my poor attempt at baby dish grill

[Mr.Nemo]

Well , after almost a month of doing this little project, only took month cause I was lazy and only worked on it when ever it suited me and time allowed :). Damn, bondo , that's where I think I made most of my mistakes , lol I'm going to put this thing on anyways,(bit embarrased because there are LOTS of little craters like the moon ) and retry it with the one I take off from the car. again damn bondo :) it's sooo difficult at least from my experience. Made bunch of mistakes that I know now not to make again.

- don't try to sand off the chrome part on the stock oem grill with the dremel, too many opps went too deep :)

- using fiberglass, take my time and not too much
- bondo, do little at a time, yes more time consuming bu long run I'll have better uniformed smoother surface to work with.

anyways, here it is *it's not on the car yet , haven't ordered the mesh.
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3594/hpim0110xv8.jpg
canit really tell from this pic but upon closer look , not pretty sight little bumps and stuff:doh: but from 10 ft and beyond I'm good :)

and this is the mesh I was thinking about , from griptuning
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/7379/0000000106tjf3.jpg

maybe it would've been easier to just buy TZ deep dish ,lol

[300 Addict]

Looks good in the picture. I like the idea!

[CplDaugherty]

Looks good so far! I like what you did with leaving the wing chrome, very very nice.

[Ultimatecarman45]

Looks good in the picture to me too. The concept is a good one, and I've seen another person do it with success... You will be glad when you have a finished product.

[Mr.Nemo]

thanks, only if the real thing was good as the picture ,lol hopefully my second attempt will be better.

[STAGE 3 R/T]

pic looks good! take your time do it right! nice and slow.

[ThreeHundredSee]

Pic looks great. That is EXACTLY what I am doing with my Stock Grille! lol. Small world. I haven't decided if I wanted to color match the frame and leave the wings chrome, or keep the frame and wings chrome. Looks good the way you got it. TZ would be nice, but this is something YOU can take pride in. Congrats :thumbs_u::thumbs_u::thumbs_u:

[D's300C]

nice idea, ive tossed it around myself before. g'luck

[Mr.Nemo]

arrrgg, I can't bring myself to install this thing :) just too sloppy and too many craters. I would just go nuts thinking about it everytime I drive and especially when I wash the car. I think TZ grill is in my sight :) hope yours turn out better than mine.

[D's300C]

so now that the modding is done, just take it to get painted. you tried. nothing wrong with that.

[pukkaSRT8]

looks great for a first attempt...definately better than i could manage!

[D's300C]

im telling you man, take it in, pay the extra to have them paint it, and it will look dope

[Mr.Nemo]

it's not just the paint, I screwed up with the bondo , or will they fix that at the paint shop? either case I'm probably looking at 200 or so . I'll just go the extra mile and stretch for the TZ grill )

[PappaDoc]

Leave it to the experts! Get a TZ and enjoy rather it rather than wasting time and being frustrated. At least if you're not a gungho craftsman. I don't have the patience to do that kind of mod. I am a want it done now type!!

[HEMMISSEY]

it looks pretty dam good if you ask me bro. I remember "uykno" was it the name?.. on the 3cf was making em, and he dissapered (sp*) for some reason.. take it to a body shop and let them finish it off (sanding,prep then paint etc.) It should be no more than $200..
If I was you, I go buy TZ's and call it a day. No more headaches.. :)

[pukkaSRT8]

yeah, second thoughts you should just go buy the TZ and send that one to me :thumbs_u:

[Mr.Nemo]

Leave it to the experts! Get a TZ and enjoy rather it rather than wasting time and being frustrated. At least if you're not a gungho craftsman. I don't have the patience to do that kind of mod. I am a want it done now type!!

