Grille mounting tabs question

[renorick]

Yesterday I started a project to backdate my 1987 Vanagon syncro square lights to round the 1986 round lights. I will be installing DOT approved 7 inch led headlights as I need get better lighting for my 70 year old eyeballs. I installed new light relays, used touch up paint on scratches to prevent rust, painted my new round headlight grill flat black and started to install my new Gowesty headlight buckets. As I was going about my bucket install I noticed that my van was missing grill mounting tabs (on the van body) that sit between the center tab and end of headlight bucket. These tabs are part of the square headlight bucket but not on the new round buckets. As I don't believe 3 mounting points for the grill is a very secure solution I am reaching out for ideas. My first thought was to make some mounting tabs I can rivet to the body. Questions: Are these mounting tabs available any where? Any ideas on cutting square holes for the mounting tab clips? Anybody running only three mounting points on their grill and if so what has been your experience? Thanks for any help.

[dabaron]

i converted from square to round and decided it was good enough given the number of others out there running the round grills with just the top 3 tabs.

been in high winds and heavy rains, grill is still there.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo

BiWerks Design, LLC

[big swifty]

I did the same conversion. Mine held fine for many, many years through heavy Vermont storms.
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Evan
1987 Vanagon Syncro // Westfalia pop-top graft // Factory new ALH. 11mm IP. AFN 110 RC 2,3,4 // S7 turbo// Titan P502's
2013 Golf 4d TDI. No mods. Yet.
[1991 Jetta coupe TD. Giles Superpump. Custom tall 5 speed. SOLD

[joetiger]

I did the same conversion but grille screws and receptacles are a little old and worn, so I do have a couple of strategically placed zip ties holding it on. It's not ideal aesthetically, but the grille is securely on there.
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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[4Gears4Tires]

My lower grill is held on with 4 zip ties. I didn't even trim them, the van has whiskers now.

Zip ties are a great way to hold an old vehicle together.
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[joetiger]

[DLJ]

I just made that change. You can easily make two more mounting tabs or if available to you, find an old van and get the tabs off it. (I just copied them from a friends van) Its very easy, but you will have to drill new holes to accept the tabs.

[space]

Timely post
Im actually adding the lower grill to my 82 and cant figure out how they would have attached
The Rectangular mounting openings on the grill have me puzzled
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82 westy
w:
2.5 JDM Subie
Rear discs

[joetiger]

[space]

Thank you Joe T!

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82 westy
w:
2.5 JDM Subie
Rear discs