of the bumper felt kind of flimsy when the brace was off.

[adidas2go]

zer...t-bar

[Infantry1327]

very cool, my first article is done. Thanks

Hopefully I can write a few more soon. As soon as I think of something new to do.