Grill Customization Options
 

I've been considering replacing my front grill, having seen Prophecy's custom work. I rather like the idea of deleting the burger, except it requires a huge amount of time and bodywork skills.

I could replace it with any of the small handful of aftermarket grills out there, but few of them appeal to me. Most look either too cheap, or too flashy. I just want a subtle, OEM look that isn't OEM.

Then I noticed this $90 JDM grill on ebay. I was thinking the metallic mesh backing could be easily powdercoated in black, and a body shop could do a nice paint job around the edge and on the face of the slats, to mimic that black-chrome look on the OEM grill.

This might be a winter project, or I might not do anything at all. At the moment, I'm just thinking about it enough to "shop" up a few examples.

Any opinions?


Here's my car tonight. It's actually sheer silver, but can look blueish sometimes in the right light.

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/vote_grill_oem.jpg


Here it is with the OEM grill, but no burger.

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/v...burgerless.jpg


Here's the OEM grill, with the burger, but the slats painted dark.

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/v..._oem_black.jpg


And here it is with that $90 JDM grill, unpainted.

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/vote_grill_jdm.jpg

I'd say oem with the burger, matches the car. I painted mine matte black and left the burger a few months ago, only because I have the smoked/dark tinted theme.

I really like the burger-deleted-OEM look... Buuuut, I think I like the OEM look with the burger better. Another but: I think the OEM-burger grille will look better painted gloss black with a clear coat. I'd like to see that look on your sheer silver car Rochester. Mine's sterling silver and I'll be painting it gloss black in a couple weeks (when my wife lets me... I've been spending too much money lately apparently...)

What do you think John? Would you like a gloss black OEM grille with the burger on your car?

Oh, and when I paint the grille, I plan on repainting the black "Nissan" in the chrome burger, because mine's all rock chippy:)

Rochester getting a grille? Whats next, a drop?lol
I plan on gettin a JDM grille soon, probably leaving it black.I dont like how it looks painted, looks too.....3D for me. U can see what i mean here-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-N...Q5fAccessories

. But if i was to paint i guess i could just paint the front of the bars. I also might put some sorta emblem on it.not sure yet

On sheer silver u should definitely stay with body color whatever route u go with.

I'm only inconsistent over long periods of time. In any particular moment, I'm very decisive. So I can appreciate the humor... it is kind of funny. :p Right now, I'm just exploring options, getting a feel for the look, and letting people share their opinions.

There is appeal in painting the OEM grill darker, but maintaining that dark metallic look. In that case, the burger will actually pop right out at you. But the best thing about that idea is it's the least expensive; (save for doing nothing.)

I have the JDM grille it looks real good if you AE your headlights to match

Here's a shopped up version of that photo above, with the OEM grill horizontal slats painted dark.

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/v..._oem_black.jpg

Heres an example with when my stillen lip with left black
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/...00524-1640.jpg

and here when it was painted body colorhttp://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/...00905-1414.jpg

Maxy91, thanks for your input. I'd love to see some more photos, maybe in better quality if you can, and some close-ups.

And please tell me about your JDM grill:

Here's a little something I did..
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...an287/3-10.jpg

Vertical lines behind OEM grille blacked out or deleted. Horizontal lines in lower opening blacked out or deleted. I like this look a lot.

Not sure how you would do that on the OEM grill without compromising the overall integrity, but I haven't removed my grill yet to study it. That's next.

Hmm... Yeah you could easily just dremel it out, but would that make it flimsy? I might pop my grille off too and do some musing.

Oh, and is it possible for someone to do a Photoshop in gloss black? Sorry, getting better on PS is on my 'to do' list...

Not too long ago I found this photo on the Org, which looks to be an unpainted OEM grill with the chrome burger... but this guy somehow mounted these diamond-cut panels in-between the slats.

It's really an amazing look. I wonder how he did this?

That mesh in the lower area with the deer whistles... not so much. Not at all.

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/g...esh_filled.jpg

I have no idea. A dremel would probably work well. I'd try a little something myself but I don't have an OEM grille, my car came with this billet grille.

I kinda like it then I kinda don't.What that the only picture?
I think it would look better with the mesh painted black.

I agree about painting the diamond-cut backing black.

If I actually go and buy the JDM to play with, getting that backing powdercoated is always an option.

Tied into all this are plans to replace the misshapen hunks of rust otherwise known as my horns. It kind of appeals to me thinking about the JDM grill, and faintly seeing a pair of red hella horns behind it.

I like the JDM grill. Have always thought of something like that but never got around to anything other then a body colored oem grill. Might have to give it a try now that it's an option.

I do like the look of that "JDM" style grille. Although, I've always wished Nissan would have given the front...grill especially....more dimension as opposed to sitting right on the bumper....give it some depth.

Here's what I've done with a hacked (originally good) grille, mesh, and some paint. Not absolute finished product...but much better IMO.

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...022_medium.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...024_medium.jpg

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...019_medium.jpg

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...018_medium.jpg

Now all it needs is a Nismo sticker! :rofl:

I like option #3

This is similar to what I did. I masked off the gunmetal front pieces and outer trim, and just painted the inside of the grill gloss black. I like the way it makes the burger pop, personally.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4764430_n.jpg

I just think the front end of our car looks...empty. Without the burger there. It sort of breaks up the flow. In a good way.

I'm thinking about cutting the horizontal lines out...but I'm not sure what I'm going to do at this point.

The OEM grill is pretty beefy structurally. I've dropped mine...hard. And it just bounced. That's all.

