DIY: 04-05 Frong Grill Debadge

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Tools needed:
Screwdriver
Hacksaw or dremel
80 grit, 150 grit and 400 grit sandpaper
Primer
Metallic black spray paint
fiberglass (optional)
bondo (optional)

This is a very simple job but like any other body modifications TAKE YOUR TIME, if you don't it will show.

Step 1: Remove the grill

Their are 6 clips holding it on the car the top 4 are circled, the two on the bottom can't be seen in the picture but they are located under the top clips on the far sides. You your screwdriver to pop them off and the grill will slide out.

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Step 2: Remove the mesh

There are 7 metal clips on the back of the grill holding the mesh in place, they are snug so use your screwdriver to pop them off and the mesh will come off.

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Step 3: Remove the stock badge

Time to play with sharp objects . Take your hacksaw or dremel and cut the badge from the grill. Don't worry about getting too close, you can always sand down the nubs.

Before:



After:

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Step 4 (optional):

As you can see from the pic once you cut off the badge it leaves a hole on the top of the grill but not the bottom. Once you have it on your car you won't see the hole but I like to play with fiberglass so I filled it in. Once the glass dried I used bondo to smooth it out and fill in the rock chips that were there from driving. Here is the pic filled, sanded with the 80, then 150 grit paper and ready for primer.

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Step 5: paint and primer.

Once you apply a few coats of primer you will see any imperfections that you may have missed before, fix them now or they will drive you nuts once it is back on the car. Once you finish that and have a few even coats of primer on take the 400grit paper and wet sand the entire piece, this is necessary if you want the paint to look smooth. Here is a pic of it ready for paint.



and after paint (the flash makes the paint look bad but in normal light it looks great):



a close up without the flash:

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Step 6: reinstall the mesh and put it back on the car

Use the same clips that were there to put the mesh back on. You will have one left over.




Once you finish pop the grille back on. Make sure the bottom slides in correctly or the grill will look bowed.

[S4toSTI]

Good write up.

[IrishSTi]

Looks good. I did mine myself also last summer. Looks for much more clean!

[sesolcSTI]

Yeah i did mine a few months back, pretty much used the same exact steps as mentioned above. Takes some time to do right, but well worth it in the end. Nice writeup.

[WRX27]

Anyone wanna do this for me? Preferably someone that already has and it turned out good. Im lazy and dont want to 'f' it up. I'd pay a few bucks or buy lunch and some cigs or whatever your fancy. I'd buy needed supplies etc as well