355 rear challenge grill - install

OK, I am following the instructions as laid out on www.the355.com . Maybe I'm slow. But I cannot figure out exactly where these two rivets are. I've taken off all the bolts I can see using the new grille as the guide. I've taken off the small parking brake light section as well. So just trying to figure out where these rivets are so I can drill them out, and get this done.

If anyone has pics of that area or can map it out, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Rorie

 

Here are some pics of what I have to work with. I've taken out the airboxes and had them refinished. So I have lots of room to work with.

The brake light is out. I think all the bolts are now out. Just where the heck are these rivets?

Thanks

Rorie
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I'm thinking maybe the 1995's didn't have rivets. I didn't have to drill any rivets when I swapped in my Challenge grill.

 

That's what I wonder.

I found this on the Clubscuderia website, and it shows the rivets and I don't recall seeing these there.
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+ 1

 

No rivets on 95s

 

That explains a lot. I was looking for something that was not there.

Thanks guys.

 

Hey Rorie ... I guess your '95 has no rivets.
Here's the rivets on my '97 that I replaced with screws for easier removal if I ever need to.
It holds the trim that holds the perforated brake light piece.
Good luck!
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Ahh. That's where it was.

I don't have any rivets there.

Thanks for that pic. That made me feel 100% better I was not missing something.

Rorie

 

Does anyone have a step by step install instruction? I can't access the article on www.the355.com - got an error message from the website.

 

Take a look at the drawing - its pretty easy as there are only 4 or 6 bolts fixing it to the body as I recall and the lower right is the difficult one - you may not have the two rivits (37)

 

Open engine lid, remove air filter boxes, cross over hose.

Drill out the two rivets at the left and right side of the upper grill. Remove the philip head screws on the top attaching the grill to the body, remove the upper grill exposing the fasteners holding the lower grill.

Remove the fasteners. 10mm socket.

Observe the mounting points of the Pro Sport challenge grill to see where the fasteners are, and find them on the car.

Reach to the back of the grill mounted on the car, to the outside of the brake light modules, feel around and find the 8mm nuts, remove them. Repeat on the other side of the car.

Remove the 8mm nuts from the middle section of the grill.

Remove the stock panel from the car.

Note that you have to swap the cavalino horse to the Challenge grill.
Note that you also have to cut a thick piece of electrician tape to use as gaskets at the very ends of the challenge grill which did not come with them.
Do use the new nuts and washers which did come with the prosport grill.

And, as the saying goes, assembly is the reverse of disassembly. 2 hours max.

 

Thanks.

 

There's actually 9 fasteners on the grill. Using a 1/4" ratchet set with extension would make taking the outermost bottom nuts off a lot easier.
You may want to put several layers of blue tape around the perimeter on the painted body areas before you start so that you don't accidentally scratch your paint. Also, I didn't have to remove my air filter boxes.
Good luck!
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having some trouble drilling out the rivets. Still not coming off - see attached pic. what am i doing wrong?
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You may need to go up one more size on drill bit. But before you do that, try grabbing what is left with needle nose pliers and rip it off. I just started with one size smaller bit than I thought I needed, and the next size took it right out. I was in there to replace my third brake light bulbs.

 

okay worked. the "hat" came off, but the trim is still on there tight.

 

John just keep pulling from one side then the other it will eventually come loose.

 

I just did mine today - took less than an hour. The rivets are no problem but to get the trim strip off you need to "punch" the rivets out and they will fall out onto the ground (I was worried they would go inside a panel and rattle forever but nope, fell right on the ground)

 

BTW - there is no need to remove any of the stuff in the above post, the air boxes and heat shield - just use a gear wrench on the 3 lower nuts and you are good.

 

got your text...left phone in the house.