Write Up: The Satoshi Grill Mod

Bob_98SR5 · 02-19-2004, 08:02 AM

Guys,

I finally got the "thumbs up" from Satoshi himself.

Here's the write up:

http://www.4runners.org/articles/satoshi

Bob

goldtaco9 · 02-19-2004, 08:12 AM

Yippee! Nice job. I am so looking forward to doing this to my own '00.
Mike

Scarbro22 · 02-19-2004, 08:14 AM

Very nice writeup!! Any ideas on if anyone has done this to a 2nd Gen?? Thanks

Jonathan · 02-19-2004, 08:37 AM

Looks really good! I wish I had had this write-up before I started on mine. Oh, well for a free-handed job without templates, I think mine came out pretty good

Where did you get that black grill mesh at? I think I might end up re-doing mine with black, I just haven't decided yet.

Bob_98SR5 · 02-19-2004, 09:07 AM

Scarbro,

Phalanx axed me the same thing. I axed him for some pics but I haven't heard from him in a few days. I did manage to see and touch a 2nd gen grill and i think its possible. My main concern was that the grill's bottom part was not thick enough. It does look thick enough but I'd have to see detailed pics of the bottm as well as the back. If you can pull off your grill and take some pics (and post them here), I can give you a better guesstimate. Or, look at my grill and compare to yours and you should be able to tell too.

Goldtaco: as I learned from this mod, anything is possible w/ Bondo and fiberglass.

However, I think it would be much easier to find a 96-98 grill and work with that. The newer grills (99 and above) had an unusual front, rounded grill shape that might be hard to get 'just right'. W/ the 96-98 grill, its very simple (but time consuming) to cut out the inner part of the grill while leaving the main "frame" (the chrome part) intact.

Jonathan: i purchased the grill material from my dealership. It was around $29. Well worth it b/c I didn't have to prep, prime, and paint it. The company's name is "GR Motorsports". There's a link to the pic of it so you know what it looks like. For now since you already have it done, why not just prep/prime/paint it black and see how it looks? and if not satisfied, buy the matrix or similar grill?

Bob

turboale · 02-19-2004, 09:12 AM

Ha, I was waiting to see a bbq hanging off the back of your truck

But, That looks great! Ive considered doing a grill mod, but figure its really pretty much covered from the hellas and not really worth it. You have prevailed again!

Bob_98SR5 · 02-19-2004, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboale

Ha, I was waiting to see a bbq hanging off the back of your truck

But, That looks great! Ive considered doing a grill mod, but figure its really pretty much covered from the hellas and not really worth it. You have prevailed again!

Austin...hmmm...bbq grille hanging off the back...not a bad idea.

A hitch mounted grille!

And thanks for the nice compliment. Oh and again, sorry for the post re my truck's data/pic in your local 4ROC club. That was pretty boneheaded of me not to read the title.

Bob

calrockx · 02-19-2004, 09:15 AM

yeah, like i said before, that really is a quality write up and leaves nothing to question.

i should have my version of this mod completed tonight, so i'll get some pics on here soon.

loosehead · 02-19-2004, 10:25 AM

Nice write-up, Bob!
I do have one complaint, though, I now have Styx's "Mr Roboto" Stuck in my head

Domo Arrigato, Mr. Roboto....DOMO, domo...

BTW, did the endcaps work out o.k. for your brother?

***waskillywabbit*** · 02-19-2004, 10:27 AM

Bob,

Excellent write-up as usual!

You might have inspired me to saw up my new black grill..

, but I have bumpers and sliders to work on first!

On a side note: Will that Toyota emblem take a "poor man's black pearl" paint job from a write-up I know of?

Since I got all black pearls now I'd hate not to be matching.

Loosehead,

You are showing your decade!

Bob_98SR5 · 02-19-2004, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loosehead

Nice write-up, Bob!
I do have one complaint, though, I now have Styx's "Mr Roboto" Stuck in my head

Domo Arrigato, Mr. Roboto....DOMO, domo...