Lol, I'm the same way, don't know how I lasted this long :)

it looks pretty dam good if you ask me bro. I remember "uykno" was it the name?.. on the 3cf was making em, and he dissapered (sp*) for some reason.. take it to a body shop and let them finish it off (sanding,prep then paint etc.) It should be no more than $200..
If I was you, I go buy TZ's and call it a day. No more headaches.. :)

boy, pictures sure do lie :) if you saw it in person , it'll make you cry,not because it's good but BAD :)

yeah, second thoughts you should just go buy the TZ and send that one to me :thumbs_u:
I'm gonna go see how much a shop will charge, probably neighborhood of 200-300 in which case I'm not going to do. Your serious? you can have it, you would have to pick up the s/h though.

[300CSRT8]

Looks good in the pic's, BUT if TZ is what you really want, go for it


Rob

[pukkaSRT8]

I'm gonna go see how much a shop will charge, probably neighborhood of 200-300 in which case I'm not going to do. Your serious? you can have it, you would have to pick up the s/h though.

check your PMs :)

[pipsmom]

Mr.Nemo I applaud your effort! You did alot better than I could do...I don't think you should give up..just be patient and take your time. If you got the black mesh to match are you really going to see every little bump as you put it?
Maybe build it up a bit by putting another layer of bondo on it and re-sand it...I would just hate to see you give up, when it is something you could take alot of pride in!:thumbs_u:

[DUBSTER]

Loooks SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!!!! to me!!! Resand it and fill in the holes.

[Mr.Nemo]

Hey Pukkasrt sorry about changing my mind, but like I said in the PM I'm going to see if the guys at my brother's shop can do it for 100 bucks. It would've been heck of lot easier if I had known this from the start lol but who knew he's in the construction equipment rental business.

PM , thank you for your appauld :) yeah there's just too many mistakes on it. sure it looks great from 10 ft but any closer and my secrets out ,lol

damn, so close to getting the TZ grill :) but at least it this one works out I can say I did that part of it (easy part anyways :) )

[cnote05300]

sweet! i was going to do this, but im lazy.

[crhemi]

I used a course wood rasp (by hand) to take the chrome down.

[ThreeHundredSee]

Let us know what happens. I'm interested to see how much they would charge.

[D's300C]

I used a course wood rasp (by hand) to take the chrome down.
WYF is that? can you rent it or buy it cheap?

[Big Papa Smurf]

Looks good. I'm way to lazy, also, to do this mod. I ordered the TZ Deep Dish but it will take at least 6 weeks before I get so maybe your version would better suit my needs. Oh well good things come to those who wait!

[Spittin Game]

Hell, if you dont want it Ill take it. It will just make it that much easier for me, when I try to mod an OEM one!

[Tork Monster]

Your work looks good to me, Nemo! :rock:

Pitts and scratches can come out with a few "skim coats" of filler.

You have gone this far; finish it! If you still dont like the result, you can always buy the TZ.

I would do a Google search on "wire cloth" for the mesh. It is the true woven material used on the quality grills.

I used a vibrating sander to scuff the chrome on mine.

Jay

[Mr.Nemo]

Looks good. I'm way to lazy, also, to do this mod. I ordered the TZ Deep Dish but it will take at least 6 weeks before I get so maybe your version would better suit my needs. Oh well good things come to those who wait!

6wk? does it usually take that long? I got a email from TZ and he said I could have it in 10 days, or is that a teaser :)

to take the chrome off, I found easiest way for me anyways was to use dremel with a worn out or smoothed out round sander( little cylinder looking , almost looks like erasers on a pencil) and lightly put pressure on it. It won't sand it off but just go back and forth just to heat it up , you could probably do it with a heatgun if you had one, and it just peels off really easy with a exacto knife or razor. that's what I should've done first :doh:

I'll find out if the guy will do it and for 100 bucks tomorrow. fingers cross :)

[Mr.Nemo]

sweet, he'll do it so hopefully it won't take more than a week. I fotgot to ask how long it would take :)

[Tork Monster]

Hey Buddy!

Here are some links to wire cloth manufacturers:

http://www.bwire.com/aluminum_wire_cloth.htm

http://www.twpinc.com/twp/jsp/product.jsp?type=30&page=price&blackboardId=454

Consider SS instead of aluminum. I tried aluminum in one of my grill "attempts" and it was WAY too flexible. Maybe a heavier grade...

