4Runner Grille Please Help

[Matt Starr]

I just demolished my grille, does anyone know where I can get one cheap and what other grilles from other toyotas fit, like Mike's or the project sport runner.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

Irbis?

Is Irbis Off Road out?

They typically have a few Runners and Comas parting out.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

That's gay. How did you do it?

Check some local junk yards.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I need a grille too, one from the 01-02 model...

only ones on eBay are the older ones 96-00 and new ones which run for 70-80 bucks.

 

[beallen21]

I just demolished my grille, does anyone know where I can get one cheap and what other grilles from other toyotas fit, like Mike's or the project sport runner.

haha what happened? I almost screwed the pooch trying to get mine off the first time, I was definitely trying to make it harder than it had to be

 

[Rbv714]

Getting the grille off my 4runner was one of the most difficult things I have ever attempted. Im sure I was just missing the concept but i ended up breaking every pin.

I need a new one too. Do they come with the front emblem?

 

[Matt Starr]

I found out that the grille is covered in a metal coating. I've been trying to paint it so that it won't chip so i decided to try to peel the metal coating off. Bad idea:bash:

 

[Clemsonfan15]

You tried to peel the chrome off?

 

[DavidAlexander]

I dont know about being cheap, but here is the chrome and the paintable. D
01-02 grilles

 

[Matt Starr]

You tried to peel the chrome off?

Well the chrome is just a coating. The grille is plastic, wrapped with a layer of (im guessing) aluminum. Then the chrome is painted onto the metal, or if its a painted grille, then they prime it and paint it. The reason its wrapped in metal is because your grille gets nailed by road debris all the time and the metal layer protects it. So by peeling it off, road debris is going to obliterate it. So moral of the story, I'm an idiot :xnuts:

 

[mike1305]

Mine was super easy to make. I have taken my grill on and off so many times I could do it blindfolded. Here I've copied what I PM'ed to Matt Starr, so you all can see what I did too.

I basically built that grill from scratch, actually!

I used a dremel and a drill to cut out the center of the grill.

See how it's just the chrome edges?

Then I went to customcargrills.com and was lucky enough to find a perfect size piece of black mesh metal. Check out the scrapheap here, or click around the site to find their other grill mesh products.

http://www.customcargrills.com/products.asp?id=62

Then I used wirecutters to cut the mesh to the exact size of the opening, and drilled small holes in the back of the plastic to wrap zipties around with.

I did that on all four corners, and the top and bottom in the middle.

Fo_Sheezy sent me his TOYOTA and 4RUNNER emblems off of his 2008 in the mail, and I epoxied the TOYOTA to the grill.

Hope that helps!

 

[Ron Helmuth]

very cool and custom look

mike1305 that is some cool custom work on that grille work that many of us just would not attempt.

I see a lot of you guys are pretty skilled at one thing or more.

Like FoSheezy jeez I think of him as Mr LEDs and Mr Big Wheels and MR BLING BLING....


mike would you want to customize some other folks grilles as a hobby or money making venture? or do you just enjoy the one offs for your own ride? I really like that "Satoshi look" but dang now having seen yours....

For example my son did my custom rear spoiler paint work and that may be of some near equivalent value.....

sorry Matt for the thread hijack- did ya find one yet?

 

[mike1305]

aw shucks, thanks for the comments. to be honest I really didn't know what I was doing, I just tried it! I guess I got lucky. We'll see about durability, though - at this point, I would not feel comfortable taking that thing through a drive-through car wash or a hand car-wash in fears that it might dent. When I had my car washed right after I did it, I just unclipped the grill and kept it in the back, and left the open hole... my radiator got nice and clean again!

I might be interested in doing it for others on the side. maybe just anything custom. I think the grill is one of the most important parts of a car as far as defining the looks... It's the "face" of the car. So I made sure it was exactly what I wanted.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

well it is a fine job you did

That is a distinctive look to your ride.

I would be first in line if you decide you would like to try it for cash or trade.

I would probably just line up a spare grille so that in case anything went wrong it would not be life altering....

Keep me in mind sir....this could be about 3-4 mods down the road....

 

[mike1305]

I added reinforcement!

I added my new clear bulbs from burtman and decided it was time to do this as well while i had the front end taken apart.

New clear bulbs:

I just thought this looked cool.

College at it's finest.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Dude, that's awesome. That's a lot of beer pong.




Oh yeah, the grill is cool too.

 

[prolite1]

I have a used grille for '99 runner if anyone is interested. $50

 

[mike1305]

yeah, 78 cups on each side, a 30 pack on each side... 5 vs 5 game. it was epic.

And thanks about the grill! haha

 

[david_ray320]

yeah, 78 cups on each side, a 30 pack on each side... 5 vs 5 game. it was epic.

And thanks about the grill! haha

Haha shit, a 30 rack for each side? Talk about shit-housed. We did 20 cup my freshman year and I thought that was badass. Touche, Mike.

 

[tineman06]

hey guys,
will a 2002 grille fit on my 2000? I saw a pic of the back and the mounts look the same... just wondering?