Does anyone know whether the Cargraphic grilles require bumper removal for install or if any manufacturer makes grilles installable and removeable without bumper/facia removal?

 

The bumpers have to be removed. I had the cargraphic grills & Hella air horns(to replace the wimpy stockers) put in at the same time as a center radiator. The grills do a good job of eliminating trash in the radiators, but are only expanded metal & wildly overpriced. A decent do-it-yourselfer could duplicate the product for $20 worth of aluminum mesh, spray paint, a cardboard template, aviation snips and pliers.

 

Alternatively, one could obtain some stainless screen from McMaster Carr or Grainger, cut it to size, and safety wire to the front of the radiator and oil coolers.........I did this to my Ducati, and it has prevented oil cooler fin damage.

caveat: do no use too fine a mesh that will restrict cooling air.........

 

I went to the local hardward store and bought I think 18g grill like the ones that are used to hold charcoal in the bbq....diamond shaped holes. I carefully measured and used a carboard template to cut the grill using a drummer drill. Painted a few times with flat black rurstolean paint. The middle section is nice because their is already a groove you can fit the grill into by folding it a little. The side sections fit really snugg so they dont move. You can do all of this WITHOUT removing the grill if you are handy. You can use 3m for the side attachments...or what I did was used a stainless still rod about two inches long the diameter of a coat hanger. On one side I attached it to the grill and the other in a groove the seperated the middle horizontal opening...if you slip your finger you can see that there is a groove you can seperate between the painted part of the car and the air intake. I bent the s/s rod and it hooks there. I have gone 100mph without having the grill move.
Costs $30 and avoid removing the bumper.
I was also thinking of adding the black Stuttgart horse in the middle of the grill...but I didn't want to be confused for a Ferrari.
abe

 

Do you got any pics of that mod ?

 

thanks

 

yeah mine's been collecting a lot of trash

 

If they did you can see a on the side grills two black metal rods that attaches to the front horizontal red body part. I made the rods using s/s and a nylon nut. The nut sits in a crevice/space that seperated between the red horizontal body part and the begining of the black air intake.

 

Doh that sucks was hoping to see some pics.

 

If you look closely on the side grills there are two metal s/s rods that attach to the front horizontal red body part. There is a crevace/slit in that horizontal part between the begining of the air intake and the red body part. You can open it with your finger tips, slip the rod in, and the nylon nut sits in an open space inside that really takes alot of force to pull out. Between a snugg fit and that s/s rod, it stays in place. The middle grill is actually divided in two R and L for ease of installation (also couldn't find one long enough) and it sits in a natural groove.
Click on the image and it will magnify to a better resolution.
abe

 

Did you have to take the bumper off to instal lthis yourself ? I keep havign to vacumm out my garbage in the vent

 

great job! I only need the outer pair (no 3rd radiator). I would happily compensate you for a pair pre-made, and would wager you could start a cottage industry for these! ??? V.

 

Any change in the oil or water temps?

 

That's one of the best homemade mods I've seen. Nice work!

 

My grill is about 3/4" x 1/2 " openings. Also I don't track at 150mph in the desert. I think if you get very small holes you might interfere with airflow. NO BUMPER REMOVAL...its easy.
abe