Inexpensive and Simple Mod
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 113
From: South Florida
Devil Made Me Do It
Last edited by Radsil09; Dec 6, 2010 at 10:06 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,020
From: Maryland
I finally got around to ordering the chrome strip to do this, and spent the 10-15 minutes it took to prep the area with rubbing alcohol, cut some slightly oversized strips, and then size them to a near-perfect fit on the lower grill openings.
I am blown away by how factory this looks in person. Pictures don't do it justice, for anyone who hasn't done this mod go out and spend the $15 or whatever and do it unless you blacked out your front! It draws your eyes to the lower area of the front grill where before it was just a black abyss. With the Stillen Lip I just put on it is a NICE overall effect because it draws your eyes down to the dope looking front. Props to the OP for completing the front!
I am blown away by how factory this looks in person. Pictures don't do it justice, for anyone who hasn't done this mod go out and spend the $15 or whatever and do it unless you blacked out your front! It draws your eyes to the lower area of the front grill where before it was just a black abyss. With the Stillen Lip I just put on it is a NICE overall effect because it draws your eyes down to the dope looking front. Props to the OP for completing the front!
Last edited by Ghozt; Feb 6, 2011 at 07:36 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 83
From: San Diego
I like the stock grill on our 7th gen, but the lower openings always seemed somehow incomplete.
These openings are equipped with a black horizontal blade which is nearly invisible. It's likely there for some purpose other than appearance. I began wondering if there was something that can be done to improve things.
It seemed that if the lower blade was faced with a chrome strip matching the strips in the upper grill it would visually tie the whole front end together while finishing off the lower "holes".
After making a couple of PhotoShop images to confirm this appearance I decided to try the mod in an easily reversible manner. I used alcohol to clean the armor-all off the black blades and applied some chrome tape to the leading edge. The results were mixed. The tape looked good, but it is not flexible enough to handle the curves at each end of the blades without bunching up. With a highly reflective surface, any imperfection is easily visible so the inevitable wrinkles stood out way too much.
A better material would need to be more flexible, yet thick enough to retain a uniformly smooth surface. An ideal product would be a larger version of those chrome door edge strips that are U-shaped to fit over the edge of the black blades.
Unable to find such a product, I tried something else that proved to be a great alternative at the local Pep Boys auto parts store. For $14 they have a product called Cowles Custom Chrome Molding. This comes in several widths, but the 1/2" size is best. It comes in an 18' roll. Here it is online: http://www.jcwhitney.com/universal-c...41&zmap=686525
It is very smooth flexible vinyl with a very shiny chrome finish. It is about as thick as a DVD which means it will not crease like the tape did. It has a peel-off tape backing using 3M automotive adhesive just like that holding our Nissan emblem on, so it should last a good long time.
The only bad thing about it is that this strip is designed for a fairly flat surface and the leading edge of the black bar is a half-round shape. While the tape will bend at the ends to follow the curves along the length of the bar, it is not flexible enough to bend and conform to the half-round face.
The directions caution not to run it thru a car wash until the adhesive fully cures in 3 days. It has now been on 3 weeks and has not shown any signs of coming loose.
If anyone finds a more appropriate solution or if you get tired of the appearance, it should be possible to remove this molding just as easily as we can debadge our emblems.
I initially wrote of this concept here, beginning at post #68:
http://forums.maxima.org/7th-generat...r-ideas-2.html
Here are a few closeups that show the tighter curves. I found it best to pre-bend the strips and install as tight as possible to the very ends of the black bars. That way the adjacent trim helps lock the end of the chrome strip so it can't spring back to its former shape.
Please be sure to post any alternative product solutions if you find them. It would be interesting to see if the improvement is greater on Maximas of other colors, so please post your pictures too...
These openings are equipped with a black horizontal blade which is nearly invisible. It's likely there for some purpose other than appearance. I began wondering if there was something that can be done to improve things.
It seemed that if the lower blade was faced with a chrome strip matching the strips in the upper grill it would visually tie the whole front end together while finishing off the lower "holes".
After making a couple of PhotoShop images to confirm this appearance I decided to try the mod in an easily reversible manner. I used alcohol to clean the armor-all off the black blades and applied some chrome tape to the leading edge. The results were mixed. The tape looked good, but it is not flexible enough to handle the curves at each end of the blades without bunching up. With a highly reflective surface, any imperfection is easily visible so the inevitable wrinkles stood out way too much.
A better material would need to be more flexible, yet thick enough to retain a uniformly smooth surface. An ideal product would be a larger version of those chrome door edge strips that are U-shaped to fit over the edge of the black blades.
Unable to find such a product, I tried something else that proved to be a great alternative at the local Pep Boys auto parts store. For $14 they have a product called Cowles Custom Chrome Molding. This comes in several widths, but the 1/2" size is best. It comes in an 18' roll. Here it is online: http://www.jcwhitney.com/universal-c...41&zmap=686525
It is very smooth flexible vinyl with a very shiny chrome finish. It is about as thick as a DVD which means it will not crease like the tape did. It has a peel-off tape backing using 3M automotive adhesive just like that holding our Nissan emblem on, so it should last a good long time.
