Inspire Conversion
10-24-2004, 03:21 PM
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Inspire Conversion
This is for all those guys with the Honda Inspire Badges and front grill. Want to give me a quick DIY for removing the front grill and rear honda emblems? I want to know exactly what I have to do and what I have to remove in order to take the grill off etc. I just dont want to break any fragile little piece. Also, any tips on lining up the badges correctly and straight in the rear?
10-24-2004, 03:50 PM
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If you have a '99-'01, the grille is easy to remove; just a couple of nuts (5?) and it comes right out. It's always a good idea to spray some penetrating oil on the bolt threads as the nuts tend to get stuck. I have no idea what's involved with the '02-'03 grille.
Before I removed the ACURA lettering, I lined up a strip of masking tape along the bottom of the letters across the trunk lid (that way I would have the proper position of the lNSPIRE letters with respect to height and level). I then marked the center of the trunk on that masking tape. Then I just ripped off the rear badging since I had no intention of using them again. If you wanted to save them, I've heard that if you saw away at the double-sided foam tape used to stick the badges on with fishing line, they come off without damage. I just removed the glue residue with prepsol (any grease/wax remover should soften up the glue). Don't worry about lining up the INSPIRE letters, it comes on a backing strip with all the letters properly spaced and a centering notch. When you're ready to attach the INSPIRE lettering, line up the bottom of the letters with the top of the masking tape on the trunk and match the center notch with the center mark and apply the letters. Make sure the trunk surface is not cold or the glue on the lettering won't set up right (I used a hairdryer to warm up the trunk surface a little).
After you remove the "A" emblem, you'll reveal two alignment holes. To complete the trunk I used a JDM "H" badge that had perfectly spaced alignment pins. I did not use the "32V" badge because my Mugen spoiler is in the way but you'd just put that in place of the "3.2TL" badge.
Before I removed the ACURA lettering, I lined up a strip of masking tape along the bottom of the letters across the trunk lid (that way I would have the proper position of the lNSPIRE letters with respect to height and level). I then marked the center of the trunk on that masking tape. Then I just ripped off the rear badging since I had no intention of using them again. If you wanted to save them, I've heard that if you saw away at the double-sided foam tape used to stick the badges on with fishing line, they come off without damage. I just removed the glue residue with prepsol (any grease/wax remover should soften up the glue). Don't worry about lining up the INSPIRE letters, it comes on a backing strip with all the letters properly spaced and a centering notch. When you're ready to attach the INSPIRE lettering, line up the bottom of the letters with the top of the masking tape on the trunk and match the center notch with the center mark and apply the letters. Make sure the trunk surface is not cold or the glue on the lettering won't set up right (I used a hairdryer to warm up the trunk surface a little).
After you remove the "A" emblem, you'll reveal two alignment holes. To complete the trunk I used a JDM "H" badge that had perfectly spaced alignment pins. I did not use the "32V" badge because my Mugen spoiler is in the way but you'd just put that in place of the "3.2TL" badge.
10-24-2004, 04:08 PM
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Well do you simply pull the rear Acura emblem off? Or do you have to pop it off from the inside of the trunk?
And I have an 03 TL-S. It seems to be all held together using push pins. And I feel one at the bottom of the grill connecting it to the front bumper. Looks to me like I have to remove the bumper, unless someone else knows of an easier way? Anybody?
Oh and thanks for your help TLMugen.
And I have an 03 TL-S. It seems to be all held together using push pins. And I feel one at the bottom of the grill connecting it to the front bumper. Looks to me like I have to remove the bumper, unless someone else knows of an easier way? Anybody?
Oh and thanks for your help TLMugen.
10-24-2004, 04:35 PM
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All the badging is stuck on using double-sided foam tape so it's easy to pull off. The rear "A" is also held on with double-sided tape and the pins are used for alignment. Again, I just pulled it off, no need to go in from the inside of the trunk lid. The pins might be stuck in the holes but after I broke off the "A" badge I used a screw extractor to pull out the plastic pins that were remaining. The new OEM "H" badge's pins were "+" shaped in cross section, no snap fit or anything like that, just double-sided tape holding the badge on.
I think I have a pic of the Inspire stuff after I was done; it'll show you how all the badges I got came; if I can find it, I'll post it.
I think I have a pic of the Inspire stuff after I was done; it'll show you how all the badges I got came; if I can find it, I'll post it.
10-24-2004, 05:03 PM
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Here's a pic of the Inspire badging packages:
See how the INSPIRE letters had fit in the blue spaces of the backing strip?
Notice how the backing strip has a little notch cut out just under where the "P" was? That's the center of the lettering.
The bubble wrap package was the "H" badge.
See how the INSPIRE letters had fit in the blue spaces of the backing strip?
Notice how the backing strip has a little notch cut out just under where the "P" was? That's the center of the lettering.
The bubble wrap package was the "H" badge.
10-24-2004, 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by JimmyTLS
Ohhh I gotcha!! Thanks!! Now anyone know anything about the TL-S front grill?
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10-24-2004, 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Kuruption
Go to www.Grille-tech.com for a TL-S grille. The grill does not come off. The grill that you can buy from grille tech is zip tied on top of the existing grill. I have it and it looks good. You cant even tell that that there are zip ties, if your anal about that. But go and check it out.
10-24-2004, 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by JimmyTLS
Umm...did you read the whole thread? I want to know how to remove the front grille as to change the center piece over to a Honda center piece. But it seems to me like I have to remove the whole bumper in oder to do so, unless someone else knows of another way.
10-25-2004, 11:32 PM
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OK guys. I did it today at work. I think its fairly straight. No problems on the grill, it just sucks dat I had to remove the bumper to do it tho. But, it wasn't too bad. All I have is one pic via camera phone so no one say anything, more pics will come.
<~~nice!
10-26-2004, 08:00 AM
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giovanni,
FYI... Remember, JimmyTLS has an '03 so the grille won't look the same as the Inspire grille for a '99.
It'll look like this:
The '99 grille would look like this:
FYI... Remember, JimmyTLS has an '03 so the grille won't look the same as the Inspire grille for a '99.
It'll look like this:
The '99 grille would look like this:
10-26-2004, 08:03 AM
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TLMUGEN.....I am gathering all the pieces i would need to do the conversion...But the one hardest part is the front grille...I have a 99 and the front grille i can get is only for 02 and up ...hence i am looking to modify the front H somehow to stock grille.
i was hoping that someone has already done it so i can ask how it was done.
i was hoping that someone has already done it so i can ask how it was done.
10-26-2004, 08:51 AM
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The H will not fit on the stock grill. The border for our 'A' is round whereas the border on the 'H' is rectangular. I currently have no emblem in the front. Im getting my chrome grill painted the body color and plan on just placing meshing in there. I'll post pics later this week after I get my grill on.
10-26-2004, 01:54 PM
#21
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Damn...now I have to change my name. I am no longer JimmyTLS...I want to be JimmyInspired! Oh yea and I need to get my cable for the digi cam back so I can upload the pics.
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