satoshi grille skill level

Im wondering how much skill i need to do the satoshi mod myself? I always get nervous doing cutting or getting the paint to come out ok. I thought about buying a grillcraft insert but i would still need to cut the center part of my grille. Ultimate goal is to hopefully put two driving lights behind the grille.

 

If you're worried about Eff'ing up your grill just get a Parts Geek grill and have at it. They're only about $40 and then if if doesn't go well you still have a grill.

 

do you know how to work with fiberglass and bondo? if so buy another grill and give it a shot lol

 

Get the grillcraft if you are worried about it. You don't have to do any extra filler or anything. Just gut out the center part (which I actually believe you can leave it in if you want though).

 

That's no fun.. how's he supposed to learn lol

 

True haha. I was just being blunt. You could always do a thin-lip satoshi which doesn't need any body filler or anything.

 

If you have time...please expand on your last comment,I have a 2013 DCSB.Thanks.

 

To be honest, i'd never done anything like that to my tacoma but once you read up on it, you just motivate yourself, take your time and buy a spare so you can take your time, just follow the write-ups all over TW on this subject and it'll turn out peachy, or if you dont want to tackle it yourself there is a vendor Homertaco who will do the service for you and he's got a great reputation among the TW community, i've personally delt with him(to buy the satoshi mesh) and it was a smooth process and its quality stuff.

 

Its really not that hard at all. Buy a spare grill and take your time, you will be much happier doing it yourself than buying one.

 

With the full depth Satoshi you have to do some body filler work to fill in the gaps created by cutting out the grill insides. If you want to do a thin-lip, the process is completely the same except you guy the grill lip to a depth of about 3/4". The is just to the point where the grill cut outs end up being below the depth of the grill. I did mine like this and all I had to do was cutting and smoothing of the cuts. No body filler needed. The rest of the process is the same.

 

All good advice...
There are several very good write ups here on TW for the DIY minded.
I actually began supplying mesh for grills long before I started to produce them.
I still do...
There is kind of a trade off with the thin-lip vs. full depth:
Thin lips take less time to fabricate but the cutting and assembly are more challenging.
Full depths take much longer to fab but assemble quicker.

Best of luck with whichever you choose!
~ Craig

 

Homertaco you must do awesome work especially since you said there is a 6-9 month waiting list. That's what got me thinking about trying my self. I've never worked with bondo or fiberglass. I like the look of the full, but if I'm going to put lights behind it. I think the thin lip would probably be better. I saw a tw member about a week ago say they bought their grill from eBay and it looked like a satoshi but it was flush. It was black.

 

Probably a grillcraft

 

I was in close to the same boat as you. I had no bondo/sanding skills that I would recommend even to myself, so I went the Grillcraft route. I'm happy with the decision even now. Personally I think the difference between the thin satoshi and the Grillcraft is too close to make the satoshi effort worth it, IMHO of course, but it would be cheaper if done right the first time.

 

Is it b/c it doesn't have to be as perfect? I would still like to cut the center out if I do the lights so it wont block the light.

 

A grillcraft sits on top of the grill not in it

 

Believe it or not, it's really not that difficult. I had never done any kind of auto body work before but mine turned out great IMO. The key is to take your time. Don't try to rush through it or take short cuts. Follow the write ups, take your time and you'll probably be fine. I say go for it. If you're not happy with the end result, you can always slap a grillcraft in front of it.

 

From my perspective, yes. Grillcraft only needs the center sections cut out, but doesn't require much of any finishing to the grill.

Very true, that's why I posted IMHO. You miss some depth from the thin satoshi, but it's a personal decision if it's worth it or not.

How dare you bring logic and sense into an Internet discussion? Valid point to push someone into trying it themselves.

 

yeah I gotcha, I was answering his question about why it was easier. Shoulda quoted him but I was in class and being lazy