DIY : taking off front grill (pics)
03-27-2005, 03:09 PM
#1
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
DIY : taking off front grill (pics)
Hey,
For those of you who might wanna take off your grill and modify it somehow -- I took off my grill to do some spring cleaning as well as install parts sitting around my house since Christmas.
Tools you need:
1) flathead screwdriver (preferrably short length)
2) Philips screwdriver ( X shaped head)
3) screwdriver for eyeglasses (very small ones)
To take off the grill, it's easiest to just leave the front bumper on. Pop the hood open. There is a long, thin, black plastic piece that covers above the headlight housing and spans across the front of the engine bay:
The pic has this black piece removed from the car ... you'll need the flathead screwdriver to remove the pushpins that hold this piece in place. You HAVE TO HAVE PATIENCE to remove them without breaking the heads off. It's like $5 to replace one of them, so be careful! Let's see ... there are 2 on the passenger side, 6 (4 big, 2 small) in the middle and 1 on the driver's side. Put this piece in a flat place, out of the way. It's somewhat fragile so you don't want to crack this piece.
Now ... you'll see a small crevice on the driver's side, between the grill and the radiator. Look around to familiarize yourself with where you will need to go. Your grill is held to the bumper with 3 push pins, equidistant apart (2 on the sides, 1 in the middle). Fit your hand with a short-length flathead screwdriver inside to reach for the under side of the grill, where it meets with the bumper. You have to feel around to see where the screwdriver is gonna go flip off the push pin. Patience ... again is gonna get you through this. Remember -- if you don't do it this way, you'll have to take your bumper off ... your choice. For me, it took close to a 1/2 hour to get the 3 push pins out:
Your car should look like this now:
With the grill off ... you're good to go. It should look like this:
On the inward facing side, you'll see a bunch of philips head screws holding the grill in place. For my mod, I had to take these pieces off. Three screws on the ends, 4 in the middle (2 screws to hold the base of the grill emblem, 2 screws to hold the chrome emblem in place).
Notice the orientation of the base emblem when you replace it:
At this point, you put all the screws back on ... and reverse the order of the directions posted above. You can see how the engineers designed how these pieces all fit together. It's so easy to snap everythiing on -- just a pain in the @ss to take it off. It took me 2 minutes to put everything back into place.
Here's what my car now looks like:
Hope this helps someone down the road!
For those of you who might wanna take off your grill and modify it somehow -- I took off my grill to do some spring cleaning as well as install parts sitting around my house since Christmas.
Tools you need:
1) flathead screwdriver (preferrably short length)
2) Philips screwdriver ( X shaped head)
3) screwdriver for eyeglasses (very small ones)
To take off the grill, it's easiest to just leave the front bumper on. Pop the hood open. There is a long, thin, black plastic piece that covers above the headlight housing and spans across the front of the engine bay:
The pic has this black piece removed from the car ... you'll need the flathead screwdriver to remove the pushpins that hold this piece in place. You HAVE TO HAVE PATIENCE to remove them without breaking the heads off. It's like $5 to replace one of them, so be careful! Let's see ... there are 2 on the passenger side, 6 (4 big, 2 small) in the middle and 1 on the driver's side. Put this piece in a flat place, out of the way. It's somewhat fragile so you don't want to crack this piece.
Now ... you'll see a small crevice on the driver's side, between the grill and the radiator. Look around to familiarize yourself with where you will need to go. Your grill is held to the bumper with 3 push pins, equidistant apart (2 on the sides, 1 in the middle). Fit your hand with a short-length flathead screwdriver inside to reach for the under side of the grill, where it meets with the bumper. You have to feel around to see where the screwdriver is gonna go flip off the push pin. Patience ... again is gonna get you through this. Remember -- if you don't do it this way, you'll have to take your bumper off ... your choice. For me, it took close to a 1/2 hour to get the 3 push pins out:
Your car should look like this now:
With the grill off ... you're good to go. It should look like this:
On the inward facing side, you'll see a bunch of philips head screws holding the grill in place. For my mod, I had to take these pieces off. Three screws on the ends, 4 in the middle (2 screws to hold the base of the grill emblem, 2 screws to hold the chrome emblem in place).
Notice the orientation of the base emblem when you replace it:
At this point, you put all the screws back on ... and reverse the order of the directions posted above. You can see how the engineers designed how these pieces all fit together. It's so easy to snap everythiing on -- just a pain in the @ss to take it off. It took me 2 minutes to put everything back into place.
Here's what my car now looks like:
Hope this helps someone down the road!
