Notices
350Z Roadster General discussion for the 350Z Roadster

DIY chrome grill

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 3, 2004 | 01:01 AM
  #1  
wutafobb's Avatar
wutafobb
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Default DIY chrome grill

had some DIY tonite, result came out great..a lil even if u look closely but its hardly noticeable and i personally think it looks so much better!
what do u guys think?
15 dollars mod, door edge trim in chrome, can be found in any auto store!

Reply
Old Feb 3, 2004 | 01:06 AM
  #2  
wutafobb's Avatar
wutafobb
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Default

its actually pretty uneven, well its 2am in the morning, i will fix it rite tomorrow morning!
one more and good nite guys!
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2004 | 05:34 AM
  #3  
EnglishSteve's Avatar
EnglishSteve
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale AZ
Default

Looks good! I did the same thing! (no pics with it yet though). I've seen several photos on this board with the same mod. I forgot who I stole the idea from originally though - I know it was a DB coupe.

Steve in AZ
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2004 | 12:40 PM
  #4  
theSmoothDome's Avatar
theSmoothDome
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 294
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
Default

I wonder how brushed aluminum would look. Would it complement the door handles? Could you even find it?
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2004 | 11:09 PM
  #5  
ragtopz's Avatar
ragtopz
New Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 1
From: honolulu, hawaii
Default

i did the same thing. picked up a 10 foot roll for $6.50 from checkers. i put on little pieces to fit the angle parts, but one fell off, so i took off the other five little pieces and now mine looks like yours. i think it actually looks a lot better than some of those expensive grills on the market.

i am very satisfied with the results.
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2004 | 04:59 PM
  #6  
NAPZ's Avatar
NAPZ
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Staten Island, NY
Default

I really like the way it looks and wanna do it myself. What do I need to buy and any helpful hints ??
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2004 | 05:22 PM
  #7  
EnglishSteve's Avatar
EnglishSteve
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale AZ
Default

Originally posted by NAPZ
I really like the way it looks and wanna do it myself. What do I need to buy and any helpful hints ??
It's all done with the door edge trim - I got mine from Pep Boys. Note that there are two sizes of door edge trim available at some auto stores (like Pep Boys, Checker only has one size). If they carry two sizes pick the larger, slightly deeper one, since the grill ribs are a bit thicker than a normal Auto door.

I tried with both sizes and the smaller size was much harder to get on and get looking right.

Start at one end of the rib and work along slowly along, smoothing as you go, a few inches at a time. When you get to the other end, trim with scissors. Easy as pie.

The other thing I did was to buy some of the same stuff, but in black, and stuck it on the unpainted lip below the plastic bumper to provide a little protection from those parking lot concrete barriers and curbs. I had already had an argument with a couple of those barriers.

Steve in AZ
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2004 | 05:24 PM
  #8  
EnglishSteve's Avatar
EnglishSteve
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale AZ
Default

Originally posted by theSmoothDome
I wonder how brushed aluminum would look. Would it complement the door handles? Could you even find it?
I think brushed aluminum would look even better than the chrome, IMO - more in keeping with the Z's other metalwork. I haven't seen any though

Steve in AZ
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 01:42 PM
  #9  
Gigi's Avatar
Gigi
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, PA
Default

[QUOTE]Originally posted by EnglishSteve
[B]It's all done with the door edge trim - I got mine from Pep Boys. Note that there are two sizes of door edge trim available at some auto stores (like Pep Boys, Checker only has one size). If they carry two sizes pick the larger, slightly deeper one, since the grill ribs are a bit thicker than a normal Auto door.


Thanks for the suggestions.

I bought the larger "Truck Door Edge Molding" today at Pep Boys. Just curious if you cleaned the surface with anything before you put the trim on. I was thinking of using something like rubbing alcohol. I've got a few coats of Zaino on it and I'm afraid that it won't stick too well.
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 02:21 PM
  #10  
SH1FT-Z's Avatar
SH1FT-Z
Registered User
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
From: Harrisonburg, Virginia
Default

Originally posted by Gigi

I bought the larger "Truck Door Edge Molding" today at Pep Boys. Just curious if you cleaned the surface with anything before you put the trim on. I was thinking of using something like rubbing alcohol. I've got a few coats of Zaino on it and I'm afraid that it won't stick too well.
Yeah, I got the same thing at auto zone but haven't had a chance to put it on yet.

