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How To: Install a mesh grill on a 08 WK

131K views 472 replies 61 participants last post by  08Hemi 
#1 · (Edited)
So I went to Home Depot today and had to make myself a grill:D! I will show you what I did and feel free to comment or ask anything...

I bought:

Rustoleum Gloss Black Spray paint
Rustoleum Lacquer (clear)
16 3/8 in #6 or #8 head screws
16 #8 or #10 head washers
1 Aluminum sheet (cross-hatched)

Tools:

Flat head screw driver
Phillips head screw driver
Power drill with small taping bit (half of screw)
Plastic Cutters
Wire/sheet metal cutters
Metal file for rough edges


1. First take off the grill. There are 6 push clips that are holding the grill in. Use the FH screwdriver to pop these off. Very simple

2. Put the grill face down on a towel or something soft. Cut out all plastic pieces and tabs. You want the grill to sit as flush with the back as possible, so trim the tabs well.

3. Cut a piece out of aluminum foil that is the entire size of the back of the grill. I error'd on the side of larger to ensure I could trim as needed. This really helped later so I recommend doing this. I painted it gloss black; it looks great and is subtle so I am happy with the chrome-gloss black contrast!

4. Test fit the aluminum. I cut around the four tabs on the bottom of the plastic and the center of the plastic piece, also around the edges and any area raising the aluminum up. I also cut slats in the aluminum for the 4 chrome plastic tabs that stick out. I did not want to cut those off so you can do whatever you want here.

5. Make sure the grill is set and fits properly all the way around. Take your time; I spent over 15 mins trimming the aluminum around the back of the grill!

6. Pre-drill your 16 mounting locations on the top and bottom of the grill. Make sure it is where you want it. I chose 16 screws but you could probably get away with less. I did mine in the same general locations on the top and bottom so it looks really clean and holds the grill firmly in place.

7. Put the washer in-between the aluminium and the screw, tighten them down starting from the middle and working outward. Tighten hand-tight ( I used a drill but it does not need much force)...the aluminum will set with the washer.

8. Fit the grill back onto the car and insert the 6 push pins starting with the center and working outwards.

9. Drive around for 10-20 miles or so. Take the grill back off and tighten all of the screws. All of mine needed a little tighten as I think the grill settled in a little bit. Needless to say it is very tight on there and is actually one with the stock chrome grill (for all intents and purposes it is one piece :) )! Now put it back on and the 6 push pins back in....

You are all done...you now have a grill!

















So what do you think? Not bad for about $20 in products and about 2 hours total including paint drying and test fitting...:thumbsup:
 
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#221 ·
i did see a thread on it, but they had an older model bumper and had cutouts already there for it to fit in nice and be covered by the chrome strip, mine doesnt have the chrome strip or cutouts for it. Im just going to mount it up behind the bumper and hope it looks decent.
 
#232 ·
woot! just finished mine! had trouble with the bottom part of the grill. trim off too much so i had to used zipties. am going to redo but for now it looks better:D. what did you guys use to trim the mesh?
 
#236 ·
yea my wire cutter isnt working that great lol. i also cut each piece one at a time but got tired and got a big as$ scissor and cut straight through. Got to redo mine :(
 
#238 ·
 
#246 ·
It is a visual illusion. If the mesh is parallel to the top (assuming the piece you have is straight) it is not off vertically. Since the grill bows outward, and the 7 grill slots slightly bow in as well, when you look at the mesh behind it appears to be off. If the mesh is not bent and made flush to the rear of the grill, from the front it will appear off on both sides of the center of the grill (like this but exaggerated) ( \ \ \ l / / / ) IDK hard to explain but i hope i did a better job
 
#245 ·
yea, when i looked at it i thought the same. :(. at first i thought it was going to be easy but i was careless and rushed it. was about to start over but i didnt have the patience. going to redo it next week and get it right :) OMAR, the hardest part IMO is the trimming. prolly took me an hour or 2, have to let the paint dry and put 2 coats of each
 
#247 ·
i hope so B-Rad. from my pic, i am going to try pulling the top right corner upward to see if it looks aligned
 
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