I'm starting this Poll to see if there is enough serious interest in me making more Letter box grills for 3rd gens. if you don't know what they look like here is a sample. I also want to know what People are willing to pay for one of my grills. so tell me yes or no and how much

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/dvspcs/finished%202.jpg

And one I'm working on.

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/dvspcs/Grill.JPG

3rd Gens only?

3rd Gens only?


Y e s

i think i'd be happy to shell out a good $100 for one if i decide to not make it myself. imo i wouldnt pay more though

how much for one painted? pretty interested..

Not my taste, however if I was to want one, Id pay $100 + ship you my old one. (if this isnt what you already do.)

where did you get the honeycomb mesh? looks good, might use it on mine.

would the letterbox grill work on a TE or TF grill
and if it does
can someone give me instructions on how to make it.

thanks bille_08

very interested if u can get tham painted if not i wouldnt pay more then 150......if u get them plzzz let me know i would love 1....

3rd Gens only?
I have my letterbox grille you can buy dude, shoot me a PM you sexy thing.

would the letterbox grill work on a TE or TF grill
and if it does
can someone give me instructions on how to make it.

thanks bille_08

as far as i know it will work but much more work using a te or tf grill. best thing is to use a th grill as its easier. i have a th grill forsale if u are interested

I would take one off your hands now if it was between $100-$150 with the Mitsi badge in the centre like yours.
Unpainted closer to $100
Painted closer to $150

a TE-F Grill is one piece where the TH grill is 2 piece.

It is much eaiser to work with the TH grill as you can sandwich the mesh between the 2 pieces of the grill.

a TE-F Grill is one piece where the TH grill is 2 piece.

It is much eaiser to work with the TH grill as you can sandwich the mesh between the 2 pieces of the grill.

Actually the TE-TF grills are also two piece. The problem is that the front section is too shallow (short), not leaving enough depth for mesh (looks weird). The TH grills have a much deeper front section, making it look good as you already know.

if only you could do something cool with the TJ grill :(

I would throw you $100 for sure for one of those. Its one of those parts that you COULD make yourself if you had the time, but i would be happy to pay you as it looks like a good clean job! Saves me messing up.

if only you could do something cool with the TJ grill :(
Ever seen a Ralliart grille? Try replicating that :)

Im assuming is a change-over basis, or I can just send you mine and drive around with nothing for a while if it makes it easier.
I hope you do, cause I was disappointed when they no longer became available, I didn't have the money back then :(

I'd pay $100-$150 painted definitely!

same here, im looking for one

Looks like you are in business :P

yeah i would be happy paying $150 for a grill painted with a badge .

LOL i have a random request.
do you REPAIR or touch up letterbox grills

the cross peice in the middle. wasnt cut out properly it has 2 nibs sticking up and 1 from the top

nor was the mesh fixed to the back properly which causes the grill to actully poke out of the front.. looks gay as

also that honeycomb Mesh looks sick


hit back cheers

That grill looks fabulous! I'd pay $150 painted.

i'll get one from you if you end up making more of them

I have my letterbox grille you can buy dude, shoot me a PM you sexy thing.

tell me more... pix and prices :D

plzzzzz make some more

i really wanna get my hands on one

Ill pay between $100-$150 for sure. Esp if its painted.

Whats the plan do we send you our's and you chop them up or?

I have a 96 TE exec.

Cheers

Yeah make sure you give us a yell if you make them, i have my eyes set on a nice grille like that now :)

I would be happy to pay for one!!!

yeah how long will they take to make?

Just when I thought the whole Letter box grill thing had died, it starts all over again.

They take a while to make, because if you rush they turn out crap.

anyone who has made one will tell you they are a pain to make.

if I can be stuffed going to get more mesh, I might consider making more.

But don't hold your breath.

Holding my breath...





:pray:

Yep also holding my breath haha.

and me ....makes 3

Put me down as another paying customer, been waiting for a thread like this to come around for ages

i make five hanging out holding our breath....

Number 6 right here

Just when I thought the whole Letter box grill thing had died, it starts all over again.

They take a while to make, because if you rush they turn out crap.

anyone who has made one will tell you they are a pain to make.

if I can be stuffed going to get more mesh, I might consider making more.

But don't hold your breath.

biggest pain ever

but Vics the man for this stuff.

its not that hard to do just time consuming and to me it would be worth more then $150 if you go through the whole process yourself.

Another one right here!! :D

To all those putting their hands up, why not try it yourself?
Get a spare grille from the wreckers (couldn't be much) and have a go. It's not hard, but very time consuming (to make it look good anyway) as Ashneel said. It's a good amount of work and for $150 a pop, i couldn't see someone sitting down and making a whole heap of them, just takes too long.

well. howz about a DIY link or instructions
any 1 with the skills wanna contrubute 1 to the DIY section?

well. howz about a DIY link or instructions
any 1 with the skills wanna contrubute 1 to the DIY section?
I thought DVS did write up a DIY, i'll try to find it.

Personally I do not usually have the time and and I most definitely do not have the patience to do a grille. I would much rather just buy one.

