I just got my SP grill in and I was surprised to see the center support beam rough and full of fiberglass fibers. This is a part that's partially noticable and I figured that it would be smooth. Is this how it's supposed to be? I'm going to paint it flat black anyways, but I hope it's not noticible through the grill. Also, it was advertised as primered and ready to paint, but it has a lot of rough and glossy spots that will take some time to prep for paint.

Test fit to be peformed later tonight. Wish me luck!

BTW, the grill it comes with HAS to be replaced. It was already chipped when I received it (and even RUSTED in spots)! I bought the matching set for the bumper and grill at www.customautomesh.com and it looks great.

 

Wow, that doesn't look right

 

Check to see if that support is smooth on the back-side. Maybe it was attached backwards.

As for the mesh, satin black looks great and gives some added protection from rust.

 

Yeah, the back of the support bar is smooth.

Man this sucks... how can you overlook something like this. This will have to go back! I wonder how much shipping to Hong Kong is?

 

and now you have to wait again, that really sucks.

 

Yeah, that sucks too. If you look at it closely, it's not even straight. I guess they just found some scrap fiberglass to fabricate that support beam and didn't care if they cut a straight line or not.

Note to self: No more replicas, please.

 

I have the same grille and had the body shop paint the mesh and the support black. You can't even see the support. I have pix at home. I can post some later if you would like.

 

Was yours rough on the side that was facing outward? Was the support beam cut straight?

Yeah, if you had some pics, that would make me feel better. Thanks!

 

Honestly, I didn't even notice if the support was rough or smooth. As long as the grille was in good condition, I was happy. Let me see if I can find a pic from when I first installed it.

EDIT: Here is a pic from the day I installed my SP Racing grille. I have a front lip now but besides that, my car looks the same. You can't even see the support bar if you paint it black and the mesh is painted black too.

 

You can either cut that center piece out like the guys do on the gialla's (I'm assuming you can on teh silvia since its a gialla rep) or you can easily fix that rough spot. Instead of shipping it all teh way back, you can either have your body guy smooth it or do it yourself. To do yourself pick up a very small amount of bondo n hardener. Apply it really thin and sand it down. It may require a few light coats. Do a final sand with 2000 grit sandpaper and you should be fine. Shouldn't take too long either.

 

Pic posted above. ^^^^^

 

Mine looked like that also. My body shop painted the support flat black and with the badge in place you can't even notice the support bar.

 

I just got mine from UPS today. Mines the same way although not nearly as bad. Taking it to a body shop tomorrow to have em smooth it out, paint everything, even the mesh and hope to have it installed on monday.

 

Cool. Let me know how it turns out!

Hey Hexxum. Do you notice much of a gap between the hood and your grill? Is it just the angle of the picture that makes it look like there's one?

 

Here's a thought...

If the top of the grill is secured by the stock mounting points and the bottom of the grill is attached to the bumper w/ 3M double-sided tape, is there much need for the middle support brace? Would it be reasonable to remove the brace and have upper support from the original mounts, and the bumper holding the bottom of the grill open. I know some have removed the brace without problems but is the brace only there for manufacturing purposes?

Thoughts? Comments? Experience?