Album Index for Album 0008: Chrome Vent Rings

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Size Caption

76196
Ok I stole this "before" shot from my garage door section so ignore the red arrow. I just wanted you to see the original vent ring.

403972
Here's the RSpeed Economy vent ring set I bought and did NOT use.

418015
I didn't care for the grainy-ness nor the fact that it only covers the OUTER bevel of the vent ring.

395186
Pull the eyeballs by looping string through the vent and tying it around a dowel. NOW LISTEN CAREFULLY...PUT YOUR HAND FIRMLY ON THE COVER JUST ABOVE THE EMERGENCY FLASHER BUTTON. Then jerk HARD on the dowel. The eyeballs should pop right out. You do have to do it suddenly and HARD. If you don't press on the cover at the same time, it IS possible to break the plastic bar inside...don't ask me how I know.... Other methods are possible, see the miata.net garage section.

381391
End vents work the same. Mine came out a bit easier than the center ones.

378347
These things are difficult to get apart!

362960
Use a screwdriver to pry one corner up. I broke one tab on a couple of the vents, but it's ok they work fine with one broken. Once one corner is up you can work around to the others pretty easily.

406233
Once you get them apart the hard work is over. As Scoots mentioned if you look inside you can see the felt that provides friction for the rings. Electrical tape on the ball will increase the friction if yours flops around.

373984
The vent rings have embossing that won't go well with chrome paint.

378715
Use 400 grit wet and sand off all the texture.

404313
This is the paint I used. Cheap and worked well.

410020
I shot them on the garage floor. It would be better to use a box and plastic bag to make a "booth." Any dust will show.

410232
I used a couple of coats of the paint with enough "flash time" between coats to let the first one dry out some.

291406
Make sure the paint is DRY before you put the eyeballs back together, because you have to press on them fairly hard.

288447
Wow! Dunno what you think, but I think they look great for $5.00 of paint.

397976
I'm just getting started on dressing up Hakuna's interior, but so far so good.... [update: 7 months later they still look good! I'm careful not to abuse them but there seems to be no problem with accidental damage using just moderate care!]

Size	Caption
76196	Ok I stole this "before" shot from my garage door section so ignore the red arrow. I just wanted you to see the original vent ring.
403972	Here's the RSpeed Economy vent ring set I bought and did NOT use.
418015	I didn't care for the grainy-ness nor the fact that it only covers the OUTER bevel of the vent ring.
395186	Pull the eyeballs by looping string through the vent and tying it around a dowel. NOW LISTEN CAREFULLY...PUT YOUR HAND FIRMLY ON THE COVER JUST ABOVE THE EMERGENCY FLASHER BUTTON. Then jerk HARD on the dowel. The eyeballs should pop right out. You do have to do it suddenly and HARD. If you don't press on the cover at the same time, it IS possible to break the plastic bar inside...don't ask me how I know.... Other methods are possible, see the miata.net garage section.
381391	End vents work the same. Mine came out a bit easier than the center ones.
378347	These things are difficult to get apart!
362960	Use a screwdriver to pry one corner up. I broke one tab on a couple of the vents, but it's ok they work fine with one broken. Once one corner is up you can work around to the others pretty easily.
406233	Once you get them apart the hard work is over. As Scoots mentioned if you look inside you can see the felt that provides friction for the rings. Electrical tape on the ball will increase the friction if yours flops around.
373984	The vent rings have embossing that won't go well with chrome paint.
378715	Use 400 grit wet and sand off all the texture.
404313	This is the paint I used. Cheap and worked well.
410020	I shot them on the garage floor. It would be better to use a box and plastic bag to make a "booth." Any dust will show.
410232	I used a couple of coats of the paint with enough "flash time" between coats to let the first one dry out some.
291406	Make sure the paint is DRY before you put the eyeballs back together, because you have to press on them fairly hard.
288447	Wow! Dunno what you think, but I think they look great for $5.00 of paint.
397976	I'm just getting started on dressing up Hakuna's interior, but so far so good.... [update: 7 months later they still look good! I'm careful not to abuse them but there seems to be no problem with accidental damage using just moderate care!]