AAP

Anyone have any idea of how to easily remove the grilles if I have the A-Spec Front Lip?

I dont want to remove the lip (well I can't) because of how the ClearBra on my car is installed.

Thanks ...

w1n78

according to Mafrecola (who has done the mod and has the aero kit), it's easy to remove. just buy some extra 3M tape

AAP

I guess it is a mod for next summer since it has started to snow here ... and that is too much work to do in the snow ...

AAP

In addition ... anyone besides Mafrecola done it with the A-Spec Lip? I can't see it being impossible to remove w/ the lip ... if not ... how do I remove the lip?

dmsmitty

I did mine, and I have a dealer installed A-spec lip. There are 2 screws in each fender well, and I had 3 screws in the front directly under the grill. There is alot of double sided tape that needed replacing. Bought it at home depot for $10. It was very easy to do. The front lip is very flexible, so it "unpeeled" very easily. It was the first time I've seen my car without the lip, and if aanyone is considering buying one, it's so worth it. What a huge difference!

NOTE: It does have to come off completely. The lip covers the bottom of the lower grills. I tried leaving it partially installed to no avail.

The whole mod took less than 2 hours including tear down and reassembly. I did not have a dremel tool, and it worked fine for me with a hacksaw blade, sandpaper, and some patience. I did repaint the grill plastic with spray paint for a cleaner look.

I'm doing the grill insert next. I've completed the Acura emblem (love it), but not the grill. Will post pics when complete.

David.

millerrh

OK, I did mine this weekend. It is not as easy as it seems and is not as clean as I would have liked. To all those that said it took 1-2 hours, I am impressed. It took me more like 4, not including waiting for paint and JB weld to dry.

One problem I'm still having is fitment issues. The mesh being behind the grill is causing the whole thing to not be seated all the way and some of the snaps won't snap in place. How did you all resolve this? By sanding away some of the mesh/weld?

I've already found that the JB Weld isn't holding that well. It came apart once during handling. Due to this and the fitment issues, I'm thinking about just going back to stock. It's just not clean enough for me. If anyone has any ideas on these two big problems, let me know.

Here are some pics of my work:

05TLTony

Millerrh,
try sanding the excess weld on the side nearest to the license plate. If you have trouble sitting the grill tabs back in, use a small flathead screwdriver to push down the tabs through the mesh. As for the weld not sticking, did you wipe the surface down with rubbing alcohol before you welded it?

millerrh

It wasn't fitting at all, so I sanded that part like you suggested when I first installed it. This allowed it to go in place. But the problem seems to be that the thickness of the mesh + weld is enough that you just simply can't push it in far enough for the snaps to engage. It almost seems like you'd have to take off about 1/4" of plastic before you lay the mesh down to account for the extra thickness.

I did use alcohol on the part before JB Welding it. But I only waited about 3 hours before trying to install it. And with all the pushing and wiggling trying to get them to go in the weld broke on one side. Maybe I didn't wait long enough for it to dry.

I've got two new grill pieces coming in the mail. I think I'm goign to keep one stock and try again on the second pair to see if I can make it more durable and try to give it a tighter fit somehow.

05TLTony

Just wondering, did you cut a template with the mesh before cutting the horizontal bars?
Maybe you put too much weld. The weld with the mesh shouldn't be that thick.

millerrh

Yep, I cut the mesh while the bars were still on. I think the problem comes from two things:

1. When bending back the mesh over the lip of the grill, it was hard to do. I used some pliers but couldn't get it completely flat everywhere. The mesh is very thick and difficult to work with.

2. The weld might be too thick.

If it were just the thickness of the mesh and the mesh were perfectly flat, it would probably fit. I think when doing it I didn't realize how important that would be. I think when I re-do it, I'm going to leave less mesh around the edges and try to sand away anything that appears to be bulging out. It's really super important that everything is pushed up against the plastic grill as tight as it can be.

Psycho

Hey i just put on my grill and cleared out my headlights as well u guys could check out my pics at....

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2182312

w1n78

can you take more pics of the front please. it was blurry. i have SSM too and cleared headlights. thanks

ililillilillilil

i was trying to do my mesh grille, but the front lip seems to be in the way. do i need to remove & re-tape the front lip?

lyk3n0other8

Sexy stuff, I cant wait to do this.

lyk3n0other8

I Did It

contraryan

What color is your car? Post some pics its always good to see what the mods look like

pohljm

Here is mine on a RRP. The problems encountered in the above posts were due to the fact that they tried to wrap the mesh around the grille edges and they used an adhesive. Both of these methods will cause problems. the trick is to cut the mesh so it fits perfectly and then sandwich the mesh between the grille and the body.

Jesstzn

Has anyone got pix of this done on a WDP? And what color did you do?

pimpin-tl

I haven't been able to locate the chrome door edge stuff just yet, but I just did these last night. It wasn't exactly a easy task, but it wasn't difficult either. Lots of cutting, lots of sanding, and I painted the mesh silver because it will turn dark grey if you leave it unpainted after so long.

Came out pretty good. And I did not remove my A-Spec lip. I just taped the lip up all around the area the grill is, and loosed all the bolts, and was able to work it out carefully.

Pics of my WDP TL with the grill, without the chrome so far.

Jesstzn

You know .. I like it better with no chrome strips done like that .. I have the chrome strips on mine and now seeing this whenI can find the proper mesh I'm doing it like that with no chrome .. Biggest problem up here in CanaDUH is finding the mesh and the closes Home Depot is 4 hours away.

pohljm

If you clear coat the mesh with polyurethane you will not have any problem with the mesh changing color. also I personally do not think the plastic chrome door edge guards look very good with the silver mesh backdrop, perhaps if you chromed the mesh.

trancemission

looks good pimpin. I actually kinda like it with the black strips.

annaie1

Let me know what you guys think

jpaik316

nice.. Looks great. I was thinking what i should do with my lowergrill.

Jesstzn

^^^ looks really good ..

MaCaY

you should install some fog lights too

lyk3n0other8

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

Your lower grille looks different...Is it painted anthracite?

Tripnbeats

i just had a new buumper painted and installed on mine and i ordered the 07 grills...not only am I gonna do the silver paint but im doing the foglights too

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

They ain't gonna fit unless you hack em up. Teh bumper designed changed... This assumes you're not doing the "accord fog light mod".

lyk3n0other8

My grill ?


No, It plastic mesh, Dont know where my shop guy got it from

Tezzeey

what do you think i should d
continue to do the right side, or glue the strips back on?

TeknoKing

maybe it's only me..... i did similar stuff to my 00TL, and then I realized how ricey this looks.

I highly recommend painting to match your car's color....this mesh should not stand out soo much....

(also steer away from home depo stuff...I got flamed for this already in the 2G forum)

TeknoKing

Teezy, you may have something nice going there...I see the strips, I like 'em, remove the middle fat strip...leave the two on top and bottom...This will be interesting to look at.

Tezzeey

so i tried out what you said took me 5 min lol



without the middle strip on the riht ( the shit on the middle is the glue)


without the chrome strip

TeknoKing

^^^ OK, I've removed the glue for you.... I think its unique...



Any other ideas?

TeknoKing

^^^ OK I've removed the glue for you...

I think it looks unique

pimpin-tl

xoulu

iTrader: (3)

man i did mines and i got glue everywhere =( and it looks all sloppy, im going to repaint it and see how it turns up

lights

iTrader: (1)

what do you guys recommend regarding the shape of the opening on the grill mesh?
the most common ones are the 45 degree square....how about circle? or custom opening??