PO Had Cowl grill issues???

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LunaticTaskbar

PO Had Cowl grill issues???

Post by LunaticTaskbar »

Hi, I have decided to get to changing the cowl grill with a different mesh. Sadly after a lot of help from a board member the shipping for the original cowl mesh just wasnt viable.

Anyway I took it apart last night to be met with a wonderful ingenious method of application.

Now my question is this:

How do I get rid of the PO workmanship?

Contrary to how the pictures look, I do not believe that it is indeed what it looks like, ie dog poop and hay, but I think its actually Fiberglas.

Any thoughts on how to remove this endearing piece of customization?

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toplessexpat
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Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
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Re: PO Had Cowl grill issues???

Post by toplessexpat »

Do you want to keep the original wire or not? If not, then it looks brittle enough to pull / sand away. If you do, then have you tried alcohol? Methylated Spirits / White Spirit / Ethanol should dissolve the glues and it'll just come away. The mesh itself looks like something you could get from Home Depot...
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
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BEEK
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: PO Had Cowl grill issues???

Post by BEEK »

the original cowl grill is a plastic piece, actually 2 of them clipped together, if you need anything im sure someone here has it as do i
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
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toplessexpat
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
Location: Houston, TX

Re: PO Had Cowl grill issues???

Post by toplessexpat »

BEEK wrote:the original cowl grill is a plastic piece
... an excellent point - I meant the "original from the PO" ;)
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
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LunaticTaskbar

Re: PO Had Cowl grill issues???

Post by LunaticTaskbar »

Hi all. I couldn't get back on the Forum yesterday. I stupidly changed my email and password. Which deactivated my account. It's now all good again.

I ended up literally chiseling the previous, lets call it adhesive off then made a template with cardboard. Test fitted for size made minor adjustments for the washer jets and wiper spindles. Then cut the mesh I had. I do not have the original piece. Then reassembled. IMHO it looks infinitely better than what adorned it before.

Then removed the front grill. Cleaned and painted. Re-installed.

Pictures to follow.

Ian
LunaticTaskbar

Re: PO Had Cowl grill issues???

Post by LunaticTaskbar »

The New Cowl Grill. in the rain.

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The Front grill painted.

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LunaticTaskbar

Re: PO Had Cowl grill issues???

Post by LunaticTaskbar »

toplessexpat wrote:Do you want to keep the original wire or not? If not, then it looks brittle enough to pull / sand away. If you do, then have you tried alcohol? Methylated Spirits / White Spirit / Ethanol should dissolve the glues and it'll just come away. The mesh itself looks like something you could get from Home Depot...
Hi Toplessexpat,

I did indeed try try your suggestion of alcohol, Methylated Spirits, White Spirit, Ethanol. But to be honest it wasn't as helpful as I had hoped, I just kept falling down, I couldn't see the grill, and when I accidentally did find the grill - I simply couldn't focus on it. After drinking that lot I had triple vision. :shock: :D
User avatar
toplessexpat
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
Location: Houston, TX

Re: PO Had Cowl grill issues???

Post by toplessexpat »

LunaticTaskbar wrote:
toplessexpat wrote:Do you want to keep the original wire or not? If not, then it looks brittle enough to pull / sand away. If you do, then have you tried alcohol? Methylated Spirits / White Spirit / Ethanol should dissolve the glues and it'll just come away. The mesh itself looks like something you could get from Home Depot...
Hi Toplessexpat,

I did indeed try try your suggestion of alcohol, Methylated Spirits, White Spirit, Ethanol. But to be honest it wasn't as helpful as I had hoped, I just kept falling down, I couldn't see the grill, and when I accidentally did find the grill - I simply couldn't focus on it. After drinking that lot I had triple vision. :shock: :D

Love it! Suggest next time not imbibing :)
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
www.mirafiori.com
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