BTW, did the endcaps work out o.k. for your brother?

Jayson,

Haha, i remember that song too. There's a few of us 30-somethings here.

There was a VW commercial a year or two ago that revisited that song. Was pretty funny.

My bro and I are going to put those front flaps on this weekend. I'm sure it'll be just fine.

Bob

Bob_98SR5 · 02-19-2004, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waskillywabbit

Bob,

Excellent write-up as usual!

You might have inspired me to saw up my new black grill..

, but I have bumpers and sliders to work on first!

On a side note: Will that Toyota emblem take a "poor man's black pearl" paint job from a write-up I know of?

Since I got all black pearls now I'd hate not to be matching.

Brian,

Yes, the emblem could definitely have the black pearl paint applied to it. But unlike my writeup, I'd probably spray self-etching primer on it first since its metal.

Bob

loosehead · 02-19-2004, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob_98SR5

Jayson,

Haha, i remember that song too. There's a few of us 30-somethings here.

There was a VW commercial a year or two ago that revisited that song. Was pretty funny.

My bro and I are going to put those front flaps on this weekend. I'm sure it'll be just fine.

Bob

Yeah, I remember that commercial...good stuff.

<96 Runner> · 02-19-2004, 12:23 PM

Nice write-up Bob. In all honesty, I had no idea it was that much work. Ever since school started, I feel lazy. I want it now! I want! I want! I want!

Tacoma Dude · 02-19-2004, 12:37 PM

Nicely done Bob!
Answers all questions before they're asked

4x4CPOSEADOG · 02-19-2004, 12:43 PM

Hey Bob,

You did a very nice and detailed write up. So professional. Wow, that is an awesome mod. I was just wondering to see if you can use the "TOYOTA" emblem from 90 to 94 Land Cruiser to make that emblem a little bigger. Me too, I'm not fond of that T symbol on a newer Toys. Good Job!

Noel

Bob_98SR5 · 02-19-2004, 02:02 PM

Christian:

Yeah, getting the interior part of hte grill cut, prepped, painted, etc is the hardest, most time consuming part. Also, watching the multiple primer and paint layers drying is like watching grass grow. I say "do it!"

4x4: Wow, I don't know if you want to go with a larger emblem. IMHO, this is as large as you would probably want to go. Its very symmetrical within the confines of the grill material. Any larger, it would stick out like a sore thumb. The dimensions on this emblem is approximately 11" wide and 1.5" high.

Bob

FirstToy · 02-19-2004, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4CPOSEADOG

I was just wondering to see if you can use the "TOYOTA" emblem from 90 to 94 Land Cruiser to make that emblem a little bigger.
Noel

The TOYOTA on the Land Cruiser is actually molded into the grille, it isn't a seperate emblem.

The older Toyota PU's (or is it 4R?) have the larger TOYOTA emblem if you want to use that one instead. Someone here already did it and I remember it looked pretty good.

4x4CPOSEADOG · 02-19-2004, 02:37 PM

The older Toyota PU's (or is it 4R?) have the larger TOYOTA emblem if you want to use that one instead. Someone here already did it and I remember it looked pretty good

First Toy,

Hey kewl, I will take a look into that. Thanks.

Noel

goldtaco9 · 02-19-2004, 05:24 PM

Bob,
Are you saying that a 96-98 grill will fit my '00? That would be a sweet deal as I was thinking that modifying the '00 might be a pain.
Thanks,
Mike

calrockx · 02-19-2004, 05:33 PM

any 3rd gen grill will fit any other 3rd gen.

the 98 one i bought for this mod sure does fit.

02-19-2004, 08:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bob_98SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,116	Write Up: The Satoshi Grill Mod Guys, I finally got the "thumbs up" from Satoshi himself. Here's the write up: http://www.4runners.org/articles/satoshi Bob Last edited by Bob_98SR5 : 02-19-2004 at 09:09 AM.