03-28-2005, 12:04 AM
#4
AZ O.G NoOldManVetteOwner
I replaced the Acura badge on that grill (with another Acura badge, however) and it was SUCH a pain without taking the grill off. Nice instructions.
03-31-2005, 04:45 PM
#6
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
You need the really small screwdriver, like the ones you need to use for eyeglasses. You can't use the 'regular' ones for everyday use. Just fit the small head into the groove -- you have to be patient when you take stuff off your car. Those push pins aren't very durable.
Take a look at the 4th pic in the DIY ... you can see there are 3 screwdrivers in the pic ... small silver one, orange one, green one -- the silver one is what you need.
Take a look at the 4th pic in the DIY ... you can see there are 3 screwdrivers in the pic ... small silver one, orange one, green one -- the silver one is what you need.
).
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04-01-2005, 09:30 AM
#8
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Pure Adrenaline
Hmm, so the JDM badge conversion only comes with the "H" for the front? I thought it was an entire grille.
1) chrome part on both sides of the emblem
2) chrome H emblem
3) backing to support the H emblem
A bunch of Philips screws hold them all in place (I think there are 10 total). The hard part is getting those push pins that hold the grill onto the bumper. I hope I never have to get to them again! (But will probably need to do so when I sell my car ...)
Next ... trunk emblem + rim center caps and I'm good to go.
04-15-2005, 11:28 PM
#11
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I guess the 99-01 TL would have a similar setup. I'm not 100% sure. But once you get the grill off, I'm pretty sure there are only regular philips head screws that hold the A emblem in place.
On the inward facing side, you'll see a bunch of philips head screws holding the grill in place. For my mod, I had to take these pieces off. Three screws on the ends, 4 in the middle (2 screws to hold the base of the grill emblem, 2 screws to hold the chrome emblem in place).
07-12-2005, 11:08 AM
#13
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hey i found this one off ebay, it says it can fit the rsx, and intergra, how bout the 99 tl. anyone know?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...986234936&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...986234936&rd=1
07-12-2005, 11:26 PM
#14
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by PenancE
nice dude, u get the emblem+back bracket at the honda dealerships? if so whats the part number plz...thanks
07-14-2005, 12:09 AM
#17
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Most people do the JDM conversion just to be different.
Now to think Acura > Honda ... you can thank marketers at Acura. Take a look at your car VS Honda Accord of the same year. > 40% of your car is the same components. The cars are assembled in the same line in Marysvale, OH.
Anyway ... I did the conversion 'cause I think it looks cool. No one around here has ever heard of an 'Inspire'. I had Acura Inspire for about a year then thought, "why bother do 1/2 a JDM conversion?"
To each, their own.
Now to think Acura > Honda ... you can thank marketers at Acura. Take a look at your car VS Honda Accord of the same year. > 40% of your car is the same components. The cars are assembled in the same line in Marysvale, OH.
Anyway ... I did the conversion 'cause I think it looks cool. No one around here has ever heard of an 'Inspire'. I had Acura Inspire for about a year then thought, "why bother do 1/2 a JDM conversion?"
To each, their own.
07-14-2005, 01:15 AM
#18
Originally Posted by derrick
Most people do the JDM conversion just to be different.
Now to think Acura > Honda ... you can thank marketers at Acura. Take a look at your car VS Honda Accord of the same year. > 40% of your car is the same components. The cars are assembled in the same line in Marysvale, OH.
Anyway ... I did the conversion 'cause I think it looks cool. No one around here has ever heard of an 'Inspire'. I had Acura Inspire for about a year then thought, "why bother do 1/2 a JDM conversion?"
To each, their own.
Now to think Acura > Honda ... you can thank marketers at Acura. Take a look at your car VS Honda Accord of the same year. > 40% of your car is the same components. The cars are assembled in the same line in Marysvale, OH.
Anyway ... I did the conversion 'cause I think it looks cool. No one around here has ever heard of an 'Inspire'. I had Acura Inspire for about a year then thought, "why bother do 1/2 a JDM conversion?"
To each, their own.
JDM conversion is pretty cool, but obviously not for everyone. In any case, Inspire sounds way cooler than 3.2TL.
07-15-2005, 09:06 AM
#19
New ride...Acura MDX 2013
Hey derrick, I was reading this thread and decided to take my front grille off and started removing the 3 pain in the ass push pins with a short flat screw driver as suggested, then it occured to me that if I put a flat tool, ie: the flat side of a set of wire snips, I could push the pointy side of the push pin back through itself rather than try to pry them out and let me tell you this way is much easier, probably took me about 5 minutes to get the grille off.
