After Market Grill and Springs(Keep coming loose)

MCH86GN · Dec 5, 2016

I bought and aftermarket black grill from Kirban about 5 years ago, I bought some aftermarket springs too. I have lost two pair of springs and unfortunately I threw my stock ones away. Right now I have the springs taped to the bottom of the grill is case they come loose. The aftermarket springs I have on there now are from NOS4GN.
I was wondering if anyone else has run into this issue?

nos4gn · Dec 5, 2016

NOS4GN (aka HIGHWAY STARS) does not stock or sell the aftermarket grills, so unfortunately we can not offer any insight on this issue. but you may want to check your springs. If you purchased grill springs from NOS4GN (aka Highway Stars), you would NOT have received aftermarket springs. (NOS4GN NEVER sold / NEVER CARRIED aftermarket grill springs.) We ONLY SELL (and always have ONLY sold) GM SPRINGS. The GM springs fit the GM grill. A picture is attached for comparison purposes only. Hope this helps

MCH86GN said:
I bought and aftermarket black grill from Kirban about 5 years ago, I bought some aftermarket springs too. I have lost two pair of springs and unfortunately I threw my stock ones away. Right now I have the springs taped to the bottom of the grill is case they come loose. The aftermarket springs I have on there now are from NOS4GN.
I was wondering if anyone else has run into this issue?

MCH86GN · Dec 5, 2016

nos4gn said:
NOS4GN (aka HIGHWAY STARS) does not stock or sell the aftermarket grills, so unfortunately we can not offer any insight on this issue. but you may want to check your springs. If you purchased grill springs from NOS4GN (aka Highway Stars), you would NOT have received aftermarket springs. (NOS4GN NEVER sold / NEVER CARRIED aftermarket grill springs.) We ONLY SELL (and always have ONLY sold) GM SPRINGS. The GM springs fit the GM grill. A picture is attached for comparison purposes only. Hope this helps

I ordered a set of springs nos4gn on October the 5th order number 161778 and I will post a picture of the ones I received when I get home, they certainly look like the aftermarket spring.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1KWIKSIX · Dec 5, 2016

I just used some safety wire and tied them off to some solid part of the car so in the event that they came off, it would not get lost.
Have found them hanging loose on several occasions, but they're still hanging safely by the tie wire , so just clipped them back on!

278.C.I.STAGE 2 · Dec 5, 2016

might not have them clip in the right spot. Never had a problem with them.

Buckshot G/N · Dec 5, 2016

If you own a TB for a while this problem comes with the territory . I do exactly what 1kwiksix does ,I tie off on a solid part using a
heavy duty key ring with wire tie to it an attached to the spring, If I had to guest I would say it was the left side that come's loose.
Good Luck.

MCH86GN · Dec 5, 2016

Buckshot G/N said:
If you own a TB for a while this problem comes with the territory . I do exactly what 1kwiksix does ,I tie off on a solid part using a
heavy duty key ring with wire tie to it an attached to the spring, If I had to guest I would say it was the left side that come's loose.
Good Luck.

Thanks.

BRAD_PADGETT · Dec 6, 2016

MCH86GN said:
I ordered a set of springs nos4gn on October the 5th order number 161778 and I will post a picture of the ones I received when I get home, they certainly look like the aftermarket spring.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have unopened spring sets from both Kirbans and Nos4gn which were purchased last April. These are definitely not the same springs. The hooks are different. I have no idea as to which if any of these are stock. Brad

MCH86GN · Dec 6, 2016

BRAD_PADGETT said:
I have unopened spring sets from both Kirbans and Nos4gn which were purchased last April. These are definitely not the same springs. The hooks are different. I have no idea as to which if any of these are stock. Brad

Can you post a picture of both sets?

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Coltsfan1 · Dec 6, 2016

Huuuummm this could get interesting for highway stars

MCH86GN · Dec 6, 2016

Coltsfan1 said:
Huuuummm this could get interesting for highway stars

I'm going to post a picture of the spring I received from them today when I get home from work, I meant to last night but I got home from work really late.

Dennis Kirban · Dec 6, 2016

MCH86GN said:
I'm going to post a picture of the spring I received from them today when I get home from work, I meant to last night but I got home from work really late.

Dennis Kirban · Dec 6, 2016

To clarify things yes I sell a reproduction grille spring... as does many other companies they come from one source. we have had zero issues with them popping off that I am aware of. if they lock in the proper spot should not be an issue unless spring tension has become weak

whether its GM spring or aftermarket making a small spring is not much of a challenge for a company to make years ago we made all the different GTO clutch springs that had far more tension involved. spring company that made them actually made the springs for buggies and elevators...

denniskirban@yahoo.com

MCH86GN · Dec 7, 2016

Dennis Kirban said:
To clarify things yes I sell a reproduction grille spring... as does many other companies they come from one source. we have had zero issues with them popping off that I am aware of. if they lock in the proper spot should not be an issue unless spring tension has become weak

whether its GM spring or aftermarket making a small spring is not much of a challenge for a company to make years ago we made all the different GTO clutch springs that had far more tension involved. spring company that made them actually made the springs for buggies and elevators...

denniskirban@yahoo.com

That's all good and well, but mine keep coming loose, as has others see post above, I've lost the original set that came with the grill I bought from you. You were had a special offer if you buy the grill, you'd through in the springs for free for a limited time.

