HOW TO: Remove radiator grill

xenontech · Aug 18, 2009, 04:26 PM

Here in Australia, our evo x's number plates are in the middle. Its stupid as it blocks air to the intercooler and not to mention isn't as appealing as it is on the side.

So i'm ordering the side mounted plate bracket as well as the piece that my current plate and plate bracket sits on. But i'm wondering how to remove part #11 in the pic below so i can change it to the new one. If anyone could shed some light on this for me, it would be great!

DrasticK · Aug 19, 2009, 10:29 PM

Remove the bumper, unscrew every screw you see behind the bumper and clips (metal clips), remove #11. It's straight forward once you have the bumper off. I removed mine to take off the Mitsu diamonds.

xenontech · Aug 20, 2009, 02:10 AM

is there a way to remove number 11 without removing the whole front bar?

saytheb · Aug 20, 2009, 12:46 PM

To remove 11 is a royal pain in the ass. I've removed it twice now for painting (grey to flat black).
You need to remove the bumper to remove the grill piece, there are hidden screws that you WILL break if you don't.

Pieces 8 (partially) and 1 (fully) need to be removed. The bottom of 11 has 5 small flat metal clips that slide over plastic "clips" - these are honestly the hardest part as they are made to dig into the plastic as they raise up. I ended up bending them a bit to release the teeth on both sides (you'll see what I mean)

1 needs to be removed for 8 to be removed, 8 you need to remove all the screws from the top, down to 11 and 1 screw past it. When you pull 8 out, it has plastic tabs to lock it into the bumper (IIRC) - be careful with these. Once 8 is pulled back, 11 is snapped into 8 by 2 push-tabs on both the left and right side. They are a little tough to push, if you break them, you should be ok but try not to. Once you have 8 back farther, and the tabs released, you will see 2 screws, one on the left, and one on the right.. they are a challenge to remove, so if you don't have the front spoiler, I'd say remove 8 completely to save yourself some struggle.

11 has a few misc. screws in the center of it as well.. don't forget the screw behind the diamonds as well, it holds the top of 11 on.

Good luck!

xenontech · Aug 20, 2009, 02:58 PM

that REALLY does sound like a royal pain in the ass!

i just thought it could be easily removed from the top of the engine bay by first removing the top cover piece and also without removing the whole front bar. But in that case, its not worth it for me to relocate the number plate to the side.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated...

saytheb · Aug 20, 2009, 08:31 PM

I thought it would be a snap too!

It's MUCH easier the second time you do it, and if you follow what I typed up. Honestly the bumper and #1 are the most difficult parts (#1 since it's held in by some screws, and those screws also hold #3)

xenontech · Aug 23, 2009, 03:30 PM

i had a quick look from the top of the engine bay, and it looks impossible to remove without taking off the front bar.

so i guess i'm ending this project before i even get started...

thanks for you help guys...

DrasticK · Aug 27, 2009, 10:55 PM

Are you guys kidding? Taking off the bumper and unscrewing screws isn't a challenge for ANYONE. Try it, god damnit, it's just a few screws.