Modifying my b3's mask...

[rabbitgtdguy]

So...first off...the car receiving the modifications...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2800.jpg

Had a spare red mask around...still have another black one plus the one that is currently on the car and decided to start modifying it today...

I had initially started a b3 mask modification thread on the 'tex... if you want more info/background on the convo...check it out...some good, some bad...some rare, interesting stuff was showing up...

Here is the link...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2990625

But anyways...I started in on mine today after liking a couple of things I had seen in the thread, but also mixing in my own ideas...
Does look pretty nice debadged...i think it'd even look nice with the VW badge in there...

SO...I decided on the grill cut out... def. no insert as we mentioned before...probably really wouldn't flow with the lines of the b3 grill, etc. To much in the way of flat surfaces... at the moment my idea is running in between the rieger, the ABT grill (retaining the symbol) and vdubb3dan's (on 'tex) grill design with the bad look incorporated...

Some pics...first... I started out with this... my grill cut out...

From here...depending on what I think and what the opinion is out there, the symbol hole will be 'glassed and removed, hence debaging the grill...or retain the symbol. At the moment...i'm leaning towards retaining the symbol...

Here is after I cut.... w/o the symbol
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2820.jpg
Here is with the symbol
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2821.jpg

Still alot of smoothing on the edges to do...rounding, etc. I'll finish the exposed edges of the grill with some sort of trim...either black, or color matched. It'll be a rounded trim. The mesh for the grill will be similar to what others have used... either black, or silver...

So...after cutting that...I had to give myself some eyebrow options...as I'd like to try the bad look since I kinda like it...
Here are what I came up with so far... just templates to see what they look like made out of cardboard and construction paper...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2826.jpg
Top set is "A" less eyebrow.... set "B" on the bottom, more eyebrow...

So...I went to try them out on the car just to show you what they look like...or give an idea...

Set "A" mocked up on the car...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2817.jpg
Set"B" mocked up on the car...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2815.jpg

There you go... then, mocked them on the cut grill I did...with, and without the symbol...

Here is the modified grill, with set "A" eyebrows
With symbol...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2822.jpg
w/o symbol
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2823.jpg

Modified grill with the set "B" eyebrows...
With symbol...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2824.jpg
w/o symbol
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2825.jpg

So...options...options... whats anyone think? I'm kinda leaning towards the "less eyebrow" "A" style, and keeping the symbol... but thought I'd post what I did and see what any thoughts where...

only option not posted is the modified grill but completely debadged...but i can go that way...

I can go...

Set "A" eyebrows w/ symbol....
Set "A" eyebrows w/o symbol (hole will be removed/filled to debadge)
or
Set "B" eyebrows w/ symbol....
Set "B" eyebrows w/o symbol... (same as above, filled, removed...)

or...entirely different set of eyebrows...no eyebrows, etc. etc.

Getting the grill cutout even was the most difficult part thus far...i think i have it centereted and balanced on each side almost perfect =) I've seen some that have been...umm... well, fill it in =)

Let me know what ya think... kinda enjoying this project and trying to vision the outcome...

Going to need to start on mTDI upgrades to the MK1 here soon, but the b3 is fun too!!!

Joe

[veedubboostn]

WOW man that looks great... I'm not a big fan of the stock B3 front, but that one looks amazing, and if I were you, I would do it de-badged... but you could just mock something up like you did for the eyelids, and not make it perminate until your sure what to do... thats IMHO. Oh yeah, can you paint the headlights too..?? I think that would look good too. Looks good either way, keep up the good work, and the pics coming


-Jay

[Master_Shake]

nice man. i never liked the aftermarket mesh grilles for B3's. and i love the hella lights :wink:

i've always liked the boser ones from this place http://www.flatoutperformance.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=FP&Category_Code=Vi6

[rabbitgtdguy]

Thanx for the comps...figuring out which eyelid and debadged vs. keeping the badge is the big thing right now... :)

Here was kinda the mixes of what I was thinking...
vdubb3dan's car from the 'tex...like the grill
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4215/09pr1.jpg

The ABT B3 grill
http://i14.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/82/20/40a5_1.JPG

if I could afford it....the reiger...but come on....400.00 for it?
http://www.rpiequipped.com/storeImages/R24001.jpg

thats what it'd look like debadged...and I kinda like the curve of his badlook too...but, I have the DE's...so...makes it a bit different, don't want to cover up any major parts of the beam...

Just looking for the best option with what I've done so far... thanks for the comps, keep the ideas/opinions coming!

Joe

[meatwad!!]

i would do "B" but a little bit more aggressive and make sure the ends go a little farther out to where the grill rounds off. and i think just deleteing the symbol would be cool.

this is making me want a wagon like that

[evolveVW]

its funny just how expensive the stupid grills are for these. Joe- where did you get this car? I almost bought a very similar car from MA but it turned out it had a salvage title. Good score on the DEs too, they are the only way to go.