Now I ended up buying two extra sets since then. The last set I bought was from NOS4GN and their claim is that they don't sale aftermarket they sale GM springs. I could care less as long as they work. That is reason for posting, to see if others have had then probably and perhaps find a solution. It's not just loosing a the spring, it's my grill coming loose and smacking when I'm driving. Right now I have the springs duck taped to the bottom of the grill in case they pop loose.

I also have aftermarket radiator support seal, the black pieces attached to the grill and sides of the ac and radiator support box.

Royal-T-Ltd · Dec 7, 2016

you might have to 1) Drill a small hole and put the spring through the hole or 2) cut the notch deeper so there is more of a positive "latch" . Its a spring... not much to it... you can always use needle nose pliers to make whatever bend you may like.

-aaron

MCH86GN · Dec 7, 2016

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Royal-T-Ltd said:
you might have to 1) Drill a small hole and put the spring through the hole or 2) cut the notch deeper so there is more of a positive "latch" . Its a spring... not much to it... you can always use needle nose pliers to make whatever bend you may like.

-aaron

I think may just drill a small hole about half inch higher than the stock position and see if that works. Obviously I hate losing springs, but I really hate my grill popping lose and banging around when I'm driving. I make sure the spring is latched to my car some, other than tape just in case putting more tension on the spring doesn't work.

Royal-T-Ltd · Dec 7, 2016

MCH86GN said:
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I think may just drill a small hole about half inch higher than the stock position and see if that works. Obviously I hate losing springs, but I really hate my grill popping lose and banging around when I'm driving. I make sure the spring is latched to my car some, other than tape just in case putting more tension on the spring doesn't work.

Yeah i dont remember which one i did but i got tired of it too..... the OEM ones did it too so, whether its a stock spring or not you will have to slightly mod it to keep your springs and grille together. No biggie. Just part of 'hot-rodding' - you have to modify everything...

Dennis Kirban · Dec 7, 2016

kirban 2 cents worth

Let take this minor issue one step further......if you think about it. seems like a unusual method for Buick to use this method in the first place to secure the grille. Reminds me of the goofy way GN center caps are supposed to stay on the wheels.......or what about the 2 piece lug nuts where the outer cap falls off.
or what about the chrome plastic strip i in the dash that droops down.....I think everyone reading this gets my point no shortage of weak points on our cars....
as a company like many others we try our best. .

As it has been suggested its an easy fix by rebending the one end......

denniskirban@yahoo.com

as far as GM versus aftermarket their are many products reproduced today that are superior to the GM ones....buy any GM plastic horn ring (collar) off ebay for $150 or more bolt it on your steering wheel and hope you don;t crack it. Buy the billet reproduction and 10 years from now it still won;t crack.....a product we had designed first over 15-17 years ago. Plus it only caries a $50 price tag.

MCH86GN · Dec 8, 2016

Dennis Kirban said:
kirban 2 cents worth

Let take this minor issue one step further......if you think about it. seems like a unusual method for Buick to use this method in the first place to secure the grille. Reminds me of the goofy way GN center caps are supposed to stay on the wheels.......or what about the 2 piece lug nuts where the outer cap falls off.
or what about the chrome plastic strip i in the dash that droops down.....I think everyone reading this gets my point no shortage of weak points on our cars....
as a company like many others we try our best. .

As it has been suggested its an easy fix by rebending the one end......

denniskirban@yahoo.com

as far as GM versus aftermarket their are many products reproduced today that are superior to the GM ones....buy any GM plastic horn ring (collar) off ebay for $150 or more bolt it on your steering wheel and hope you don;t crack it. Buy the billet reproduction and 10 years from now it still won;t crack.....a product we had designed first over 15-17 years ago. Plus it only caries a $50 price tag.

Dennis, you make some great points. No shortage of weak points, but the first time I drove the GN I ended up buying all those weak points took a back seat. Btw the I have the billet horn ring, pretty sure I bought it from you 8 years ago as well as a new set of center caps. I decided not to mount the center caps, unless I planned on entering my car into a contest. I also bought the stainless steel fuel lines, the ones connect to the regulator and the return on the rail. Those are very nice.

TexasT · Dec 11, 2016

I'm not sure how you are having probs or what might remedy it. Might try swapping the springs end for end and attaching them that way(might be putting them on backward). or the bottom of the grille might be "sagging" or be cracked and sagging allowing the spring(s) to slip off.

How 'bout some pix of your assembly when you have it installed so we can see what you are working with.

After Market Grill and Springs(Keep coming loose)

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