BlackBetty kit / DIY Midnight Grille - install/review - G35Driver

Aug 12, 2010 | 02:34 AM

eatsleepdrum

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From: Fort Worth

BlackBetty kit / DIY Midnight Grille - install/review

Wanted to post this in the local DFW forums as well due to too much TEXAS PRIDE over the years. Great job Jeremy! Everyone should have this kit!

What up y'all,
I've had the mod itch for a while now and finally with two days off in a row I've managed to get some work done!

First of all I want to give +100 props to Jeremy (BlackBetty) and his amazing product and service. If I remember correctly I sent him a pm at 3 in the morning, and he got back to my by 8am through e-mail! After me desperately wanting the product ASAP Jeremy managed to send it off on that day's shipment when he GOT HOME from a day off... what a great guy. I received the wires (4AWG carbon fiber wrap) within three days (only due to the weekend) and just installed them on my car. Pics are coming later on, but I just wanted first rant and rave about the quality and ease of installation about the BlackBetty Grounding Kit.
Check it out for yourselves:

Wires just opened - Wires ready for install.

Now here comes the easy installation, and following are pics of the specific grounding locations and before and after shots. All instructions were done from my iPhone off of GShack and G35Driver installation posts.

Intake Manifold Grounds

Final battery ground before zip-ties

Engine open, all zip-tied

Again, I can't give enough props to BlackBetty for the kit, and here's what I've noticed on my car: I always use tiptronic or paddle shifters and ALL of my gears shift much quicker now, especially 2->3, 3->4, and the most important 4 or 3 -> 2. I haven't noticed much volume increase on the Bose system, but can notice that everything is a little brighter. That or it's the placebo effect.
I am getting 3-4mpg better, but that could be because of the ECU reset as well. Overall, I believe the BB grounding kit was a great choice for a starter mod, and has definitely increased my driving excitement.

NOW, onto the grille:

I stalk G35driver all the time for new and exciting things to do to my ride, and the most intriguing one I saw lately was about "painting" a grille black. This DIY article introduced a product called Plasti Dip Spray (blue spraypaint looking bottle) which turns into a black rubberized coating once dried.
I was excited about this more than spraying it because of the fact I can literally "peel it off". I haven't tried this yet, but I know it's possible and can even re-apply coats if it gets damaged from debris and road crud.
Here are some pics of the install: Pretty self explanatory.
Before:

Bumper off

Grill out of bumper

First Coat

Back on with no emblem

I like it on much better

Much better lighting

I love the ding-resistant finish and the more aggressive approach. +1 to whoever made that first thread about PlastiDip spray! All in all it was a hot couple hours of work in the 105 degree sun - but totally worth it!
Hope this inspires someone to get the itch as well!

/rant
Sam

Last edited by eatsleepdrum; Aug 12, 2010 at 10:24 PM. Reason: img fix