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Reputable seller/site for quality black grill assembly?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by MamaTried81, Aug 28, 2019.

  1. Aug 28, 2019 at 2:16 PM
    #1
    MamaTried81

    MamaTried81 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I did a search and found mostly old info.

    Has anyone recently (past year or two) bought a quality, black grill assembly for their 1st gen? If you liked what you received, what was the site/seller?

    Prices for those range from $50-$200+ on the web and it's hard to tell the quality and what shade of black from the low-res pics. I'd like to spend less than $100, just trying to make sure I don't buy some terrible/delicate knockoff.
    Thanks
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2019
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  2. Aug 28, 2019 at 2:57 PM
    #2
    MamaTried81

    MamaTried81 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Come on dude. This is not helpful. As I said, I've found plenty of them on the web (including Amazon), but what I want is first hand experience to vouch for an affordable one that isn't awful.

    Exhibit A. Hard to tell if this is any good or not. 1 review that's about 5 words long.
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FKZ46T6/?coliid=I158FIU6VU9W8O
     
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  3. Aug 28, 2019 at 4:04 PM
    #3
    Area51Runner

    Area51Runner Well-Known Member

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    What I found - its hit or miss. I ordered from a seller on ebay. Showed up damaged. PITA to send it back but did. Next, Amazon order. Arrived ok and while it did 'fit', it didn't fit without persuasion. Talking about the lower piece directly below the headlights. Ended up tweaking the metal tabs a bit to make it work. The guy on Amazon I bought from is out of stock but I'm sure there are others.

    https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GEQPQE

    If you can afford the OEM cost, get that one - you know its going to fit perfectly. If you want to save some cash, go with one of the aftermarket amazon players and know you might have to work with it. At 65 bones, guess you cant really complain. Another alternative would be to look at craigslist and just paint it.

    All this doesn't answer your question on a reputable seller though... sorry. If I see one come up on CL, I'll shoot you a message since we're in the same area.
     
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    #3
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  4. Aug 28, 2019 at 4:48 PM
    #4
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    I generally avoid Amazon for auto parts. They sell books and games, and there have definitely been times they indicate (incorrectly) if a particular part actually fits your vehicle. I've had a helluva time trying to buy a welder form them. :frusty:

    I would go first to rockauto for a cheaper option. ~$50

    https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2002,tacoma,3.4l+v6,1388987,body,grille,1384

    or somewhere like Camelback Toyota for the OEM option. ~$200+

    https://partsfactory.camelbacktoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-grille-5310004250c0?c=Zz1ib2R5JnM9Z3JpbGxlLWFuZC1jb21wb25lbnRzJmw9NCZuPUFzc2VtYmxpZXMgUGFnZSZhPXRveW90YSZvPXRhY29tYSZ5PTIwMDImdD1wcmUtcnVubmVyJmU9My00bC12Ni1nYXM=
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2019
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  5. Aug 28, 2019 at 8:46 PM
    #5
    jdmstuff

    jdmstuff Well-Known Member

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    IMG-1016 (1).jpg Most of the cheap ones on Amazon or Ebay are going to come from the same manufacturer. With that being said, I bought the one you linked to on Amazon. It showed up broken in the usual spots, but a little bit of plastic welding and reinforcement with some shoe goo, made it good as new. I was using it to make my own grille anyway, so spending $200 on an OEM one was going to be a waste of money.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2019
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  6. Aug 28, 2019 at 8:50 PM
    #6
    Area51Runner

    Area51Runner Well-Known Member

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    by all means yes... if you're going to hack it up to mod the grille most definitely go with the cheapo Amazon. guess I lucked out it wasn't cracked :thumbsup:
     
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  7. Aug 29, 2019 at 7:30 AM
    #7
    MamaTried81

    MamaTried81 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks y'all. My stock grill surround is chrome, as are the front and rear bumpers. My Trail Gear low profile front bumper is being delivered today and it'll be powder coated black, so I'm just thinking ahead. I'm thinking the chrome is probably going to look a bit "off", but I guess I'll just wait and see how it turns out. No need to rush into buying things I may not need/want.
     
