front grill

[jello]

Anyone replace their grill?? Mine was removed by the previous owner (PO), and as we have rocks here in Idaho, I'm thinking I'd like to put one in. I was thinking that rather than the 1.2" square weave that was there (and would hardly protect from small rocks) maybe I'd look for a mesh similar to what's below the back bumper. Anyone know the size of the expanded metal there??

Phil Bates

[F1 LOTUS]

Anyone replace their grill?? Mine was removed by the previous owner (PO), and as we have rocks here in Idaho, I'm thinking I'd like to put one in. I was thinking that rather than the 1.2" square weave that was there (and would hardly protect from small rocks) maybe I'd look for a mesh similar to what's below the back bumper. Anyone know the size of the expanded metal there??

Phil Bates

It may be useful to go to...
http://www.mcmaster.com/
...and search for 'wire mesh'. This way you can compare 'open area' for the different designs to ensure you're not restricting airflow too much?

[Gary]

Paul P has replaced his

[Doug]

cool link Brian!

[Leung]

Hi:
One of the grill on the front of my Elan has became loose, Do you have to remove the front bumper in order to glue the grill back on? as it is very difficult to gain access to the back of the grill to apply glue.I am thinking of using a hot glue gun to glue it back on.

[Doug]

certainly with the bumper off it would be very easy. Dave M is the man for tips on bumper removal.

[Gary]

Ask PaulP - send him a PM if he is too lazy to post here!

[Ashaman]

I replaced mine. I hated that stock stuff anyway...

I used the same stuff that is in the back bumper, but with slightly larger openings (and galvanized). A bit time consuming, but relatively easy job. FYI this is pretty much the stuff they use for reinforcing concrete - you can pick it up at a hardware store.

Basically I cut a big sheet of it, then painted it with Pasti-dip (www.plastidip.com). This gives it a nice rubberized coating that resists chips and will bend when you start shaping the piece.

I used a tube of black urethane adhesive to secure it back in place as well (looks like that's how the factory did it). Although their stuff is REALLY tough to cut away...

Anyway, its a bit rough on the hands, but I think mine looks really nice afterwards, much better than stock.

As far as removing the bumper cover itself (and you really do want to do it first), it is described well in the manual, but basically there are four large bolts/nuts that hold it in place. Two are difficult to get to as they are under the headlight pods. The other difficulty is getting the fasteners around the wheel liners loose, since everything tends to rust, and fiberglass breaks loose easier than rusted hardware!

[Enright]

Hi:
One of the grill on the front of my Elan has became loose, Do you have to remove the front bumper in order to glue the grill back on? as it is very difficult to gain access to the back of the grill to apply glue.I am thinking of using a hot glue gun to glue it back on.

Both of my side grilles had come loose.
I needed to remove my bumper anyway because the alignment was a bit wonky, and when I went to put the clear indicator lenses on the rusted screw heads parted company with their threads!
I found a hot glue gun to be an ideal tool, and I painted the mesh with black Hammerite Smooth from both sides.
While the bumper is off you also get chance to sand down and re-paint the towing eye and it's bracket, which looks much better for it.

[Leung]

Thanks for the infos! seems like a lot of work for a little job

[muley]

Thanks for the infos! seems like a lot of work for a little job

Welcome to M100 motoring!

Jim B