02-19-2004, 08:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
goldtaco9 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: SEPA Posts: 333	Yippee! Nice job. I am so looking forward to doing this to my own '00. Mike __________________ '00 4Runner SR5, Dune, 5-speed, - new (for me) at 74000. Full Husky's. OME's all 'round - 890's, 881's & "C" shocks. Customized TJM T-15 w/integral Cibie Airports. Stubbs sliders. $9.00 mud flaps. Sonoran Steel rear bumper & Panhard drop, 265/70 16" Revo's. In dash Cobra 18 WXST II & Kenwood KDC X890. Next up: Larger Revo's, E-locker, regear.

02-19-2004, 08:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
Scarbro22 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: TN Posts: 227	Very nice writeup!! Any ideas on if anyone has done this to a 2nd Gen?? Thanks __________________ 94 4Runner 4x4 4.88's, BFG AT 32x11.50. Downey 1.5" Coils Custom Sliders, Husky Liners throughout, custom made internal rod holder, and Smitty Bilt Grille Guard with Hella 500's.

02-19-2004, 08:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jonathan Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 1,741	Looks really good! I wish I had had this write-up before I started on mine. Oh, well for a free-handed job without templates, I think mine came out pretty good Where did you get that black grill mesh at? I think I might end up re-doing mine with black, I just haven't decided yet. __________________ 1996 Black 4Runner V6 5 speed 4X4\| Retrofitted E-Locker\| SAW's\| LC coils and Doetschtech shocks\| ATS arms \| 285 Goodyear MTR's\|TJM T-15 With Warn M8000\|Retrofitted Toyota Hood Scoop\| Stubbs Sliders\|Bushwacker Extend-A-Fender Flares\| Extended rear diff breather\| Uniden 510XL CB w/ 4 Ft. Firestik II Antenna\|Dynomax Super Turbo Muffler\|Black headlights and corners\| More to come... 2007 VW GTI 6 Speed

02-19-2004, 09:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
turboale Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 4,805	Ha, I was waiting to see a bbq hanging off the back of your truck But, That looks great! Ive considered doing a grill mod, but figure its really pretty much covered from the hellas and not really worth it. You have prevailed again! __________________ --Austin 06 M45 Sport - Beauty 96 4Runner - The Beast

02-19-2004, 09:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bob_98SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,116	Scarbro, Phalanx axed me the same thing. I axed him for some pics but I haven't heard from him in a few days. I did manage to see and touch a 2nd gen grill and i think its possible. My main concern was that the grill's bottom part was not thick enough. It does look thick enough but I'd have to see detailed pics of the bottm as well as the back. If you can pull off your grill and take some pics (and post them here), I can give you a better guesstimate. Or, look at my grill and compare to yours and you should be able to tell too. Goldtaco: as I learned from this mod, anything is possible w/ Bondo and fiberglass. However, I think it would be much easier to find a 96-98 grill and work with that. The newer grills (99 and above) had an unusual front, rounded grill shape that might be hard to get 'just right'. W/ the 96-98 grill, its very simple (but time consuming) to cut out the inner part of the grill while leaving the main "frame" (the chrome part) intact. Jonathan: i purchased the grill material from my dealership. It was around $29. Well worth it b/c I didn't have to prep, prime, and paint it. The company's name is "GR Motorsports". There's a link to the pic of it so you know what it looks like. For now since you already have it done, why not just prep/prime/paint it black and see how it looks? and if not satisfied, buy the matrix or similar grill? Bob

02-19-2004, 09:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
calrockx Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Santa Clarita, California Posts: 4,747	yeah, like i said before, that really is a quality write up and leaves nothing to question. i should have my version of this mod completed tonight, so i'll get some pics on here soon. __________________ [2002 4Runner 4WD]

02-19-2004, 10:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
loosehead Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 1,107	Nice write-up, Bob! I do have one complaint, though, I now have Styx's "Mr Roboto" Stuck in my head Domo Arrigato, Mr. Roboto....DOMO, domo... BTW, did the endcaps work out o.k. for your brother? __________________ Jayson 1998 4Runner SR5 4WD V-6, auto, E-locker

