TRD PRO Grille Alternative?!?! (Thanks harkco!)

[On Point]

First, I want to thank Harkco for providing the picture so that I could envision how this would look on my 4Runner (given we have the same color). My thoughts were that Toyota is telling us to bend over if we want to put the TRD grille on our car. In order to save a few hundred dollars and make the front more practical I did a little photoshop. The intent is to keep your factory upper trim piece and cut it to fit the LED bar, then all you have to buy is the "TOYOTA" cover piece. See picture below and post your thoughts.

 

[Engineer]

Personally I am not a fan but I think its a great way to apply the money spent on the upper section to anew LED light bar if thats the direction you want to go. I will admit that I caved and bought both pieces but after installing them (had never seen a TRD Pro grill in person) I have no regrets and think it was well worth it to me.

I also head that by removing the Toyota badge I gained increase airflow and my butt dyno says good for about 5hp and 2mpg. So while I don't have a Ecoblock I do have a "high flow" grill


Thanks for posting the photoshopped picture to show members options. I attached a photo of mine (same color truck) but I have plastic dipped the lower valence

 

[BenSD]

First, I want to thank Harkco for providing the picture so that I could envision how this would look on my 4Runner (given we have the same color). My thoughts were that Toyota is telling us to bend over if we want to put the TRD grille on our car. In order to save a few hundred dollars and make the front more practical I did a little photoshop. The intent is to keep your factory upper trim piece and cut it to fit the LED bar, then all you have to buy is the "TOYOTA" cover piece. See picture below and post your thoughts.

How about a tinted cover for the light bar so it blends in? It stands out so much that it kind of kills the aesthetics of the front end.

 

[On Point]

Agreed, i think an amber LED bar would look good with a light coat of VHT.

 

[TRD4runnin]

You'd still be better off with the PRO upper grill. I did mine and there would be some tacky looking spots after the cut on the regular upper grill. Just my opinion.

 

[Saker]

You'd still be better off with the PRO upper grill. I did mine and there would be some tacky looking spots after the cut on the regular upper grill. Just my opinion.

Or, you could fix it or tighten it up with one something like this!

 

[Cozen89]

First, I want to thank Harkco for providing the picture so that I could envision how this would look on my 4Runner (given we have the same color). My thoughts were that Toyota is telling us to bend over if we want to put the TRD grille on our car. In order to save a few hundred dollars and make the front more practical I did a little photoshop. The intent is to keep your factory upper trim piece and cut it to fit the LED bar, then all you have to buy is the "TOYOTA" cover piece. See picture below and post your thoughts.

[MENTION=117415]On Point[/MENTION] [MENTION=101352]harkco[/MENTION] sorry to dig up this old thread but did either of you end up doing a light bar in your upper grill? I'd love to see more pics if you did as I'm considering this as well.

 

[On Point]

[MENTION=117415]On Point[/MENTION] [MENTION=101352]harkco[/MENTION] sorry to dig up this old thread but did either of you end up doing a light bar in your upper grill? I'd love to see more pics if you did as I'm considering this as well.

About to do it in the next week or two. The light bar I ordered just arrived.

 

[On Point]

Dual color

 

[Throwback]

Why not just mount the light bar in the lower grille area and avoid messing with the notched "T" emblem area altogether?

It seems infinitely easier to just mount the light bar brackets to the bottom of the solid cross-piece with the Toyota "T" emblem in it, then thread your wiring back inside the engine bay and wire it up.

Plus, in my not so humble and unsolicited opinion, the TRD Pro grille (and wheels) is way played out at this point.

And I can't address the discussion of spraying darkening tint over an added auxiliary lighting bar....

 

[On Point]

no turning back now! first, I cut out the middle section so that i could better line up the light bar, then I cut out the remaining sides.

 

[2chains]

Looks like a great idea, what kind of switch did you use and where did you locate it?

 

[Kashoggio]

This was a long project

 

[On Point]

Looks like a great idea, what kind of switch did you use and where did you locate it?

i have not wired it up yet. still working on mounting brackets for the light bar. everything to this point as been a test fit. i need to go to the junkyard and find some waterproof hella relays to use. The orange lights will be tapped into the side markers and the white lights will have an independent switch.

 

[On Point]

This was a long project

lmao too funny bro! the idea came to me a long time ago... just now getting to executing!

 

[On Point]

Nearly done!!

 

[Aznwolf118]

Any pics of the mounting bracket and where you mounted it to? Was the mount location stuff E ought to hold the led bar?

 

[pham92]

What did you use to paint your grille cover and did you sand it or anythig

 

[pmostaghim]

looks good, op! I like the idea; I struggled with the same issue - I'm not trying to pay all that $$$ for some plastic, lol.

hope it works out for you. would love to see some follow-up photos!

 

[On Point]

Waterproof relays from the junkyard with new wiring