Today's project was installing my new carbon wrapped grille with new mesh and emblem to flow a lot more air. I was so happy that I did not have to remove the front bumper to do it. The bottom nuts are a pretty tough to get to, but not impossible without taking off the bumper.


Original grille is out




Here you can see the new Mishimoto radiator and some of the lines for the oil cooler.




I also took the opportunity to reposition the temp sensor away from the hot oil lines so hopefully it will be more accurate now. Anyone know what this other plug is for?




Oil cooler




I also had a Stillen splash shield I was planning to install, but you can see it is about 2 1/2" short on each side to work with the Z1 filters. I called Stillen to return it and I almost forgot what a condescending ***** Kenny is.
Wow, did he not want me to return that kit. By the way, they charge $85 for a plastic "splash shield" and a handful of nuts and bolts?!?




Here is the new grille vs. the old grille. It is amazing how much more air will get through the mesh compared to the factory grille. Hopefully, that will help with coolant temps on track.




Here is the new grille installed. It ties in nicely with the other carbon fiber accents.

 

Wow, that grille came out so-o-o much better than I thought it would. No offense, but projects like this can so easily go bad and become a hack job. But not this one, I think you nailed it.

Congrats on a great job!

Man, I really hate that black tape on the bottom of your front bumper. Looks so in-artful below that beautiful grille. Come on, man.

 

That grille is amazing

 

I completely agree! I honestly wouldn't mind having one like that for my car. It looks that good

 

Nice look man

 

Looks great!

 

Performance wise this does nothing but if you were to black the chrome in your headlights all of this will come together smoothly but damn big fan of your car keep going and good luck at the track!

 

Thanks for the comments guys! It's funny how something that just looks different can generate such a reaction compared to spending way more money on gears, radiator, motor mounts, etc. that actually do something.

I agree. This project would have been very easy to screw up in a number of different ways, but I took my time to do it right and it turned out well.

The wrap on the bumper is the same as on the grille. It looks just like a carbon chin spoiler in person. It's funny how many people at work have come up to me and asked me when I got the carbon chin spoiler. No one has figured out yet that it is a wrap. I think it is difficult to capture the look of the wrap on the bumper in a picture- kind of like how the grille wrap looks very different in the close up pic compared to the one installed.

Thanks! Intake temps dropped noticeably, but you are curiously right about coolant temps. Maybe it will be more stable at higher temps? Strange since it appears to flow almost twice as much air as stock. Makes me rethink vents in the hood.

I thought about the headlights, but it would be timely & expensive and I really don't want to screw with taking the lights apart and worrying about moisture getting inside. Fortunately, it seems to come together with the fog surrounds and the emblem in person.

 

Very nice view from the front and a nice way to compliment that intake. Too bad about Stillen experience, but you're keeping the front plate frame ???

Kudos for keeping this build onward and upward, such a purposeful build that is a good template for others to replicate.

 

Did you at least go with some dry bags as a stop gap until you figure out a shield solution? I have K&N’s on mine with zero issue through some hard rains.

 

The grille came out great

+1 I think the plate frame is too busy with the Stillen logo and script on it. A plain black or carbon plate frame would look better.

 

I was going to say this about the plate frame, but was already on a crusade about that random bumper wrap. Anyway, I also think he should ditch the frame for something clean & simple.

None of this takes away from his grille project. That was pretty cool.

 

Haha good point! I guess that is one of those things that you are so used to seeing that after a while you don't even think about it.

Anyway, I still like their parts, but I could do without talking to Kenny again. Kind of like working with Z1- a couple of the guys really know their stuff and Jon seems like a good guy when you can get him on the phone, but forget about doing a remote tune with the guy unless you have the better part of a year to waste.

No and it rained quite a bit today. But I ran some errands through town on the way home so not quite the same wind speeds as the highway.

I talked to Outerwares who makes water resistant covers for the filters and plans to custom make a set for me.

 

A+ on the grill. Looks real good.

 

Wow looks great.

If ya got any handy, shots with different angles and lighting would be much appreciated