DIY: CTR Style Grill Modification To Stock Grill
Applicable Years: Fits on all 96-98.
Difficulty: 1 of 5
Estimated Time: 2 hours + Time for paint to properly dry(depending on your paint choice)[
Required Parts
Factory 2 Piece grill
Expanded Sheet Metal
Paint of your choice
Primer for Metal surfaces
Required Tools
Tin Snips
Phillips Screwdriver
Dremel Cutting tool (Optional)
Hack Saw (Optional)
Optional Tools make it easier but aren't needed.
Read through the ENTIRE post before you start.
This DIY will keep all of the bolt holes and tabs so it will bolt right back up just like the original grill. This DIY also assumes that the grill is already taken off the car.
Steps:
1. First unscrew the nine tiny screws on the back of the grill and separate the two pieces. you should have this so far.
2. Next you will be cutting out the center of the back pieces. (the one on the top in above pix)
Where it is RED is the outline and where it is YELLOW is going to be the Final cuts you need to make.
If you have a dremel cut off wheel it should be very simple. However I didn't have a dremel so i got some tin snips out and cut it to the best of my ability. For the top and bottom of the "H" since the snips won't fit you can cut out the middle area slowly until you have access or you can use an hack saw to cut through it
(Optional) Use a box cutter to remove some of the rough edges and try to smooth it out. You can use some sand paper to remove any other nicks, but remember it doesn't have to be perfect.
3. Next you should have something that looks like this. Clean any debris off it at this point.
(Optional) you can paint this piece if you want a more conformed color
4. Next get your mesh. Try to leave enough material for you to make another grill piece if you mess up the first time.
5. On the back side of the front piece (the painted one) there should be a small lip. Cut your mesh, tin snips work very well, to sit nearly even with this lip. Be sure before you cut the mesh it will sit flat, and those little tabs will not get in the way (look at the pix).
6. Next assemble them in this order and then screw in the nine little screws in the back. This is just a test fit to make sure it will fit together. Do not to over tighten the screws in the back.
You should have this so far.
The little tabs hold it in place
7. Your next step is to disassemble the grill and paint the mesh. I used Color Place Rust Control Spray Enamel Satin Black. Be sure to read the instructions on the back of the can so you know how to correctly use the kind of paint you have. Make sure to let it dry for an adequate time before moving on to the next step.
8. Next, reassemble the grill and be sure not to over tighten those little screws. This should be your final product.
9. Reinstall your grill back onto your bumper using the original bolts and then put your bumper on your car. This is what my car looked like after i was done. Don't rush the project and you should end up with a quality piece.
Review:
I didn't run into any troubles while I did this. The tin snips can be a bit clumsy in tight spaces but they work well for the plastic and the metal.
Have fun with your DIY custom grill.
Applicable Years: Fits on all 96-98.
Difficulty: 1 of 5
Estimated Time: 2 hours + Time for paint to properly dry(depending on your paint choice)[
Required Parts
Factory 2 Piece grill
Expanded Sheet Metal
Paint of your choice
Primer for Metal surfaces
Required Tools
Tin Snips
Phillips Screwdriver
Dremel Cutting tool (Optional)
Hack Saw (Optional)
Optional Tools make it easier but aren't needed.
Read through the ENTIRE post before you start.
This DIY will keep all of the bolt holes and tabs so it will bolt right back up just like the original grill. This DIY also assumes that the grill is already taken off the car.
Steps:
1. First unscrew the nine tiny screws on the back of the grill and separate the two pieces. you should have this so far.
2. Next you will be cutting out the center of the back pieces. (the one on the top in above pix)
Where it is RED is the outline and where it is YELLOW is going to be the Final cuts you need to make.
If you have a dremel cut off wheel it should be very simple. However I didn't have a dremel so i got some tin snips out and cut it to the best of my ability. For the top and bottom of the "H" since the snips won't fit you can cut out the middle area slowly until you have access or you can use an hack saw to cut through it
(Optional) Use a box cutter to remove some of the rough edges and try to smooth it out. You can use some sand paper to remove any other nicks, but remember it doesn't have to be perfect.
3. Next you should have something that looks like this. Clean any debris off it at this point.
(Optional) you can paint this piece if you want a more conformed color
4. Next get your mesh. Try to leave enough material for you to make another grill piece if you mess up the first time.
5. On the back side of the front piece (the painted one) there should be a small lip. Cut your mesh, tin snips work very well, to sit nearly even with this lip. Be sure before you cut the mesh it will sit flat, and those little tabs will not get in the way (look at the pix).
6. Next assemble them in this order and then screw in the nine little screws in the back. This is just a test fit to make sure it will fit together. Do not to over tighten the screws in the back.
You should have this so far.
The little tabs hold it in place
7. Your next step is to disassemble the grill and paint the mesh. I used Color Place Rust Control Spray Enamel Satin Black. Be sure to read the instructions on the back of the can so you know how to correctly use the kind of paint you have. Make sure to let it dry for an adequate time before moving on to the next step.
8. Next, reassemble the grill and be sure not to over tighten those little screws. This should be your final product.
9. Reinstall your grill back onto your bumper using the original bolts and then put your bumper on your car. This is what my car looked like after i was done. Don't rush the project and you should end up with a quality piece.
Review:
I didn't run into any troubles while I did this. The tin snips can be a bit clumsy in tight spaces but they work well for the plastic and the metal.
Have fun with your DIY custom grill.
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