Another grille question - wire mesh like a Jag

[danbike]

Some of the Jaguar models out now have a grille that has a wire mesh in it, with no emblems. The Bentleys also have this type of grille. Does anyone know if this modification has been done by anyone? IF so, any instructions?

[jimlam56]

I like the look too, been thinking about how to accomplish it.
Seems to me you would have to have some sort of cross support to keep the grille structurally sound.

[Rider90]

Zack created one out of CTS-V material IIRC.

[Breadfan]

A good way to help the structure would be a thin peice of metal running down the middle, or, better yet for a clean look to raise the actual grill portoin so that it's flush with the front of the main grill assembly. You know, it'll have rolled edges that then come out and attach to the inside of the grille surround. That arching effect should give it strength.

Sorry if I didn't describe it well.

If I had a cheap spare grill housing I'd really like to try doing this...if anyone has an old grill with slats cut out they want to get rid of lemme know. I like the idea. :)

[Zack]

A good way to help the structure would be a thin peice of metal running down the middle, or, better yet for a clean look to raise the actual grill portoin so that it's flush with the front of the main grill assembly. You know, it'll have rolled edges that then come out and attach to the inside of the grille surround. That arching effect should give it strength.

Sorry if I didn't describe it well.

If I had a cheap spare grill housing I'd really like to try doing this...if anyone has an old grill with slats cut out they want to get rid of lemme know. I like the idea. :)

Buy the material you want and send it to me. Il cut you a hell of a deal for the prototype.
McMaster-Carr has the stuff you want. Get it in stainless and Ill take care of the rest.

[Warpath]

Strut makes mesh grills for all the ballers rides. Try

http://www.strutwear.com/

[Breadfan]

Buy the material you want and send it to me. Il cut you a hell of a deal for the prototype.
McMaster-Carr has the stuff you want. Get it in stainless and Ill take care of the rest.

OK, I can look into it and get back to you. I'm thinking painted black mesh would be sweet. Agree?

[drgnrdr33]

Agreed. I've been thinking of a black mesh grill for several months now. I have yet to take the time to find the material. I'll have to look at the locations suggested above.

[Agent M79]

McMaster-Carr has a supply of a lot of different styles of mesh.

I have seen a few mesh and expanded steel grilles now and feel that you should keep something in mind when choosing.

Shiny grilles, those that are chrome or other bright work, stand out better from distances. You can tell it is there.

For those that go with a body color, make sure the mesh material is thick enough and spaced tightly enough (not so much as to restrict a lot of air flow) so that it can bee seen from a distance.

I've seen to many body colored mesh grilles disappear from 15 or so feet back as to make the front of the car look like it has a black hole in the front where something should be.

Please post which material you pick as I would like to possible look into a DTR mesh grille too.

[drgnrdr33]

Buy the material you want and send it to me. Il cut you a hell of a deal for the prototype.
McMaster-Carr has the stuff you want. Get it in stainless and Ill take care of the rest.

Zack,

I took a look at the McMaster-Carr site. They've got lots of choices. I'm thinking a 1/4" or so mesh opening would look good. Any suggestions on wire diameter? And, as Breadfan mentioned and the Struts site showed, making the mesh curve forward so that it is flush with the front of the grill frame looks sharp and should give it the needed strength. No badge needed either.... Got a ballpark price for doing something like this? PM me if needed.

[drgnrdr33]

All,

Check out post #34 of: http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10677&page=3

It has a nice pict of a mesh grill on a MM. From the posts in the thread, it appears that Zack may have built this one. Zack?

[SergntMac]

All, Check out post #34 of: http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10677&page=3 It has a nice pict of a mesh grill on a MM. From the posts in the thread, it appears that Zack may have built this one. Zack? The pic doesn't appear because it was lost in a Gallery crash, and the owner is no longer a member here. Nope, it's not Zack's work, it came from GatorGlass in Crestwood, Illinois, and it cost over 1000 bucks. Bugsy03 is right, it looks better in the pic than it does in person.

I'm not a big fan of mesh, badged or plain, it's not the same. I like it when someone stares at my Zack grill wondering what's different. Once you tell them it badgeless, "oooohhhhh, I saw that." Yeah, right.

However, another thing to keep in mind, is replacement costs. I lost one Zack grill when an over-zealous car wash attendent punched his hand through it, and another from a road hazzard while driving over the road. The repairs were inexpensive, because the initial mod is inexpensive. But, when a grill costs you one large and someone throws you a speedball at 80 MPH, that's another grand from a wild pitch. So what if you walk in a run...

No flames here, but mesh isn't for me. Carry on, gents.

[SergntMac]

Okay...Just got an e-mail from a mod that the pic is present in the Gallery, but for some reason I cannot open it. Sorry, carry on...

[MM03MOK]

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/6/7/Mesh_Grill_1.jpg

[SergntMac]

Yep, that's it. Thanks, Bunny!

Can't see anything that changes my opinion.

[CBT]

If that grill cost a thousand dollars, someone got robbed and deserves about 990.00 dollars back.

[Breadfan]

I need to look into where to get the mesh, would like to visualize it better too, hard to choose the size of the diamonds, the width of the metal, and if it's flat or rounded.

All I know is I priced out 2 sq ft at McMaster-Carr and it was $63 - seems as little steep, but then again it was stainless.

Personally I'd like to mimic the supercharged Jag grilles - they look sweet.