The only bad thing about it is that this strip is designed for a fairly flat surface and the leading edge of the black bar is a half-round shape. While the tape will bend at the ends to follow the curves along the length of the bar, it is not flexible enough to bend and conform to the half-round face.
The directions caution not to run it thru a car wash until the adhesive fully cures in 3 days. It has now been on 3 weeks and has not shown any signs of coming loose.
If anyone finds a more appropriate solution or if you get tired of the appearance, it should be possible to remove this molding just as easily as we can debadge our emblems.
I initially wrote of this concept here, beginning at post #68:
http://forums.maxima.org/7th-generat...r-ideas-2.html
Here are a few closeups that show the tighter curves. I found it best to pre-bend the strips and install as tight as possible to the very ends of the black bars. That way the adjacent trim helps lock the end of the chrome strip so it can't spring back to its former shape.
Please be sure to post any alternative product solutions if you find them. It would be interesting to see if the improvement is greater on Maximas of other colors, so please post your pictures too...
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 491
From: SoCal
Just finished throwing on that Chrome. This is how the car should of came. Looks sick and makes the front look meaner. Took about an hour or so to do but it did not feel like it. The part i found difficult was the side panels since you have to shape it a certain way. Really impressed with the grill now. Will post pics later.
Huge shout out to the OP, the inspiration to many of us. Good stuff!
Huge shout out to the OP, the inspiration to many of us. Good stuff!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 439
Took an HOUR!!!!!!!???
I did it in 10 minutes... Just went to autozone bought some 1/2" chrome molding, cleaned the grill with alcohol about 3 times and then cut it to length and stuck it on. I just did the middle portion as I am doing something else with the 2 side portions... so maybe that is where you spent your time IDK.
Either way GREAT MOD!
I did it in 10 minutes... Just went to autozone bought some 1/2" chrome molding, cleaned the grill with alcohol about 3 times and then cut it to length and stuck it on. I just did the middle portion as I am doing something else with the 2 side portions... so maybe that is where you spent your time IDK.
Either way GREAT MOD!
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 491
From: SoCal
Took an HOUR!!!!!!!???
I did it in 10 minutes... Just went to autozone bought some 1/2" chrome molding, cleaned the grill with alcohol about 3 times and then cut it to length and stuck it on. I just did the middle portion as I am doing something else with the 2 side portions... so maybe that is where you spent your time IDK.
Either way GREAT MOD!
I did it in 10 minutes... Just went to autozone bought some 1/2" chrome molding, cleaned the grill with alcohol about 3 times and then cut it to length and stuck it on. I just did the middle portion as I am doing something else with the 2 side portions... so maybe that is where you spent your time IDK.
Either way GREAT MOD!
Thanks to the Org! i am learning a lot.Here are the shots of the ToroMax, Sorry for the bad pics
Before
After
Last edited by ToroMax; May 15, 2011 at 08:47 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 83
From: San Diego
So finally, I recieve my package from jcwhitney with my 1/2 chrome molding for the bumper. I open the box, dig through it. And what do I find.....a universal throttle sleeve for a Honda. Looks like a have to wait another 10 days for it to come, cuz they are shipping another package
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 168
From: Brooklyn, NY
This was my 1st attempt in doing anything with my car. This Max is turning in to my new hobby and i just want to make sure i do things the right way, but im sure it was under an hour it just feels like time flys. I just got rid of my 40G fish tank since i no longer have time to clean it. Most of my time is spent taking care of the ride now Thanks to the Org! i am learning a lot.
Here are the shots of the ToroMax, Sorry for the bad pics
Before
After
Thanks to the Org! i am learning a lot.Here are the shots of the ToroMax, Sorry for the bad pics
Before
After
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 491
From: SoCal
Makes a huge difference, while keeping that factory look! Thanks for the compliments, couldn't have done it with out this sites help.
Has stayed on without a problem, for 15$ its a steal.
If i ever see a Max in the street with it i know your from the .Org
Has stayed on without a problem, for 15$ its a steal.
If i ever see a Max in the street with it i know your from the .Org
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 55
From: Chi-Town
just ordered mines and recieved it... i really want to put this on but the instruction says i need to put it when its above 65 degrees,, i live in chicago and its 38 degrees and the temp would not go anywhere near 65.. should i suggest a heat gun????
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,020
From: Maryland
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3
Beautiful work and lovely detail!
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"Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?"
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"Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?"
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 452
From: STL MO
ok, so save the $15. i like the look on the non sports, but i dont want to put it on and have it look bad. I am waiting on my stillen lip. I cant seem to stay off this site. I wish they made more parts for the 7th gen max.
