Feeling quite chuffed with myself!

[greeny12]

It took around two hours, three broken fingernails, plenty of skin from my right thumb and a LOT of sweat and swearing, but I persevered and finally managed to right one of the more annoying little wrongs with my car... I now have a shiny new Trident to replace the old, corroded one!!!

Before:


After:


This also happens to represent the first time (other than changing bulbs or topping up oil) I have *ever* attempted significant home maintenance of a motor car. And the inspiration - not to mention the instructions - came from this forum, so thanks a million everybody!

And before anybody points it out, I considered chrome painting the grille while it was off but decided I actually preferred the dark matt look.

 

[safrane]

And so you should...nothing like a shiny prong to make your day

 

[Andyk]

Good work .......

 

[StuartW]

Well done, what a difference it will make once in-situ

 

[Contigo]

Can you elaborate how you got the old one off greeny? I will have to do this very job on the Mrs motor in the not too distant future.

 

[Mr.Cambio]

if you want to get rid of the old, please send me a pm. I think i can refurbish it.

 

[greeny12]

Can you elaborate how you got the old one off greeny? I will have to do this very job on the Mrs motor in the not too distant future.

Sure - I got the grille off using the instructions provided by mchristyuk:

1) Take out the 4 screws along the top of the chrome surround.
2) Look through the bottom of the grille and you'll see 4 metal clips. Each clip has a post from the chrome surround going through into it.
3) Spray said clips liberally with WD40
4) Wiggle, push, pull.
5) Try lifting the clips a little with a small screwdriver through the grill to release the posts.
6) Pop!.. out comes the grille and surround.

Except I would say that number 6 did not give itself up without a big fight!! Once I'd got it moving I actually found that pushing down at the back of the grille where the bullets went through the clips helped to get it out, because the catching seemed to be more at the top than the bottom (there are clips above and below). Wear strong gloves if you don't want the grille edge to rip your hands to pieces. And proper masking is an absolute must, all the way round the surrounding paintwork but especially across the top.

Once the grille was out it was just a matter of unscrewing the old trident and screwing the new one into place. The grille went back on a bloody sight easier than it came off, I can tell you!

 

[greeny12]

if you want to get rid of the old, please send me a pm. I think i can refurbish it.

Oh no, I'm going to keep it - it would be a bit like giving away my wisdom teeth!!

 

[greeny12]

This pic shows the clips that the grille bullets pop into. It's getting them out through those first holes you see which provides the biggest trial:

 

[Mr.Cambio]

This pic shows the clips that the grille bullets pop into. It's getting them out through those first holes you see which provides the biggest trial:

It's a pain to have it removed. Did this a couple of years back.

 

[jluis]

Can the corroded trident be polished and chromed again or are they made of **** plastic?

 

[allandwf]

I did mine also, be careful not to catch paint. I didn't as was pre warned. Also grease all the fittings up prior to reassembly, to make it easier for the next time it may need done.

 

[Contigo]

This pic shows the clips that the grille bullets pop into. It's getting them out through those first holes you see which provides the biggest trial:

View attachment 28912

Oh dear I have had the grill out to do the Radiator and it never went back in the same again!

I can't believe there is no way of swapping the trident without removing the grill surround!!!!

 

[davy83]

i had my grill surround and the trident re-chromed by a restoration company and it worked a treat.

 

[jluis]

i had my grill surround and the trident re-chromed by a restoration company and it worked a treat.

Sounds like a winter project to me.
Contacts?
Do you have before/after pictures?

 

[Petbri]

Congratulations Greeny - you are an inspiration to those of us who are frightened to go near our car with a spanner and are afraid to admit it.

 

[Bilko]

Greeny...respect we all have to start somewhere ...and that trident looks perfect ...thanks for the input .

 

[davy83]

It took about a month i think and it was http://www.chromefix.co.uk/ they did a nice job.
Not sure if you can see it from this picture

Sounds like a winter project to me.
Contacts?
Do you have before/after pictures?

 

[jluis]

Looks nice and professional.
Was it very bad before?
I already have some bubbles in mine altough not as bad as the OP had