sleeper

Solman- I remember when you were doing yours, very classy chrome frame & black painted mesh & Chevy Bow Tie.

solman98

JBWeld. Held great untill I closed the hood..... Then pop. Since it was the lower corner it didn't pop out much and not noticiable to any but me.

Oldblue

Thanks , I’m gonna leave this alone then, it popped when I closed the hood also, I think Crazy glue might damage the plastic, so leave sleeping dogs lay.

The EBay seller has offered a 50% refund instead of me shipping the broken grille back to California. I’m gonna have to accept that.

solman98

Yea, the HHR hood has to drop to close. I first tried a regular 2 part expoxy and it failed. Cleaned up and tried the JB. Then just gave up as well. Bugged me a lot at first.....lol

Oldblue

Of course today, driving to the store , my OCD kicks in, imaginary noises, are they rattling from the broken grille? Naw, just the guts of my 20 year old garage door opener still making noise clipped to my sun visor.
To ensure some stability it the grille, I transferred the metal brace that goes across the lower part of it from left to right mounting stud , with a screw in the middle, this makes it much more rigid and gives the two bumpers in either side. Now it doesn’t seem so flimsy when I close the hood.

sleeper

Solman- I never let my hood drop, I close it by hand, & then give it a light downward push to lock it down.

I thought the JB Weld would do the job.

solman98

Something I forgot about. Are you using the backing piece that came with the new grill, or the original one? I used the original one and it was not as flexable as the one that came with the grill. Might tighten it up some at the break.

solman98

I always had to drop mine a few inches. As thin as that sheet metal is, I didn't want to dent it.

sleeper

Yep, that is for sure.

Oldblue

I used the OEM metal bottom brace and the OEM plastic surround piece.