Bandit Runner's Grille Mod

Bandit Runner · 11-09-2009, 08:07 AM

I finally got around to finishing my grille modification. It is a little different than the Satoshi mod, but as usual, I always try to be a little different than the rest.

Here's what it looked like before I started. (Sorry, its kind of hard to see.)

I used my 2002 grille and cut out all of the vertical and horizontal ribs leaving two open sections. I covered the nice glossy surfaces with blue painters tape to protect them while cutting, filing and sanding the ribs out. It looked like this:

The horizontal rib in the upper opening intersected the center oval shape, so when I cut that rib out, it left a hole in the top of the oval. I had to epoxy some plastic pieces and bondo it to fill it back in. You can kind of see it here:

For the screen mesh, I ordered some 3/16" hole pattern aluminum mesh from McMaster's. It very closely matches the mesh inside the hood scoop area. Here are the two pieces cut out to fit behind the openings:

Then I painted the grille openings and mesh semi-gloss black.

To attach the mesh, I had to epoxy some plastic chunks to the back of the grille, to screw the mesh into. (Sorry, I forgot to take pics of the back of the grille, to show the attachment, but no screws can be seen from the front) Here it is with the mesh attached:

Here it is completed in the truck:

I really like the way it turned out. It looks much cleaner without all of those odd-colored ribs in there. When I build my custom bumper next spring, It will have openings in the front that will be filled with the same mesh, so everything matches.

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02_Limited · 11-09-2009, 08:30 AM

Nice, subtle and clean mod. If you're not a fan of that odd colored grey plastic that's in your front valence, painting it black makes it look a little better. At least it looked better after on my Silver 4R, on your black one I could only imagine that it would look even better

Bandit Runner · 11-10-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Nice, subtle and clean mod. If you're not a fan of that odd colored grey plastic that's in your front valence, painting it black makes it look a little better. At least it looked better after on my Silver 4R, on your black one I could only imagine that it would look even better

Thanks, yours looks real good too!

X-AWDriver · 11-10-2009, 12:56 PM

Nice mod bandit;I like to get around to doing mine in a similar fashion.

11-10-2009, 12:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
X-AWDriver Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Littleton,CO Posts: 10,173	Nice mod bandit;I like to get around to doing mine in a similar fashion. __________________ '99 4Runner Highlander 4wd E-locker,rear diff and deckplate mod * 265/75/16 Nitto TerraGrapplers * Yakima Load Warrior rack * clear corners/signals * Tacoma skidplate * Silverstar lamps/fogs Alpine CDA-9831,Bazooka EL Series 250w amp,MTX 10" sub

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