2004 Satoshi Grill Mod

[paraordnance]

What do you guys think? Took me about 2 months to complete. After I removed stock grill from truck and started cutting it there was no way back and I was just about to give up (and order stock replacement) when brittle outframe snapped in half :bash: Fiberglass, bondo and hours and hours of sanding. I must have put 40-50 hours of my time into it. But I do like the results though :lmao: TRD emblem ordered from Taiwan on ebay finishes a package nicely. I get a lot of compliments from friends, and in fact the front of my 4Runner looks nowhere like stock, and thats was my main goal.

Painting radiator and cutting lower part of stock plastic grill

Black background looks deep & rich without flash

I attached it with some threaded rod and JB-Weld. Mesh came from customcargrills (diamond mesh), I ordered powdercoated (+$extra) and it was beyond my expectation. Has a little flex, just enough to bend it in shape but not enough to get damaged by wind/carwash or incoming insects

Most of the time I was trying to locate some mesh, could not find any at reasonable price in Canada. At some point was even considering stucco mesh, but that stuff is just too soft.
Without TRD emblem

And completed

 

[paraordnance]

to complete the clean looks I de-badged the rear tailgate of stock toyota emblems, and used spare TRD one to finish it up. Not really applicable here, I know, but it looks different

Dont want to discourage you or anything but this a where its all started from

you see about 2/3 up the grill in vertical there is gaps, thats where it broke in half :redbrick:

Fiberglass to the bottom section (2 layers did nicely)

To the sides I did 1 layer of fiberglass, I have to fix it now, its not strong enough

I know on +06 this job is little easier. Since I cut my grill so low I had to relocate hood release as well. It will be welded to bumper support but access to it is exactly as stock.

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Looks pretty cool. everytime I see one I wanna do it but then I remember I'm not good at body work.

 

[paraordnance]

Looks pretty cool. everytime I see one I wanna do it but then I remember I'm not good at body work.

me neither. What I dont like about it its a gap between removable grill and a hood. It showed before and it shows now. My next step is to get bodyshop to get them look like one peice. I dont have a courage and skills to do it since the hood needs to be repainted

 

[Autbond]

This is so funny, I am almost done with my satoshi grille too! It will be done tomorrow, the guy that is doing it messed up my stock hood and had to pay to get it replaced at the body shop. Mine was supposed to be done over a week ago. The way that I did mine left a lot more open than yours though. I also thought about the TRD emblem on ebay but really wanted one in the center of the grille because otherwise it looks like a missing grille. The last picture is kind of what my grille is going to look like. The V8 emblem is also painted white.

 

[FourEyedWilly]

I think I like it. Which is saying something because I've never been a fan of aftermarket grills. I think you did a really good job! I *think* I'd like to see something in the middle but that's just me. Good job though, clean looking!

 

[paraordnance]

This is so funny, I am almost done with my satoshi grille too! It will be done tomorrow, the guy that is doing it messed up my stock hood and had to pay to get it replaced at the body shop. Mine was supposed to be done over a week ago. The way that I did mine left a lot more open than yours though. I also thought about the TRD emblem on ebay but really wanted one in the center of the grille because otherwise it looks like a missing grille. The last picture is kind of what my grille is going to look like. The V8 emblem is also painted white.

Autbond, your truck is one of the best I seen around here, not kidding you! It looks so brutal in white with all the mods you done to it! Just plain crazy, one day I'll have money to do the same to my 4Runner
I was considering middle "Toyota" emblem as well but that's what everybody does with satoshi grill these days, Tacomas, Tundras, you name it, so I decided to step out of the crowd and do something different. Particulary to the lower portion of it to match
The ones who lucky enough to have +06, its little easier to work with and you use a bigger frame to begin with. There is a lot of room for improvement, but I'm glad I done for now, since I been driving without one for months

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Ugh! If I could find a guy that did yours, Autbond, in SA then I would defiantly do it. if not then I'll suck it up and buy the Jaos one.

 

[paraordnance]

Autbond, last picture is so reminding me this one

 

[Slvr RnR]

This is so funny, I am almost done with my satoshi grille too! It will be done tomorrow, the guy that is doing it messed up my stock hood and had to pay to get it replaced at the body shop. Mine was supposed to be done over a week ago. The way that I did mine left a lot more open than yours though. I also thought about the TRD emblem on ebay but really wanted one in the center of the grille because otherwise it looks like a missing grille. The last picture is kind of what my grille is going to look like. The V8 emblem is also painted white.

I like it Autbond! I think i like it so much becasue I'm in the middle of doing the exact same thing, to be finished this weekend. I have the exact same FJ40 "TOYOTA" emblem as well, I just haven't decided whether to paint it white or Titanium Metalic. I plan on leaving the "V8" off. I'll be watching for your finished product.

paraordnance - I like it. But it'll look even better if you can find someone to close that gap.

 

[Autbond]

If you ship yours to the guy that did mine he will do yours. Ill ask him how much.

 

[Autbond]

Thanks for the compliments, she's a work in progress but I love the way it's coming around too. It's amazing how well you did at matching the JAOS satoshi grille. I haven't seen that landcrusier before but I got the idea from a guy on tacomaworld that had a white taco with the satoshi and white Toyota but it was wider and taller lettering than what I got. I thought since my grille is smaller than a Tacos then I needed smaller lettering but I kinda wish I had gotten the bigger one. We will see once it is finished tomorrow. That bigger emblem was $120! Compared to $75 everywhere for mine and I found it for $35. The emblem on that landcruiser is the exact one. Looks great, congrats on your build!

 

[berettashot117]

the toyota logo is pretty sweet. good job to both of you! ive considered this mod, but if it happens i will probably go the jaos route

 

[Autbond]

I like it Autbond! I think i like it so much becasue I'm in the middle of doing the exact same thing, to be finished this weekend. I have the exact same FJ40 "TOYOTA" emblem as well, I just haven't decided whether to paint it white or Titanium Metalic. I plan on leaving the "V8" off. I'll be watching for your finished product.

paraordnance - I like it. But it'll look even better if you can find someone to close that gap.

I would color match it to your truck for sure; I would not paint it white though. Leave it the stock chrome over painting it white. Mine will be done this afternoon!

 

[Autbond]

Mine finished without the emblems. Emblems will be on Sa****ay along with the train horn! I don't know whether to put both the V8 emblem on along with the Toyota emblem or just the V8 or just the Toyota or leave it with nothing. Excuse the Iphone 4 pics; my camera has been being repaired for 3 weeks so when I get it back I will post some better shots (probably a parking deck).

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[mehuddles13]

Both of those look great...good job guys!! Autbond I think if you removed that Auburn tag it would look a LOT better...LOL

 

[Autbond]

I appreciate that you like the grille; not so much removing the auburn tags I think it looks pretty classy to be honest. Haha

 

[ecrew16]

Great work you guys, I'm glad the satoshi mod is coming over to 4th gens. The TRD badge really completes it man!

 

[Autbond]

Here it is how it sits now. I decided on both the Toyota and the V8 emblems, both painted white.

 

[Dbadtoy]

So I have a extra grill and I am gonna try this mod. What size diamond mesh did you order?