02-19-2004, 10:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
*waskillywabbit* Sponsoring Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 11,005	Bk Bob, Excellent write-up as usual! You might have inspired me to saw up my new black grill.., but I have bumpers and sliders to work on first! On a side note: Will that Toyota emblem take a "poor man's black pearl" paint job from a write-up I know of? Since I got all black pearls now I'd hate not to be matching. Loosehead, You are showing your decade! __________________ WabFab Off-Road, LLC www.myspace.com/wabfab 1985 4Runner - Project "Wabbit" 1985 Ext. Cab PickUp - Project "Weasel" 1987 4Runner - Project "Wurton" 1997 4Runner - Project "???" 2007 4Runner 2008 Tundra

02-19-2004, 12:23 PM	#14 (permalink)
<96 Runner> Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 10,688	Nice write-up Bob. In all honesty, I had no idea it was that much work. Ever since school started, I feel lazy. I want it now! I want! I want! I want! __________________ Christian <>< My SC'd 4Runner's Profile My YouTube vids

02-19-2004, 12:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
Tacoma Dude Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 8,382	Nicely done Bob! Answers all questions before they're asked __________________ Peter! 2002 Tacoma 1986 4Runner

02-19-2004, 12:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
4x4CPOSEADOG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 455	Hey Bob, You did a very nice and detailed write up. So professional. Wow, that is an awesome mod. I was just wondering to see if you can use the "TOYOTA" emblem from 90 to 94 Land Cruiser to make that emblem a little bigger. Me too, I'm not fond of that T symbol on a newer Toys. Good Job! Noel __________________ Noel 94 4Runner, V6, 4x4 97 LX450 (stock & no lockers) CDL'ed w/ Pin 7 Mod, Slee cupholder, OME lift soon...... 04 Tacoma Ext Cab V6 4x4 TRD w/RR DIFF LOCK

02-19-2004, 02:02 PM	#17 (permalink)
Bob_98SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,116	Christian: Yeah, getting the interior part of hte grill cut, prepped, painted, etc is the hardest, most time consuming part. Also, watching the multiple primer and paint layers drying is like watching grass grow. I say "do it!" 4x4: Wow, I don't know if you want to go with a larger emblem. IMHO, this is as large as you would probably want to go. Its very symmetrical within the confines of the grill material. Any larger, it would stick out like a sore thumb. The dimensions on this emblem is approximately 11" wide and 1.5" high. Bob

02-19-2004, 02:37 PM	#19 (permalink)
4x4CPOSEADOG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 455	The older Toyota PU's (or is it 4R?) have the larger TOYOTA emblem if you want to use that one instead. Someone here already did it and I remember it looked pretty good First Toy, Hey kewl, I will take a look into that. Thanks. Noel __________________ Noel 94 4Runner, V6, 4x4 97 LX450 (stock & no lockers) CDL'ed w/ Pin 7 Mod, Slee cupholder, OME lift soon...... 04 Tacoma Ext Cab V6 4x4 TRD w/RR DIFF LOCK

02-19-2004, 05:24 PM	#21 (permalink)
goldtaco9 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: SEPA Posts: 333	Bob, Are you saying that a 96-98 grill will fit my '00? That would be a sweet deal as I was thinking that modifying the '00 might be a pain. Thanks, Mike __________________ '00 4Runner SR5, Dune, 5-speed, - new (for me) at 74000. Full Husky's. OME's all 'round - 890's, 881's & "C" shocks. Customized TJM T-15 w/integral Cibie Airports. Stubbs sliders. $9.00 mud flaps. Sonoran Steel rear bumper & Panhard drop, 265/70 16" Revo's. In dash Cobra 18 WXST II & Kenwood KDC X890. Next up: Larger Revo's, E-locker, regear.

02-19-2004, 05:33 PM	#22 (permalink)
calrockx Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Santa Clarita, California Posts: 4,747	any 3rd gen grill will fit any other 3rd gen. the 98 one i bought for this mod sure does fit. __________________ [2002 4Runner 4WD]