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gdsqdcr
12-20-2009, 11:09 PM
So I want one. I PM'd someone and they said talk to Motorhead. I sent him an emIl and no response. So, I got to thinking, how hard is it really to make your own? Is it just cutting out the vertical bars with te emblem on them and then 'reinserting' new verticals? I know that makes it sound simeon, but I do recognize the amount of work that would be to do it right.

Also, are our fronts similar enough to a crown vic that I could take one of theirs and modify?

I really got to think about this when my county sent me a supplemental tax bill ... No more real money to play with for awhile.

Thanks!
Anthony
Rocknthehawk
12-20-2009, 11:55 PM
It's not that difficult to make your own. I've done it.

I've started another and have a 3rd thats ready to be done...It's just time consuming and I haven't been motivated to do it.

Here's the one i did:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa301/raudermaster/marauder011.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/5/6/2/9/marauder002.jpg
Got_1
12-21-2009, 05:51 AM
how do you adhere the vertical bars? can you show a pic from the back side? i always wanted to do this.
gdsqdcr
12-21-2009, 06:51 AM
Rockethehawk, that looks awesome. So, how did you do it? Is it as labor intensive as I think it is or more? As WANT1 asked, you got pictures from the backside?

Thanks!
Anthony
FordNut
12-21-2009, 06:59 AM
Zack used to do them, not sure if he still does it. He described the process a long time ago. Basically take 2 grilles. Cut the 4 center bars with the emblem out of the keeper. Cut the 2 bars on both sides just outside the center 4 bars from the donor. Glue the donor bars into the keeper.

CV grilles will not fit the MM.
gdsqdcr
12-21-2009, 12:28 PM
Not that I have called the dealership, but does anyone know what a donor grill is going to cost me? Or is there another place I can get one cheaper?
Big Black Beast
12-21-2009, 01:50 PM
Auto parts warehouse has them unpainted for about $100. I think it makes the grill look too plain, like it's missing something (it is!). Am I the only one here that actually thinks the standard Mercury badge looks the best?
fastblackmerc
12-21-2009, 01:54 PM
Am I the only one here that actually thinks the standard Mercury badge looks the best?

Probably!!!!
Rocknthehawk
12-21-2009, 02:47 PM
The non OEM grilles are much harder to use...they're a softer cheaper plastic that doesn't bond well. It also sands away much easier, which is a problem when you're trying to keep the bars straight.

The first on I did, I cut out the emblem, took some broken teeth from another grille, and beveled/cut them to fit into the gaps. I used SEM plastic repair two part epoxy. I've used it many times repairing bumpers. It was very time intensive to sand them perfect, fill, sand,fill. It isn't a secret.

the second, I did more like Zach...cutting the center bars closer to the edge, and bonding new longer bars in. I'd seen a picture of a zach grill up close and wasn't happy with the quality. maybe it was an older one, who knows. I used the same process, just beveling and bonding new bars.

Needing two grilles is a joke...I've used one broken grille to make two badgeless.
Rocknthehawk
12-21-2009, 02:50 PM
no pics from the back side, but i sanded/filled it the same as the front, so that when looked at from the side, it looks stock. It took a long time to get in there and sand, but I wanted it to be perfect.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/006-15.jpg
SideshowBob
12-21-2009, 03:50 PM
Am I the only one here that actually thinks the standard Mercury badge looks the best?


Nope! I'm with you, I think it looks better with a badge. In fact, when viewed from a distance (or from a rear-view mirror) the all-black grill makes the car look like it's been in a wreck and the grill is missing entirely! The standard GM chrome grill would probably look OK without a badge, but the black just looks like an empty hole. I can understand that folks find the Merc "hockey sticks" unappealing, but the black grill needs something there, IMO.
guspech750
12-21-2009, 04:57 PM
Auto parts warehouse has them unpainted for about $100. I think it makes the grill look too plain, like it's missing something (it is!). Am I the only one here that actually thinks the standard Mercury badge looks the best?
I agree. Standard badge looks great. Maybe even a large head like on our seats would way cool too.
ImpalaSlayer
12-21-2009, 05:00 PM
I agree. Standard badge looks great. Maybe even a large head like on our seats would way cool too.

fireman FTL! :puke:
fastblackmerc
12-21-2009, 05:01 PM
I agree. Standard badge looks great. Maybe even a large head like on our seats would way cool too.

