Help with grille

[Rayspitcher41]

So I want to replace the bottom grille with a black diamond mesh grille. I have the grill material but I need help on cutting and or removing the horizontal stock grille on the bottom. I'm leaving the top (with the SI emblem) stock. Also what do I use to hold the grille on? I've seen some older cars with it and they just fall off after a while. Only reason I'm doing this is because I have already replaced the A/C condesor from a rock flying up and hitting it. I've heard its a problem sometimes. Not sure if this was posted before. I did not find anything in the search on it. thanks in advance for who ever can help. Hope the picture helps.

[its_errick]

personally i would fab the stock lower grille to make it fit (keeping the stock)
but if you do want to remove it, then you would have to cut it off and what i usually do is get some extra plastic laying around and melt it onto the inside of the bumper then mount the mesh on it.

[Rayspitcher41]

sweet thanks. I'm probably gonna fit some of the mesh on the inside of the grill to stop some of the rocks. I looked at the lower grill and I personally don't want to mess with it incase I screw up. But good advice though thanks.

[portabuddy]

you need to hit up a autobody supply store and ask for POLYURATHANE it is black and comes in a tube. it is hell to squize out with a calking gun but well worth it... its what holds in windscreens.

-Cut the mesh to size but make sure its about a inch bigger on all sides...
-Cut slits all the way around every inch or so.
-Conform the grill and bend the tabs.
-Apply the urathane to the outer lip of the inside of the bumper and apply the mesh.
-Use something that can span the opening. I used wrenches covered in masking tape when our silicone covered dowels where in use anything so they dont scratch the paint -Attatch some wire to the dowel or wrench or whatever you use attatch one side of the wire to the dowel/whatever and the other to the mesh, then tighten the wire to hold the mesh TIGHT against the back of the hole.
-Let it set for 3-4 hours, overnight is best.


I have installed 20 or so grills and all we did was custome cars and this is really the only sure fire way to do it. Not one has follen off... however one guy came back to have his bumper repainted after two years and we had to cut the urathane off of the bumper to free the grill.



Before some one chimes in and says nonono use bondo!

DONT USE BONDO FOR ANYTHING!!! EVER. bondo is weak and will crack, the urathane BONDS to the plastic and conformes arounf the mesh. it also stays flexable so it wont crack.

[Rayspitcher41]

thanks I was debating what to do. I want it to atleast look clean and not half assed. I'll make sure to pick some up when I put it in

[portabuddy]

the plastic is really soft when compaired to other cars and cuts really easy. a utility knife and a bit of force is the best bet.

What i would do first is cut out the grill with a pair of tin snips then trim the parimiter with the knife to give a clean look. there is a line you can follow with the knife....


Any thing else will cause a mess...

[spoontyper]

I know this thread is over a year ago but I was looking to find out what a black mesh grille would look like. I couldn't find many pics. So incase someone else is looking for pics i thought i would show how mine looks now that the fronts cut out and black mesh is behind the bumper. i know some may consider my car as riced but the grille insert looks clean on any civic no matter what your style is.


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[Ryan410]

i would have liked it better if you cut ou the entire grillm on the bottom not just the center