Here's what I've done with a hacked (originally good) grille, mesh, and some paint. Not absolute finished product...but much better IMO. I always liked the inset look for a grill...at least something that give greater dimension.








I had to do some cutting on the bumper itself, like removing the huge bulky block in the center....which is absolutely USELESS! Gone!

Grill definately needs some more work, get rid of some rough spots on the trim/outer peice, darken the horns and trunk latch assembly, and I'm looking at redoing the mesh and how it attaches. I like what a "certain" other member has done with his mesh grill, installing a Nismo emblem in the upper right corner...considering something along the same lines.

Input?

 

You may need to take some up close shots. It's hard to see the mesh pattern of the grille from a distance.

Another suggestion: Mask off the condenser and paint the horns core support with some flat black rustoleum. Worked like a charm on mine.

 

Good call, Froggy.

Chris, how would a pair of red Hella horns look behind that grill?

 

There's some guy around the forum that has those behind his mesh.....hmmmm. WAIT! I think it was you! Course, I'm a pretty aggressive driver, not sure if louder horns would be a good thing! Though, I think I'd have to pull the trim off and paint them black.

I agree with painting the horn and latch assembly black, I've even bought semi-flat black for this. Of course, I also painted the mesh portion of the grill semi-flat to better match the black below the front bumper. I figured if I didn't like the color, I'd just pull the mesh (easy) and repaint. I'm also plannint to paint some of the bumper that is exposed behing the grill black which is most visiable through the mesh.

I'm getting better/up close images of the mesh now. Be Back Soon.

 

No, it wasn't me. My horns are originals, and looks like clumps of rust.

I wonder if a flat-black plastic plate could be cut and affixed over that center beam?

 

I'm a fan of the inset look as well, but we need closer or bigger pictures to tell. Hook it up!

 

As you wish zero.




This image is of the uncut/unpainted mesh/screen I used.


Hope that helps. Not sure what other angle or distance would help.

 

Or, I have a better idea....I'll blow them up for you! For speed purposes, I just included links instead.

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...4018_large.jpg

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...4019_large.jpg

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...4026_large.jpg

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...4020_large.jpg

Who was it that had those huge red horns behind thier mesh grill then? Rochester, are you just making fun?

 

Is it that difficult to tell when I'm serious and when I'm not?

You might be remembering a thread from last month where someone found a junked 5th gen, and people were trying to find out who owned it, since there were Org stickers on the window. I remember commenting how interesting looking it was seeing the red Hella Horns through the grill.

That idea never quite left my head. It would look better than these, I think:



Chris, it seems you and I have "front grill" threads going on at the same time. Funny stuff. I just removed the grill a few minutes ago and took some pics.

 

Yeah, I've had this idea in my head for months. Been working on it for the last 3 weeks, delayed only because I thought taking it to a body shop to finish/clean up the work I'd already done would speed things up and make things look a lot nicer.

Ended up, the shop wasted two weeks of my time and maybe spent 2-3 hours on it. I took it home and had it done that afternoon. Painted the next day.

It just so happened I saw your thread.

You are dead on about where I saw those horns....I remember that thread. That's why I guess I thought it was you who had them.

On the condition of your horns, I imagine that's what you get for being up north. I would be concerned about the condition of some other things if my horns are that far gone!

 

If you're thinking of the front impact airbag sensor... I had that replaced 6 months ago. It rusted away into failure, and was giving me an airbag light on the dash. All fixed now... $200 later.

 

Red-tarded Hella horns FTL, those seem like a great way to get your car keyed in a neighborhood when you lock your car at night and the (air)horn goes off. Besides, based on all your subtle styling and preferences rochester, im surprised you are partial to the red at all. Then again your new red engine hardware might be taking you that direction....?

Out of consideration ive even unplugged one of my horns so its not obnoxious. I probably dont even use my horn more than a few times a year anyway.

 

It was this thread, Chris:

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...whose-car.html

...and this photo:



However, now that I look at it again in the context of deeper consideration brought about because of these two threads, I'm seriously second guessing my first reaction.

This photo looks punk, and probably still look ricey behind an OEM grill. That's not a good look for me.

I need to re-think this whole horn idea.

 

Looking good OP. My first time actually "Studying" the stock grille of a 5th/5.5 and comparing to yours and Frogg's, stock has nothing on it. Any plans for the lower grille or leaving it as it is?

 

That cheap *** wire mesh is no where as nice as that honeycomb setup like Rodriguez77.....IMO

 

Yes and no... all depending on the visual angle. All of these mesh & billet grills have a pretty good look at an angle, but when viewed straight on, they're too transparent.

The only design that works straight-on (IMO) is the OEM grill, and these waterfall design aftermarkets; (even though I don't personally care for the waterfall look.)

 

The stock grill color matched with or with out the emblem is the best i think any way

 

No plans for between the driving lights....I like that part open. I just couldn't stand the grill sitting flush with the front bumper.

Cmax: I'd agree with you as well and seriously considered going the route of rod and frogg with the ebay honeycomb grill. Still, those put the grill flush with the bumper. Of course I realized I was never going to find what I wanted because the barrier was that stupid vertical block in the center. I don't know many who would be willing to cut that out just for a grill. Since it does nothing.....I gave it NO second thought.

