R50/53 Santa Barbara Local body shop for the lower aero grill conversion
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Neutral
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 6
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From: SB 93110, CA
Santa Barbara Local body shop for the lower aero grill conversion
Hey, guys. Is there anyone who lives in Santa Barbara? I need some advice for my lower aero grill to my stock bumper. Since I dont have an enough space to cut and fit it, I am considering to get it done by a local body shop now. How much should I expect for that lower grill modification and installment? Or if there is anyone who can help me out around SB, I am willing to pay for sure. Hook me up!!!
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,037
Likes: 283
From: Melbourne, FL
the Aero grill mod to a standard bumper has been around for a long time - search and you can probably still find a good set of DIY here. I've done a good half dozen for folks.
I doubt you'll find a body shop that will do it for anything you'd be willing to pay. I'm guessing you already did the bonnet so you just need the lower piece, right? If you find the DIY here you're 50% there. There's really just one hard part, cutting down the AERO part. It is too "thick' so you need to trim the backside to about 1/2 it's thickness. That's easily done with a Dremel with a cutting wheel attachment (work slow - don't burn).
The DIY says take off the bumber cover. Again, easily done with simple tools (10mm socket and phillips screwdriver) and it does make things a bit easier but you COULD do it with the bumper cover in place. Being able to work from the back can make getting the existing piece off a bit easier. It is simply held on with double sided tape so the issue is getting it off w/out messing up the bumper. Working from the back affords a safety factor. A strong blow dryer allows you to apply some heat and soften the tape.
Once the piece is off, clean up any residue with some goo-gone and then I use a combination of trimming the tabs on the AG piece and enlarging slots on the bumber cover to provide proper slots for the AG piece to snap into (of course the two do not have the exact same arrangements of mounting tabs) again a Dremel with a cutting bit and work slow is just the ticket.
A couple of hours all told should allow you to DIY
Maybe you can find a local that's done it who can help for price of a beer - that's all I charge.
I doubt you'll find a body shop that will do it for anything you'd be willing to pay. I'm guessing you already did the bonnet so you just need the lower piece, right? If you find the DIY here you're 50% there. There's really just one hard part, cutting down the AERO part. It is too "thick' so you need to trim the backside to about 1/2 it's thickness. That's easily done with a Dremel with a cutting wheel attachment (work slow - don't burn).
The DIY says take off the bumber cover. Again, easily done with simple tools (10mm socket and phillips screwdriver) and it does make things a bit easier but you COULD do it with the bumper cover in place. Being able to work from the back can make getting the existing piece off a bit easier. It is simply held on with double sided tape so the issue is getting it off w/out messing up the bumper. Working from the back affords a safety factor. A strong blow dryer allows you to apply some heat and soften the tape.
Once the piece is off, clean up any residue with some goo-gone and then I use a combination of trimming the tabs on the AG piece and enlarging slots on the bumber cover to provide proper slots for the AG piece to snap into (of course the two do not have the exact same arrangements of mounting tabs) again a Dremel with a cutting bit and work slow is just the ticket.
A couple of hours all told should allow you to DIY
Maybe you can find a local that's done it who can help for price of a beer - that's all I charge.
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