Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Body/Appearance/Interior => Topic started by: andrew beedle on May 29, 2008, 05:00:39 PM

Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on May 29, 2008, 05:00:39 PM
I was posting this to see what interest there is if any for a custom front grill such as on my car. Its summer now so I have some spare time to make a couple if there is interest and the price is right. For the making of this I would need your header panel or I could supply one at additional charge. I was also possibly thinking I could make these as a bolt on item but it really depends on interest and what someone is willing to pay for it. Just looking for some opinions right now. Thanks guys

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/T-bird%20Pictures/MVC-016L.jpg)
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: 84cougarV8 on May 29, 2008, 05:04:16 PM
thats pretty tight! where you get the ground effects? wat would you be chargin for the grillz?
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on May 29, 2008, 05:25:33 PM
You know I am not sure. I was hoping I could get some input from others on the price. It would really depend on if it was a bolt on item or one piece item such as my own because the one piece smoothed in grill requires the use of an existing header panel to attach the grill where as the bolt on would not need a header panel because it would not be smoothed in.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: Thunder Chicken on May 29, 2008, 06:45:18 PM
I don't have a four-eye, but I'm thinking a bolt-on would be the most feasible, something like the old FMS grille. That way you wouldn't need a header panel to modify, so two-way shipping of a large item would be eliminated.

Truth be told, before I found my parts TC (and TC header panel) I was gonna modify my chrome grille. Not as fancy as yours though - I was gonna fill it in solid to make it look like a TC header panel :mullet:
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: 84cougarV8 on May 29, 2008, 06:50:13 PM
yeah i think that the blot on would be cheaper, then again you could get both going depending how facny they want it you know?
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on May 29, 2008, 07:55:03 PM
A bolt on design would be quite a bit cheaper but I could still offer the smoothed in grill if someone wanted it done.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: 84cougarV8 on May 29, 2008, 07:58:14 PM
exactly! what would you charge for the bolt on one?
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on May 29, 2008, 08:08:53 PM
I guess I could make one or two up and throw them on Ebay to see what they sell for as I would have to make a plug and mold so initial costs for me would be high but I would not pass that on to you guys. Honestly what would seem like a fair price?
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: 84cougarV8 on May 29, 2008, 08:13:23 PM
im not even sure i know that stock xr-7 one on ebay was at 5 bucks but u'll have time and some parts money in it.... 20-25 maybe??? not even sure depends on parts and the type of stuff u know?
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: Thunder Chicken on May 29, 2008, 08:47:40 PM
$20-$25?!?!?!? Yeah, that'd make it worth his effort...

I'd say start at $100 for the bolt on and go from there for the full header.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: EricCoolCats on May 29, 2008, 11:21:50 PM
Hey Andrew...I hope you're planning on paying royalties for using that grille design. :evilgrin:
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: t3skidoo on May 29, 2008, 11:26:17 PM
I was thinking it looked quite Bentley-esque.  Add some flush headlights and you're pretty close.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on May 30, 2008, 03:05:08 AM
I can not claim this as my own idea I was Erics :bowdown:
I liked so much I made my own. :D The truth be told I would like to replicate quite a few parts on my car since they are no longer avalible like the side skirts and front and rear ground effects. I dont want what happen to my last car to happen to me again and not be able to find these parts again.

(http://s120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/T-bird%20Pictures/?action=view¤t=233370_4_full.jpg)
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: daminc on May 30, 2008, 07:34:37 AM
How do you bend a car like that, If I may ask
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: baxo on May 30, 2008, 07:55:12 AM
My guess is something large  hit him fast from behind. (insert shagual innuendo here)
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: *MAYHEM* on May 30, 2008, 01:01:11 PM
*MAYHEM*: "Baxo, don't say ass, that's rude. You should say an00s instead."
 
BAXO: "Wrecked him? Hell, it looks like it totaled him."
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on May 30, 2008, 01:35:15 PM
Well what you have to do is get a 65 year old lady in a older chevy caprice type car and send her 50 mph at you while you are waiting to make a left hand turn and you can bend a car just like I did :(
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: daminc on May 30, 2008, 06:51:47 PM
Ouch, hope you were ok after that.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: DVP on May 30, 2008, 06:52:56 PM
took me like 3-4 hours to make mine. and its not finished yet. sytill need to fill the holes and what not. I was thinking about producing them too. Wouldnt have the time the way things are looking now.