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  8. Aug 29, 2019 at 7:44 AM
    #8
    Area51Runner

    Area51Runner Well-Known Member

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    I thought the same... Installed the ARB and had that Amazon grille sitting unused on the parts shelf. Gave it a couple of coats from the rattle can I used on my fender flares and picked up some corner lights as well. Wanted to ditch the chrome now that I had that ARB installed. Trouble is, I don't want to hassle with removing it and reinstalling (PITA) just for that grille. I have a larger trans cooler I want to put on so figured I would do everything at the same time.

    Now for the kicker...

    The chrome doesn't bother me so much anymore. I'm ok with it, so back to the parts shelf it went. :anonymous:

    upload_2019-8-29_7-40-52.jpg
     
  9. Aug 29, 2019 at 7:47 AM
    #9
    MamaTried81

    MamaTried81 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    YES. THIS. Thanks bud! This gives me hope, lol
    I like to stick with OEM/stock parts whenever possible, particularly if it's cosmetic and not a performance upgrade. I'm going to wait it out. I'll probably dig it once it all comes together.
     
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  10. Aug 29, 2019 at 2:24 PM
    #10
    FrankJake

    FrankJake Well-Known Member

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  11. Aug 29, 2019 at 2:28 PM
    #11
    MamaTried81

    MamaTried81 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Looks like you're just talking about the grill itself. Sorry if I was unclear, I'm talking about the grill assembly/surround. Mine is currently chrome (stock/factory). The stock grill itself doesn't bother me, it's black and looks cool enough. I just don't know how the chrome surround is going to look with a black bumper/front-end.
     
  12. Aug 29, 2019 at 2:31 PM
    #12
    FrankJake

    FrankJake Well-Known Member

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    Yes I am only replacing the insert. Let me ck around. I found an entire grill for about $129. I’ll have to look around to find the site.
     
  13. Aug 29, 2019 at 2:39 PM
    #13
    MamaTried81

    MamaTried81 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have found plenty of sellers, my original question was calling for anyone who bought one online and liked what they got, to please provide a link or seller/site name.

    BUT during the course of this thread, Area51Runner reminded/demonstrated that I might not actually mind the look of the chrome once the new bumper is installed, so I decided to wait and see before spending money on a grill assembly I may not really need.
     
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  14. Aug 29, 2019 at 3:20 PM
    #14
    tacotime1

    tacotime1 Well-Known Member

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    I have a tube bumper with chrome grille and don’t think it looks terrible.

    CB8F0334-17F3-4CAC-B072-AAFEC8B852C8.jpg
     
  15. Aug 29, 2019 at 3:22 PM
    #15
    MamaTried81

    MamaTried81 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    @tacotime1 Agreed!

    I think I just got carried away with blacking things out. I recently bought some black wheels, so I thought I needed to keep with the theme, but clearly I do not. Your truck looks great
     
  16. Aug 29, 2019 at 3:26 PM
    #16
    FrankJake

    FrankJake Well-Known Member

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    B644296C-DFD5-49E7-A531-F8F2AD717A15.jpg
    Here is a photo of my truck. I did NOT do any of this myself. The previous owner did. As you can see the grill insert is bent and looks terrible. I don’t care for the carbon fiber look hood. Personally I’d like a little bit of chrome to offset so much black. Everyone has their opinions. Now if the truck was all black, I think it would look okay. I’ve just started working on a few things I don’t like. Hopefully this will give you an idea of what an all black front might look like. I’m hoping once I get the new insert it will look a lot better. I hope you find what you want.
     
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  17. Aug 29, 2019 at 3:30 PM
    #17
    MamaTried81

    MamaTried81 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    @FrankJake thanks yeah I have a 2002 ext cab, lunar mist, so here is almost exactly what my truck would look like with the black front end. It looks good. But that doesn't mean the chrome won't also look good. I'll wait and see and decide once the bumper is in place. It arrives today then still has to go to the powder coater. This is the same color truck, same bumper I just bought.

    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Aug 29, 2019 at 3:38 PM
    #18
    quetzal

    quetzal Well-Known Member

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    I thought about blackening out the front too, but I think the 1st gen should retain some of it's originality - at least for me. I already did the blacked out wheels.

    IMG_1391_eccfd91c1338206723c202000280f23a716453f0.jpg
     
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  19. Aug 29, 2019 at 3:40 PM
    #19
    MamaTried81

    MamaTried81 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have those same wheels! Lookin' good
     
  20. Aug 29, 2019 at 3:43 PM
    #20
    FrankJake

    FrankJake Well-Known Member

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    Both trucks look great with their own distinctiveness.
     
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