grill customised - whaddya think?

[allensteiner]

it cost me less than $2 to make. i know it looks like the nissan logo is covered but i pulled it off. what shows through is the part where it mounts and i couldn't cut it out because there's a mounting bracket on the back side. anyways...not too bad for $2

before:

after:

...also planning on the lower grilles but that's when i have some more time.

[allensteiner]

one more thing...amongst maaaany...i want to get done is to get the body color mirror cover powder coated chrome - should look sick, just hope not too expensive.

[Gman8990]

the best thing to do to make the nissan logo looking thing not show as much is paint it a deep black... How did you do this? ive been interested in the same thing...

[D_roc]

looks sick but think it will look better if you put the nissan logo on top of it

[allensteiner]

looks sick but think it will look better if you put the nissan logo on top of it

thought about it when installing and...naah

[allensteiner]

the best thing to do to make the nissan logo looking thing not show as much is paint it a deep black... How did you do this? ive been interested in the same thing...

see it's pretty black already and i didn't feel like spending more than about half hour on the whole shabang so...it's gonna stay gay like that

easy to make - $6.78 for gutter guard at lowe's, comes 4 sheets to a pack - you'll only need one for the grill, and 12 clear 8" zip ties - around $6 for a pack of 650 - diferent colors and sizes from walmart. drill - i used 13/64 bit to have close to the zip tie size hole and a pair of dykes or any kind of cutters.

1. remove the grill - on 95' to top pins looklike a slotted screw, watch out if you want to reuse it - plastic. slide in a flathead screwdriver and turn left, when you hear a pop/snap it's loose. 2 bottom clips - just pop them out with the same screwdriver. middle "spacer - pin" - push flathead in from top - should come out.

2. since the black air vents and body color molding are a single piece i drilled holes on top - between black and colored plastic - for zip ties.lay mesh over the grille and cut out the shape or...if you want to spend more time on it make a template out of cardboard, mark it on the mesh and then cut...

3.tighten the mesh with zip ties to the grille and slapback on the car.

easy as 1,2,3...and took me over an hour

[MinisterofDOOM]

Looks pretty good. I've been considering doing this to the Q, actually.

My only criticisms:You can see the zip ties--I'd try and hide them more, maybe by running wire from the mesh back to zip ties that are out of view.And I'd either completely remove the Nissan emblem, paint it black to hide it, or remount it on the mesh.

But still it looks good, especially for $2.

[Gman8990]

ive heard using black zipties hides it pretty well

[nismo1219]

i did this with my old '96 maxima before it got totalled. i also remounted the nissan badge over the mesh as well, which i think you would be happier with after its done. just take a dab of "emblem adhesive" and mash it back on. anyways, looks pretty good though. only thing now you'll have to watch out for is picking out all the little buggies that get caught in it!! i used to just take a small toothbrush and go over the grill area when i'd wash the car and they'd fall right off!! good job!!

[allensteiner]

thx 4 the advice. i'll jack my wife's toothbrush

[allensteiner]

i think that's on a 97-99 - the grill insert is a little diferent. i'll figure something out when i have a spare minute...

[allensteiner]

thanks all for positive feedback. i'll have to do something about that logo backing for sure...in the near future. i won't stick an emblem on top though - minimalistic and all...you know

[ZGadson]

Looks good! Now put some wire mesh in the empty space in the bumper. That would make a nice finishing touch.

[allensteiner]

Looks good! Now put some wire mesh in the empty space in the bumper. That would make a nice finishing touch.

i plan on it since i still have 3 sheets left...just need some spare time to pull off the bumper.

and don't worry guys, i'll fix the zip ties showing on the bottom...and the emblem mount

[allensteiner]

ive heard using black zipties hides it pretty well

...and you were damn right! i just fixed the grill and the black ties really don't show, as for the emblem mount i didn't paint it black but covered with electrical tape - i'm impatient. i did all that at 2am after i got home from work so don't have new pics but i'll post'em as soon as i get the bottom grilles covered.

btw anyone know what the air scoop sucking in from the bottom grille insert is for???

[allensteiner]

Looks good! Now put some wire mesh in the empty space in the bumper. That would make a nice finishing touch.

k...any idea how? i thought the inserts pop out like on my 98 corolla but they don't. mybe someone has done it and can share some "how to"? otherwise i'll have to pull the bumper off and do some drilling.

[DevonD]

Hmm. Im not sure but I think the clips are the ones where you have to unscrew it a bit to unlock it then it will pop out...another option for the grill inserts is to put the new one on the back side of the original and then por some apoxy in the gaps.. here is a picture of how mine is done. I like the look a little more but it is for sure more work.

http://s292.photobucket.com/al...5.jpg

[allensteiner]

what about the middle one? leaving it open or working on an insert?

what i thought about is if i pulled the bumper off i could make cuts along top and bottom of the grilles and pull some overhang of the mesh through them so they sit better and then fasten.

anyways it'll be a few days or weeks before i get to it but i'll post pics of what i did to get that mesh in there.

[DevonD]

The middle grill has it two but its just harder to see... I want to re do it and make them all sit further forward. That would make the middle one easier to see and hide the licence plate mounting bracket. its a work in progress!

But I just saw the updated pics of your car and I like it a lot! When and if i re do it that will be how its done!