[B4passatglx]

Debaged!

An Audi front end swap looks awesome on B3's. A lot of work though
http://theb3e.com/passatweb.jpg

[rabbitgtdguy]

its funny just how expensive the stupid grills are for these. Joe- where did you get this car? I almost bought a very similar car from MA but it turned out it had a salvage title. Good score on the DEs too, they are the only way to go.

Yeah...it is crazy on the prices for the grills...maybe its just because there isn't much out there for them? Don't know. If I did a full on kit, I'd def. do the rieger setup...its the nicest IMHO but at 4k for the entire kit (front lower valence, grill, side skirts, rear valence....) its just not worth it to me. At the most, I'll do a B4 front bumper...

I have the b3 -> RS look saved that you posted a pic from...i've looked at that as well. It is alot of work, does look cool though :)

As for the car... I got it in Sept I believe now, from a guy down in NJ. The car is all original.... 136k on it at the moment...solid body...a few dents and dings here but nothing major... It was an auto at one point in its life, but the PO swapped the car over to manual. Its been good to me thus far, even though a few of the things the PO said weren't wrong/was something else, etc. turned out to be untrue...but all and all...it was a good purchase. 2k for it. Its got the DE's that came on it (i have the OE lights downstairs as well), bilsteins on all four corners with nuespeed springs, ShockTherapy wires, new Bosch dizzy, etc.

I've replaced so far on it the passenger side axle and will need to do the d side axle. Something I didn't look at that much when I got it ...probably could have gotten an 100.00 knocked off it for the few things I've found. I'll need to do the front rotors here soon and want to install a solid mount on the rear pass side and up front as the rear one is GONE right now...thump thump. It does use a bit of coolant...but NO oil...so, the headgasket seeps some which will be resolved in the spring. PO told me when I bought it that it was the new heater core "burping" up coolant....that turned out not to be the case. Oh well...
Only other modifications I've done so far is fix the odd ball, PO flaws, etc. and installed a TT chip in the car.

Future...well, I got it because I liked the style of it, etc and thought it'd be the perfect utilitarian car that I wouldn't go overboard on tuning, etc. and could keep nice, daily driven...hopefully alive forever (no more than one car payment here...the jetta is enough, and I like the simplicity of "older").

Currently I'm working on rebuilding another 16v for it, with a 1.8 head, etc. "Superman" theme. If you've seen the TDI, I kinda like paint schemes, etc. for my motors...so thats how I do them. Also, I've asked on the 'tex about the feasibility of ethanol and the 16v, etc. and am currently deciding whether to keep this gas or do a TDI swap in it as well....mechanical of course and just pull the extra mpg that way. Still...nothing like a 16v , and a gasser for that matter...
Though...neck snapping torque in the b3 would be cool too. We'll see...gotta work with what I have for now.

On another note...bought some of the grill material today. Didn't find the trim I wanted, but I'll keep hunting. Want to see what it looks like with the emblem still in there (but it'd be black) but with the mesh install....just to see...

Joe

[RichB]

I like the longer wider eybrow look of the rieger... I don't like the two eyebrow choices you showed.

As to the logo or not.... hard for me to say, but I am leaning towards leaving the logo there.

In any case, it should be pretty sharp looking when done.

[rabbitgtdguy]

Well....did some more work on the grill today. Had to see how it'd look with the symbol still in there but with the grill cut out, etc. completely mocked up. I could put it on the car now if I wanted too....or, if I decide I want to further modify, I can easily rip whats on there off and work more on it =) eyebrows, etc...

Def. not a reiger, but I'm pretty satisfied with the first variation I have here...

Maybe I'll do a fit on the car tomorrow when its light and see what anyone things...

What do you think about the symbol in there.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2885.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2886.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2887.jpg

Joe

[veedubboostn]

I like how it looks, good job...

and if I was going to change it, I would maybe add some more grill/mesh all the way up to the top of where the emblem is. (do the whole circle around the emblem)

but diff. do the eyebrows IMO... it would look killer I think

either way, good job... and lets see some more pics... hehehe:smile:

cheers,
-Jay

[lotar_6]

great work! It looks good as is, but I'm with Jay... do the eyebrows. I think the emblem gives it a nose. Kinda like a smiley face w/ a nose. Is it the original emblem? It doesn't look like it fits there... kinda smaller than the opening.

[FusLit]

looks great man, I was toying with the idea of deleting the vw symbol but this looks sweet too!

-Todd

[rabbitgtdguy]

Thanks for the comments... I was thinking about bringing the mesh up as well...was kinda of a pain to get it to stay the way it is now...but, I might look to see if I can bring it up.

