I have a 70th anniversary being built this week. I ordered rocker guards, rock guards and front radiator guards. The dealership is installing. The rocker guards and rocker guards are being installed for less than $200 but the dealership wants $250 to install ACS Composite front radiator guards. They are supposedly a 30 minute install without having to remove any parts. This seem excessive to me but I wanted to see what others are paying? I plan to fly to Houston to pick the car up and drive it back. I'd like to have the guards installed prior to the drive back but I don't want to overpay. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

I did rocker extensions installed $500, and the radiator guards on each side $500 installed as well, during my build dealer installed. The radiator guards do need to have the front lower part of the splitter removed to have them installed. Both of these items were must haves for me, you won't regret having them. As far as the rock guards not sure what those are? Mud flaps? Did those too $295 installed. Mine is not 70th so yours might have more to it in the front end. My opinion- don't leave the dealer without any of these items.

 

To clarify, I am just talking labor costs. I have already paid for the actual trim pieces. I just want to know what people are paying in labor costs to install the radiator grill guards.

 

the museum charges 100 to put them in during PDI, and i got a 50$ discount on them for being a member.

so net install cost 50$ if bought at retail.

edit to add: this is for the front radiator guards.

 

The price included installation for my build- each item was $100 labor.

 

outdide if Chicago $400 for GM Guards and $150 to install

 

It took my dealership about 40 minutes to install Scrape Armor front guards on my wife's 70th htc when she got it

 

When you order them with your build, even though dealer installed, isn't installation included in the build price?

 

I ordered the car with the guards included on the order form, no extra charge. I did do R8C delivery and checked, guards were installed.

 

The car I am getting is someone else's build that they gave up to me. The radiator guards were one of the only things on my build that would have been different. So, these would be dealer installed parts that I have had delivered to them.

 

I spent less than $30 to do them myself. An aluminum screen door protector from Home Depot and a can of black paint. There was a pattern here at one time so I used that to cut them out.

 

Not from Home Depot but for a few more $s you get what many of us installed. It's from a company who have making Rad Guards for >10 years. Has aluminum mesh with openings as large as the "GM approved screens" if you want. For not much more than you paid get power coated black AND enough to cover all 4 openings NOT just the outer two openings. My install has zero ties showing, all edges covered by the OEM grill. Install in similar to the GM approved screens if you want no visible ties. And no 3M tape for a bracket- NOT NEEDED.

Member blaun had a post with patterns not only for the 4 front openings (not just the GM approved mesh two) BUT also the rear fender scoops.

Your car, your choice! Easy install.

You can pick the larger ~GM size opening OR what 90% of us installed that stops 1/2 the size bugs, 1/4 inch opening. I've had zero coolant temp increase in two NE SC 100F summer days.


Member blaun posted how to info for making the 4 front screens AND two for the rear fenders from the same $59 sheet. It you don't want to cut yourself, they sell precut for the C8. All 4 front OR just the two like the GM approved screens.


Member blaun posted patterns for the two rear fender scoops with How To Info.


My install with Black powered coded sheet (an extra $10.) My install was done like some others with NO ties showing, NO 3M tape etc. All ties and mesh edges are behind the OEM grill. and not visible. This is a PDF that has my and blaun's detail with may pics How To info: http://netwelding.com/CF_Splitter.pdf

 

GM said the damage is just cosmetic and the function will still be fine so I never got the guard, but the damage is getting more and more. Trying to do it on the cheap, will the following work? screen mesh curtain and fiberglass screen for windows for 7 to 10 bucks
https://www.walmart.com/ip/leaveform...rey/1273896523
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Saint-Gob...3&from=/search

I am just going to install over the grill and not behind it, and use zip ties. Should work?

 

^^^
Besides looking bad or "what my Dad would call a shoemaker job," why not do it right?

First typical window screen has less than 50% open area, i.e. blocking ~half the air. Look at the post above yours. I have a PDF that shows how many of us did with mesh designed for the purpose. It's a detailed 30+ How To pics and long captions: http://netwelding.com/CF_Splitter.pdf
You have a choice of a mesh, pne similar in opening to what GM approves. Company has been in the AC Condenser protection business and for >10 years. They quote an ~81% open area (not the 50% for window screen) OR what most of us used with 1/4 inch openings that has 77% open area. Lets in half the size bugs. In 3 NE SC summers zero increase in coolant temp on 100F days.

You'll also have enough to cover the center area for the $59 versus only the outer openings covered by the much more expensive GM Approved mesh.

I installed with no plastic ties showing about the same way to install the GM Approved ~$400 mesh. It's very rigid aluminum not cheap plastic. All cut edges and ties are hidden behind the OEM grill.


SIDEBAR: Origin "Shoemaker job.
Always wondered why my Dad (and others) would call shoddy looking work as a "shoemaker job." This is one possibility!

 

Purchased Custom Car Grilles. Dealership charged $120 for labor to install.

 

Ok looked into Custom Car Grilles as well as the helpful PDF by JerryU, Custom Car Grilles are on the top of my list to get.

The inner mesh are they needed? Did you guys also get the inner mesh?

Shipping for the precut 2 piece with USPS is 16 bucks for me, aren' they pretty light? Any discount code available?

 

I did the inner mesh but more for cosmetic reasons than anything else. If you don't have a Z51 they really aren't needed.

 

You got a Z51 right? and did the inner mesh for cosmetic reason. I got Z51 too I think I will skip the inner ones. Thanks for the post.

 

Yes, I have Z51. It is unlikely a rock would go throw that opening and strike the radiator. However the Z51 has brake ducts in that area so it is possible (but unlikely) for a rock to get directed into the brakes.

 

Percent exposted inside is small. Could get buy with just the outside if buying precut. If buying the sheet have more than enough for all 4.

SHIPPING COSTS
Shipping cost have increased significantly for my part time internet business. Cheapest padded envelop ~9" X 12" Priority Mail is like $11 to ship. Would cost me more to ship the screens USPS because of the size regardless of weight. Even more for UPS and FedEx.

I get upset at my shipping costs as in our rural area often use Amazon. Being a member get an $8 item shipped free to me by the post office. Some barely fit in our large mailbox at the street and others are left on the porch. Amazon gets special high volume rates and yea I pay an annual fee BUT they are delivering "stuff" several times a week. Heck just got two large LED lights for my garage ceiling today Sunday, shipped free to me! Box was big and left on our porch!

The vast majority of my $ sales are to large fabricators. Folks like John Deere, CAT, Harley Davidson and Tenneco for over 100 MIG welding robots each. That cost me nothing! My MO is to ask for their UPS Account number and then no charge from us. UPS picks up from the porch. Otherwise, my cost to ship their typical 50 lbs orders would be added to the invoice! In my prior life, when I retired 23 years ago, we were getting 70+% discounts from UPS, FedEx and DHL. BUT we were shopping a hundred million/year. All readily supply their shipping account number and for a number it's listed on their Purchase Order. For a small business don't have the volume to leverage large discounts.