Honeycomb Grill Installation, how to?

[camsam77]

Hello to All,

I purchased a original honeycomb grill from someone who parted out their Fiat 124. I am trying to figure out how to now install it on my 1977 124 Spider. I called Midwest Bayless as they had a similar one for sale but they said it does not fit my model year. Has anyone installed one successfully on a similar model to mine? If so, can you share what the easiest way to access and remove the old one is and install the honeycomb version?

Thanks in advance!

Cam

[vandor]

There is an L shaped sheetmetal piece that bolt to the top of the grille, and in turn bolts to the bottom of the upper radiator support. Do you have this? We have some new ones.
There should be 2 tabs at the bottom that go under the lower chrome trim mounting holes.

[amawds]

You're going to need to cut the bottom most row of metal off the bottom. Then you'll likely need to trim away additional metal until it fits properly. The later models have some additional ducting around the radiator that fouls on the grill so it isn't a drop in replacement. I pulled from my '71 parts car and am installing it in my '80. Just match it up to the stock grill out of your car if you have it and you'll see what I mean.

[camsam77]

Thanks for the replies. I was afraid that cutting would be required... I will see how it goes.

[azruss]

You can switch to the early style grill surround and can save all the cutting. The early style did not have the hood piece. I put a 71 expanded metal grill in my 80 with the early surround and didnt have to do any cutting.

[vandor]

>The later models have some additional ducting around the radiator

His '77 does not, only some Spider 2000s have that.

[amawds]

>The later models have some additional ducting around the radiator

His '77 does not, only some Spider 2000s have that.

My '76 does, as does my '80 carb'd model. Both have more ducting than the '71 parts car it came from, however the '80 definitely has more of it.

[vandor]

I'd be curious to know what the '76 has. The only thing I remember is that the holes next to the radiator were no longer punched open, ie. the panels were close with no holes at all.
Thanks,