Joe F

Chris,
Can't wait to see the final product.

MBMB

I got to Chris too late with this offer, but if anyone else wants to do what Chris is doing, drop me a line. The PO of my '89 GT cut the horizontal slats in the front bumper cover to install driving lights; it might be a perfect candidate for having the rest of the slats cut out. I'll trade (+/- cash) or sell.

PorKen

MBNB,

I didn't modify anything per-se, I just replaced the aluminum fins and plastic frames:

Chris Lockhart

OK, unfortunately I will have to finish tomorrow. A few minutes after my last post about finishing tonight, I had some unexpected company show up. Took quite awhile to get rid of them. Then I decided upon closer inspection, that the bumper needed more trimming. (sometimes it doesn't hurt to walk away for a few minutes.) It looked good before, but the sides of the bumper cover didn't meet properly with the spoiler. The extra trimming took care of that, and things are now symetrical. Also it increased the amount of paint touch up required to about 1/4" X 4", so it's still no big deal.

I'm glad that I took on this project, as there was lots of small stuff to be repaired and/or cleaned up, that I would not have been able to access. It's definitely been a fun and interesting project. I'll update tomorrow when I finish, and hopefully with pics.

GoRideSno

WellIiiiiibedam... I been to 3 Worlds Fairs and 2 goat ___kins and ain't never seen nutin like folk usin chiken war on a Posh. Beats all I ever seen.


Chris,
I lived in a remote town in south Georgia for 3 years during high school. I used to work out with a preacher. He looked like Germain Jackson. He would say "Why meEee?! Why did the lawd (Lord) choose me to lift these weights?" When asked if he were working out tomorrow his reply was "If de Good Load's willin and the rivas don' rise"

Andy K

ew928

Hi Chris,
Looking forward to the pics.
Will you be silk-screening stars into the new grill opening?

Check ebay for universal grill mesh kits like this one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=33645
I used 'grill mesh' as search term.
Got a roll off ebay last year but haven't had time to custom cut
and install yet. Looks like there's just enough room behind the
stock slats and the moveable vanes to install the mesh. I'm keeping the
'whatever it was designed to do' vanes for now.
And gloves might be the way to go. Them mesh wires got teeth.

Ernest (NYC)
88S4 Road Hoover

Steve Cattaneo

Chris,
The mesh will aide in cooling by preventing leaves and road debris from getting into and clogging the radiator fins. Most if not all of your modern cars have some type of mesh.

Chris Lockhart

'Nuther update (long):

The longer I was in there, the more stuff I found to fix!!!!!!! Not sure how many of you have really taken a good look at what all is behind there, but basically there is ALOT of black plastic. It's all used to properly duct the air into the rad. Well, mine was a mess!!!!!!!!! Cracked, broken and missing in a few spots, screws pulled through their designated holes, etc...... I decided that I WAS NOT going to half *** it, so I have been busy fixing EVERYTHING I can find. Lots of trimming, grinding, smoothing, riviting, sealing, patching, etc..... Got the area all spruced up and tight now. Looks 100% better, and there is no more rattling broken plastic!!!!!!! Also discovered that the clamp bolt on my A/C reciever/dryer was missing, so I replaced that. Then I went back and cleaned the whole area again.

Then I started on the tow eye. I decided that there might be an issue should I need to access the plug to install the tow eye. I went ahead and removed the plug, cleaned the threads out, and drilled a hole for some safety wire. Next I took the tow eye itself, and smoothed/buffed it with the grinder. (used Scotchbrite discs) Decided that while it looked good, the finish would never hold, so I decided to paint it. First I drilled a safety wire hole in the tow eye, then prepped it, and painted it yellow. (yellow is a good contrasting/complimentary color for the guards red, plus it makes it more visable, reducing the chance of busting a shin on it) In a little while I will install it, then lock it down with safety wire, so nobody can just unscrew it from the car and steal it. (not sure why they would want to, but you never know these days) When I install the mesh, I will leave a small hole for the tow eye.

As to the installation of the mesh, I have still not fully decided on how to mount it. I have 3 methods in mind, but for the cleanest install, I will need to fab some brackets at work this week, so it AGAIN, won't be done today. I really don't mind, as I want it to look as clean and professional as possible. (sometimes I'm too worried about finishing, and will shortcut things by using whatever I have on hand in the garage) I also really want to fabricate a piece of aluminum to span the gap between the aft end of the spoiler, and the front of the cars frame. It's a decreasing radius gap from the center out, with about 3" in the center and about 1.5" at the outboard ends. The big reason I want to put something in there, is because there is about a 1" height difference between the frame and the spoiler, with the spoiler being lower. It may not make any difference, but I would rather have a properly sized/shaped piece of sheetmetal screwed in position to prevent a mini air dam effect.

Even though it's not done it looks great, and the finished product should be a very clean install. Like I said, I'm trying to throttle myself back, so I can do this 100% correct. It should really turn heads when complete!!!!!!

