ok i am in the process of making a letterbox grille out of my standard TH grille...

so far i have cut out the middle section and soon i will be fibreglassing it...well i think

i was thinking could i just use a universal filler? or will that crack and break over time?

also...with painting, will using a paint brush look dodgey, i kno its easy to go get sum spray paint but just wondering, and is enamel the same as clear coat?

if anybody has any pictures of thiers while being made that would be awesome!

1) No, You need to use a fibreglass filler for strength, as seen in the pics (the darker filler)
2)Why would you even consider using a brush?:P Its so dodgey man, Just use some fine grade sandpaper and spray cans (Primer, Color, Clearcoat)
3) You use arcrylic when painting, and arcylic Clear, Use an enamel clear and im pretty sure you'll ruin the paint.... (anyone correct me on that cause im not 100% sure but for cans im postive thats the case)

This is my 2nd gen grille i made.
Similair concept cept more holes lol

awesome thanks tuff...

umm can i ask im soo dumb at DIY stuff...

but where do i get fibreglassing stuff? and what is that lighter coloured stuff on your grille?

Its called fibreglass filler
Can get from Repco, Autobarn, Supercheap etc
You'll only need the small 500g Tub, About $17. Its a 1/50 mixture of filler to hardener

Lighter colored stuff is bog, Thats the easy stuff to sand.
I just went and got the 3kg tub (Like $34ish) cause i used so much of it.

You use the FG Filler as a base as it provides strength (only way i could sand it quick was with an angle grinder so thats how hard it drys) and when you've done your base you use bog

:)

haha your a legend thanks heaps...

mmm while im here i may aswell ask, even tho u own a 2nd gen

if i remove the mudflaps...will it look wierd? lol it sound stupid, but lyk will there be gaps where they used to go? if so is there anything u can get to lyk go over the gaps?

haha your a legend thanks heaps...

mmm while im here i may aswell ask, even tho u own a 2nd gen

if i remove the mudflaps...will it look wierd? lol it sound stupid, but lyk will there be gaps where they used to go? if so is there anything u can get to lyk go over the gaps?

There should be any gaps, maybe a bit of tape you will have to get rid of (Bug and tar remover is good for that)

']There should be any gaps, maybe a bit of tape you will have to get rid of (Bug and tar remover is good for that)

true champion you are...

may the force be with you lol

true champion you are...

may the force be with you lol

just PM me next time ya need something non 3rd gen related lol

*waits for DVS to post pics of his uber leet world-first mod*

also...with painting, will using a paint brush look dodgey, i kno its easy to go get sum spray paint but just wondering, and is enamel the same as clear coat?


Enamel is the name for oil and lead based paint as apposed to acrylic which is water based. Never mix these two types of paint together as it can react, cause an unfinished etched surface havening to strip it all down and do it again or worse destroying the thing your painting. Since resin is lead based and contains no water always use enamel paint on fiberglass.

You can brush the primer or filler, but for the final coat use an aerosol can. Nice even overlapping rows.

Enamel is the name for oil and lead based paint as apposed to acrylic which is water based. Never mix these two types of paint together as it can react, cause an unfinished etched surface havening to strip it all down and do it again or worse destroying the thing your painting. Since resin is lead based and contains no water always use enamel paint on fiberglass.

You can brush the primer or filler, but for the final coat use an aerosol can. Nice even overlapping rows.

when refering to automotive paint, enamel is a solvent based paint that dries through evaporation. it is low quality and is generally used for trailers, construction machinary, tractors, stuff that does not need a high gloss finish. Acrylic paint is a solvent based paint that also dries through evaporation and preseded 2 pak paint. the solvent used in this paint is quite strong and can react with poorly prepared surfaces(ie "frying up"). it also needs cutting and buffing to achieve its best finish. 2 pak(2K) polyurethane enamels are what cars are currently painted in and require a hardener(catylist) to activate them. this is the best paint to use. however if you dont have access to a spray gun get the paint shop to mix up your colour (mawson white i would guess) in AUTOMOTIVE acrylic and put it in a pressure pack. this is the best way for DIY applications.

when refering to automotive paint, enamel is a solvent based paint that dries through evaporation. it is low quality and is generally used for trailers, construction machinary, tractors, stuff that does not need a high gloss finish. Acrylic paint is a solvent based paint that also dries through evaporation and preseded 2 pak paint. the solvent used in this paint is quite strong and can react with poorly prepared surfaces(ie "frying up"). it also needs cutting and buffing to achieve its best finish. 2 pak(2K) polyurethane enamels are what cars are currently painted in and require a hardener(catylist) to activate them. this is the best paint to use. however if you dont have access to a spray gun get the paint shop to mix up your colour (mawson white i would guess) in AUTOMOTIVE acrylic and put it in a pressure pack. this is the best way for DIY applications.

awesomee how much would that set me back though??

mud guards removed (still havent bothered cleaning the crap from where they were), but it looks fine :)

http://members.westnet.com.au/woobie/images/front.jpg

mud guards removed (still havent bothered cleaning the crap from where they were), but it looks fine :)

http://members.westnet.com.au/woobie/images/front.jpg


your not my friend anymore :( u have my rims...lol

well not really considering a dont have them yet hahaha i love those rims...

mr woob i think myself and yourself have the exact same cars....yeah i took my front mudflaps off today with the screw driver but cbf finding the right sized thingo for the back bcoz they didnt have screw holes....

what springs u got and what size are ya rims?

anyway those who are skilled in letterboxing 3rd gen grilles...

could u let me know how u went about cutting hte centre section out....

dod u just cut hte whole thing out top to bottom? orr

im just confused...lol

they are 18's, superlow fronts, stock rears (got the rear superlows sitting beside me, but im scared to put them in)

they are 18's, superlow fronts, stock rears (got the rear superlows sitting beside me, but im scared to put them in)

why scared...also where did ya get ya rims n how much wher they??

