2012+ Grill mod write up 'thin lip' Custom Car Grills DIY

Where'd you Get your emblem from?

 

Any comments about flat black over gloss for the mesh???

thanks................

 

I've had both. Gloss on the Satoshi I made for my last tacoma, and flat black for my grill on my current tacoma. I prefer the flat black. It's been holding up well. There are a few chips in it from stones from the highway.

 

In school and did not have time to read through the thread but 2 questions:

1: Can the cure time be sped up? (I.E heat gun/hair dryer) I live in the south east with hot dry days and nights but my truck almost never goes more than 18 hours without being driven.
2: How hard is the cutting of the original grill? I'm fairly new at Dremel cutting.

 

1) This probably depends on what kind of adhesive you use. If you use the goop, there probably isn't a whole lot you can do to speed it up. Best thing I would say to do is try to apply it the night before and let it sit overnight. See how dry it is the next morning.

2) Cutting the grill isn't super hard, but it does take some patience. Once you cut out the main guts of the grill, it may be a good idea to practice on the pieces you won't reuse.

 

I got my grill done yesterday. I love the new look!

 

What is the best way to fasten the emblems after the grill is installed?

 

Just did mine as well.

Quick thanks to Matt of customcargirlls.com, excellent customer service and a great product.

Also thanks to OP, his additional pics and info on page 1 assisted with the installation!

 

Much thanks for this. Currently leaning towards this route - and I'm not exactly looking forward to it.

 

It's not that bad, just make sure you have a good dremmel. You'll be taking off more then you think.

 

Starting on mine this afternoon. Thanks for the write up I've had the parts laying around for a while and this along with the video will hopefully turn out properly

 

I'll probably be doing mine in the next couple weeks. I'm scared.

 

I've got a bunch cut out already but nothing seems to fit where it's supposed to. Been reading and rereading this thread to see how bad I've messed up. Anyone local to east Dallas want to come show me what I'm doing wrong? Lol

 

Ok 2 questions on this because it would make more sense to me after taking a break and now having some bourbon to clear my head.

The spots on the white painted portion, are this supposed to be cut/trimmed off?

Another is on the black plastic will I need to cut way up into the top portion to make the mesh fit? I'm just not following with what's in the video and pics in this thread... I keep reading you'll need to cut more than you think, but want to make sure I'm not butchering something that is needed.

 

I am in the middle of doing this right now.

Yes, those tabs need to be cut out.

As far as what you need to cut out of the black inner plastic, just follow the shape outlined in with the silver sharpee in the video and cut away any more plastic as needed when you test fit.

www.customcargrills.com/Toyota-Truck-Grills.asp

 

last question till I'm out of my beverage. Do the 2 large tabs at the bottom stay in place? It seems those are the one that hold the bottom in place and on the truck.

 

yup. those should stay

 

Rushed through it a little and was using some extra JB Weld epoxy I had but came out decent. I'll probably re-do it at some point since the bottom portion isn't completely flush. For now, its fine.

 

Well once I figured out that I didn't have a "custom car grill" branded grill it made life much easier because I didn't care how it fit and I just cut it all up to go in properly.