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Brungeman Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2010 Posts: 187 Location: Pittsburgh
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:40 am Post subject: SA grille discussion |
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OK so a guy in our local club has a very negative opinion of the SA grill...
I on the other hand, have a very negative opinion of the square headlight's on my van...
He claims he has seen dozens broken... well, I have seen more than dozens of stock grills broken including the one on my 84
I think his only valid point is that there are less "mounting pins" on the SA grill... so if a user screwed up and neglected to correctly attatch all 3 he/she could lose the grill.
Is the SA grill a bad option? I have round headlight buckets to swap, what is the positive vs negative of running an SA grill over a stock round grill... I already know that at best the stock square headlighs even with relays suck!
what say you? |
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Zero419 Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2008 Posts: 2160 Location: PA
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:42 am Post subject: |
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I want one. _________________ 1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec |
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Brungeman Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2010 Posts: 187 Location: Pittsburgh
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:47 am Post subject: |
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hero419 wrote: |
I want one. |
me too!
I am leaning toward it actually... The club member I mentioned is very active and very vocal, so I want to have my reasons ready for when he says "But..." and I can fire right back! I am not trying to justify my actions to him, but more a friendly banter of sorts... |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6245 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:49 am Post subject: |
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Why care what someone else thinks? Get it if you like it, enjoy it, and let others look on in envy. _________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:03 am Post subject: |
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The plastic that the SA grill is made of and the reinforcing around the mounting areas is very thin.
What the "guy" is talking about is how quickly the areas will crack once mounted to your van.
I have seen hundereds of SA grills throughout the years...at least half or more are cracked.
I have sent back numerous brand new ones that are cracked from shipping.
Love the look, can't stand how flimsy they are!!! |
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Zero419 Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2008 Posts: 2160 Location: PA
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:13 am Post subject: |
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Maybe reinforce them.
Sucks that they want so much for something that is poor quality.
Supply and demand.
Stop buying them people!!!!
I want one cheap.
[/img] _________________ 1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec |
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SeattleDownhill Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2009 Posts: 131 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:28 am Post subject: |
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If anyone has a broken SA grill.... I'll take it off your hands. I got mine used and it was all busted up. So I want to use parts from another grill to fix mine. Will pay cash money!
As for whether or not to go with a SA Grill? I was stoked when I went with it. I got the high powered headlighs and relay setup and such and I absolutely love it. In combo with some Hella driving lights, I can see amazing in the dark! People i'm behind don't seem to like it even when I'm running only my low beams... My headlights are BRIGHT!!
The grills do crack, but my old square grill was cracked. It's a 2 year old van... I'm 6 months older than the van, I'm not bummed about the grill being cracked. I have more cracks in my bones over the years than my grill does... So though I do want to fix my busted up one, I would rather run a cracked SA setup with some bright ass lights, rather than a busted up square grill with poor lighting. |
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fastwagens Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 1028 Location: Michigan (The other west coast)
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:29 am Post subject: |
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I haven't seen any but the ones I have were broken. I still want one. |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:35 am Post subject: |
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I have been running the SA grill for years and have never had any cracking. All 3 of my vans have them in fact, where are they prone to cracking? |
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BlackDogVan Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2007 Posts: 855 Location: Vancouver Island
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:01 am Post subject: |
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syncrodoka wrote: |
I have been running the SA grill for years and have never had any cracking. All 3 of my vans have them in fact, where are they prone to cracking? |
Yeah! x2 _________________ Gone but not forgotten - 1991 Carat - AAZ transmogriffied to mTDi.
Still addicted, looking for Doka... |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2672 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:21 am Post subject: |
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....Maybe this would make him happy. This is an '86 I put the old syle grill in and cut my own holes then put in aftermarket fog lights. This picture is from one of the Terryville CT. shows if anyone here goes to them.
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Gobbles Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2009 Posts: 46 Location: Raleigh
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:37 am Post subject: |
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I love my new SA grill and the accompanying 75/110 bulbs-thanks Sean and company at transporter werks in Raleigh, NC-the grill may seem a bit flimsy but the metal tabs on the corners adhere it very well to the grill opening-it seems to be holding up well-try plastic weld for a cheap fix? I had the high powered relay enabled squares but these babies properly positioned blow those out of the water-I fell very safe driving at night now |
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speedtek Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2010 Posts: 234 Location: Prince Albert, SK
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:42 am Post subject: |
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This
PDXWesty wrote: |
Why care what someone else thinks? Get it if you like it, enjoy it, and let others look on in envy. |
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psych-illogical Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2004 Posts: 1181 Location: AZ
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:44 am Post subject: |
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I personally love the look. I usually associate it with Syncros since that's where I've seen most of 'em but I have seen a few on 2wd. I think it's an improvement over the square headlight versions for sure but that's certainly a matter of opinion.
BTW, if these things crack and/or break so easily, why don't you ever see them in the classifieds? _________________ 83 1/2 Westy waterboxer
'57 Beetle-sold
Coupla '81 BMW motorcycles (R80G/S; R100RS)
'96 BMW R1100GS |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:54 am Post subject: |
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Go Westy has replacement lamp assemblies. That tells me another thing may be happening too. Do driving lamp lenses fall off? I have seen plenty of factory Hella grill mounted lamps that the lenses fall out of.
I can not find the link to the adaption of Mercedes lamps and cutting of the stock grill. I want to add that back to the FAQ, if some one can help.
The DIY setups seem to be much better but not near as simple. I actually like the look of the stock grill and the lamps.
FYI: I am a square lamp hater. I admit it. Maybe we need a poll! _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:59 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Do driving lamp lenses fall off? I have seen plenty of factory Hella grill mounted lamps that the lenses fall out of |
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I have never had a issue with that even with trail running my truck with the grill for years. Vibration should have made this problem visible by now. |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:03 am Post subject: |
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syncrodoka wrote: |
Quote: |
Do driving lamp lenses fall off? I have seen plenty of factory Hella grill mounted lamps that the lenses fall out of |
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I have never had a issue with that even with trail running my truck with the grill for years. Vibration should have made this problem visible by now. |
Maybe it is heat related. You are in the North and I am in the South. I have had some fall off my Caddy which I drove infrequently and sat a lot. Also the same thing happened with some A1 Cabriolets with factory round driving lamps. I know nothing of the SA grills though. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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vwlovr Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2006 Posts: 1122 Location: on the road
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:12 am Post subject: |
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they are fragile, but they aren't shite either. the first one i bought got destroyed in delivery, but the one i have now has lasted me several years and i have removed it more than a dozen times.
i personally like how it's attached to the van. with a screwdriver and a body panel tool i can pop it off in seconds. sure you can destroy it by removing it incorrectly but how is that different from any other part? |
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mtnwater Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008 Posts: 215
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:16 am Post subject: |
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I love the look, but both of my inner lenses accumulate water and both reflectors have started to rust. Anyone else have this experience? I've pulled them several times, dried them out, checked the rubber boot for leaks, etc. and can't find any obvious spot where water is getting in....
Happy the GW has replacements. Spoke with Van Cafe a month or so ago and they too will be selling them soon.
Last edited by mtnwater on Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:55 am; edited 1 time in total |
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PNWesty Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2010 Posts: 138 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:24 am Post subject: |
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SA Grill is on my to do list. Not a high priority, but hopefully sometime later this year. |
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