this hood needs to be a reality......... (socal are you looking?)
Senior Member
Joined: 03-06-2006
Posts: 304
From: DETROIT
I've been working on fabbing a recessed grill EXACTLY THE SAME as the one pictured (
DAMN!)... So much for my HVROD "stealth tactics" 
.
Seriously though, I've attempted glassing 3 different versions without success. The problem isn't my glassing skills, it's a.) NOT having an OEM grill to scrap as part of the project, b.) clearance issues, c.) issues with affixing (THICK) mesh to the glass.
I guess I'm trying too hard not to trash my stock grill cuz the HHR looks pretty fugly without one.
All-in-all I've had some successes... for starters- there MUST be a piece along the bottom to clean-up/hide bumper gaps and provide support to the mesh/screen being used. Also- I've found that recessing the top and sides at a 'slight angle' inward looks just as good as trying to glass straight back (when viewed from the front
) and provides the option to give better support.
My next attempt should be the closest yet. I'm working on constructing a frame (out of wood) that'll fit into the grill opening and plan to use fleece to add thickness a.s.a.p. (<--- another issue... durability). The benifit here is that I can scrap/trash the 'mold' in the process.
If someone comes to market before I'm done... I may just have to scrap the whole project.
DAMN!)... So much for my HVROD "stealth tactics" .Seriously though, I've attempted glassing 3 different versions without success. The problem isn't my glassing skills, it's a.) NOT having an OEM grill to scrap as part of the project, b.) clearance issues, c.) issues with affixing (THICK) mesh to the glass.
I guess I'm trying too hard not to trash my stock grill cuz the HHR looks pretty fugly without one.
All-in-all I've had some successes... for starters- there MUST be a piece along the bottom to clean-up/hide bumper gaps and provide support to the mesh/screen being used. Also- I've found that recessing the top and sides at a 'slight angle' inward looks just as good as trying to glass straight back (when viewed from the front
) and provides the option to give better support.My next attempt should be the closest yet. I'm working on constructing a frame (out of wood) that'll fit into the grill opening and plan to use fleece to add thickness a.s.a.p. (<--- another issue... durability). The benifit here is that I can scrap/trash the 'mold' in the process.
If someone comes to market before I'm done... I may just have to scrap the whole project.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 02-27-2006
Posts: 1,198
From: NC
Originally Posted by SCOOT
I've been working on fabbing a recessed grill EXACTLY THE SAME as the one pictured ( DAMN!)... So much for my HVROD "stealth tactics" .
Seriously though, I've attempted glassing 3 different versions without success. The problem isn't my glassing skills, it's a.) NOT having an OEM grill to scrap as part of the project, b.) clearance issues, c.) issues with affixing (THICK) mesh to the glass.
I guess I'm trying too hard not to trash my stock grill cuz the HHR looks pretty fugly without one.
All-in-all I've had some successes... for starters- there MUST be a piece along the bottom to clean-up/hide bumper gaps and provide support to the mesh/screen being used. Also- I've found that recessing the top and sides at a 'slight angle' inward looks just as good as trying to glass straight back (when viewed from the front) and provides the option to give better support.
My next attempt should be the closest yet. I'm working on constructing a frame (out of wood) that'll fit into the grill opening and plan to use fleece to add thickness a.s.a.p. (<--- another issue... durability). The benifit here is that I can scrap/trash the 'mold' in the process.
If someone comes to market before I'm done... I may just have to scrap the whole project.
DAMN!)... So much for my HVROD "stealth tactics" .Seriously though, I've attempted glassing 3 different versions without success. The problem isn't my glassing skills, it's a.) NOT having an OEM grill to scrap as part of the project, b.) clearance issues, c.) issues with affixing (THICK) mesh to the glass.
I guess I'm trying too hard not to trash my stock grill cuz the HHR looks pretty fugly without one.
All-in-all I've had some successes... for starters- there MUST be a piece along the bottom to clean-up/hide bumper gaps and provide support to the mesh/screen being used. Also- I've found that recessing the top and sides at a 'slight angle' inward looks just as good as trying to glass straight back (when viewed from the front
) and provides the option to give better support.My next attempt should be the closest yet. I'm working on constructing a frame (out of wood) that'll fit into the grill opening and plan to use fleece to add thickness a.s.a.p. (<--- another issue... durability). The benifit here is that I can scrap/trash the 'mold' in the process.
If someone comes to market before I'm done... I may just have to scrap the whole project.
why not just get you a extra grill off ebay?
also scoot i may be needing some tips on glassing/making molds real soon, ive done it before but its been a while.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-06-2006
Posts: 304
From: DETROIT
Originally Posted by crowbar
why not just get you a extra grill off ebay?
also scoot i may be needing some tips on glassing/making molds real soon, ive done it before but its been a while.
also scoot i may be needing some tips on glassing/making molds real soon, ive done it before but its been a while.
.As for the e-Bay route... Glass is cheap and grills AREN'T. Seeing that I'm just going to buy it to hack it apart, I'd really hate to *invest* over $40 (delivered) into it. Call it what you want... I call it CHEAP
- but when I work on stuff like this it's about the journey- not just the destination.