Rochester: Yeah....no big red horns. Not unless they part the air particles in front of the car and allow the vehicle to move faster down the highway, then ........perhaps.

 

Far as I can tell, that center piece is for structural integrity on the bumper skin, and maybe as a barrier for the latch components and impact sensor.

I understand liking the recessed look. There's a common 6th Gen grill mod that looks fantastic in that theme.

 

That was the first thing I looked at was the role it played in structure. I bought a threaded rod to run in the vertical block's place if it was needed.......it was not. There is a metal peice on the underside of the bumper, supporting the strip above the grille. Even after removing the vertical bar, the top part didn't move due to that metal strip.

However, you may be onto something pertaining to it acting as a barrier for the latch components and impact sensor. I'll take a look at that. Although, even with it in place, I had previously noted those components getting wet when driving in the rain. I would assume if they were susceptable to moisture and the eliments (specifically horns and impact sensor), they might have been mounted somewhere else. The latch I'll have to watch and possibly re-grease from time to time (at worst).

 

That's true about the strip of bumper material above the grill being well-secured. And if that staggered plastic plate were effective at protecting my impact sensor, then why did mine fail after 8 years?

It's also possible that this piece is used primarily in the molding process, and only used as an anchor point for the grill in afterthought.

This is so weird, having 2 grill threads going on at once. Sorry, man. Stuff happens.

 

Good call. In fact, if you look closely, I bet you could just remove that red cover entirely and be done with it.

 

I know what effect you're after.....I think a larger gauge wire mesh would be more visible from any angle if painted the right color and accented with an emblem of some sort like Nissan or Nismo....The right color scheme will look right...the aftermarket horn would disappear in a semi-gloss or flat black color.....and that beam that's structural for the front bumper cover!

 

Or you could just paint them rochester im sure the covers are on their for a reason the red horns dont look that bad on a black car

 

then again it makes the car look like its got 2 pimples

 

I think it looks better on a 4th Gen cause the grille opening seems just about right to do the mesh setup not too wide like the 5th or the newer Gens but thats just IMO. But also im bias.

 

Larger gauge? Could you give me an example? The openings in the grill are pretty large IMO. Perhaps that doesn't show in the images, but each opening is about 1/2" wide and 1/8" tall, approximately. I'm not cheaping out on this project, and the mesh/screen I used is thick/strong stuff.

You're absolutely right Cmax.....I've already spent a lot of time online and ebay looking at different emblems. I looked at getting a "Maxima" emblem, but they're all too large and long. We all know the Nismo one looks good, but I've also looked at other variations of it. I'm leaning most to a Nissan hamburger emblem.

I've always liked the burger on the front of the car...again, just not the way everything sits up on the bumper. I think of the 5/5.5 gen Max design like the new Toyatas........I swear the way the grill sits and how the emblem is placed on these cars .......you could just replace the emblem with a horn and it would look like a wild stampeding rhino going down the road!

Mista: Yeah, I definately like this look on the 4th gen. Also, as already mentioned, there is a replacement grill for the 6th gen that manages pretty much the same look...very nice!

 

Cmax: As far as the vertical beam....I've given that some further thought. That beam does NOT "support" the area above the grill as there is a metal bar that runs right beneath it to hold it up.

However, as I drove down the road, I had not looked at the bar in terms of it holding the top part DOWN. It is possible going down the road, air pressure could begin to lift on that top portion in absence of the vertical block/beam. If so, should be simple to resolve by securing it to the metal bar.....already have some ideas.

 

For some reason it always looks transparent in photos, but in actuality it's pretty solid-looking. Below I have a photo from this last weekend to show you how it usually looks.

Personally I would leave the stair-step in place in case you ever decide to return the car back to stock to sell it or whatever. As you can see in this photo with the horns, stair-step in place and all the other crap that hides behind the grille painted flat-black you'll see that it all hides pretty well.

Just be sure to test-fit your grille and paint all the exposed bumper cover or else it will look like crap.

 

I like stock more,

just my opinion

 

I went back and checked how loose the top part (above grill) is in looking at the liklihood that area would be pushed up driving down the road/interstate. It's pretty thick and did not easily move. However, I plan to look at securing that section to the metal cross bar beneath it none the less, just to be certain and add some security/stablization.

 

Painted horns, vertical support and hardware behind grill.

Before


After

 

Wow. Amazing the difference something so small like that makes, eh? It's something you probably didn't even notice before it was mentioned in one of these grille threads. Lookin' good rroderiques. I love your car.

 

I never noticed it. This is why I love the Org

 

We must all be taking advantage of the nice weather! I used semi-flat black, same as grill to blend them. Much harder to see horns/latch behind the grill.

 

That looks pretty good with the eyebrows

 

You mean eyeLIDS

 

I've always heard them called...and called them eyebrows. Makes the car look like it's scowling. You cannot scowl with your eyelids.....you do that with your eyebrows. That's my logic anyway! As demonstrated below:

GRRRRRRRR!!!


Maybe the term "eyelids" is more a Western American, Metrosexual term?

 

How about eye boogers?

 

That really makes a positive difference. Very nicely done, Roy!