How to Remove Grille, Please?

[ronemca]

I want to replace the pony, but I don't want to render the factory pony un-installable...and I don't want to affix the new pony with only 2 or 3 of its 4 threaded pins. My search turned up two useless threads; one said to paint the pony and the other said to break off all four of the pony pins.

There is an excellent chance that I will purchase a second grille and install pony ver 2.0 on that. But I still need to learn how to re&re the grille.

I realize that the entire fascia can be removed; I have done that once already. And I suspect that - if indeed I remove the entire fascia - the rest of the job will be easy. But I'm hoping to accomplish the pony upgrade (at least) or the grille swap (perhaps) without re & re-ing the whole fascia.

It looks like there are 19 of the usual tongue-like tabs that must be pressed gently inward (toward the pony emblem) to release. But can it be done by inserting a cleverly-bent tool of some kind thru the slots in the grille? And/or from above if I remove the rad shroud panel? (Or in some other manner?)

TIA!

Sponsored

 

[1blkpny]

I just replaced my original grill with the custom car grills kit. The only way to do it is removing the front bumper. Unless you can bend around corners, you will not get the tabs undone. It was not that easy even with it off. You tube has some great vidios of this. Good luck. There still is a recess on the grill after the pony is removed also. Someone had posted a way to cut out around the emblem and glue in a piece from another grill and that looked good. Search would be able to get that for you tho.

 

[ronemca]

Thanks, gents. I had my fingers crossed that maybe somebody had found a shortcut, but I had little hope. <sigh> Oh well - I'll put it off for a bit (it's ridiculously cold here all the time) and do the fascia re&re when it's less likely that I'll break 75% of the various clips!

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

I just replaced my original grill with the custom car grills kit. The only way to do it is removing the front bumper. Unless you can bend around corners, you will not get the tabs undone. It was not that easy even with it off. You tube has some great vidios of this. Good luck. There still is a recess on the grill after the pony is removed also. Someone had posted a way to cut out around the emblem and glue in a piece from another grill and that looked good. Search would be able to get that for you tho.

This. It's a serious pain with the fascia off. It would be impossible with the fascia on. The videos were immensely helpful, and I was able to remove the fascia completely, including teaching my 5-year-old son how to use tools, in less than a half hour. It's worth it just to get the better leverage.

I initially thought it would take a lot longer to do the custom car grills kit, R&R the fascia, let the adhesive dry, etc, and almost bought a second grill set, but everything was pretty easy, minus getting the grill out of the fascia.

JR

 

[ronemca]

Well - I have removed the fascia before, so that part is not a big deal. But it sounds like the grille removal is a big deal.

But is it one of those processes that is not necessarily difficult - just time-consuming(?)

Or is it actually difficult?

I wouldn't dare try it when it's -20°C (as it has been lately) but if it's just a matter of taking your time and being gentle - that I can do.

Eventually.

<shuffles off muttering AGAIN how immensely frustrating it is not to have access to an indoor work space>

 

[ronemca]

Many thanks! :cheers:

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

It's not difficult, as in, I'm removing the top half of my engine to install a supercharger, or I'm trying to fit long tube headers, it's just frustrating. The clips are super tight, and if you're not careful, you'll end up removing one clip, pushing in the wrong spot to remove the next, and snapping the first back into the grill.

My advice would be to remove the front fascia, and bring it inside. Let it warm up so that the plastic is easier to work with, and will be less brittle. Take your time, and be careful.

JR

 

[ronemca]

Understood. Yes - I acknowledge that it would be risky to try it when it's freezing cold (and therefore brittle) But I think I have a little leftover patience in a jar in my tool box...so I will try that and see what happens!

 

[BRYN@N4SM]

Some good advice above in removing the bumper and bringing it inside so the tabs aren't brittle from the cold. Just gonna throw this out there cuz I've done it...

if you do break the tabs on the pony just go get some JB Weld epoxy. Loctite makes it too I believe. You won't need much and the bond will be super strong. Might be hard to remove it after it's bonded though so be sure it's painted or finished how you want it

 

[UnbridledPony]

I recently replaced my grille with the custom car grill kit. Looks killer. Removing the fascia isn't as scary as some make it seem. Watch some vids on YouTube, and take your time. Once the fascia is off the factory grille takes some wrestling.

Sponsored