95-96 grill sawp to 2001-2004?

Now I want to do this to my 2002 DC. is it just the hood and grill from a 96 or eq assuming you are also replacing the bumper? I like the older front ends a whole lot more and mine isn't in great condition anyway.

 

Hood, grille and the headlights, which are mounted separate from the grille. Also bumper. I would suggest using stlharrys write up, it’s what I followed being it was his truck before I got it. He did a better job of jbwelding the headlight mount screws but I just used bolts I had laying around and used nuts on both sides to keep it tight and still adjustable in and out. Don’t mind the extra hole in the second pic, I miss calculated and was off too much and had to redrill
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/95766-how-95-5-97-grille-swap-onto-01-04-a.html

I believe you would have to do the bumper as well. I just swapped the ARB from the other truck but before I did I had put the 96 grille on and it leaves a gap in the middle because of the slight curve of the 01-04 and flatness of 96.





Since you asked, Here’s a couple more pics. I think once I get the hood painted it will look a lot better matching the topper. Just painting it black as I don’t want to deal with trying to color match and looking off.
My favorite is without the bed and topper imagining an Aussie style canopy like Shaunos Dirty 30, pretty much exactly what canopy I’d make, half tray and half dog box on the back that can easily hold bikes, skis, and maybe a RTT in the future but I’ll stick to a swag for now haha.

 

Dude your truck is beautiful thanks for all the info. Will definitely be doing this in the near future. It looks exactly like I thought it would but even better. Looks like it came from factory like that and nothing off or weird about it. Thanks again.

 

No problem man, I did use zip ties as all of the clips were either broken or wouldnt reach all the way. So I just sucked everything nice and tight with some heavy duty zip ties, definitely shouldn’t pop out of place over any bumps or anything. If I ever take it off I’ll have to redo it but I don’t plan to take it off anytime soon lol
Also a little tip for the side lights, I think I remember I had to kinda put them in at the same time to make them fit right. I can’t remember if I zipped tied them as I fit them but just had to finesse it and take your time on them, I almost broke off a mount on the bottom trying to force it, luckily I noticed before going to far. I didn’t use the 96 lights, kept the 01 because they have painted trim.

Ohh haha almost forgot that you will have to replace the hood latch as well. Pretty easy to do

 

Appreciate it. So the side lights on 95 and 01-04 are the same i presume?

 

They are the same shape but mount a little different.
The 96 lights have screws in the side where I believe the 01-04 have clips and then connect to the grille on the top and bottom.
Swapping a 96 grille onto an 01-04 is no drama with the side lights but isn’t the same fitting 96 side lights with an 01-04 grille. Explained more below







Also for the OP wanting to fit a 01-04 grille on a 96, the 96 side lights with a 01-04 grille requires cutting this part of the grille off. I chose not to do it as I plan on keeping the grille, so I’m not sure if this is all that would require to be cut but it appears that is all that’s holding it up.


Or it will just look like this hah