Hood Grilles

[ga307]

Not sure if im posting in the right place or not, but i just bought a pair of SC/T hood grilles for my grand am and was wondering if anyone knows how to get the original ones out, there seems to be some kind hard black sealer around the panels on the inside of the hood:???: any help would be great....

[tenspeed]

I have read that others have removed screws and used a Dremel to remove the stock grills. They say that there is an epoxy holding it in.

[Jchiasson]

I thought Shawn did a small write up on this before, can't find it using the search though.

[ga307]

well i managed to get the new grilles in i just used a utility knife and carefully cut into that black epoxy like stuff while gently prying them with a small screwdriver there was two small torx screws for each grille under that stuff but mine were rusted so badly they werent even doin anything, but thanks for the help anyhow..

[XshenanigansX]

i just bought the custom grand am grille inserts for my ram air hood from pfyc.... and theres no way for me to install them... they made the hood so you can't take off the original ones as in the picture:

http://www.stingerfiberglass.com/products/grand-am-air/10.jpg

I would have to cut my way through just to get to the grilles... blah

[Blackhawk]

Can't get it from the front while being careful?

[XshenanigansX]

how so?

[Blackhawk]

They're just solid where the grilles would go correct?

[XshenanigansX]

yeah its solid... no way to even try and take out the pre-installed mesh

http://www.stingerfiberglass.com/products/grand-am-air/tn/tn_12.jpg

you cant see it to well but thats the front of the hood, it has a black mesh which is put in before they sealed the bottom of the hood. I could possibly push in the black mesh till it breaks off, (possibly trapping it in the hood) and try to fit mine in but... it wont work...

not sure what u mean tho.. hmmm

[Blackhawk]

Get a dremel or high speed tool, a small saw may work if you're really careful, and cut it out. You can run a screw through it in the middle so that it doesn't fall into the hood. Or run two screws into it and cut it in half, then it takes even less time to get the pieces out.

[Gagt518]

Well that sucks

[tenspeed]

You could cut access holes/doors in the ducting.

There's some options if you do. You could leave the holes open. You could install hinges and have access doors. You could install a lip and hold it with screws. You could fiberglass it back into place after the grills are changed.

I've been thinking about getting into my SD hood to change the grills so I've been considering the options. I'd probably make doors or removable panels so I could get back in there in the future. I wouldn't want to leave the holes open because I want the duct to feed a cold air box for my future WAI.

[XshenanigansX]

You could cut access holes/doors in the ducting.

There's some options if you do. You could leave the holes open. You could install hinges and have access doors. You could install a lip and hold it with screws. You could fiberglass it back into place after the grills are changed.

I've been thinking about getting into my SD hood to change the grills so I've been considering the options. I'd probably make doors or removable panels so I could get back in there in the future. I wouldn't want to leave the holes open because I want the duct to feed a cold air box for my future WAI.

good idea jim :D any ideas of how? lol like judging by the picture i put above where would be the best place?:???: im really hesitant about cutting my new hood that cost me around 1,400 so far haha

[tenspeed]

I would try for a pair of doors on hinges. I drew the areas on the shot of your hood. First cut the red line then mount the hinges. Cut the other three sides of the opening. That way the doors are in perfect alignment. Mount some plastic or sheet metal around the inside of the opening and you can install some screws or pop rivets to hold the door in place. You should check to make sure you can get to the grill openings before you cut.

The other thing to ponder is the strength of the area around the hood latch. You don't want to weaken it. If it breaks, the hood ends up across the windshield at speed. I feel that the glass around the latch on my hood is sturdy enough to do it. I don't know how strong that area on the PYFC SC/T hood is. Consider that when you are determining the placement of the openings. Leave as much as possible uncut and reinforce the area if it seems weak after the cuts are made.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/tenspeed/Hoods/PFYCSC-thooddoors.jpg

[XshenanigansX]

awesome, thanks Jim, as soon as i get my hood back from the painters i'll see what i can do.

[Gagt518]

I would of done it before the hood got painted

[XshenanigansX]

I would of done it before the hood got painted

me too, but I just got my grille kit a day before i had to bring in my hood to get painted, plus i thought it'd be a simple unscrew the old grille screw in the new one like the Customgrandam.com grille instructions say, (didn't realize my hood is different)