2012 Minor Mesh Grille Mod... in progress.

I may or may not buy a turn-key mesh grille insert, but I definitely want the rock and bug deterrant aspect of mesh sooner rather than later. Here's what I am DIYing for now: NOTE: As the title indicates, this is an "in progress" mod. The chin grille at foglight level is done. Only the passenger side sections of the main (upper) grille are done for real. I hung the grille on the truck while the paint was drying and took a pic; then edited in photoshop to get a preview of the finished good. The driver side is a mirror image. I could leave the top slice open the way it is. There is no delicate radiator, only non-critical structure behind there.

Once removing the grille is mastered, this mod is dead-arse simple to do and seems in keeping with the idea that the vehicle should take a bit of a lickin' and keep on tickin'. How often does a rock jump up and go thru the giant openings in the stock grille and take out a radiator? ...dunno. How often do I wanna walk 50 miles back to the nearest anything? Zero Never.

 

I like the idea - mine is similar but a bit more in depth. Keep us updated!!

 

Zul, Got pics?

 

Nice

 

Nope, I meant my idea is very similar... I havent started construction yet. I'm waiting until I can find a 2nd color-matched grille. Then I will tear apart this chrome one I have.

 

i like it

frankly I don't see any added "protection" from the mesh.. if a rocks going fast enough to break your radiator, it'll probably go right through the mesh.. I've never even heard of that happening on a tacoma

anyway.. it looks sick

 

Looks sick man.

 

Have you had it off yet? There is no tearing in 2012 if there was in previous years. (My last taco was a '96) No melt-points holding the chrome ring on at all. It doesn't "just" pop off, but it DOES pop off, can be prepped and blacked like I did, or prepped and color-matched, prolly cheaper than one already done. Pops right back together and back on the truck like nothing happened. On off on off on off. I don't know what my trouble ever was getting the grille off this truck. LOL ha ha ha ha. ..oh.. people. Back to the lab now.

 

Thanx. I'm just un-old enough to know that sick is good. It's important for it to not look too stupid sitting around waiting to be tested for practicality. I agree the most extreme scenario were discussing is very lo liklihood, and I think 50/50 whether the mesh would slow any particular projectile down enough. I've seen li'l stones still popping and skittering 100 yards behind a fast mover. Gotta put kinda something mesh out there to at least pray over. I'll go for the fins getting some level less abuse from the smaller more routine things and being an easier-to-clean bug-catcher too.

 

BTW what lights do you have in the lower inner grille area? I really like the look of those oblong-style lights, especially in there where they fit perfectly.

 

Looks good- noticed ur truck has two antennas also would help if you sprayed the radiator black

 

...and no steering wheel. Prolly a result of that Photoshop thing I mentioned at thread-head. Got the chin and passenger side done. Figured the driver side would look similar and wanted to see the finished product during a break.

 

Hella FF75 Blue. They fit real nice and take an H7 bulb which Hella sells in a 100 watt version. We'll see if the FF75's melt when I try those out. Mondo-bitch'o getting 'em mounted in there though. Bonus feature: The structural bumper is a pretty solid platform for wiggle-less light installation.

 

Very nice!

 

...and that is that! I decided no more cutting, so the lower section mesh in the main grille is behind the cross-pieces. Oh well. Functional if not pretty.

 

Very sharp looking!! I like it! Can we see some quarter shots of the front?

 

Here's what she looks like in dawn's early light in the frickin' frigid California morning air. Not real striking in the full-quartering shot in this light, even with exposure compensation. I included a closeup quartering also, so at least you can get a good sideways look that way. I'll try for a better full-quartering shot when it warms and lightens up outside.

 

I like it! Now, I really want a new 2012, the front-end is so much cooler and the inside is like a spaceship.

 

...and I like the logo!! I have thought from day 1 that the damn thing looks like a longhorn steer head. You make it explicit. I have redneck roots, but I am not that fond of the belt buckle in the center of my grille. Thank you for making fun of it.

 

looks great man! any shots of the install,cutting mesh, and mounting it?