Jay

[Mr.Nemo]

thanks for the link Jay, hey would something like this work?

http://www.griptuning.com/showCategoryAction.do?category=G_MESHINST

I was planning on getting the very top one, the Aluminum mesh or would that be too flimsy?

[Tork Monster]

That would work, but that is expanded metal.

http://www.griptuning.com/ImgApp/ProductImages/0000000104_t.jpg

Expanded metal is flat sheetmetal that they punch slots in and stretch it out. It is used for all sorts of things and works well, but does not look as good as wire cloth, which is individual wires woven like cloth. That is what the high-end grills are built with.

http://www.twpinc.com/static-images/meshphotos/004x047AMESH.jpg

More money though (big surprise, huh). If you do go with the wire cloth remember to buy enough to use it diagonally, as most grills are done. If you buy it "square" like it is shown in the pic, it may not look like the way you want.
If you are painting the mesh black, you may be very pleased with expanded metal, but if you are not, then the extra money is definitely worth it!

[Mr.Nemo]

Decision , decision, decision ,lol you know it's late when I looked at the wire cloth I was "nah I don't want square shaped for a mesh" lol for somereason the idea of rotating the wire cloth so it's oriented into a diamond like shape never crossed my mind. but now I'm bit coherent :) so I'll go with the wirecloth, now I just have to make some measurements so I'm covered.

[smoove7410]

Keep working at it. I like it and with a black mesh middle, it will be one of the greats.

[Mr.Nemo]

Keep working at it. I like it and with a black mesh middle, it will be one of the greats.

Thanks but can't wait to get it back and see how nicely it turned out.

[zmz300]

Your attempt looks pretty good. I wanted to do the same, I have the spare grill but never got around to do it. Just fill in the holes and you shoud be good to go.




-ZEUS

[Pug]

My suggestion would be to sand the painted part with some medium grit, use spot filler (or putty) sand it again, primer and re-paint. That way, you get a very smooth surface for the clear to sit on. Of course, what do I know - I am to lazy to do anything. How were you thinking of attaching the mesh?

[Mr.Nemo]

well I was thinking was justing putting on the back of the grill and attaching a washer with the screwes to attach the grill. and maybe sillicon aroung the mesh in the back of the grill to make it more stable. This is in all theory :) hope it works. I was contemplating about using a bondo around the outer edge of the mesh, where I would bend it , that way it's pretty solid around the edges or so.

but that's ways to go. seems like it's going to be awhile before I get it back, the guys going to be working on it when he gets a chance at work, which I understand, he's not going to work on the grill while he's under the clock even if my brother is the boss :) I got time, but still waiting is killing me lol

[tommyzdesign]

nemo ,

u want some of our mesh ? i applaud your effort , i hope u get it finished , just dont tell anyone else how easy it is....lol

then ill be shining shoes again..

tz

[Mr.Nemo]

LOL, I wish it was that easy, that was my thought " how hard can it be" boy was I wrong. It amazes me how guys like you can do the stuff you do, beautiful workmanship. Now shinning shoes I think I can handle that :)

[Pug]

I tried once to attatch some mesh to a grill with hot glue - man that was a pain and a mess. Not to mention it did not work. I really think that some type of mechanical attatchment would be much better than adhesive.

[ThreeHundredSee]

nemo ,

u want some of our mesh ? i applaud your effort , i hope u get it finished , just dont tell anyone else how easy it is....lol

then ill be shining shoes again..

tz

Wow. Thats class.

[Mr.Nemo]

I tried once to attatch some mesh to a grill with hot glue - man that was a pain and a mess. Not to mention it did not work. I really think that some type of mechanical attatchment would be much better than adhesive.
That's not good, I sure don't want to end up screwing up the expansive mesh. It all sounds like it would work in my head lol thanks for the heads up

Wow. Thats class.
yes he is, I think I'm gonna go with TZ grill, don't know how long it's going to take that guy who's trying to fix my grill to work on it. He hasn't even touched it yet and it's been a week. I don't blame him, he's busy at work :) plus I'm not too sure about the mesh part too (installing) .