Ernie, I actually thought of masking off a shark outline on the mesh and painting it speed yellow, so it's funny that you mentioned painting the stars on it. Also thought of painting a big row of sharp teeth on there, kinda like the Flying Tigers P-40's from WW2. It would really look wild in someone's rearview mirror, coming up from behind in attack mode with mouth open and teeth bared!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve, maybe now I can prevent the usual ton of leaves from accumulating under the radiator.

ew928

Actually found an internet store that sells plastic teeth for the ricer/Dodge neon crowd, Chris.
2 rows of plastic teeth to be mounted in their grill opening.
I'm not doing anything to obstruct the petite mouth of our 9-2-8's.
Drove home once and noticed coolant temp being 1/3 higher on the
coolant gauge than should be. Didn't panic as I knew exactly why the V8
was running warmer.
I had run into a sheet of paper flying across the road. Didn't see it in
the rearview.
When I got to parking garage, I went to the nose and the piece of
8 by 11 paper was still slapped across the right side of the intake.
Lose 1/3 cooling air and engine temp goes up.
Those Wiessach engineers must have spent hours in the windtunnel
working out exactly how many square cm's of intake to use.

Shark mouth on the nose of the Red White and Blue Shark will be
really cool. Great tool for assisting in clearing the left lane.
Tho I have noticed I would be invisible in my old Audi sedan, people
actually delay in entering the left lane in front of my shark or actually
slide into the right lane to let me through.

Ernest (NYC)
Bwaaaaaah-on Chris.
I'm hoping very hard that I make to SITM to witness the results.
Everyone book their rooms yet?

Chris Lockhart

Hey Ernie, I already booked my room for SITM. The Holiday Inn was almost full up. Look at the SITM thread from 2 or 3 days ago. I put the hotel phone number in there for reservations. I sure hope you make it this year.

As to the sharks teeth, I have decided that once I do a full fitment of the mesh, I will remove it for some "finishing" work. I plan to paint the mesh gloss black first, then lay out the teeth pattern and spray them white. That way they will really stand out. Should look pretty cool. Hopefully I'll be done including all paint touch-up by next weekend. It's really coming along well, even if it's taking longer than anticipated. Gotta do it right though. I finished with the tow eye, and installed (with anti-seize) and saftey wired it in. Looks good painted speed yellow. Talk to you later.

Chris Lockhart

Very interesting drive to work this morning with the new WIIIDE OPEN bumper. It was pretty cold here in S.C. this am, and watching the temp guage, the needle was about 2 needle widths lower than it usually reads in similar cold weather. We'll see how that bares out when it warms back up again mid-week.

Also, I fabbed the filler panel for the gap between the frame and spoiler. It's nice to have access to plenty of sheetmetal, a shear, and a brake. One of the perks of working for Lockheed Martin.

I showed the current results to a local lister, Glenn Faken, and he seemed genuinely impressed with how clean the "hole" in the bumper came out. It almost looks like the center section of an "S" with the center grill removed. Reminds me of the opening on a Shelby Cobra, only lower and not quite as oval. I can't wait to show off the finished product.

bcdavis

PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ew928

HI Chris,
Didn't hear it from me but I had been musing installing those
ricer/show car favorite Neon/LED glow strip on top and bottom
edge of the grill opening to give them teeth a nice shine at night.
Guess that's probably barely one step above Undercar Neon tubeys
on this list.
Hope to make it to SITM. A great gathering of some fine folks.
OK. I lied. I go to drool on the cars.
Maybe Dr. Scott will show up with a 4-door 928.
Ernest(NYC)

Tony

There's your teeth!(from another thread)

Chris Lockhart

Hey guys, here's another minor update (sorry if I'm getting on anyones nerves here, but I'm really into this mod):

Felt rough yesterday and this morning, so I took the day off. Decided to take the filler panel and do some trimming whilst watching the tube in the bedroom. First went out and took some more measurements. (measure twice, cut once rule applies here, especially when you are cutting away at your front bumper!!!!!!) Trimmed the filler panel, smoothed all the edges, rounded the corners, and test fit it a few times. Test, trim, test, trim, etc..... When I was finished, I got my wife to come out and look at it, just to have a second set of eyes. She paid me the BEST compliment ever. She said that if she hadn't seen me make the part, she would have sworn that it came on the car from the factory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW, that felt good to hear. (thanks honey) I don't want to install it yet, because I want to get some good pics of everything first.

BC, unfortunately I don't own a digital camera, so I've been at my neighbor's mercy. The one whose camera I usually use, can't find the power cord to charge up the battery, and (of course) the battery is dead. Her mother lives up the street, and will usually let me use her camera when I'm in a pinch, but she's out of town. Dangit!!!!!!!!! I promise though, that I will document everything well with pics before I put it all together permanently.

Ernie, I have thought about adding some lighting, just for the effect, but I just can't bring myself to do it. My GT (as you know) is already flirting with the "ricers" edge as it is, but the lights would put me full over into the "dark side". LOL.

Tony, JESUS now that's a Shark!!!!!!!!!! Scared me for a sec. Just imaging seeing that in your rear view. Mine may not be quite as intimidating as that, but it should be entertaining, and "reasonably" tasteful. The extra cooling air factor, plus the different look without the two slats could become a trend with those that don't mind changing things a little.