Weaved Mesh installed ("CDC MESH")

[Alax7]

I finally ordered a roll of weave mesh that looks like the cdc mesh.I went with the mesh that is slightly smaller in wire diameter than the real cdc mesh. It was easy to cut and I even used small wire cutters to cut the wire in more detail in the final fitting steps, a little harder with the wire cutters but it was for precision. It was hard to get the mesh to fit with the cdc surround because of the flexibility of this mesh since it's thinner. The real cdc mesh I have is a little thicker and does not move or flex back and forth. I was planning on buying some of this to put a new mesh on my cdc grille surround but that didn't work too well, maybe with more patience, but it would probably work better if I went with the thicker mesh.

I also installed a piece of this mesh on a gen2 grille and it was easy and it fit great.
For those gen1 guys that wanted to do this, looks like you can't. It works with a gen2 grille because the surround is one piece top and bottom. Gen1 grilles only have a top part and there is no place to attach the mesh to the bottom surround like their is on a gen2 grille.


GEN1

GEN2

If anybody wants a piece of mesh to make your own PM me, I have a lot since they would only sell big rolls of the mesh. 25 a piece plus shipping, big enough to make a top or bottom piece grille.

Since It did not work well for my cdc surround, I will most likely buy a roll of the slightly thicker wire mesh to use with my cdc surrround. I'll be selling the rest of that one too so if you want the thicker mesh instead you can wait for that one, but that's later on, I have some things ahead on my list.


Here are some pics. The grille is chrome and should look a lot better with it color matched and this mesh on it. I was thinking of selling this grille since I have the cdc one but I think I might keep it and color match to see how it looks.



I used quick steel, similar to JB weld but dries faster, to attach the mesh on the back of the grille. It worked out great.

Finished product, I think it came out great with a gen2 surround. It attaches really close to the surround since it's glued on there

Weaved Mesh on CDC surround. Looks ok, but I like the thicker one better with this surround.

CDC mesh

For those who dont think it's weaved, it is weaved

Should look a lot better color matched

 

[bearsfan39]

looks great, you always do outstanding work, and i actually like how it looks with the chrome but it may look even better color matched

 

[HyeLifeLS]

Looks good man

 

[De-marko]

Great work!

 

[M4rk]

I think it looks perfect as is, in chrome.

 

[kcam67]

Hey Alax, didn't you have a Mclaren grille before this?

 

[Missing Linc']

Did you paint the hood black? As in the area behind the grill? Just wondering because when I was looking at making my own grill, once the waterfall was removed, parts of the hood were showing.

+1 on how good it looks and your patience. You say you have a whole roll of this stuff? I just repainted the waterfall on mine but I might buy another and send it over to you.

 

[lloydrage]

looks good, would look best colored match

best grill I have ever seen is Lou's, hands down

 

[1LoudLS]

Did you paint the hood black? As in the area behind the grill?

yea you really should paint behind the grill, it always looks funny if you dont IMHO

 

[Lincoln Luebbe]

Alax, the new mesh grille looks great!
I must say though with your color, like you were saying, if you color matched the grille surround it would be 10X better.
Any plans on lthe lower portion?

 

[pektel]

Looks great, dude. I second the painting the hood behind the grille area black. I had the shop do that when they painted my hood/mclaren.

edit: looks like it's already painted. The white we are seeing is the bumper cover I think. You'd normally never notice that.

 

[605RezlifeLS]

I need one of those alax, how much? looks like ima have to buy a gen 2 grille.

 

[Andrizzle]

Nice job. Looks like once the surround is white, it will all tie together nicely!

And yea didnt you have a mclaren? I am confused as to which you are going to use. Seems like you are collecting grills!

 

[djknowledge]

color match that son of a b*tch...

 

[stallone 81]

great job i like the chrome better it would look sick color matched though

 

[Lito Ls]

that shii looks cleannn!!!!!!

 

[Alax7]

Thanks guys!

Hey Alax, didn't you have a Mclaren grille before this?

