Need help building my "Satoshi" style grille

RussToy

RussToy

New member
Let me start this off by saying...."Im an idiot!!"...as well as...I'm not a happy camper!!

I read countless build threads on how to build a "Satoshi" style grill. A ton of you guys have built these grills on here. I think they give our 4Runners a cool custom look...especially since no one builds a grill for us! So, I attempted to build one. I have a 2000 SR5, so from what I was told and read...I needed a 96-98 style grill to begin with. So, I bought a grill for a '98...never thinking about checking it to make sure to mounted on my 2000! Instead, I jumped in with both feet...doing all the cutting, fiberglas, using a little filler, sanding, priming, painting, used mesh from Custom grill...found a cool "TOYOTA" emblem, painted it up all pretty and mounted it. What I ended up with...was nothing less than a master piece...if I must say so myself! I was so proud and excited...until I tried to install the grill!


The grill's mounting points did not match up with my '00 4Runner's mounting points. Therefore, I have this super cool looking grill....with about $150 wrapped up in it...not to mention the 40-50 man hours I spent...that now just hangs on my garage wall, because it won't fit my 4Runner. Can someone please explain what went wrong...other than I bought the wrong grill..lol!!

Anyway...not to stay down for long, I want to try this again...but this time I want to use a grill that fits my 4Runner!!!! Can someone hook me up with a link for the correct grill to start with? It would be much appreciated!!

Thanks for your help guys...
 
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Not 100% sure, but I think it is a different grill. I think that it mounts differently and that the center that you have to cut out is different as well. look on this link and if you go through I seem to remember a guy who did it to his 00-01 model. www.toyota-4runner.org/.../109468-post-your-satoshi-mod-pics-here-4.html

You should throw up a pic though since you completed a masterpiece! I'd love to see it (I'm in the middle of doing mine right now). Also you can try and sell it in the classified section I am sure that someone would snatch it up in a heartbeat and help you put a little $$ back in your pocket.

Hope this helps!
 
Son-of-a------
I was JUST about to pull the trigger on purchasing a 98 grill to do this SAME thing!
I have a 2002 and read a couple posts that say they drop right in...

Sorry for your "loss" and thank you for keeping me from loosing the $$$

Would love to hear someone else chime in here and let us know what they did...
 
You should be able to install that grille. I've built 5 or 6 grilles for people using a 96-98 grille, and none of them have had problems. I just finished one up for a member this week. This is the first I've heard that someone can't get their grille to work. Everything I've used has been interchangeable.
 
I can't get a picture right now...it's storming out like crazy! We're in the big storm area...50-60mph winds and some serious rain. But as soon as I get a chance, I'll try and take some.

Thanks for the help guys...
 
RussToy said:
I can't get a picture right now...it's storming out like crazy! We're in the big storm area...50-60mph winds and some serious rain. But as soon as I get a chance, I'll try and take some.

Thanks for the help guys...
Click to expand...

Is it way off or are the mounts for the grill in the ballpark?

The lower mount can move around after cutting the center of the grill out. If the bottom gets pulled upward when attaching the center mesh this could result in the bottom mount not quite lining up.

I'm pretty sure all models should line up though. I have a 99 grill on my 96 but never tried a 01-02
 
All but the bottom middle tab lines up...which might be do to what CJ80 is talking about. But that's not my biggest problem...my really problem is the tabs are too big around to fit into the mounting holes in the radiator support bracket. They only go in about an 1/8 or 1/16 of an inch. I just assumed since all the tabs were to big...that it must be due to the different year.

After hearing everyone's comments that all years are the same...I'm really thinking I just got a crappy built Chinese grill! There's no way everyone else's fits...and I have the only one on the plant that doesn't!!
 

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Well I guess I need to buy another grill and start over...but this time check to see how, or if it fits before I start my build. I feel like a bigger idiot then i did before! I guess I need to buy somewhere else besides eBay!

Sorry for wasting everyones time. Thanks for the help!
 

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Looks like a lot of work put into the grille. And looks good. I wouldn't start over. Try trimming the mounts of the grille slightly or enlarge the holes on the 4runner. I couldn't imagine that if was manufactured wrong that it would be off by too much.
 
^^^^^ I would just shave some of the inserts off with a dremel or something.. that grill looks nice!!
 
Wow the grill looks great!
It would be a shame to see all that work go to waste worst case scenario if trimming doesn't work, I would try to zip tie it in place.
 
Yeah I guess I should try that first. I had thought about that before, but was concern on how to get it to lock in if the clips get messed up. But like Yoter said...I could use zip ties, which I had never thought of.

Thanks for the ideas...guess not such a waste of time after all!

Thank you for all the compliments....I appreciate it!!
 
Last edited:
blizz86 said:
^^^^^ I would just shave some of the inserts off with a dremel or something.. that grill looks nice!!
Click to expand...

Man, that grill is sick, Russ! I'll bet a dremel and the patience of a surgeon would put you in the black, pun intended. Give it a shot... Better than leaving it hanging on the wall.
 
RussToy said:
Yeah I guess I should try that first. I had thought about that before, but was concern on how to get it to lock in if the clips get messed up. But like Yoter said...I could use zip ties, which I had never thought of.

Thanks for the ideas...guess not such a waste of time after all!

Thank you for all the compliments....I appreciate it!!
Click to expand...

Yup. I can tell how much time that paint prep took, nice and shiny!

When i took my grill off the first time i tried it to be careful but the clips breaking is unevitable.. so i just ripped them off the next time and have been using zip ties every since..
 
Thanks for all the encouragement!! You guys have me totally stoked to give this a shot. This will definitely be on the top of the "to do" list for this weekend! This is going to look totally awesome on the Toy...better than that, it will make my wife happy not to see it on the wall anymore...lol!!
 
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