Holy jesus! that looks like it hurt. seat belt?
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on May 30, 2008, 07:28:54 PM
I walked away from that no injuries somehow. I probably feel it when im like 50.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: 1BadBird on May 31, 2008, 03:01:38 PM
That looked to be a nice car :( The second one looks killer :evilgrin:  I like the TT setup too :evilgrin:  I would be interested in the body kit if you should decide to make one. Would it (body kit) maybe be made from fiberglass?????:D  What wing is that on the back??
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on May 31, 2008, 08:32:24 PM
Everything would be fiberglass. The wing is off an 01 mustang
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on December 06, 2008, 03:21:40 AM
It has been awhile but I finally started this project. I could not find an 83-84 non chrome t-bird grill to modify and I did not want to destroy the chrome grill that I have from my other bird so I made a fiberglass mold from a chrome grill so I could have a fiberglass grill to work with and make a pattern for a final mold. Here is the chrome grill I made the first mold from.

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-001L-1.jpg)

As you can see there is clear tape over the grill cutouts because I did not need to mold them but just a flat surface to cut out the hole in the middle of the grill. You also can see some of the mold release still on the grill that was used in making a mold. Below is the mold which was made from the chrome grill.

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-002L-1.jpg)

From this mold I made the fiberglass grill below which will be my final pattern for for my last mold. As you can see its not done yet but is a work in progress.

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-003L-2.jpg)
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: Carpimp1987 on December 06, 2008, 03:31:00 AM
Its funny that you got my same 1st name and i have always liked 87-88 T-birds but everytime i see yours i want a older 83-86 T-bird.

About how many hours did it take to make your grill? and i might take one if i ever get a 4 eye'ed T-Bird.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on December 06, 2008, 03:48:09 AM
Well the one on my car was made completly different and was made from a broken facory grill. As you can see in the pictures above I have gone about it completly different this time. I really have not kept track of my time but there has been alot put into it. I dont mind because I wanted another grill for my other T-bird so I was going to do this anyways.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: Carpimp1987 on December 06, 2008, 03:52:09 AM
Thats cool i want to see how it looks when its all done because i have never seen you do something that did not look good when it was done.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: LumpyCheeseman on December 06, 2008, 08:00:24 AM
*watching with great interest....*




-551
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: 88turbo on December 06, 2008, 05:06:51 PM
this isnt fair now...  I'm stuck here with just my 88tc and I cant do anything cool with dads old 83tc
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: DerikWayne on December 06, 2008, 10:37:21 PM
Very cool! "Is also watching with great interest"
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on December 08, 2008, 01:48:32 AM
Todays progress

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-004L-1.jpg)
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: RDOG on December 08, 2008, 02:54:29 AM
Check out the ones I made.

When I had an 86. It had a billet grille
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t97/biggrgivens/86%20TC/tcfront.jpg

This one I made for my sons 87 to accomodate a 86 TC FMS FMIC
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t97/biggrgivens/Ryans%20TC/frontheaderpanel.jpg
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on December 16, 2008, 03:44:21 AM
More progress

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-005L.jpg)

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-006L.jpg)
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: vinnietbird on December 16, 2008, 06:48:24 AM
Nice !!! Will it have a provision for the "Thunderbird" on it or in it somewhere?
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on December 16, 2008, 03:27:03 PM
One could be added quite easy I am sure.
Title: more sanding and some primer
Post by: andrew beedle on December 17, 2008, 01:50:32 AM
(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-007L.jpg)

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-008L.jpg)

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-009L.jpg)
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: DerikWayne on December 17, 2008, 02:23:26 AM
Lookin' good! I kinda wish I made a custom grille for my car sometimes.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: 1WLD BRD on December 22, 2008, 10:25:46 AM
Cool.....

Hows it going to attach?  Mold it on, Im guessing?
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on December 22, 2008, 04:18:43 PM
There will be two options. One will bolt on and the other will be a mold on which will be cheaper
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: vinnietbird on December 22, 2008, 05:58:59 PM
I like the "mold on" idea,but,on the leading edge of the car,anything can happen and it may be easier to swap it out if it's a bolt on.Buuuut,a mold on grill is a lot smoother.It would have that "molded on" look. LOL !!!
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on December 22, 2008, 06:32:02 PM
True the front does take some abuse with rock chips, bugs and what not. After 5 years mine has a few rock chips and I will probably repaint it soon. And my headlight buckets too.
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: Romeo2k on December 23, 2008, 02:33:18 PM
Quote from: andrew beedle;247831
(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-007L.jpg)

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-008L.jpg)

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-009L.jpg)

(http://www.narutomania.com/gallery/data/1117/house-do-want_thumbnail.jpg)
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: andrew beedle on January 06, 2009, 02:23:27 AM
Well here its is ready for paint. It looks almost the same as the other pictures but it now has 3 layers of high build urethane primer which I block sanded down to 600 grit for some paint. Smooth and straight :D

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/fastertbird/MVC-010L.jpg)
Title: Custom Grille (Updated 1-6-09)
Post by: vinnietbird on January 06, 2009, 06:53:12 AM
Great looking grille.Make a few and sell them,and make a few more for the guys with an '87/'88 grille.