Time to go Badgeless [Archive] - MercuryMarauder.net Forums

Zack

10-07-2003, 03:35 PM

I just finished John F. Russo's badgless blue grill. He sent me his grill and a new grill and it turned out better than I expected. I can do this for anyone, it is no problem and you will love the new look. $75.00 Labor + Shipping 708-476-2647

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=868
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=867
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=869
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=870
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=871

Zack

10-07-2003, 04:23 PM

Agent M79:
Are you next????

Petrograde

10-07-2003, 04:38 PM

Hey Zack, That looks real nice!! Refresh my memory,.. 2 grills plus 75 bucks and shipping right?

Hopefully, I too will be employed soon! Damn aviation industry!!!! When I get a job, ... I'll be badgeless!!!

Tom

Zack

10-07-2003, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by Petrograde
Hey Zack, That looks real nice!! Refresh my memory,.. 2 grills plus 75 bucks and shipping right?

Tom

That is correct Tom. I wish I could provide a quality product like this for a cheaper price, but there just isnt a way to pull it off. Call me when times are better for you and Ill get one made up right away.

Im thinking of a completely new grill design that requires the removal of all the 'bars' and replacing them with something like welded chain or mesh or knives.... you get my drift.
Any suggestions welcome.

ChuckB

10-07-2003, 04:45 PM

i did mine just a few weeks after i got the car. my wife said the car looked like it had a zit - i have to agree. with the badge gone the front looks so much cleaner.

good job zack

Petrograde

10-07-2003, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by Zack

Im thinking of a completely new grill design that requires the removal of all the 'bars' and replacing them with something like welded chain or mesh or knives.... you get my drift.
Any suggestions welcome.

AWW DUDE!

OK! I'll hold out for that!!!! keep us posted!

Tom

LincMercLover

10-07-2003, 05:13 PM

I'm next. As soon as I get the other grille (it'll be in the mail next week) I'll drop ya a PM Zack!

MI2QWK4U

10-07-2003, 05:15 PM

I think you are onto a good idea Zach. I have been checking into some type of honeycomb mesh like some other cars have, completely replacing the ribs with the new design.

Petrograde

10-07-2003, 05:16 PM

mmmmm ....honeycombs

Zack

10-07-2003, 05:51 PM

Originally posted by MI2QWK4U
I think you are onto a good idea Zach. I have been checking into some type of honeycomb mesh like some other cars have, completely replacing the ribs with the new design.

Get a Crown Victoria P71 Honeycomb Grill and have a custom Mercury decal made to cover the ford emblem. It would be nearly impossible to take the badge off that grill and reproduce a honeycomb to fill the gap.

Directedby

10-07-2003, 06:27 PM

Zack -

Can you post directions on how to remove the grill?

2. Anyone on the board that can get the second grill for a good price?

Zack

10-07-2003, 06:44 PM

To remove the grill, remove the plastic shroud under the hood that is fastened by those 3 plastic expanding clip thingies. Then remove the 6 11mm nuts holding the grill studs. After they are off, simply tap on the grill from the inside out. The top will come out no problem, there are 3 clips on the bottom that need to be persuaded.

A good price on grills are at fordparts.com.

B]Logan, can you get us a group price????[/B]

ik04

10-07-2003, 07:06 PM

How about a grille with simulated cats "stuck" in the bars?

...Color matched, of course...

Kevin

Constable

10-07-2003, 10:45 PM

Cats... hehehehe...

I'm really impressed with your work Zack, very nice. Since I bought my car, though, I've been debating on sending a grille surround to Trenz for them to play with and build me something. I want a bunch of thin horizontal bars. I think polished bars would look real trick inside the black surround.

Racerx88

10-08-2003, 06:40 AM

I've been thinking about something like the Jaguar XJR. <img src=http://www.maximum-cars.com/Cars/Jaguar/2004-XJR-2.jpg>

Directedby

10-08-2003, 08:47 AM

fordparts.com doesn't sell the grill.

Any other ideas?

Dealer - can you get me one?

Directedby

10-08-2003, 10:18 AM

Just ordered the Grill from Ford Parts Network.

$144.00 which I think is a great deal.

Zack

10-08-2003, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by Directedby
fordparts.com doesn't sell the grill.

Any other ideas?

