Front grille on mk1

[pbirkett]

Is it true that the Mk1 as standard does not come with a grille in the bit under the registration plate?

Mine had one, a silver one, but it looks gash, so I took it out. Looks much better now for me. But am I risking damage by not having one. A lad at work reckons it might. If I put it back in, it'd have to be done in black, silver just looks gash.

[Allandwf]

Yep, I'm led to believe it didn't have one either.

[OnlyMX5ives]

None as std.

I never use my aircon so view its 'rad' as my rad protector.

You'd be pretty unlucky to get a damaged rad but its not unheard of.

[MX-5 Lazza]

As Mark says, no MX5 was ever fitted with a grille as standard.

[pbirkett]

I'll leave it off then, cheers

[MX-5 Lazza]

I have one fitted but I have a large & expensive TDR Intercooler to protect

[johnnyboy666]

If you leave it off you will end up with half a rad' after awhile. Mk2 mr2s are the same, there is no protection for the rad' and stones etc.. evetually remove all the fins from the lower half. Worth keeping it on or painting black I say.

[Jonny671]

MX-5 Lazza said:

As Mark says, no MX5 was ever fitted with a grille as standard.

Please tell that to the customer that accused me of taking their grille off their car because their sure that there was one there before.

Funnily enough they didn't have any mounting brackets either, and when I showed them another MX-5.. Apparently that one was stolen too.

The Lockwood ones are most common to fit to MX1/2.

[pbirkett]

johnnyboy666 said:

Worth keeping it on or painting black I say.

If I were to spray it black, can I just get a tin of spray paint and spray it straight on, or would it need any prep work first?

[cheshire_cat]

pbirkett said:

johnnyboy666 said:

Worth keeping it on or painting black I say.

If I were to spray it black, can I just get a tin of spray paint and spray it straight on, or would it need any prep work first?

I sprayed mine black, looks much better and been fine for months.

[J-Tuner]

You do need that grill if you value your radiator - mines already too far gone due to this and i am planning on fitting a new rad and a grille at the same time. MX5Parts do a black version of the same grille that should do the trick

[pbirkett]

I think I'd rather just spray the one I have black.

Soooo... can I just spray it after a clean or do I need to sand it down first?

[snotrag]

Clean it with panel wipe/solvents.

Grey primer, two coats.

Satin black, 3 or 4 coats. Build up slowly, work in a warm environment, make sure your paitns warm. Easy peasy.

[pbirkett]

snotrag said:

Clean it with panel wipe/solvents.

Grey primer, two coats.

Satin black, 3 or 4 coats. Build up slowly, work in a warm environment, make sure your paitns warm. Easy peasy.

Cheers sir