Peace, Jeff
Peace, Jeff
11-27-2005, 10:29 PM
#20
Three Wheelin'
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reviving from the dead...
can anyone tell me how to take the bottom Chrome trim off from the grille? what is it held on by?
do i have to take the entire grill off the car in order to do so?
can anyone tell me how to take the bottom Chrome trim off from the grille? what is it held on by?
do i have to take the entire grill off the car in order to do so?
12-09-2005, 04:45 PM
#24
Sum1 Nu
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Originally Posted by derrick
Hey,
For those of you who might wanna take off your grill and modify it somehow -- I took off my grill to do some spring cleaning as well as install parts sitting around my house since Christmas.
Tools you need:
1) flathead screwdriver (preferrably short length)
2) Philips screwdriver ( X shaped head)
3) screwdriver for eyeglasses (very small ones)
To take off the grill, it's easiest to just leave the front bumper on. Pop the hood open. There is a long, thin, black plastic piece that covers above the headlight housing and spans across the front of the engine bay:
The pic has this black piece removed from the car ... you'll need the flathead screwdriver to remove the pushpins that hold this piece in place. You HAVE TO HAVE PATIENCE to remove them without breaking the heads off. It's like $5 to replace one of them, so be careful! Let's see ... there are 2 on the passenger side, 6 (4 big, 2 small) in the middle and 1 on the driver's side. Put this piece in a flat place, out of the way. It's somewhat fragile so you don't want to crack this piece.
Now ... you'll see a small crevice on the driver's side, between the grill and the radiator. Look around to familiarize yourself with where you will need to go. Your grill is held to the bumper with 3 push pins, equidistant apart (2 on the sides, 1 in the middle). Fit your hand with a short-length flathead screwdriver inside to reach for the under side of the grill, where it meets with the bumper. You have to feel around to see where the screwdriver is gonna go flip off the push pin. Patience ... again is gonna get you through this. Remember -- if you don't do it this way, you'll have to take your bumper off ... your choice. For me, it took close to a 1/2 hour to get the 3 push pins out:
Your car should look like this now:
With the grill off ... you're good to go. It should look like this:
On the inward facing side, you'll see a bunch of philips head screws holding the grill in place. For my mod, I had to take these pieces off. Three screws on the ends, 4 in the middle (2 screws to hold the base of the grill emblem, 2 screws to hold the chrome emblem in place).
Notice the orientation of the base emblem when you replace it:
At this point, you put all the screws back on ... and reverse the order of the directions posted above. You can see how the engineers designed how these pieces all fit together. It's so easy to snap everythiing on -- just a pain in the @ss to take it off. It took me 2 minutes to put everything back into place.
Here's what my car now looks like:
Hope this helps someone down the road!
For those of you who might wanna take off your grill and modify it somehow -- I took off my grill to do some spring cleaning as well as install parts sitting around my house since Christmas.
Tools you need:
1) flathead screwdriver (preferrably short length)
2) Philips screwdriver ( X shaped head)
3) screwdriver for eyeglasses (very small ones)
To take off the grill, it's easiest to just leave the front bumper on. Pop the hood open. There is a long, thin, black plastic piece that covers above the headlight housing and spans across the front of the engine bay:
The pic has this black piece removed from the car ... you'll need the flathead screwdriver to remove the pushpins that hold this piece in place. You HAVE TO HAVE PATIENCE to remove them without breaking the heads off. It's like $5 to replace one of them, so be careful! Let's see ... there are 2 on the passenger side, 6 (4 big, 2 small) in the middle and 1 on the driver's side. Put this piece in a flat place, out of the way. It's somewhat fragile so you don't want to crack this piece.
Now ... you'll see a small crevice on the driver's side, between the grill and the radiator. Look around to familiarize yourself with where you will need to go. Your grill is held to the bumper with 3 push pins, equidistant apart (2 on the sides, 1 in the middle). Fit your hand with a short-length flathead screwdriver inside to reach for the under side of the grill, where it meets with the bumper. You have to feel around to see where the screwdriver is gonna go flip off the push pin. Patience ... again is gonna get you through this. Remember -- if you don't do it this way, you'll have to take your bumper off ... your choice. For me, it took close to a 1/2 hour to get the 3 push pins out:
Your car should look like this now:
With the grill off ... you're good to go. It should look like this:
On the inward facing side, you'll see a bunch of philips head screws holding the grill in place. For my mod, I had to take these pieces off. Three screws on the ends, 4 in the middle (2 screws to hold the base of the grill emblem, 2 screws to hold the chrome emblem in place).
Notice the orientation of the base emblem when you replace it:
At this point, you put all the screws back on ... and reverse the order of the directions posted above. You can see how the engineers designed how these pieces all fit together. It's so easy to snap everythiing on -- just a pain in the @ss to take it off. It took me 2 minutes to put everything back into place.