Dealer - can you get me one?

I see you purchased a grill. You did pay the going rate for grills. To everyone else, FordParts.com does sell the grill, heres the link:

https://fordparts.com/cart/?pn=3W3Z-8200-AAA+&submit=Search

Marauderman

10-08-2003, 11:16 AM

Oh I can see all of this is going in MY direction--i.e. waitng for Zack to achievce his next level of Grill feature...cause I too am blacked-out in the front--Love the "Zit" reference earlier---yeah--very good ref to it....anyway--will wait till Zack has come up with something newer --maybe like that over current trend ( bars)...
SO --Zack--looks like bar is in your court--pun intended-..Tom

dwasson

10-09-2003, 06:12 AM

The new Cadillac CTS variant (CTS-V?) has a grill that looks like a stainless wire mesh. It resembles the grilles from the Bentleys of yore. I qave been wondering what that would look like on the MM. It looks to me like all of the Panther grilles would bolt in to the MM header without any other mods. If that is true maybe I can go to the junkyard and buy a few to play with this winter,

Agent M79

10-09-2003, 07:21 AM

Zack,

I am totally into the badgeless look.

I am going to give this a try myself. It'll be a nice project for me. I've got a cheap enough source for grills so if I mess them up, I'll admit defeat, get another round, and send them to you.

I'll document the project (screw ups and all) and post it.

John F. Russo

10-09-2003, 09:13 AM

Thank you again for the badgeless grill. I'm dying to put it on the car.

A local body shop was going to charge me $200 to 350 plus the cost of a new grille. I gave Zack a good tip for his generous work.

Guys, the price should be going up soon!

______________________________ _____________
2003 Blue 300B (Canadian) (reversed traction control, mini spare, trunked
6 disc CD changer,clock-in-the-radio, heated front seats, hood light)
-Born 12/10/02
-12,000 miles
-18 mpg at a steady speed of 80 mph
-Stock transmission (upgraded with Performance Automatic
clutches and band after stock tranny failed in 8,800 miles)
-Wheel locks (Ford)
-Badgeless front grille by “Zack”
Kenny Brown: 6th “signature series” conversion (450 hp) Born 3/28/03
-Dead pedal
-Baer front brakes 14 in. two piston, vented rotors
-MMX Driveshaft
-4.10 gears
-Vortech supercharger (7 to 8 psig boost)
-Pirelli P-Zero Asymmetric (front 255/45ZR18 99Y;rear 255/50ZR18 102Y)
-FordChip
-One coil of each front stock spring removed to produce the “same” effect
as an Eibach spring
-Ground clearance: 5 in.
______________________________ ________________
1961 Ford Galaxie, 2 dr. Club Victoria, 390CID, 375hp, 4 barrel

Agent M79

10-10-2003, 02:53 PM

I am about 1/3rd done with this. I am at the point where I am beginning to size the donor bars into the badgeless grill.

The only thing I can tell you at this point is if you have never done anything like this before, you'd best bring a lot of calm collectedness to the table. Test everything before you start and take your time.

I'll know in the next hour or so of work if this was a mistake for me to take on and if I need to send new parts and salvagable pieces to Zack. It has been a challenge and I'll have no problem admitting defeat if it comes.

May not be able to post tomorrow (Parkway Cruise) and some plans in the evening but I will keep y'all posted.

Agent M79

10-10-2003, 09:34 PM

Unfortunately there was some obvious novice work and rookie mistakes on my part. Evidently not a good starter project for the uninitiated.

If I intended to do this again it would likely turn out quite acceptable now that I've butchered a grill as part of my learning curve.

So net, I have one grill without the badge and attached bars, now useless for the full on badgeless look but still useable for the donor bars for the next attempt (not by me).

I have the original donor grill which I will retain for a future grill project requiring a few less precision skills.

So... Time to get another grill and pack it off with the donor grill to Zack and have this done right.

Zack

10-10-2003, 10:19 PM

Keep em' comin!

Bowman9

10-14-2003, 02:41 PM

Im thinking of a completely new grill design that requires the removal of all the 'bars' and replacing them with something like welded chain or mesh or knives.... you get my drift.

