Installing a billet grille

[ragtop]

I just bought a billet grille and it did not come with the instructions. Can someone tell me the proper way to remove the factory bumper insert on my 98 z28 with out trashing it?
Thanks

[badinfluence]

I would think it is impossible without removing the entire bumper

[SSTODD]

It's has metal clips holding the tabs attached to the black insert. I pulled mine out without removing the entire nose, but they are biting into the plastic pretty good. You can get your arm and hand behind from the bottom if you pop a couple of the button retainers loose from the belly. Do it when it's warm because the nose is very flexible. Also remember that behind the black insert it is body color and will show thru the billet unless you paint the area. The clips are across the top and bottom I think.

[GETGONE]

Grab the old one and yank. That's how SLP did it on the cars that got the SS grill. I pulled the one off my V6 but the top clips would not come off so I just cut them off and pulled it out. Otherwise you can try to see them from through the hood area. If you really don't want to risk damage, pull the nose and remove it that way. You're going to need to drill 4 holes to screw it into the nose anyways.

[streightfaced]

Corrected*** It was a Tom Henry car just screwed it directly into the black insert. Let me see if I can find that car. otherwise the proper way to get it off is take the nose off. I tried to put one back on but the nose must come off since their is the styrofoam impact cushion blocking access from either the engine compartment or the underside.

auction link where I got picture from: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...spagenameZWDVW

[WMCC Gary]

Either a berger or GMMG car just screwed it directly into the black insert......

Maybe somebody trying to clone a GMMG or Berger did that. You can trust me on this one NO GMMG or Berger car had the billet grill just screw to the factory insert. The Factory insert was always removed and the new grill installed.

[b.lee]

Grab the old one and yank. You're going to need to drill 4 holes to screw it into the nose anyways.

I didn't have to drill any holes.
My billet grill screwed in the same place as 4 holes that the original black insert was attached too.

Maybe I'm just lucky?

[Virtue]

didnt have to drill no holes either

[meissen]

Corrected*** It was a Tom Henry car just screwed it directly into the black insert. Let me see if I can find that car. otherwise the proper way to get it off is take the nose off. I tried to put one back on but the nose must come off since their is the styrofoam impact cushion blocking access from either the engine compartment or the underside.

auction link where I got picture from: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...spagenameZWDVW

It's hard to tell from that picture. I think, and hopefully someone with a 98+ can correct me, if you pull the stock black insert off that the bare grill behind it still says "Camaro" as it does in that picture.

[Virtue]

yes your right brian

alot of people rip the gay black cover off and leave it like that as well

[jakes_GSXR]

shenanigans

[GETGONE]

Where did you have holes already drilled? Did you not remove the stock black plastic? Unless the front plate drills that deeply into the nose, you shouldn't have holes. I didn't have a front plate mount so there were no holes.

[b.lee]

I my car didn't come with the black insert, someone had already ripped it out
And exactly where the black thing was held to the bumper, there are 4 holes.

The grill screwed right into those existing holes.

[GETGONE]

Somebody had a billet grill on your car before then. There are no holes in the center, only the holes around the outside where the stock grill clips go into.

[b.lee]

Yes, I bolted it to the holes around the outside. (not in the center were it says 'Camaro')

Our grills most likely have different mounting points.

These holes I speak of are square perfectly made holes for the stock black insert to clip/push into. Nothing a drill bit made.