Topic: AfterShock Recessed grilles on my Deep GXP

[Deep-GXP]

Sorry that my car was dirty
Now I need to get the foglight grilles !
Recessed grilles are Semi Gloss Black, and the stock fog grilles are still greyish colored.

[Gentleman Jack]

Deep,

That looks great!  Can you get the fog lights to match?  Recessed I mean, not in color.  Was this a DIY?  Love the look. 

Steven

[DeepBlueGXP]

Nice job

[Sly Bob]

They really do look sharp.  I haven't decided to paint mine like that, or to paint the outer ring Deep... 

[Deep-GXP]

Deep,

That looks great!  Can you get the fog lights to match?  Recessed I mean, not in color.  Was this a DIY?  Love the look.  

Steven

Yeah im just waiting on Rudy from AfterShock Products to come out with them!  Hopefully soon.
Products are from AfterShock, but yes I prepped/painted these myself.
Thank you thank you, I just cant wait til the fog grilles are released !

Nice job

Thanks brotha, I appreciate it! (hey do you think you can change the title to "AfterShock Recessed grilles on my Deep GXP"

They really do look sharp.   I haven't decided to paint mine like that, or to paint the outer ring Deep...  

Yeah, i was thinking about doing that too.  But since a can of black spray paint cost like $2, i decided to do it all black.  It also goes with the theme of my car.

Black parts are: Windshield surround / Rear deck / Arrowheads / Stock Rear Valance painted black / Tinted Fog Lights / Tinted Reverse Lights / Tinted Side Markers / and of course my lovely black Rims with black lug nuts and black center cap

[DeepBlueGXP]

hey do you think you can change the title to "AfterShock Recessed grilles on my Deep GXP"

The originator of any thread can modify their first post and change the title.  You can also click "report to moderator" and explain what you need done.  Sly Bob took care of it for you.

[KWhale]

Nice job on the install.  Here's a thought....The nose looks really good now with the center grills recessed, what if you just took the fog grills and maybe the inter-cooler grill out and just painted them black to match your new grills??  I think it would look perfect, and might buy you some time while the fog grills are being developed?

[Deep-GXP]

The originator of any thread can modify their first post and change the title.  You can also click "report to moderator" and explain what you need done.  Sly Bob took care of it for you.

ahhhh, didnt know that

Nice job on the install.  Here's a thought....The nose looks really good now with the center grills recessed, what if you just took the fog grills and maybe the inter-cooler grill out and just painted them black to match your new grills??  I think it would look perfect, and might buy you some time while the fog grills are being developed?

True, i had thought about that but I kinda want to keep them original just incase if i want to sell my stock set of grilles (2 main grilles and 2 fog grills) to someone else or if I get rid of the car I would put the stock grilles on and sell someone the after shock grilles.  Or you never know, parts may not be available some day!  I dont know...it's just me.   I like to keep my stock parts.  I still have my stock intercooler, stock exhaust lol, stock air filter, and I even bought a new set of (4) polished aluminum rims so I could powder coat those and keep my stock ones lol.

[Jackknife]

Your paint choice looks good on your Deep.  Just for comparison, I've linked pictures of an alternative treatment on my Deep.

Your install also looks good...my car is an NA and the fit is a little off at the bottom ( the NA's nose curves more).

I wonder, did you have any trouble with tabs breaking off;  and, did you safety wire the grills in for security?

Link- http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f111/recessed-grill-pics-58704/

[DragonSolGXP]

Looks really good. What's the fit like on the outer grill frames and the body? Does it match perfectly? No spaces?

What did you have to cut... was it only the black foam in the back?

Looks great!

[Mac]

VERY cool, on my list now must get mods, i thoughth they were making the Fogs too?  Man are those slick, looks like the 2nd gen birds now, right on.

[Jackknife]

Looks really good. What's the fit like on the outer grill frames and the body? Does it match perfectly? No spaces?

What did you have to cut... was it only the black foam in the back?

Looks great!

I cut the foam behind the grills only...took about 2" off.

