Satoshi GrillCraft *How To* w/ pics

i think it looks kinda cool with the stock grille pieces lift on instead of taken off...picture 5, looks cool and unique to me

 

thanks for the compliments boys!

 

That does look much simpler. Would you mind taking a close up picture of the inside of the grill? The part on the outside of the truck where you put that putty?
If you get really close, is it really smooth or can you tell that work was done to it?

 

^ that all depends on how thorough you work with the finishing putty

 

np, i'll take some pics tomorrow and post for ya

 

awesome sweetness with cherries on top.

 

What exactly is the "finishing putty"? Do you have a pic of the container? If you can save me from ever having to break out fiberglass and bondo again, you'll be my hero.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BNQk6jlCfw&NR=1:D

...Satoshi With Epoxy instead of fiberglass? BRILLIANT!

 

Awesome, nice job, that's how i'm gonna do mine!

 

that damn method looks GREAT! i'm way late to the game. how does the grill attach. i'm gonna do this.

 

I just thought about something. I'm at work and don't have photoshop or any of that so bear with me while I try and explain my idea. It's probably not even necessary since you say it feels solid but.....

What if after you cut out that piece of plastic that you traced and cut out, you glue that piece to another sort of "backing plate"? Then when inserting it all into place, you can glue the "backing piece" onto the grill surround (On the part that is inside the engine bay). All this will be on the backside of the grill and away from view anyway. I think that would make a much better/solid union... Then of course follow with the putty and the rest of the steps. Since the piece will be mostly held in place by the "backing piece", you could sand down the piece you traced and cut a little bit so that when placing it on the grill, it'll be recessed a little bit. That in theory should make the process of sanding down the putty to a good even surface with the rest of the grill easier... I've never worked with any of that stuff so this is just an idea...

What do you guys think? Do you understand what i'm saying? Do you think that'll be better? or am i just complicating it more than necessary?

 

... Thinking about it, if the back is not flat, it might not work so well since the backing plate will not sit flush with the backside.... Idunno. Just a thought

 

i picked it up at my local body shop supply store. here's a pic for ya:



it comes as a thick paste. just squeezed it out on to the back of an old dinner plate (you can see it in the background), squeezed a bead of hardener that came with it (1:50 ratio of hardener to putty), mixed the hardener throughout the putty, then spread it on the sanded grill plastic to cover up any uneven surfaces.

it'll give you a couple minutes to spread after you mix the hardener in before it sets and dries. then sand until smooth and paint.

you're done.

 

you just drill a few holes from the back side and use zip ties to secure the grill insert. i'll post pics later today

 

thought of that too, but the epoxy holds the insert in place so well that it's there's no need. the bond is easily strong enough to pick up the entire grill from the insert. i'll take a pic of the backside for ya and post later today

 

How much is the grillcraft grille you used and where did you order it from?
...and BTW thanks! this definitely is more my speed for a successful mod!

 

grillcraft runs $200? dam.... Nice job.... +1 rep.

 

Looks great Klipp!

 

great job man! what about a pic on your truck?

 

$140 shipped with the gb
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/group-buys/69672-grillcraft-group-buy-again.html