1999 grill options

I like the grill look of the 01 + first gens but know they don't fit without replacing the front end.
What are my options here? I don't really like the old first gen look as much, I know I could grill craft or sotashi but I haven't seen an older first gen with them yet.
Anyone have any advice? Thanks

 

The 97 grills somewhat look like the newer ones without the vertical bars. Will they fit?

 

The 95-97 grille swap is much easier than 01-04 swap

Here's a great thread (with lots of info in it) http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/192427-98-96-97-front-end-swap.html

In short if you were to swap to a 95-97 (which is what I'm going to do), you'll need:

Grille/grille surround
Headlight assemblies
Headlight fillers

And maybe a new bumper/valence. I am under the impression that it probably is not necessary.

The person you want to contact is STLHarry...

Good luck.

PS - where in CO are you? If you do the swap maybe we can meet up and help each other

 

I'm on the westslope. What about you? Also any grill options that could just fit ? Maybe aftermarket

 

I'm in Boulder/front range

The 95-97 grille will indeed just fit. But you obviously need new headlight assemblies and those little headlight/bumper fillers.

I don't know of any aftermarket grilles (other than those trying to recreate OEM) that would fit. I'd assume that's such a small market niche that no one manufactures anything like it.

Go to rockauto - the grilles are $32 or something like that. The fillers are about $3 each, and you can buy super cheap headlight assemblies.

 

Satoshi I made
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/722/4129/39304564051_large.jpg

 

Two versions of the grill I did:



Then I decided to mount the grill material flush, and painted the surround black:

 

Man those look good. What did they cost you? either of you have a write up for it? or interested in selling lol

 

have you seen the write up for what we are trying to do yet? like is there an exact one for the grill swap?

 

I make them too order if your interested
Pm me exactly what your looking for and I'll give you and estimate

 

There isn't a detailed write up for a 98-00 to a 95-97.

If you click on that TW link I provided above, you'll see some of my posts have links to other forums which have some walkthroughs/answers/etc

The closest thing to a write up is STLHarry's swap. He put a 95-97 grille/front-end on a 01-04. Like I said though, that is more intensive than putting a 95-97 grille on a 98-00

If you search for STLHarry, he has a link to his write up in his signature.

While you're at it, he has a lot of answers (which are mostly posted in that thread I linked above)

 

Mine was pretty cheap because I didnt buy a new grill to work with. So all I paid for was the mesh, fiberglass, and bondo. I'd say $50-60. Havent seen a detailed write-up but I have been thinkin about doing one. I took pictures for the majority of the process

 

Thanks guys, You should do the write up AK, and thanks for all the info Madjik. When are you doing yours?

 

Did you find a total price to do this by the way? out of curiousity

 

Satoshi write-up is now in the works. should be done later tonight

 

Or you can see if there are any junk yards to see if you can get cheaper parts?

And maybe scour the for sale marketplace here on TW

 

Thanks man that looks good. Did; you do yours?

 

Nice man turned out well