Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

I'm going to install protective mesh over my oil coolers and radiator. I can't decide if I should go buy a roll of mesh from the home improvement center and do it myself, or get something like the Racing Beat set (and just install it myself).

Looks like either way, the nose is coming off and I'd better set aside the better part of the day to do it.

Advice? Opinions either way?

pussywillow1972

I got the racing beat set after a rock took out my A/C condenser. Best $100 I've spent on the car. It took me about an hour to install them. Very easy to do and they came with very good instructions. That would be my vote.

EDZRIDE

iTrader: (1)

Go with the Racing Beat screens>

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

^Only an hour, taking off the nose included? That's pretty convincing.

pussywillow1972

Yup. Taking the nose off was a piece of cake. The only problem I ran into was disconnecting the side marker lights. I couldn't unclip them easily with my big mitts.

Chris

iTrader: (10)

well a huge sheet of mesh costs $5.00 you have to remove the bumper either way... I dont see how you cant decide

dmc27

^ yup. and the "hardware cloth" has similar sized holes as the RB screens. Less cutting, painting (optional) and guess work getting the RB screens seems like the only upside. Cheaper by far to just hit the hardware store (Lowe's had the 'hardware cloth' in the outdoor/garden dept.)

IIRC, RB has the instructions for the screens as a download.


Edit: Yup. There's a link at the bottom of this page for the PDF instructions. It's only one page, so that should give you some idea how easy the process is.

onephatguy

I have the screens from RX8strakes.com and I think you can do it cheaper by yourself with better results. And it took about an hour.

Mazurfer

Spend some of that old money and get the Racing Beats. Install is about 20 minutes tops if you've taken the bumper off before, and 30 minutes if you haven't. They have rubber around the outside of the screens and they just slide right in. I did the radiator screen at the same time and both were a piece of cake.


Dave

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

I can take off the bumper in 10 mins I've done it so many times (at least once every two weeks) that I can do it with my eyes closed

Mazurfer

Ain't that the truth! I've had it off so many times it's ridiculous! First time I did it though I was nervous! Seems like you are taking the whole car apart, and then after the first time it's like "No big deal" at all.

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

LOL! Exactly how I felt the first time. There's basically only four screws on top (in the engine bay) and buncha gromlets to remove. It's that easy

Ben98gs

I am thinking about doing this, but I am going to do my own... I would hate to pay $100 for $5 worth of materials. Maybe that is just me though

Mazurfer

Either way...it's all good........the reason is obviously to protect the coolers, so it doesn't matter. Yeah, I could've done it for cheap and had it look good, but just not the path I chose to take.

Ben98gs

I agree... if it was more "reasonably" priced I would definitely probably pay a little extra for the convenience. But most I would be willing to pay for something like that is probably $40-50. But then again, I am cheap

dmc27

It's not even close to being cheap when the markup is that high! Cheap is saying no to $10 screens cuz you can get them for $8. Not paying a 90% markup is smart.

That's my story and I"m sticking to it.

Plus I will have ~ 90% of the roll of wire left to use for other things - like keeping my effin cats the hell away from the plants that need to come inside for the winter.

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

My boss has a racing Porsche and he uses a stailess steel mesh in all the new noses I make for his car. If I went "home brew" I'd lean toward the stainless mesh over the galvanized.

Those RB screens have a nice finished look that can't hurt the resale value of the car, not that I'd ever consider selling!

The car is about to go into winter storage so I'll have plenty of time to decide, as well as work on it.

dmc27

Did mine yesterday (finally) - do it yourself. It's ridiculously easy.

reaper1

I paid the hundred , but if I was to do it again I would do the Lowes or Home Depot one . Same crap and much cheaper. Once you take the front nose off you just measure and cut the size you need and screw them on . Took me about an hour .

zerobio

I'm also going to get the racing beat ones and have RPM install them (I'm an idiot when it comes to doing stuff myself ... but I did my own clears!). But do they rust or anything?

dmc27

Do it yourself. Regardless of whether you buy the screens or not. Takes an hour (ish) and is very easy. If you were able to follow the instructions and put the corners on w/o any trouble, you can do the same for screens. (side note: had my Dad help me since he's got a garage. He refused to detach the bumper on each side and pop it back into place after b/c he didn't want to be responsible for any problems )

How much are they going to charge you to install?

Wire mesh = ~$10
Cut it, paint it (if you want) and spend an hour doing it. The satisfaction of the DIY is priceless, and it saves a couple hundred that can be used elsewhere.

New Yorker

I vote for the RB screens. When they arrived I was pleasantly surprised at the level of quality; I was expecting simple, kinda cheap-looking functional screens, but the quality of the screens, the rubber borders, and the way they simply slid right in was very impressive. Installed, they look impressive. Like something you'd find on a more expensive car.

My only concern is, are they restricting too much air and compromising the performance of the oil coolers?

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

I got the racing beat set Before a rock took out my A/C condenser. Concur, easy DIY.

Uncivilizedracer

I say do it yourself and brand a your own name for the screen protectors - i did mine and it took a rock like a champ - no regrets

dmc27

Interesting. Price check, please.

Link to MazSport listing for screens.