DIY JDM style Grill

[Stanley]

My 240Z grill is kind of beat up, beyond my skills to straighten - I tried. Would like to make a mesh grill like the Fairlady JDM or Z432's. Doesn't have to be perfect - not a show car - just nice looking and functional. Should look fairly close to the stock mesh. Want it to fit closer to the lower valence than stock so rocks can't go under and hit the radiator. Don't need the metal border like the stock ones, as long as the edge of the mesh isn't (easily) visible. I'll probably use parts of my old grill as a base for mounting it.

I'd rather have aluminum than steel to save weight. Saw a plastic one at a car show that looked OK, at least for now, but I don't know. It needs to have plenty of open area in the mesh. Would paint it black or gray like the stock ones.

Have looked online, checked McMaster Carr an other sites, looked at various cars and trucks to see if something could be scrounged that would work. Don't want to buy a 4x8 sheet of anything. Everything looks wrong or too expensive. Kind of broke this month. Any links?

[LeonV]

My 240Z grill is kind of beat up, beyond my skills to straighten - I tried. Would like to make a mesh grill like the Fairlady JDM or Z432's. Doesn't have to be perfect - not a show car - just nice looking and functional. Should look fairly close to the stock mesh. Want it to fit closer to the lower valence than stock so rocks can't go under and hit the radiator. Don't need the metal border like the stock ones, as long as the edge of the mesh isn't (easily) visible. I'll probably use parts of my old grill as a base for mounting it.

I'd rather have aluminum than steel to save weight. Saw a plastic one at a car show that looked OK, at least for now, but I don't know. It needs to have plenty of open area in the mesh. Would paint it black or gray like the stock ones.

Have looked online, checked McMaster Carr an other sites, looked at various cars and trucks to see if something could be scrounged that would work. Don't want to buy a 4x8 sheet of anything. Everything looks wrong or too expensive. Kind of broke this month. Any links?

Yup...

Fairlady Z Mesh Grill - Reproduction Thead - Vendor's Forum - HybridZ

[psdenno]

Check your local metal supply house, or Lowes/Home Depot for this:

http://www.industrialmetalsupply.com/products/expanded-sheet

Dennis

[Stanley]

Thanks, I see MSA has them (the 1 tuff z reproductions, I guess) for about $290. Out of my league. But I'll check Home Depot - if I can get the right mesh I know an old machinist in Watts that can cut and bend it.

[psdenno]

For many years, I had the expanded metal mesh in place of the stock grille when I had fog lights behind the bumper. It was cut larger than the stock grille mounting points and then the edge was folded over all the way around to make a double layer. Then screws were put through to secure it to the stock mounting points. I painted it flat black.

It sat back a bit so the fog lights could sit on a panel mounted to the back side of the bumper - kind of a shelf. It looked good IMO.

Good luck with the project and be sure to post pictures of the final install.

Dennis