I'd like to give this a shot this weekend. I want to add the gutter guard insert to the main grill, above and below the center Toyota logo. Can ya'll give me some tips for making the template to cut the gutter guard? What did you use to cut the gutter guard? I'm tinking Dremel or tip snips. Later.

Matt

 

Sorry. Typing too fast. That was supposed to be "thinking Dremel or tin snips".

Matt

 

Matt,

I'm about 1/2 way done w/ my Satoshi grill mod. Bondo'g up the grill and getting ready to paint.

Use tin snips. The dremel will take forever. make sure you wear gloves b/c the pressure on your upper thumb from cutting will make it nice and raw.

Remove the grill and trace the outline on a piece of cardboard. Then lay your grill material on it and use a white grease pen to draw the outline. measure twice, cut once.

as for the bottom valence, no clue.

Good luck!
bob

 

Bob,
How do you trace the outline onto the card board? Do those horizontal "slats" in the grill pop out somehow? I'm having a hard time picturing how you made the trace. I haven't had time to mess with it this week or I probably would have already started on it. One more for you. How do you remove the grill itself? It's late, it's freezing outside, and I've got to be up at 4:00 tomorrow morning so I definitely can't go fool around with it now. Thanks for the help man. Later.

Matt

 

Most people hack those slots out. Most people I read used a dremel, but I foun that a hack saw worked much more efficiently, making smoother cuts, with melting any of the plastic, like the dremel would.

I think the easiest way to trace would be to lay the grill so the front of it is on the cardboard, and trace the outline from the inside part.

As far as how to get it off, I haven't a clue. Oh one more thing. I used wire cutters (small dykes) with no problem.

 

I have been slowly shaping mine...it is taking forever so I feel your pain.

This is the very thing that is driving me crazy! Is it nessicary to cut off the tag holder? Does any one know? I have been debating with myself for about two weeks. The only thing I have accomplished was making an insert for the hood scoop...now I am in a rut.

 

You guys need to talk to Paul (pfdaxe) as he has done this mod on the year model you have. I have the older grill so I just cut out the entire center section. Good luck.

 

Hey Bob...glad to see you're starting the grille. Tin snips and mechanics or work gloves are good. Pounding the edges over a plywood form help give a nice clean edge shape.

 

Yeah guess its different with the newer runners mines a 96 and I also didn't want to hack away anything so I just overlayed mine and cut around the edges and also the center for the Emblem.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...70979501Hejyzg
There are a few other pics in the album if you want to see how it looks in process. I also used a dremel but snips would be faster if your making length wise cuts and diagonal cutters would work too I assume. You have 2 seperate opening were I only had to deal with one but Its the same process. I layed mine on top and used masking tape to mark the shape I wanted then went at it with the dremel.