Cleaning the surface would be a good idea before doing this. Rubbing alcohol might be a good idea, but then again, it could discolor the plastic. I'd say to try it on a small area of the plastic and see how it reacts first.

Also, if you've got wax of any kind on it, the molding might not stick too well.

Just trying to help!

Peace
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 02:38 PM
  #11  
Gigi's Avatar
Gigi
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, PA
Default

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SH1FT-Z
[B]Yeah, I got the same thing at auto zone but haven't had a chance to put it on yet.

Did you notice how the package said to "Apply at temperatures above 65F". If I really have to wait until it's 65 out I'll be waiting until April. It hit 45 degrees outside today and it felt like a heat wave. I wonder if anyone has installed this below 65 and if it turned out ok.
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 02:44 PM
  #12  
Gigi's Avatar
Gigi
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, PA
Default

Maybe I should use a claybar to remove the old Zaino, instead of cleaning the surface with rubbing alcohol.

Any other suggestions?
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 04:09 PM
  #13  
EnglishSteve's Avatar
EnglishSteve
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale AZ
Default

Originally posted by Gigi
Thanks for the suggestions.

I bought the larger "Truck Door Edge Molding" today at Pep Boys. Just curious if you cleaned the surface with anything before you put the trim on. I was thinking of using something like rubbing alcohol. I've got a few coats of Zaino on it and I'm afraid that it won't stick too well.
At the time I didn't have any Zaino or wax on the car at all, so I just wiped it down with a damp cloth. No problems with it sticking.

I think rubbing alcohol would be ok (test it first though!) - or you could try washing the grill with some water and Dawn dish-soap, like Zaino recommends for removing wax etc before starting.

To be honest, the edge trim is a pretty tight fit and would probably stay on ok without perfect adhesion.

re: Temperature - it was probably 50F in my garage when I did it late one January night and it worked out ok.

Steve in AZ
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 04:46 PM
  #14  
Gigi's Avatar
Gigi
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, PA
Default

Your right English Steve... I'll just use Dawn. I forgot about that.
thanks
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2004 | 12:35 AM
  #15  
daytona350zr's Avatar
daytona350zr
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 3
From: San Jose, CA
Default

Here is mine I did a while back. One tip, you might wanna add a few dabs of super glue on the insides of the strips as they dont wanna seem to stay in place after the rain.
Attached Thumbnails DIY chrome grill-front-new.jpg  
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2004 | 05:43 PM
  #16  
Gigi's Avatar
Gigi
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, PA
Default

I'm finished! I love it! My grill came out great! And, oh so easy...

I love the chrome strips. When I read the one post about "brushed aluminum" I thought...yeah that would compliment the other metalwork, but the Nissan emblem is right above the grill and they are both chrome, it looks good... IMO.

I cleaned it with Dawn and installed it in my garage about 45F... thank you English Steve.

I used the truck strips opposed to the roll, because it just seemed like the strips were straighter.(Pep Boys)

Clever idea...whoever came up with this one.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2004 | 01:41 AM
  #17  
wutafobb's Avatar
wutafobb
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Default

super glue definitely helps. mine's on for a week now and they are starting to loosen up so eventually u need to glue it on
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2004 | 01:42 PM
  #18  
hndumafia's Avatar
hndumafia
New Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,965
Likes: 5
From: Miami
Default

once stuck on well, how hard would these be to remove in case the tow hook ever becomes necessary? i have the strips (from Pep Boys) but haven't yet installed them because of this.

thanks
Rajiv
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2004 | 01:51 PM
  #19  
EnglishSteve's Avatar
EnglishSteve
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale AZ
Default

Originally posted by hndumafia
once stuck on well, how hard would these be to remove in case the tow hook ever becomes necessary? i have the strips (from Pep Boys) but haven't yet installed them because of this.

thanks
Rajiv
This is why I didn't use superglue on mine. FWIW, I've had the strips on for about a month without them coming off at all.

Steve in AZ
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2004 | 01:59 PM
  #20  
wutafobb's Avatar
wutafobb
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Default

depends where u live, down south should be no problem, north u might want to consider gule it.
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:05 AM.