Personally I do not usually have the time and and I most definitely do not have the patience to do a grille. I would much rather just buy one.

just think tho. whoeva has the patience to make these. your outa your mind.
there is more than 5 ppl on here that want 1.

thats +$750

just think tho. whoeva has the patience to make these. your outa your mind.
there is more than 5 ppl on here that want 1.

thats +$750
Yeh but that's not including the cost of the grille and the mesh, and the amount of hours it would take to do 5 would be incredible for such a boring job. All you can do now is hope DVS finds some time :P.

yeah well. i want to learn how to make 1. im sure you can cut the time down by doing them in bulk. and with the right tools.
e.g -belt sander
-jigsaw

yeah well. i want to learn how to make 1. im sure you can cut the time down by doing them in bulk. and with the right tools.
e.g -belt sander
-jigsaw

Good luck to you then

im definatly not planning on making a batch of them :bowrofl:
just making a sweet 1 of my own.
or a new style

whats the limits of things you can do with these grills
or with fiberglass?

yeah well. i want to learn how to make 1. im sure you can cut the time down by doing them in bulk. and with the right tools.
e.g -belt sander
-jigsaw

hahaha if only it was that easy

its a hand only job mate. no machines used.

things you will need is:

hacksaw
fibreglass filler
body putty (bog)
a **** load of different grade sand paper
and alot patience

try using things like belt sander and you will end up snaping the grill.

enjoy

Well if DVS isn't gonna make them again, a DIY guide would be good, as I would be prepared to give it a go... Sounds very fiddly and time consuming but I am happy with that.

Just out of curiousity has any retailer in AUS sold them or have they all been home jobs?

I know that a company in Japan sells them for the 3rd gen Diamante's but they charge just over $300 at current exchange rates!!! :shock: :doubt:

Just out of curiousity has any retailer in AUS sold them or have they all been home jobs?

I know that a company in Japan sells them for the 3rd gen Diamante's but they charge just over $300 at current exchange rates!!! :shock: :doubt:

they have all been home jobs so far mate

however im sure you can also get a panel shop to do it for you. just give them the grill tell them to shop the middle peg out and smooth it out and paint it.

hahaha if only it was that easy

its a hand only job mate. no machines used. (handheld machines?)

things you will need is:

hacksaw jigsaw w/fine jigsaw blade (neater job, straight cut, "unlike mine, dunno what you cut it with "butterknife" lol
fibreglass filler (yep) pain in the ass to sand,YAY BELT SANDER
body putty (bog) (got it)
a **** load of different grade sand paper (hand sander major ridges or rotory sander)
and alot patience (everything takes alot of time with cars)
try using things like belt sander and you will end up snaping the grill. (risk im willing to take) its just plastic)

enjoy

just up for new things, and trying to improve the current way

Although mine was not for a 3rd gen and isn't a letterbox grille, I can vouch for those who say it's a boring and long process.

What I used:
-120, 180, 1000 and 1200 Grit sand paper
- Black and decker Mouse sander (for making fibreglass flat with 120 and 180 grit sandpaper)
-Fibreglass filler
-Body putty
-Paint
-Hacksaw blade (couldn't get a hacksaw in if I tried)


DO NOT use a jigsaw, belt sander, flat bed sander or any high speed sanding machines. you'll melt the plastic with the amount of friction heat (I know, I used a flat bed sander at the top of mine and it melted it -don't try it)

end product:
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd309/yann89_photo/P9240142.jpg
Those with a keen eye will see that i've smoothed over all the little bumps and uglys on the original TS grille

Sorry Ian but i disagree...
using a jigsaw will obvioulsy melt the plastic but your going to be filling it in and sanding it anyway, so i just use it to make it alot easier...

also, did you use a detail sander (like the black and decker "mouse"?) becuase i find that it was awesome to just get things nice and even very quick

But yeah your grill is hot :D

']Sorry Ian but i disagree...
using a jigsaw will obvioulsy melt the plastic but your going to be filling it in and sanding it anyway, so i just use it to make it alot easier...

also, did you use a detail sander (like the black and decker "mouse"?) becuase i find that it was awesome to just get things nice and even very quick

But yeah your grill is hot :D

I used the mouse sander yeah.

The problem I had with the melting of plastic was that if not removed IMMEDIATELY, it would stick to the existing plastic and become a ROYAL pain in the bum to remove with the sander. I eventually had to grab a stanley knife and try to cut it off.

Ever seen a Ralliart grille? Try replicating that :)

got a close up pic of one?

']Sorry Ian but i disagree...
using a jigsaw will obvioulsy melt the plastic but your going to be filling it in and sanding it anyway, so i just use it to make it alot easier...
Did you have a similar grille to Ian's before the diamante front? Is that the red TS one your still trying to sell? :P

Although mine was not for a 3rd gen and isn't a letterbox grille, I can vouch for those who say it's a boring and long process.

What I used:
-120, 180, 1000 and 1200 Grit sand paper
- Black and decker Mouse sander (for making fibreglass flat with 120 and 180 grit sandpaper)
-Fibreglass filler
-Body putty
-Paint
-Hacksaw blade (couldn't get a hacksaw in if I tried)


DO NOT use a jigsaw, belt sander, flat bed sander or any high speed sanding machines. you'll melt the plastic with the amount of friction heat (I know, I used a flat bed sander at the top of mine and it melted it -don't try it)

end product:

Those with a keen eye will see that i've smoothed over all the little bumps and uglys on the original TS grille
While I applaud your effort... A letterbox grille made from a TS grille is considerably harder and requires the use of power tools if you want to get anywhere quickly... I used an angle grinder to cut through mine... Worked a treat.

Did you have a similar grille to Ian's before the diamante front? Is that the red TS one your still trying to sell? :P

Mine was a full letterbox grille, no middle peg, And Uncle Andy has purcashed it, fixed it up and its looking hot on his car right now:P

grave dig!

Q: behind the actual grill where the mesh goes, 1 of the clips are mounted there. i notice you have removed them, how did you go about reolcating or refixing the grill?