Broke my South African Grille

[mojav]

Well I wrecked my thermostat housing turning around on a bumpy road.

Was able to find a replacement at O'Reileys and performed a coolant flush..

But I broke my flimsy plastic South African grille pulling it off to get to the radiator.

Any recommendations on a replacement grille that fits the 4 headlight setup on a 89 Vanagon? I don't really want to go with the SA grille again because it's so flimsy. Anyone have any custom grille setups?

Thanks[/img]
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mojavmusic.com

[pbrown]

Look at the Small Car grill. The inner lights are different size.

https://smallcar.com/south-tacoma-grille/
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Patrick Brown

1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF

[markswagen]

l'd go back to stock, either stock early or late.

the tacoma grill, there's a decent camping trip in that cost.

l hate those south african things, if l have a customer who has one on his van, and for some reason it needs to come off, l tell him it's up to him to remove and refit the grill.
l have zero wish to be on the hook for any damage caused to them.
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markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[dhaavers]

Unless you’re completely sold on the SA look, for about half the price you can get a set of H4 E-code headlamps for the stock grille…and they’re glass.

…and you’ll be able to see REALLY WELL.

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[zerotofifty]

Stock square light grills are great with the stock headlights if you install an aftermarket LED bulb. Nice bright light, plus the current draw goes easy on the fuse panel
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Sorry About That Chief.

Give Peace a Chance.

Words to live by.

[mojav]

[4Gears4Tires]

Yes, you need the headlight buckets as well.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[Red Ryder]

Later square headlights with updated e-code lenses for the win!
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“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland

“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition (Tornado Red)
“Nigel” — 1999 Jaguar XK8 convertible (Alpine Green Metallic)

[1988M5]

Ok deal on NOS round H4 with buckets.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2686585

BK
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1991 tin top GL
2002 Winnebago Vista. VW VR6 24V Eurovan front clip powered class C 21' RV.
Some BMWs.

[4Gears4Tires]

Seeing my Vanagons side by side, square headlights make the van look like this =_= and round headlights make the van look like this (:

Very different vibes of the two vans. Round headlights are so much happier / friendlier.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[Red Ryder]

Perhaps, but square headlights more closely match the boxy aesthetic of the Vanagon’s body shape!
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“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland

“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition (Tornado Red)
“Nigel” — 1999 Jaguar XK8 convertible (Alpine Green Metallic)

[Icebox500]

Likely more than you want to spend but I'm essentially happy with my South Tacoma Grille from Small Car. Nice to have bright LED lights.
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87 Westy 2WD
2.2 Rebuilt WB
AZ Transaxle + Peloquin Manual Transmission
GW lift springs, solar, Burley front disc, etc...
Littleton, CO
Moving to NOLA 6/25 (anyone around?)

Past
87, 90 Westys
64, 65 splittys + various air cooled

[syncrodoka]

I stick a radiator pick in the top corner and pry the grill away from the body, haven't broken or damaged the 3 that I have in almost 20 years.
The south tacoma grill was supposed to be designed to be more solid than the SA version.
Your only other options are stock single round or a square light grill.

[Franklinstower]

I use plastic bike tire tools on my grill, pops it off easily. I agree the SA grill is flimsy.
I was actually about using some fiberglass resin to strengthen it up.
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'89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug
YITB

[mojav]

So here is what I'm working with

Does the S Tacoma grille fasten the same way as all the other grills? Through the clips?

It looks like for the S Tacoma setup I will need to replace my bright lights with 5.5" lights instead of my 5.75" ones.

For the 80-85 stock grille setup I would ditch the hella highbeams and replace my outer hellas with some H4 E-code lamps and different wiring?

My current brackets would work with either setup right? Just need some clips and radiator clip? (that broke too)

Looking like 4-500 vs 7-800 with tax and shipping potentially?

Thanks for the help guys
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mojavmusic.com

[ALIKA T3]

[mojav]

so according to this bit I'm fine with my current lights, just get some clips? This seems the most straightforward as far as the durability I was looking for
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mojavmusic.com

[Hammy1]

Here’s my 85’ to which I added 1980’s Jaguar headlights and buckets that I got from the local U-pull. I am impartial to the four headlights myself….

[dougnlina]

Heres my cheap SA inner light solution, scary bright and still going strong
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=797617&highlight=
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"Grover" a '87 Syncro Poptop 1.8T
"Olive" a '60 Ragtop Beetle (retired)

[mojav]