As for the symbol...yes, that is the original B3 symbol and its holder minus the two attachment stubs at the bottom of the holder which I removed. Its a first variation, so it'll be refined, but I might throw it on the car tomorrow and see what it looks like, etc.

As for the eybrows...i'll def be doing them...want to go for something more of the rieger look, and not cut off alot of beam. I've seen setups that are too agressive...and just go boser toooooo much... we'll see.

Pretty happy with the way it turned out in the first variation... maybe 10.00 into it at the moment...

Joe

[rabbitgtdguy]

Tried it on the car today...just to see how it looks, etc. Not sure to be honest, so pulling for some opinion. Might leave it on a few days to see how the mesh holds up with the epoxy, etc. against the road wind, etc. First variation... :) so can and will be easily messed with again for adjustments, additions and refinements...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2888.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2889.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2890.jpg

Joe

[veedubboostn]

looks even better on the car IMO

what I would do from here is see how the grill has a black border around it, and the outer eblem hole does not, maybe try to find some black door molding and put it there to make it all match, and then the eyebrows, and last enjoy it... just my .02 though..

good job,
-Jay

[Shiftn4Dubs]

Great Job! Looks Good! How did you cut it with a dremel drill thingy? I am drawing up some designs for the 86 GTI and looking for the right tools to use.

[rabbitgtdguy]

thanks for the comps... the eyebrows are def. going to be worked in...just trying to figure which ones i want and the best way to go about making molds for them, etc. As for the moulding, I see what your saying...def. something to look into.

Everyone thinkin leave the emblem in then? I like it in there as well...but want to find a way to blend it more and I think maybe the moulding would do that. Other thing I noticed, is maybe coming up with some sort of screening, maybe storm door screening to put behind the mask, so that when you look through you don't see as much of the core reinforcement than you do in those pics.

On the tools... well, to round the corners, I marked out my spots and used a drill on them...initially. Then. drew the template of the grill i wanted (almost just connecting the dots) and then used the jigsaw starting off in the drilled holes and cutting out the marked template (which i have downstairs if anyone wants to duplicate it... marks out really well, just sits in the empty emblem hole, etc. then you can trace it out pretty damn close). I cleaned up any bad corners, etc. with the dremel and took down high spots, etc. with the dremel.

The dremel will def. come in handy for the next step...doing the eyebrows...

Deciding between the eyebrows I did or trying to make something more rieger like in the eyebrow department.


Joe

[rabbitgtdguy]

Well...finally, have been working on the grille some more. tore all the "old" off and have started working in the eyebrows...

Shaped first with tin and "fastened" for temp with some perm-epoxy then did a couple layers of fiberglass. Started in on the body filler tonight to really start shaping things out and did a real "rough on" for it on the car... just to see what it looks like.

I decided against keeping the symbol in there and also...with the "trim" that I'm using around the grille opening, I may try and blend/feather it in with the filler to to make it look as if it is part of the entire piece...then color match it of course. We'll see on that...

Anyways...some pics. Mind you...haven't even started sanding tonight...
Finally some time though with grad classes over! Need to get the mk1 mTDI out though too here in the next few weeks!

A few pics

Pre fiberglass matte or filler

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2960.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2962.jpg

Fitting after fiberglass and first spot of filler (pre sanding, etc)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2965.jpg

Instead of removing all of the old headlight lines I'm going to try and leave some "depth" too the addition of the eyebrows, etc. and smoothing it into the grill so it looks a little bit more agressive rather than flat...

More to come...

Joe

[rabbitgtdguy]

Worked on the mask some more today...did alot of sanding...still more to do and finish feathering, etc. as well as taking up the d side of the actual grill opening itself...but a few pics...

sorry about the glare...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2967.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2969.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_2970.jpg

Def. going to color match the DE masks I think too that I'm going to get from another texer here... a bad slave cylinder set me back this week though...

Joe

[Shiftn4Dubs]

Wow that looks mean, looks great!

[FusLit]

Looking fantastic man, can't wait to see it in person!

-Todd

[lotar_6]

It looks mean! :icon_heh:

Great work!!! I can't wait to see it finished!

[rabbitgtdguy]

More work on the grill this last weekend here...ended up with being able to get a guide coat on the grill so that I can see where I need to finish things, rework them, etc.

Coming along though! Especially for a "work on it once every 5 weeks kind of deal!" Hard to find time with all the other vw's around =)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_3014.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_3015.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_3021.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/Passat%20Wagon/100_3023.jpg

Had the mTDI Rabbit and the Westy out today too for a good cleaning and just for a change of scenery in the driveway!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/joeallison_99/79%20Rabbit%20DD/100_3009.jpg

Hopefully finished here soon!