The "hockey stick / waterfall" emblem looks like A$$.
johnnyrauder
12-21-2009, 05:05 PM
i was thinking of paniting the badge black...
breeze
12-21-2009, 05:08 PM
id have 2have a badgeless and a badged grill...just incase i wanted a change and got tired of the look.
ImpalaSlayer
12-21-2009, 05:09 PM
id have 2have a badgeless and a badged grill...just incase i wanted a change and got tired of the look.


thats exactly what i have. ive just never gone back.
breeze
12-21-2009, 05:16 PM
u stuck with badgeless or badged?
ImpalaSlayer
12-21-2009, 05:19 PM
u stuck with badgeless or badged?


badgeless im trying to totaly delete the fireman from my car. im not in a fire department so hes gotta go
breeze
12-21-2009, 05:21 PM
cant remember, is urs grey like ur wheels or black...isnt he on ur trunck deck lid tho.lol
ImpalaSlayer
12-21-2009, 05:22 PM
cant remember, is urs grey like ur wheels or black...isnt he on ur trunck deck lid tho.lol


its black, and yes that retarted thing is ont he rear as well. lets stop hijacking lol
breeze
12-21-2009, 05:26 PM
lol. i wouldnt mind a B/L grill too!
ChiTownMaraud3r
12-21-2009, 06:29 PM
I like the badge less look, but would rather have the godshead with a blacked out background on there.
gdsqdcr
12-21-2009, 08:42 PM
For those of you that have an 'extra' badgeless grill, you always donate to the those of us in 'need'.

As for making one, not paying a hundred bucks for a grill that I am going to cut up. Need to find a wrecked Marquis with a good grill ...
Rocknthehawk
12-21-2009, 09:17 PM
For those of you that have an 'extra' badgeless grill, you always donate to the those of us in 'need'.

As for making one, not paying a hundred bucks for a grill that I am going to cut up. Need to find a wrecked Marquis with a good grill ...

I paid like $10 for a broken grille. I also did some bartering and got another scratched up grille, and a bunch of broken teeth in trade for some audio work I did for SD8683 or whatever his sn is

I've got 3/4 of one made, and another grille and enough teeth to do at least 2 more. I just haven't been motivated to do the work. With the time I invest in to making one, I'd have to charge like $250.
FordNut
12-22-2009, 05:44 AM
Need to find a wrecked Marquis with a good grill ...

They're chrome.
FordNut
12-22-2009, 05:51 AM
no pics from the back side, but i sanded/filled it the same as the front, so that when looked at from the side, it looks stock. It took a long time to get in there and sand, but I wanted it to be perfect.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/006-15.jpg


The first on I did, I cut out the emblem, took some broken teeth from another grille, and beveled/cut them to fit into the gaps. I used SEM plastic repair two part epoxy. I've used it many times repairing bumpers. It was very time intensive to sand them perfect, fill, sand,fill. It isn't a secret.

the second, I did more like Zach...cutting the center bars closer to the edge, and bonding new longer bars in. I'd seen a picture of a zach grill up close and wasn't happy with the quality. maybe it was an older one, who knows. I used the same process, just beveling and bonding new bars.

Needing two grilles is a joke...I've used one broken grille to make two badgeless.

If you do it as pictured it has to be painted. If you use the full-length bars you could probably get away with not painting it or at least just using a few little spots of touch-up paint at the glue joints.
J.bo
12-22-2009, 07:29 AM
Well who has info on that Paul's High Performance mesh grill that was on the Marauder with louvers in the hood?
J.bo
12-22-2009, 07:35 AM
Here is a pic of the grill
fastblackmerc
12-22-2009, 07:56 AM
Here is a pic of the grill

Nice grill, but why the *****y OEM emblem?
Rocknthehawk
12-22-2009, 10:15 AM
If you do it as pictured it has to be painted. If you use the full-length bars you could probably get away with not painting it or at least just using a few little spots of touch-up paint at the glue joints.


Maybe thats why I was unhappy with the quality of another badgeless I saw. If I was putting that much time and effort into making something, and putting my name on it, I'd want it to look OEM.
FordNut
12-22-2009, 03:09 PM
Maybe thats why I was unhappy with the quality of another badgeless I saw. If I was putting that much time and effort into making something, and putting my name on it, I'd want it to look OEM.

Yep, but then you'd have so much time and capital invested in it that you couldn't sell them (or you could take a loss on every one of them, make it up on volume!)