Doing the Satoshi Grill and looking for some opinions

DrBeau · 02-28-2005, 03:45 PM

So to add my own little twist I went with perforated sheet metal.

I am going to paint the black parts of the grill and the metal flat black without a clear coat.

Should I leave the metal bare or paint it black? I figured I'd prime it and paint it black, but if anyone thinks that I should just seal it and liek the bare look, please voice your opinion. I'll have pic's when I'm done.

Bob_98SR5 · 02-28-2005, 04:07 PM

drbeau,

whatever you do re painting, clear coating, etc, just make sure you keep in mind that its on the front of the vehilce and it will take a lot of abuse from road debris.

bob

DrBeau · 02-28-2005, 04:09 PM

That's why I don't think i'm going to be clear coating...some flat balck over primer will be way easy to touch up. How does the grill hold up, Bob? Anything you'd liek to say since you've had it on?

***waskillywabbit*** · 02-28-2005, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbeau

That's why I don't think i'm going to be clear coating...some flat balck over primer will be way easy to touch up. How does the grill hold up, Bob? Anything you'd liek to say since you've had it on?

I think that is a good idea. I just repainted my 85 grill over the chrome crap...I used some Krylon Fusion paint, which is cheap, but reputably very durable, and if it gets marred, repainting it every once in a while is just a few grill snaps away.

Good luck and keep us posted.

If you want specifics about this mod, I'd say Bob's the man! He's a wealth of knowledge on such things...and if he don't know he'll make it sound good anyway!

WT · 02-28-2005, 04:33 PM

Hey looks like the stuff I ended up doing to at first I was going to do the blackout look after doing it and decided to leave it be and also not to add the TOYOTA emblem I gotten either. I did mine last year and have left it with no clear or anything else and its weathered great no rust or anything else looks like the day I put it on. It was just aluminuim so figured it be fine out in the weather.
OPS forgot a link
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...52032911UDGKwy

Bob_98SR5 · 02-28-2005, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbeau

That's why I don't think i'm going to be clear coating...some flat balck over primer will be way easy to touch up. How does the grill hold up, Bob? Anything you'd liek to say since you've had it on?

i bought the pre-painted one. held up like a champ so far

bob

DrBeau · 02-28-2005, 04:43 PM

Woudl Flat Black Rustoleum be fine? Also, woudl the Fusion have any anti-rust proporties. Whatever I get, It'll go on the sliders I'll eventually get as well.

***waskillywabbit*** · 02-28-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbeau

Woudl Flat Black Rustoleum be fine? Also, woudl the Fusion have any anti-rust proporties. Whatever I get, It'll go on the sliders I'll eventually get as well.

Fusion paint is primarily for PLASTIC as that is what I have.

DrBeau · 02-28-2005, 05:18 PM

I'm going to assume then that wiht proper priming the Rustoleum will hodl to the plastic part of the grill. Thanks for the comments guys.

Steveh29 · 02-28-2005, 05:47 PM

I love Rustoleum but it sure takes forever to cure. You should be sure to let it sit a couple of days after painting. At least that's been my experience. By the way, I really like the metal you're using. It's making me want to do this to my 95!

DrBeau · 02-28-2005, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll go with some gray Rustoleum primer and jsut some flat balck paint of some kind. I'd love to have this in by the weekend.

Woo! Go my first mod! Maybe I should update my sig.

gapguy · 02-28-2005, 08:09 PM

I think matched body color would be cool. Autozone sells the paint in spray cans.

If not, flat paint for sure.

DrBeau · 02-28-2005, 09:54 PM

It's got a chrome surround. Also, I've got the Desert Dune Pearl, so I don't know how easily I could get a hold of the paint. Also, I don't know how a color-matched Desert Dune grill would look.

Steveh29 · 02-28-2005, 09:56 PM

I think it's going to look good black. That way the TOYOTA letters seem to float in the grill. I've looked at this post 3 more times tonight. Once I finish some chores around the house I'm going to have to do this mod!

DrBeau · 02-28-2005, 10:11 PM

I'd be glad to help if you need any. I highly suggest you get your metal as a metal supply with a surplus yard. My dad informed me of a place like 7-8 miles form my place that has a nice sized yard of leftovers. I got what I woudl estimate as a 42x28" pice of 16ga perforated steel for $3.26 after tax. Pepboys, Autozone and the like will all want like 30-40 bucks for some crappy 24ga expanded metal. I don't know if anyone has ever done this to a 2nd Gen grill yet, so you may be breaking new ground. Good luck.

calrockx · 02-28-2005, 11:23 PM

yeah, i'll second getting the metal from a metal supply, that's where i got mine for cheap.

paint it black, that'll look better. all i did was spray paint some flat black on mine and it's held up quite nicely, i haven't even needed to touch it up.