Because of the fascia's curve, my grill surrounds stick out about .25 of an inch at the bottom.  Hard to see unless you're low to the ground.

I'm pleased with the look...but a little apprehensive about the brittleness of the product...I envision a rock getting the best of a collision with such unforgiving plastic.

As an interesting aside, the black foam on the NA is a slightly different shape than that on the GXP.  No problems...just different.

[Deep-GXP]

Your paint choice looks good on your Deep.  Just for comparison, I've linked pictures of an alternative treatment on my Deep.

Your install also looks good...my car is an NA and the fit is a little off at the bottom ( the NA's nose curves more).

I wonder, did you have any trouble with tabs breaking off;  and, did you safety wire the grills in for security?

Link- http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f111/recessed-grill-pics-58704/

Well one of the tabs somehow broke and i have no idea what happened to it lol (this was even before painting).  But during installation, one of the tabs broke.  I took more care with the second grille.   When putting these on, people should try to put it in evenly and not start from one corner and go from tab to tab.  Try to line up all the tabs and then push it in evenly on all corners.  And no, I didnt do the wire thing, i just used the 5 minute epoxy glue that comes in a syringe type dispenser.  I hope a big bump doesnt make them fly off and I hope rudy can make replacement grilles if it does happen lol

Looks really good. What's the fit like on the outer grill frames and the body? Does it match perfectly? No spaces?

What did you have to cut... was it only the black foam in the back?

Looks great!

Yeah only the black foam.  I put my torch up to a knife til it was really hot and sliced through the foam.  It was still challenging.

VERY cool, on my list now must get mods, i thoughth they were making the Fogs too?  Man are those slick, looks like the 2nd gen birds now, right on.

Yeah, i guess the Fogs got pushed back a bit.  I definitely need to have them when they get released

[Deep-GXP]

I'm pleased with the look...but a little apprehensive about the brittleness of the product...I envision a rock getting the best of a collision with such unforgiving plastic.

Those are my worries also......we shall see what happens

[SOLster]

Actually had a recent customer who also has a N/A sol and he decided to shave down the lower inside corner of the frame to match flush with the reset of the bumper.  Here's some pics he sent me:

BEFORE:


AFTER:




So, all in all, the grills can be made flushed to fit for the N/A if you shave down the inside corners as above.  The material is sandable, grindable, and fileable.  But, I do recommend masking your bumper and have a professional do it if you're not comfortable working with hand tools and such.

rudy

[SOLster]

I'm pleased with the look...but a little apprehensive about the brittleness of the product...I envision a rock getting the best of a collision with such unforgiving plastic.

Yes the material used for casting is not the best material I would have chosen for such a vulneral piece.  But it was the best I can find unfortunately that was for my application silicone casting process.  I found that the material is great for thicker parts.  But when it comes to thin wall thicknesses, it gets dicey.  I'm hoping with additional layer of paint and clearcoat, it's resilient enough against everyday road rash.  The only object for concern would be a large rock or object which will probably dent your hood and fascia as well.

The tabs can and will break in the process of installation and/or removal of the grills.  But, the good part is that they can be re-attached with glue.

Regarding the recessed fogs, I'm starting the molds this week for them as well as the interior rings as I've been swamped with e-mails for both of these items.  I'm hoping that the funds from these parts will help replinish the investment costs of the new side fenders as well as the upcoming sideskirts that have put on hold until then.

rudy

[Deep-GXP]

Cool Rudy!  Cant wait for those fogs.  You already know that everyone that purchased recessed grilles is also gonna purchase your fog grilles  The fitment was really good on my GXP.  Wish i would've thought to install them pre-paint and sand them down to be flush...oh well.  As far as I know, im the only Deep GXP out there that has painted their recessed grilles black/black and I think it turned out great.


BTW, I cut the foam without removing the bumper.  I used a hot knife to get rid of most of the foam and I used to the nail remover end of a hammer to knock away the rest.

[Sol Asylum]

Rudy when you get a chance shoot me a PM if you want, I might have a few more sources for various plastic materials that will work with your molds.