Blackbeauty requests help from the Titan Community

**Blackbeauty** · 05-24-2008, 04:17 PM

Alright folks, many of you know of me and my truck. At least I hope you do...

It was keyed, and is currently being repainted. I want to put the QX56 wiper cowl on it colormatched. There are some issues, apparently

The body shop has both the Titan and the Infiniti wiper cowls, which they told me was received through a dealer who cross-referenced the part numbers. Upon rough fitting the QX cowl pieces, it appears there is too large a gap on one edge and where the hood meets the cowl when it's closed, the cowl interferes with the hood closing properly.

I am going to the shop first thing Tuesday morning to see the issues and make a decision how to proceed, so time is short. Any one who has done this swap, if you can chime in with information, I'd appreciate it. Any information regarding fitup or modifications would be helpful. Also, if anyone can provide me with specifics such as the EXACT part number and if it worked exactly, would be great.

My truck is a 2006, not that it matters and I know the later models, 08 for instance, aren't interchangable, but I always thought the 2005-2006 were.

Another thing that would be helpful, if anyone has colormatched the Titan cowl, did you sand it all smooth? The pebble finish is in all the grates and fins and would take forever to sand smooth. How did you handle this? And any closeup pics would be highly beneficial if possible.

I appreciate all your help on this one. Although it's not an earthshattering decision, I'd like to get the QX cowl to work if I can. THANK YOU!

Nissan Mike · 05-24-2008, 06:01 PM

BB,I feel partly to blame for the QX56 cowl idea.I know I have seen at least what I thought was the Infiniti cowl on a Titan,could it have been aftermarket???
Was there a model change between QX cowls that is causing this?
I would check with the Pts Mgr at "The Nismo Shop" West Covina Nissan(one of our supporting vendors),his name is Jeff.If anyone can get you true factual information,he can.
We also have another member on here "Bodeen" I believe you bought your exhaust from him?
Below is a pic of a truck me and P's saw at Stillen last weekend,this was an original Titan cowl smoothed and painted,it looked really well done,if anyone can put this owner in touch with BB maybe this would help.
Once again if I led you down a dead end road,I apologize.In the meantime,go get yourself some steel wool,and get started on you OEM pieces,the skin on your fingers will grow back eventually.

Who owns this truck??? Come on P's,you know everybody!

*bbomar* · 05-24-2008, 06:17 PM

They look the same on the diagram......#11 and #12

Listed under Infinti

Listed under Nissan....

Nissan Mike · 05-25-2008, 12:54 PM

Bump for a good guy that is always willing to help everybody with their questions.

fuRyTACO · 05-26-2008, 02:37 AM

Bump for BB... I have been reading the "Naked BB" threads and would like to see his truck done right.

**Blackbeauty** · 05-26-2008, 06:59 AM

I'm hearing that the guys who colormatched the cowls have all done so to the Titan cowls. The hood shape is different on the QX and the cowl won't line up. If that's the case, I suppose I can live with it. Now to uncover the sanding issue. Sand all the nooks and crannies or just fill with epoxy primer in multiple layers? I'll see if my shop will do that. Less time sanding, but more coats of paint.

Nissan Mike · 05-26-2008, 01:26 PM

Did you try steel wool yet? Maybe start with 00 then 000 finish with 0000?
Then let them primer the remaining wrinkles

**Blackbeauty** · 05-26-2008, 01:35 PM

I don't even have the pieces here. They're at the shop. The only thing I kept here was the mudflaps. They came out fine with the 220, 330, 400 wet and 800 wet sanding I did. I would do the same to the cowl, just would delay things a day or two.

Nissan Mike · 05-26-2008, 01:38 PM

TRY THE STEEL WOOL
I know. you aren't taking advice from the guy that said the QX cowl would fit lol

**Blackbeauty** · 05-26-2008, 01:41 PM

Sadly, you're outnumbered by at least two who have tried to do this only to find that what the shop is telling me is the case. The hood on the QX has slightly different contours and the Titan hoods interfere when closed. It's not much, but enough to not let it close right. I want to see when I go there how bad it is.. Hell, if I can take a rasp, knock down the interfering edge, and sand it smooth, I'm rolling with it. We'll see. I'll try to take some pics when I go.

Nissan Mike · 05-26-2008, 01:45 PM

You're gonna ruin the plastic cowl,Screw it grind the hood!

Nissan Mike · 05-26-2008, 01:45 PM

Oh yeah,just kidding...... sort of

**Blackbeauty** · 05-26-2008, 01:48 PM

Well, maybe if I just use some steel wool? Ever heard of anyone ever doing this? Or am I just WAY out in left field?

DRTYAZN · 05-26-2008, 04:34 PM

...just pondering on your situation and thinking, "now what would I do???"... hhhhmmmm.... have you tried to see if anyone will lightly sandblast it for you... kinda like stripping painted metal for chrome treatment, that might get you some good painting surfaces in those vented spots...

**Blackbeauty** · 05-26-2008, 05:14 PM

I have doubts that plastic will take any kind of blasting without ending up ruined or worse than the pebbly finish that's on there. I heard steel wool may do the trick. Anybody else heard of this? Seems a little far-fetched to me...