I just painted these aluminum vents flat black but I have a question on how to install the mirror trim with the hardware in came with from lrb, just a little confused how to install it if anyone knows how to install them?







Flat black

 

The factory ones clip in. I have never had had a reason to take them off, but my best guess is that those holes are for a "fir tree" style panel fastener.

 

As far as the vent panels, I don't see any way of securely mounting them. The factory vents have these monster metal clips that hold them that require 200lbs of force to remove. I recently bought the factory replacement vents and idiot light panel and it requires everything you got to press them in. Just about when you think your going to break them is when they clip in and no wonder why they explode, they are under so much tension.

I literally though I was going to have to put my convertible top down and stand on the idiot light panel to get it to snap in.

Also, the LRB grills are missing the connector pieces that hold the vents to the duct work, thus you are going to have a lot of air blowing into the dash. The factory vents are 2 piece and they come with the connecting pieces already attached.

I am not knocking the LRB pieces, I actually like them a lot, just pointing out a few key things. Really good alternative to the factory pieces which are becoming impossible to find and INCREDIBLY expensive.

 

Looks really nice

 

There should have been a small bracket that came with those as well as a screw and a screw...holder? insert thing? I actually ordered the mirror inserts and you have to use a couple of the screw that hold the mirror on to attach the bracket to.

I was worried during my install that they would not look right but the bracket slightly bends to conform to the body shape of the door and then you just screw the interior piece on. I don't know if this helped at all, but I can go take pictures of how my install of these looks so you can get a better idea of what you need to do.

 

Off topic I know, but if you don't mind me asking, do you have any advice on painting those properly? I am getting ready to order that set in addition to some other parts, and it seemed like it would be hard to paint the vented area and get it even, without pooling up. Any tips?

 

I would say the best course for painting them would be wipe them down REAL good with acetone, hang them by wire or rope from your ceiling, then LIGHTLY coat on some primer, and same with the color of your choice of spray bomb