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

Finely got it done. Thanks for this write-up - it helped. Although, the cutting was actually the easy part. If you take your time and have some attention to detail, it's not hard at all. It's the Goop application which sucked. There's gotta be an easier way.

Anyways, as others have commented, it's not perfect, but it looks alright. If I had a pretty mall-crawler truck where I obsessed over every detail, I'd probably be disappointed in this grill, but since I beat on my truck and just wanted an open mesh for the lights, I'm happy. Especially for the price.

 

Its now been just under 3 years. Just a little update on it. Everything is holding up great. Paint finish has been great and the construction has held up. No loose areas what so ever. Everyones grills look most excellent!

 

I never installed mine, but I made mine without any goop/glue. I just did the cutout and sandwich the grille inbetween the housing. Still don't know if I want to install it or sell it. Reason for doing this is that if it ever got bent from damage, I just buy a new inner piece. I'll post a photo when I make time for it.

 

I like the idea of bending the edges in. Just curious, why havent you installed it?

 

door lock actuator went bad...have to fix that. Sound system to install. Suspension to install. Power 4runner seats to install. Steering wheel controls to install... etc. I'd pay someone to do it if I knew they were competant to do it right. Suspension I need to hire someone...don't have proper tools to do it. So never made time to install the grille and then I had second thoughts about it.

 

I can understand that. The nice thing about the grill, if you are trying to decide if you like it is you can swap both in and out in less than 5 minutes.

 

Just saw this thread, I did mine about 2 weeks ago following the CCG's you tube video. I think I did mine wrong... So you glue the mesh to the grill surround and then put the cut out plastic over? I did the opposite and put the surround on the plastic then glued the mesh which made the bottom part not flush at all.

 

Im not sure I completely understand. Are you saying you took the rear plastic off the oem grill? If I remember correctly, you just cut the plastic so as to allow the grill to lay between the out shell and the inner plastic. Kind of sandwiched between. Then glue the grill in place and use zip ties to draw the grill tight while the glue dries. Does that make sense?

 

yeah I messed up I didn't sandwich the grill..after I cut the inner plastic I joined the outshell and the plastic I cut then glued the mesh last.. From the you tube video on CCG's website that's what it looked like.

 

If it makes you feel any better I couldn't get mine to fit correctly like the ccg video shows so I did what you did.
If I remember correctly, you're supposed to put the bottom mesh between the two halves and the top half rests on the back then you goop it. Mine wouldn't fit in there right so I gooped it to the back of both halves.
Numerous people have seen it and never noticed it. I've had it at car shows and people would say they like my grill. I even had the chrome outer surround professionally painted and the painter said he thought it looks good.
Basically, you are going to be the only person who will notice it.

Post a picture

 

This is the one I have on my phone, there is a gap between the mesh and black plastic. Still looks good though.

 

Mine has some gap at the same spot. Its been a while, but I kinda remember it not being possible to get it perfectly flush on mine. You really have to look at it to see it.

 

Ok, yeah the gap is all in the bottom. Like you said you can't tell unless you get up close.

 

It looks exactly like mine. Good job on it btw!

 

Did mine a few weeks ago. Love it!

 

Thanks first time doing it.

 

Oh man that looks sweet. I told myself a new grill isn't worth the time or money but this makes it tough....

Looks good @moondeath

 

Mine was too.
As I was cutting mine apart my wife kept saying I was gonna mess it up,

 

Lol, I bought a extra grill just in case I fd up

 

5 minutes? I thought it take longer like taking the bumper cover off and such. If it's 5 minutes...It would be worth taking it off. What video or pointers (instructions) you got to make it a 5 minute job?