Bob_98SR5 · 02-28-2005, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbeau

It's got a chrome surround. Also, I've got the Desert Dune Pearl, so I don't know how easily I could get a hold of the paint. Also, I don't know how a color-matched Desert Dune grill would look.

.

i debated the color matched grill too. vato posted a pic of some guy that did it but after looking at it, i decided not to. youll ahve to find the pic yourself in the many 'satoshi' threads

bob

Steveh29 · 03-01-2005, 04:58 PM

Good point on the metal supply place. There's a supplier just a few miles from my house in Burbank. When I do this mod I'll certainly document it. I liked how you used a wooden 'mold' to form the grill material. I've got to put some gutters on my house and run some cat 5 cable and then I'll start on this! Maybe this grill will also give me some room behind to mount my Hella horns.

Bob_98SR5 · 03-01-2005, 05:12 PM

the only advice that hasn't been said or written in either my or calrockx's writeups is that cal's method of securing the emblem is a much better solution than the zip tie method i used.

steve touched on it, but one of the forseeable benefits of the satoshi grill mod is that you will have more room to mount driving/fog lights on the bumper. i'll be getting my hella 500s soon and i can confirm this w/ pics in the near future.

also steve and sorry for the minor hijacking: what kind of hellas are you getting? i had the duotones (or were they called supertones? the round ones) and they were not as good as the cheapie fiamm horns that alot of us bought. you might want to reconsider buying those hella expensive hellas (haha, i made a funny using no cal lingo!!!) if you havent bought them already and consider the fiamms. theres a long thread about the fiamms. worth a read.

bob

sschaefer3 · 03-01-2005, 08:52 PM

I have used that screen stuff quite a bit. The floors on Robb's hunting gear is made out of that. It's expensive, but really nice stuff.

What don't you get it powder coated, that will hold up really well. Ten bucks tops out here in AZ.

I dropped my rusty beat up Cheaper than dirt jerry cans off today to get PC'd. They sand blast the stuff before they coat it. Of course I took the little plates out and the rubber rings.

I like this grill idea but I also like my 99 grill as well. I also like that black 2002 grill.

02-28-2005, 03:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	Doing the Satoshi Grill and looking for some opinions So to add my own little twist I went with perforated sheet metal. I am going to paint the black parts of the grill and the metal flat black without a clear coat. Should I leave the metal bare or paint it black? I figured I'd prime it and paint it black, but if anyone thinks that I should just seal it and liek the bare look, please voice your opinion. I'll have pic's when I'm done. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA Last edited by drbeau : 02-28-2005 at 03:46 PM.

02-28-2005, 04:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	That's why I don't think i'm going to be clear coating...some flat balck over primer will be way easy to touch up. How does the grill hold up, Bob? Anything you'd liek to say since you've had it on? __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

02-28-2005, 04:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
WT Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Virgina Posts: 722	Hey looks like the stuff I ended up doing to at first I was going to do the blackout look after doing it and decided to leave it be and also not to add the TOYOTA emblem I gotten either. I did mine last year and have left it with no clear or anything else and its weathered great no rust or anything else looks like the day I put it on. It was just aluminuim so figured it be fine out in the weather. OPS forgot a link http://community.webshots.com/photo/...52032911UDGKwy __________________ 96 4Runner SR5 SC \| 3" Revtek Front/OME 891 Rear,Diff/Panhard Drop\|AirLift bags\|285/75/R16 Nitto Terra Grappler\|Eaqle 121 w/TRD Logo\|Bilsteins\|Cross-Drilled PS w/PF Pads\|Silver Reverse Gauges\|Custom Grill\|Catch-All Floor Mats\|Sylvania SilverStar\|Weather Tech Visors\|Clear Corner/Fronts\|Alpine MP3/WMA/CD\|99+Headlight/Console Mod\|K&N FIPK W/Drycharger\|Optima Redtop\|Trans-Cooler\|Remote Start\|PICS\|PICS2\| Last edited by WT : 02-28-2005 at 05:00 PM. Reason: forgot link

02-28-2005, 04:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	Woudl Flat Black Rustoleum be fine? Also, woudl the Fusion have any anti-rust proporties. Whatever I get, It'll go on the sliders I'll eventually get as well. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

02-28-2005, 05:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	I'm going to assume then that wiht proper priming the Rustoleum will hodl to the plastic part of the grill. Thanks for the comments guys. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

02-28-2005, 04:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bob_98SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,117	drbeau, whatever you do re painting, clear coating, etc, just make sure you keep in mind that its on the front of the vehilce and it will take a lot of abuse from road debris. bob

02-28-2005, 05:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Steveh29 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 709	I love Rustoleum but it sure takes forever to cure. You should be sure to let it sit a couple of days after painting. At least that's been my experience. By the way, I really like the metal you're using. It's making me want to do this to my 95! __________________ Steve 1995 4Runner - V6 - 5 Speed Rear ARB, Manual Hubs, Front TruTrac, Marlin Transmission

