Would anyone be interested in replica TRD Faux grilles?

Went with the cruiser lettering as well, couldn’t be more pleased!

 

came out good! post up some pics of the emblem to grille install for others

 

Thanks for posting this man, I've got the exact same setup coming!!

Looks sharp AF

 

I tried to get a couple of good pictures but the lighting I had was terrible and they looked exactly like yours. I think the secret to success with this build is a strong, waterproof but flexible glue/epoxy. I’m pretty sure if I got hit head on by a train or sharknado the emblem mounts will still be attached to the grill.

I think I’m going to accent it with this guy on the tail gate. Kind of a throwback retro tribute to the older yotas.

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Ret...%3Ac8a141d515e0a9c9638f5adcffdaed15%7Ciid%3A1

 

Looks good! I see you're in Edmonton. How much was shipping to you? Debating this vs the TRD one from a local dealer. They have it listed at $375 CAD.

 

At first I was going to experiment an ABS cement, but epoxy seemed like the better choice because it fills in between the posts and the grille. I used a strong plastic epoxy and roughed up all the surfaces I glued.

Did you cut the center mount off too? I cut it off, sanded it down, and epoxied it between the middle of the emblem and the grille for a third support. I think the cross pieces of the grille would snap before the emblem breaks off.

 

I pretty much did the exact same thing, I used gorilla glue to the to hold the emblem in place, then used a plastic waterproof epoxy, also made by gorilla glue now that I look at it. I dremeled down the middle support as well, thinking about putting a screw with a large washer in the middle though to hold it in place a little better. But as you said the entire truck could explode and that emblem will still be attached to the grill.

 

Has anyone had issues with the letter coming in separately? I got my grille today but no letter inside.

 

BearCreek that looks really good. I am following the (small) herd and doing the same setup Johnny6 started. I had the same type of grill on my Gen2 and loved the retro look. Any photos of how you mounted the lettering piece? Did you do the same as Johhny6? Going to try and do it this weekend.

Edit: so it looks like everyone is just epoxying onto the center pieces of the grill, rather than drilling/screwing anything, right?

 

it'll make sense when you get the parts. the emblem has 3 posts on the back, i drilled 2 holes in the grill to poke them thru then glue or epoxy. i cut the center post out because its slightly off center

 

Ah, that makes sense. I wasn't putting the drilling and the epoxy action together. I've got everything here, so psyched to put it all together. Thanks for the inspiration!

 

My letters came in a day before the grille.

 

So is van kulture and Bay son r two completely different sellers? Might swing by Bayson in San Jose and pick one of these up. They used my old Subaru to test fit some front lips, I'd buy from them again. Can somewhere confirm where the grilles shipped from?

 

Decided to go for the faux grille too. Letters showed up a day before the grille for me as well. No issues putting it on; pretty happy with it.

 

Just measure multiple times and drill once. I loaded the backside with the epoxy and worked it down around the posts. Can't see the epoxy from the front.

 

Anyone heard whether Vankulture is going to offer 'TACOMA' as a letter set for this grill insert? I've been lurking this thread for a bit now since it was mentioned a while back to see if they would do it or if anyone had any solution on lettering. They did a good job on the grill - just looking for something a little different.....

 

Looks great! What size drill bit did you use? I got my dremmel tool out but the only bit I have looks a bit small...

 

I just got a better look at the posts. They have a sleeve on them that rotates, but is held in place by the plastic tip that is designed to do that. Do you know what I'm referring to? I can post a photo if needed. Did you leave those on, or take them off to have a slimmer post? It looks like the sleeve will fit, but requires a bigger hole to be drilled, and will leave less of the grille bar for support

 

I pulled the sleeves off and left them off. The sleeves will not seat fully with the post inserted in the grille bar and like you said leaving the sleeves on requires a large hole to be drilled which weakens the grille.

Started with a small pilot bit and then stepped it up to 3/16" once I was sure on the alignment. **You might be able to use one size smaller than that; I would go with the smallest hole that the post will go through.

 

How do the letters get attached to the grille? If I read correctly there are predefined holes in the grille that show where you should already drill? And then the letters pop in, people put metal clips (which are provided) over the tab that sticks through, and then just coat it in epoxy so it stays? Also, is there any active discount codes? Looking at the decal colors too, which one would be closest to the OEM grille color?