Here's what my car now looks like:
Hope this helps someone down the road!
does anyone know where to get a Metallic Grill (silver) from? or if such thing even exists? and if so then whats the price range? i'm in Toronto. thanx
11-03-2006, 11:08 PM
#27
Originally Posted by GranSkyline
may i kno what the use is to change the emblem????
also you do this for JDM conversion.
Originally Posted by 2.3prototype
what car and year honda badge did you use???
11-03-2006, 11:12 PM
#28
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Originally Posted by AznWayTL's
In Japan the TL is known has Honda INSPIRE UA5
also you do this for JDM conversion.
02-03 UA5 Honda INSPIRE emblem
also you do this for JDM conversion.
02-03 UA5 Honda INSPIRE emblem
11-09-2006, 11:46 AM
#29
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Originally Posted by AznWayTL's
In Japan the TL is known has Honda INSPIRE UA5
also you do this for JDM conversion.
02-03 UA5 Honda INSPIRE emblem
also you do this for JDM conversion.
02-03 UA5 Honda INSPIRE emblem
11-09-2006, 01:06 PM
#30
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by GranSkyline
What is JDM conversion????? or basically, what does JDM stand for??? (please note that i am new to the forum, am 15, and know about as much knowledge of car modding as the width of your hand)
Japanese Domestic Market
12-04-2006, 09:41 AM
#32
will this take off the chrome piece at the edge of the hood? My chrome is very badly worn and nothing is getting it shiny again.
I'm thinking of replacing the chrome parts on the front
I'm thinking of replacing the chrome parts on the front
12-09-2006, 08:33 PM
#33
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by fog80
will this take off the chrome piece at the edge of the hood? My chrome is very badly worn and nothing is getting it shiny again.
I thought by posting pictures of this DIY, it would be self-explanatory what this project is supposed to do.
12-12-2006, 06:32 PM
#36
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
^ To answer the above 2 questions. (JDM = japanese domestic market)
Originally Posted by derrick
Most people do the JDM conversion just to be different.
Now to think Acura > Honda ... you can thank marketers at Acura. Take a look at your car VS Honda Accord of the same year. > 40% of your car is the same components. The cars are assembled in the same line in Marysvale, OH.
Anyway ... I did the conversion 'cause I think it looks cool. No one around here has ever heard of an 'Inspire'. I had Acura Inspire for about a year then thought, "why bother do 1/2 a JDM conversion?"
To each, their own.
Now to think Acura > Honda ... you can thank marketers at Acura. Take a look at your car VS Honda Accord of the same year. > 40% of your car is the same components. The cars are assembled in the same line in Marysvale, OH.
Anyway ... I did the conversion 'cause I think it looks cool. No one around here has ever heard of an 'Inspire'. I had Acura Inspire for about a year then thought, "why bother do 1/2 a JDM conversion?"
To each, their own.
12-12-2006, 06:37 PM
#37
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by fog80
will this take off the chrome piece at the edge of the hood? My chrome is very badly worn and nothing is getting it shiny again.
12-27-2006, 09:37 PM
#38
prototype
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just what i needed, thanks derrick.... workin' on this project right now and i was lost as to how to get the bottom clips off for the grille. back to the garage and throwing screwdrivers against the wall i go :P
to reply to the "why swap logo's" questions, i too used to be all about a clean usdm car vs. converting little bits and pieces of cars to jdm parts. not because i didnt like it, but rather 'cause i didnt see the point in spendin' the extra buck for things like this.
but ah, samson(REV-01) was sellin the inspire "H" grille pieces brand new and i somehow had to have it, lol. if he wasnt selling it locally for a good price, i'd never go outta my way to pick it up tho. now i need the rear trunk badge too tho.. and the steering wheel.. :P
to reply to the "why swap logo's" questions, i too used to be all about a clean usdm car vs. converting little bits and pieces of cars to jdm parts. not because i didnt like it, but rather 'cause i didnt see the point in spendin' the extra buck for things like this.
but ah, samson(REV-01) was sellin the inspire "H" grille pieces brand new and i somehow had to have it, lol. if he wasnt selling it locally for a good price, i'd never go outta my way to pick it up tho. now i need the rear trunk badge too tho.. and the steering wheel.. :P
09-02-2008, 01:01 PM
#39
After re-reading this post (and looking at my own avatar), I think you are referring to the chrome strip that is actually ON the front edge of the hood. No, my instruction set will not help you remove that strip. You'd have to go to a body shop and have it remove and rechromed. (I think...)
anyone?
