How Are People In This Forum Changing the Front Chrome Piece?

Wow, I didn’t realize how long it’s been since the new grille arrived. Weather and other stuff, but I finally got it installed yesterday. It looks so much better than that stupid chrome that I’ve hated since I bought the truck new in 2011.

Now, the install did not go as smoothly as most experience. The two clips on the bottom were a pain to get out and it sounded like I broke stuff when the first clip finally released. As for getting the new grille in, I was Never able to get the bottom clips in no matter how much force I used, so I just bolted the top down and it seems fairly secure. Is there a trick to getting those bottom clips in?

To think the dealer wanted 2 hours labor at $110/hour for a total of $220 to install the grille! Ripoff! You can be sure they will never see this vehicle again unless it is for free warranty work.

I took some video but have not processed it yet. It shows how difficult the two bottom clips were to get out and that I was never able to re-seat those clips with the new grill. I may post the video later. Below are before and after photos. I don’t know why the different angles of the truck in the two photos as the camera was on a tripod. I wanted the before and after photos to be from the exact same angle. I can screw up the simplest of tasks, and I made money with my cameras for years.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...gen-tacoma-today.6499/page-4309#post-12264981

 

I was referring to the two clips at the bottom of the grille as shown in the photo below. One on each end of the grille at the bottom of the grille.

 

Scoured the web high and low for only a grill surround (without the insert) and can't seem to find one, might be the verbiage i'm using. Camelback Toyota is just a hop and a skip away for me but doesn't look like there's an option for just the surround. If anyone knows where I can just get a super white surround for the 12-15's I'll take any links or advice I can get.

Cheers!

 

To get these to pop into place, you have to remove them from the slots in the headlights they go into, and then put them on the grille before you install it. Then they should pop right into place easily whenever you set the grille in place. I also noticed this whenever i swapped my grille out for a color matched honeycomb grille.

 

How's the color match (in person)? Is it spot on identical?

 

My color was pretty damn spot on, I ordered it through Camelback about 2yrs ago.

 

The clips shown in last photo came already installed on the new grille. The old ones are still attached to the old grille and were a bear to get out from where they were attached.

 

Dang close. The truck has always been parked outside, so it has seen 6 ½ years of sitting in the weather, so the original paint isn’t new by a long shot, but to see a difference, you have to look real close and know that the grill is new and the truck is not. I’m very pleased with it. Looks so much better than that stupid chrome.

 

I've been wanting to get rid of my chrome grill since I got my truck in 2014. And replace with a new pyrite one. I wonder what we can sell our chromes for on eBay.

 

I don’t have a clue. I haven’t looked into what these are selling for yet. I had a guy that wanted it, but that was 2 months ago. Don’t know if he’s still interested or not. When I sell it, I’ll pack it in the box the new grille came in with all the packing material that came with the new one.

 

2 hrs to replace a grill.. that's service writer speak for "do it yourself, we're busy"

 

I found a 2011 chrome grill for sale.
Put it on my 07 TRD, but first vinyl wrapped the chrome in blue carbon fibre, and black carbon wrapped the emblem.

I had to use 6 pieces of vinyl to wrap the bezel since I couldn't get 1 big piece to form correctly without distorting the carbon fibre texture.

 

I just changed mine over the weekend. Got a great deal from Camelback Toyota. The color matched grill came with the inset and emblem ready to mount.

 

Looks amazing, I just pinged the gents at Camelback since they are down the street to get a color matched grill for my tacoma (super white). Starting with some cosmetic mods first and then going to start on some other stuff after i've driven the truck for a month or so. Lookin good!

 

Just message Gunny1005 here on TW. He’ll set you up quick[/QUOTE]
I messaged him last night and he got me setup in some record time. I'll be picking up parts tomorrow and thursday. Already stoked.