Zack do you have any pencil sketches you can post.
I'd like to see what you had in mind.
I might be able to transfer your drawlings into 3D renders, no promises though I still just dabble in 3D. :P

Zack

10-14-2003, 05:14 PM

Im sorry but my pencil is a wrench and bondo. Ill work on my idea after I get these 2 superchargers installed...

Zack

10-20-2003, 06:54 PM

Here is Agent M79's DTR Grill:

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1042
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1043
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1044

Agent M79

10-20-2003, 06:59 PM

[sniff] ... I think I am tearing up...

TheDealer

10-21-2003, 09:26 AM

I can sell the Black or Silver grilles for $120.00

The Blue or DTR grilles sell for $80.00.

RAY

Directedby

10-21-2003, 09:29 AM

Originally posted by Zack
Here is Agent M79's DTR Grill:

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1042
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1043
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1044

Zack -

M79's grill looks great.

TAF

10-21-2003, 09:55 AM

Zack,

Don't ever have a conversation with my wife about how "handy" you are...it'll make me look even worse.

EXCELLENT job, my friend :up:

TripleG

10-21-2003, 10:36 AM

How can I get a solid black grill

Agent M79

10-21-2003, 10:38 AM

It does look great. I should have it back this week and I'll install it Friday night and snap a few pics after the MM is washed on Saturday morning!

Petrograde

10-21-2003, 10:58 AM

Triple G.... PM Zack for details.

Bowman9

10-21-2003, 04:04 PM

Zack,

I saw in the gallery you made a badgeless chrome grill for LML, do you know if he is going to paint the shell black (body color) and leave the bars chrome or just leave it all chrome?
I think the black and chrome would look pretty cool.

Bowman9

10-21-2003, 04:26 PM

Hey Dealer,

What kind of price can you give on a chrome 2003/2004 Grand Marquis grill?

TheDealer

10-21-2003, 04:29 PM

Your cost $75.00 plus $7.00 shipping. RAY

Zack

10-21-2003, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by Bowman9
Zack,

I saw in the gallery you made a badgeless chrome grill for LML, do you know if he is going to paint the shell black (body color) and leave the bars chrome or just leave it all chrome?
I think the black and chrome would look pretty cool.

LML's grill is Black. Where is there a picture of a badgeless chrome grill????

Agent M79

10-21-2003, 08:36 PM

He means this one RIGHT HERE. (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=503/404test_pics_063.jpg)

The black is just very shiny and looks chromish.

LincMercLover

10-21-2003, 08:41 PM

That doesn't sound like a bad idea... Only thing is it'd take 3 grilles (one black, two chromes) to pull off. Wouldn't want it on my car though, not my theme. But still a good idea none-the-less...

Bowman9

10-21-2003, 09:43 PM

Here are three grille ideas I did in Paintshop Pro.

Black Shell chrome bars -
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1068

Honeycomb -
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1069

Spider web -
This one was a test idea that does not look as good as I had hoped, I might try to do it again in another program.
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?
photo=1070 (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1070)

Petrograde

10-22-2003, 04:40 AM

Nice work Bowman! I really dig that honeycomb! hint,hint, Zack! :D

.. and it would only take one grill to do it!

Tom

Racerx88

10-22-2003, 06:49 AM

Hey Bowman, those look great!
Now can you take the one with the black honeycomb and make the honeycomb area brushed aluminum in color? Also maybe add some of it into the openings in the lower bumper as well?

Bowman9

10-22-2003, 03:37 PM

Racer X is this what your looking for...

Double honeycomb -
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=1088

SouLRioT

10-22-2003, 03:57 PM

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=510/787marauder-grille04a.jpg this one is freaking tight, if zack or someone else could make this i would buy it.

Agent M79

10-22-2003, 04:33 PM

I would draw your attention to a finely crafted custom signature series MM Badgeless Grille.

It is #1 in the series, as you can see by clicking HERE (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096Badgleless_Signature.jpg). The Grille Master signed it HERE (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096Badgless_Zack_Sig.jpg).

And without further delay:

Badgeless DTR Pic #1 (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096Badgeless_Up_Left_.jpg)
Badgeless DTR Pic #2 (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096Badgeless_Left_.jpg)
Badgeless DTR Pic #3 (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=500/1096Badgeless_Right_.jpg)

A quiet, dignified, standing applause, if you don't mind. Thank you.

Zack did a great job on this. Thank you very much Zack!