I do like the mesh inserts. My guess would be some kind of screws, clips or zipties...although I think a darker color for the mesh would be more fitting. Maybe not necessarily black.

Now...the bottom. I think it would look a lot better painted black and recessed flush against the lower grills. Or even placed behind them.

I like the idea of having the OEM grille painted body color, unless it's a white car or if you have the black theme going with your color (ie: black lip, black rims, smoked side markers, etc.)

But I do like that JDM grille you posted but IMO it looks a little empty without the Nissan burger.

:sprint:

I personally like either the OEM w/burger delete. Or painted JDM w/black painted mesh. I really hate any sort of chrome/metalic looking mesh for a grill. It make the car look cheap in my opinion.

I'm leaning that way, too. Figure $90 for the grill. $20 to powdercoat the mesh. And $80 for a professional paint job. Somewhere around $200 end-2-end. And if I really hate it, I could sell the thing here, and put my OEM grill back.

Lots of "keep the burger" comments, and yet the JDM grill is clearly preferred in votes. I really need to get the OEM grill off and in my hands to make a more thorough assessment.

Does anyone want to bullet out the removal instructions? Pretty sure I know where all the bolts are, but haven't actually done it yet.

(Weird how my car looks blue here. I didn't mess with the color, just took a straight-on flash from 12 feet away with the car in the garage at early evening. Strange effect.)

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/vote_grill_jdm.jpg

The pictures were through my blackberry but you may check out the rest of my pictures in my album to get an idea.

1) It fits perfectly however you will have to drill 4 holes in ortder to put the screws in because it does not come with holes.
2)im not sure exactly what you mean but the grille does fit perfectly and looks great, only modifications you have to make is drilling holes.
3)i never painted the grille i left it the way it was perhaps i may paint it glossy black in the near future and no i did not remove the wiring but it seems as though it would be very easy to remove and reattach.

Examples:http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/...00905-1414.jpg

Thanks, Maxy.

Is the mesh backing mounted on the grill in this photo? The vertical support beam is very visible.

Hmm. That's a valid consideration, unless the mesh can mask it. I hadn't thought out that, the way the OEM grill covers that vertical support bar.

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/jdm_center.jpg

Removing grill:

• Pop the four (five?) tabs along the top of the front bumper up about half-way and pull them out. (They're those weird fasteners that push themselves outward when you pop them in.)
• Along the bottom of the grille, about 2" to the left and right of the center of the grille are two 10mm bolts. You should be able to get in there with a small wrench or ratchet and break them free.
• Push. You'll need a little force to pop it out. There are some pressure-release clips in there that you might need to push down. Mine just popped out with a gentle hit.

Not a fan of the burgerless look. I'd say either paint the vertical supports or cover them with a nice fine mesh. I actually want to do what you see in Post #14, minus the deer whistles.

The stock silver on the grille matches your sheer silver so well, painting it darker would ruin it IMO. And I've seen the "JDM" grille in person, not impressed by fitment.

I think a person could either paint the vertical beam black or just cut it out. It may be called a vertical "support" beam, but it doesn't support anything! It's useless. At best it is a secure point for the middle of the grill. But the grill is so stiff and well secured in the other upper two corners....it's overkill. I cut mine out in less than 5 minutes using a hand held saw blade and razor knife.

That's close, Brett. I just removed the grill. Here are the steps:

1. Pop the four tabs along the top of the front bumper and pull them out. (WD40 helps lubricate things.)
2. Along the top of the grill, there are two bolts toward the corners. The bolts are permanantly attached to the grill, and held to the bumper by M6 nuts. Use a 10mm socket to remove the nuts. (Kroil helps loosen things up.)
3. Right in the middle of the grill, there is another bolt. Again, this is affixed to the grill, and held to the bumper by a M6 nut. (And again, Kroil helps loosen things up.) In order to get a socket on this nut, you need to pull the bumper skin towards you, which is why you remove the 4 bumper skin tabs.
4. Along the bottom of the grill, there are 4 tabs clipping the grill in place. You really only need to push in on the two outside tabs, push with a little force, and the grill comes right out.

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/g..._car_front.jpg

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/g...f_car_back.jpg

Did I mention that my horns are rusty? Good to know that I can easily access the horns now.

This shot also gives you a good perspective on the center plastic.

BTW, you can't see it here, but that small rectangular box right behind the center plastic is your front-impact air-bag sensor. JIK anyone was looking... this is where it is.

http://www.johnclare.com/pics/cars/rusty_horns.jpg

Sorry. :shy: I knew there were bolts somewhere in there. It's been a while since I've pulled my grille off.

Oh, by the way. If you wanna have some fun, disconnect the low note on your horn and give your horn a few presses. :nervous:

I rode around like that for a day and got some of the craziest looks.

If anyone is interested in reading up on Hella products, here's their product line PDF.

:reading:

Not a fan of the sound the Supertones make. Sounds too...squeaky for me.

I'm a fan of the deeper car horns (e.g. the 350z's horn). I'm actually thinking about running to the local scrap yard and digging around for an old Cadillac with the four-note horn system on it.

I'm right there with you on that, Brett. Keep me appraised.

Want to replace my horns, but no longer want red peeking through the grill. And I'd like something that sounds deeper that OEM.

JDM -- painted to the OEM theme or stock painted to match with the emblem the choose is your

ehh only in that picture due to the light however you can not really notice. a wise solution would be to remove the beem or simply paint it black, its your decision!