I want to do the letterbox grille too >.<

Ive done 3 of these grilles but thanks to ashneel none of em saw tehre owner lol

Just cut as much of the middle but out as you can, use an Angle grinder, it just cuts through it.

make the surface as flat as possible even if that means cutting away more plastic then just the centre stalk bit

']Ive done 3 of these grilles but thanks to ashneel none of em saw tehre owner lol

Just cut as much of the middle but out as you can, use an Angle grinder, it just cuts through it.

make the surface as flat as possible even if that means cutting away more plastic then just the centre stalk bit

Im gonna give this a go.
So basically I need Fibreglass filler?
And some acrylic paint?

I've got an angle grinder already so it should be fine.

Im gonna give this a go.
So basically I need Fibreglass filler?
And some acrylic paint?

I've got an angle grinder already so it should be fine.

Ill do a basic Guide
1) Get TH Grille
2) Cut away middle stalk and make as flat as you can with angle grinder
3) With a suitable piece of thin plastic, use some fibreglass filler to stick it to the underside of the grille to use a base to fill up the huge holes you've made (refer to my pics of my 2nd gen grille you can see the MDF ive used, same thing really)
4) Once Dried, Start bogging up the area
5) Start saning the area to get it smooth
6) Repeat steps 4+5 until grille is really smooth.
7) Sand with 800G wet dry sandpaper to get really smooth and coat in primer.
8) Any imperfections you see outlined by the primer now fix up, this may be tiny holes, Rises or dips in the bogs surface


umm yeah...
You really only need the fibreglass bog to stick some sort of base to the grille for the Bog.

shouldn't cost more than $10 - $15 a can. should be able to do the whole grille with one can. make sure you use numerous light coats as opposed to few heavy coats. saying that, dont apply it too light coats as the finish will be "dry" and will have a rough texture. the paint will probably look transparent for the first couple of coats, dont worry just keep applying in even coats. allow plenty of time between coats to "flash off", especially on the last coat which will be your "finish coat". if the finish is not to your liking(too dry) you can let it dry thoroughly , give it a light sand and give it another coat.

scared because i think the springs will make the ass end WAY too low.. ill have to put them on and make up my mind wether to keep them i guess.

as for the rims, got them from Bob Jane, cost me $2100 with Maxxis MA-V1 rubber, 235/40

Thanks for that guys, I got a grille which I can't sell off so might as well have some fun wit it :badgrin:

Well if I do stuff up the paint I guess I'll go supercheap and buy some $3.50 matt black!

']Ill do a basic Guide
1) Get TH Grille
2) Cut away middle stalk and make as flat as you can with angle grinder
3) With a suitable piece of thin plastic, use some fibreglass filler to stick it to the underside of the grille to use a base to fill up the huge holes you've made (refer to my pics of my 2nd gen grille you can see the MDF ive used, same thing really)
4) Once Dried, Start bogging up the area
5) Start saning the area to get it smooth
6) Repeat steps 4+5 until grille is really smooth.
7) Sand with 800G wet dry sandpaper to get really smooth and coat in primer.
8) Any imperfections you see outlined by the primer now fix up, this may be tiny holes, Rises or dips in the bogs surface


umm yeah...
You really only need the fibreglass bog to stick some sort of base to the grille for the Bog.


Can I not use a TE grille? :(

Can I not use a TE grille? :(

Nah, You need a TF grille as its sort of deep dished already.
Its like the TR/TS Grille, You letterbox the TS grille as it already has about an inch of thickness to it.

Oh and dont use the $3 matt black, Thats not meant for automotive use, serioulsy its crap paint.

thanks everyone for thier input,

mm will bunnings have the stuff....or will i have to go to supercheap?

how much would :
spray paint
fibreglass filler
and bog set me back?

btw woob your rims look absolutely awesome, leave the springs hte way they are they look nice!

']Ive done 3 of these grilles but thanks to ashneel none of em saw tehre owner lol
screw you it was not thanks to me it was a stupid holden lol

and wtf you one about they did see there owners. all 3 of them lol well 2 the 3rd one is waiting to be picked up.

the best thing to use cutting the middle peg is a hacksaw. take you time and do it right. i on the other hand pulled out an angle grinder with a tile cutting blacde and in 2 mins i had 3 grills done lol

Go to supercheap lol much cheaper....
Well i mean they would of made it to there owners straight from my house, not from my house to your car to panel beater to there house lol!
only kidding man:P

screw you it was not thanks to me it was a stupid holden lol

and wtf you one about they did see there owners. all 3 of them lol well 2 the 3rd one is waiting to be picked up.

the best thing to use cutting the middle peg is a hacksaw. take you time and do it right. i on the other hand pulled out an angle grinder with a tile cutting blacde and in 2 mins i had 3 grills done lol

Aiight sweet, my dads got angle grinder and blades to chop most things so it should be cool.
Ta

']Nah, You need a TF grille as its sort of deep dished already.

The TE/TF grill's are the same. Its the TH grill you need.

And to the bloke woob? who is scared about putting his lowered springs in his car because it might be WAY too low. Don't worry about it. It won't be.