Yeah, I still do, haven't used it because it's silver birch. I'll be color matching all 3 grilles this summer so I'll finally be able to use the mclaren

Did you paint the hood black? As in the area behind the grill? Just wondering because when I was looking at making my own grill, once the waterfall was removed, parts of the hood were showing.

+1 on how good it looks and your patience. You say you have a whole roll of this stuff? I just repainted the waterfall on mine but I might buy another and send it over to you.

I painted the ceter piece behind the grille because it was the only thing that would show with the cdc grille. The gen2 surround covered less off the lower part so I just put electrical tape this time to take pics with the gen2 grille I did here. I'll probably just paint that whole area behind the grille soon, you can see it anyways.

On this picture, the white you see the where the temp sensor goes, I removed the black cover when I took off the lights last week but forgot to put it back on so there is no need to paint that since the cover is already black.

Oh and yeah I have a lot of it, a whole roll

I think it looks perfect as is, in chrome.

The grille itself looks real nice in chrome, but it just doesn't go on my white ls, maybe on a black one. In the picture that says finished product, the grille looks so clean!

Alax, the new mesh grille looks great!
I must say though with your color, like you were saying, if you color matched the grille surround it would be 10X better.
Any plans on lthe lower portion?

Thanks. +1 on the color matching.

I am going to try to make one for the lower grille, but with this thiner mesh, it might be hard since it wont stay in place like the thicker cdc mesh. It might have to be mounted behind the lower grille bars, or I'll have to rig something up to install in front of them.

Nice job. Looks like once the surround is white, it will all tie together nicely!

And yea didnt you have a mclaren? I am confused as to which you are going to use. Seems like you are collecting grills!

Thanks! I still have the mclaren, I wasn't trying to collect grilles, but looks like it turned out that way. I just need an gen1 and gen2 lse grille to have all the grilles, not including the ebay ones. I almost bought an lse grille after seeing how nice your ls looked with one, I restrained myself though

 

[KD00LS]

You did a really, really nice job on that grill. I'm not sure how it'd look, but you might consider painting that center mesh the pearl white color of your car. That might be cool/unique too, but definitely a hit or miss.

 

[n8bachelor]

Did you have to use a 2 piece 2nd gen grill or did you cut the black waterfall out?

I'd love to do this with my black 2nd gen but I am fairly certain I have a one piece grill.

 

[05 LS8]

Looks nice.

 

[trifelife]

Looks real smooth. Alax7 I can see you serving up grille and headlight combos soon! LS mail order makeovers lol

 

[Alax7]

You did a really, really nice job on that grill. I'm not sure how it'd look, but you might consider painting that center mesh the pearl white color of your car. That might be cool/unique too, but definitely a hit or miss.

That would be an interesting one, I do like how the mesh shines in the sun light so I dont think I'd paint that.

Did you have to use a 2 piece 2nd gen grill or did you cut the black waterfall out?

I'd love to do this with my black 2nd gen but I am fairly certain I have a one piece grill.

How do you know it's a one piece? Should be a 2 piece, you just have to pull it apart. The lower part of the surround has clips that are glued into the back side of the waterfall, just cut the top of the glue off with a utility knife or something to be able to pull the clip that is glued on their out.

Looks real smooth. Alax7 I can see you serving up grille and headlight combos soon! LS mail order makeovers lol

Thanks

Thats not a bad idea

 

[Andrizzle]

Alax will be able to quit work and drop out of school with all this...

Now make us a DIY cluster glow change!

 

[Alax7]

lol.

Just stuff to keep me busy over the summer. I enjoy doing this, dont really do it for the money, I paid 260 shipped for the roll of mesh just to try it out, will get maybe 3 ppl tops who buy pieces, so I spent 200 just to see how the mesh would look, although the money that wouldn't hurt

 

[trifelife]

Have you looked into perforated metal or anything like that to get some McLaren type grilles going? I bet those would be in demand. I'd buy one. Tired of searching for a real one.