02-28-2005, 05:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll go with some gray Rustoleum primer and jsut some flat balck paint of some kind. I'd love to have this in by the weekend. Woo! Go my first mod! Maybe I should update my sig. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

02-28-2005, 08:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
gapguy Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nevada City, CA Posts: 3,552	I think matched body color would be cool. Autozone sells the paint in spray cans. If not, flat paint for sure. __________________ 2008 Mini Cooper

02-28-2005, 09:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	It's got a chrome surround. Also, I've got the Desert Dune Pearl, so I don't know how easily I could get a hold of the paint. Also, I don't know how a color-matched Desert Dune grill would look. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

02-28-2005, 09:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
Steveh29 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 709	I think it's going to look good black. That way the TOYOTA letters seem to float in the grill. I've looked at this post 3 more times tonight. Once I finish some chores around the house I'm going to have to do this mod! __________________ Steve 1995 4Runner - V6 - 5 Speed Rear ARB, Manual Hubs, Front TruTrac, Marlin Transmission

02-28-2005, 10:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
DrBeau Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North County, San Diego, CA Posts: 1,249	I'd be glad to help if you need any. I highly suggest you get your metal as a metal supply with a surplus yard. My dad informed me of a place like 7-8 miles form my place that has a nice sized yard of leftovers. I got what I woudl estimate as a 42x28" pice of 16ga perforated steel for $3.26 after tax. Pepboys, Autozone and the like will all want like 30-40 bucks for some crappy 24ga expanded metal. I don't know if anyone has ever done this to a 2nd Gen grill yet, so you may be breaking new ground. Good luck. __________________ -Beau No, I am not actually a doctor...yet. ----------- 1998 4Runner SR5- 4x4, V6, AT, Factory E-Locker- Mods: Satoshi Grill, Alpine HU, E-Locker Mod -otherwise Stock (for now) To come: Music!, Rear Storage/Audio box/Sleep area, York OBA

02-28-2005, 11:23 PM	#16 (permalink)
calrockx Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Santa Clarita, California Posts: 4,746	yeah, i'll second getting the metal from a metal supply, that's where i got mine for cheap. paint it black, that'll look better. all i did was spray paint some flat black on mine and it's held up quite nicely, i haven't even needed to touch it up. __________________ [2002 4Runner 4WD]

03-01-2005, 04:58 PM	#18 (permalink)
Steveh29 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 709	Good point on the metal supply place. There's a supplier just a few miles from my house in Burbank. When I do this mod I'll certainly document it. I liked how you used a wooden 'mold' to form the grill material. I've got to put some gutters on my house and run some cat 5 cable and then I'll start on this! Maybe this grill will also give me some room behind to mount my Hella horns. __________________ Steve 1995 4Runner - V6 - 5 Speed Rear ARB, Manual Hubs, Front TruTrac, Marlin Transmission

03-01-2005, 05:12 PM	#19 (permalink)
Bob_98SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,117	the only advice that hasn't been said or written in either my or calrockx's writeups is that cal's method of securing the emblem is a much better solution than the zip tie method i used. steve touched on it, but one of the forseeable benefits of the satoshi grill mod is that you will have more room to mount driving/fog lights on the bumper. i'll be getting my hella 500s soon and i can confirm this w/ pics in the near future. also steve and sorry for the minor hijacking: what kind of hellas are you getting? i had the duotones (or were they called supertones? the round ones) and they were not as good as the cheapie fiamm horns that alot of us bought. you might want to reconsider buying those hella expensive hellas (haha, i made a funny using no cal lingo!!!) if you havent bought them already and consider the fiamms. theres a long thread about the fiamms. worth a read. bob

03-01-2005, 08:52 PM	#20 (permalink)
sschaefer3 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tempe, Arizona Posts: 5,438	I have used that screen stuff quite a bit. The floors on Robb's hunting gear is made out of that. It's expensive, but really nice stuff. What don't you get it powder coated, that will hold up really well. Ten bucks tops out here in AZ. I dropped my rusty beat up Cheaper than dirt jerry cans off today to get PC'd. They sand blast the stuff before they coat it. Of course I took the little plates out and the rubber rings. I like this grill idea but I also like my 99 grill as well. I also like that black 2002 grill. __________________ Steve Schaefer *WWW.SonoranSteel.Com* Suspension Lift Kits * Rock Sliders * Straight Axle Conversions * 4Runner/FJC Rubicon Express Lower Links * Accessories * Daystar Products Dealer * TJM Bull Bar Dealer * Deaver Leaf Spring Dealer * Tokico & Bilstein Shock Dealer * ViAir Dealer * Total Chaos Dealer * and like everyone else a Trail Gear Dealer