Attention Grille Swappers

I have a grille question.

Can I swap out just the grille insert, Not the entire Surround and Insert?

Can the insert be removed? I would think it’s held in by screws and clips and can carefully be separated from the surround, but I do not know that for fact.

So if you have swapped out your grille for a pro or aftermarket grille and still have the OE grille…if it’s not asking too much could you take a look and see if it is possible. When I say possible it’s with the intent of inserting another grille insert.

On my Tacoma I purchased the Pro grille insert and in less than an hour I had removed the OE insert and replaced it with the Pro. I was able to purchase just the insert.

I’ve noticed that you Can NOT purchase just the insert and have to purchase the entire assembly which seems strange/weird that Toyota wouldn’t make it possible to swap out just the insert.

If you have any pictures of the inside/back that shows how it is all mounted I’d really appreciate it. Or if you have happened to take it apart just for fun to see if it can be done that would be Magnificent…I’d really like to know the answer
Pic of the Tacoma pro insert which was a super easy swap.

 

Yes, you can separate them. That's how people get pro grilles with non-pro color surrounds. It takes time and patience to do it without breaking clips. Also, you cannot purchase the insert separately from Toyota. They only sell them as an assembled piece.

 

The insert is held in by clips and can be separated if done carefully.

 

Not easy to pull and you'll likely break clips. I had to remove the inner grille to install a T-REX grille.

This is the only nonOEM vendor that I know of that sells the insert separately:

https://empyreoffroad.com/products/2016-2021-toyota-tundra-trd-pro-style-grille

 

Appreciate everyone’s input/comments. So it’s probably the same as the Tacoma grille, 2 dozen+ clips and a bunch of screws.

Not looking to swap out the insert……sorta, I want to keep my Limited insert and want the Cement surround. Which I know means I’ll also have to buy the Cement Hood Bulge.

If anyone has a picture or a couple pictures (a close up of the clips etc) that would be great.
Thanks

 

I've not seen pics posted but this video is basically showing a swap (relevant part starts around 1 min):
https://youtu.be/qKjHcCxayyM

 

Here is another option:
https://mcautoparts.com/products/18-20-tundra-grill

I bought the center piece only but have not made the swap yet. I realized the honeycomb on my Platinum grille is body color and so now I'm contemplating whether I want to paint the insert to match or leave it black. For now, I'm enjoying the Platinum grille although the switch will be made eventually.

 

Excellent video! So now I know it’s a pretty simple swap. But I still have one more question after watching that video.

For those who swapped out your grilles on a 2019 - 2021 and still have the OE surround/grille could you please look at the back of it and see if it’s the same as the one in the video. 13 clips and I think he said 4 screws.

Reason I ask is that’s an older pro grille so I just want to make sure the surround on 2019 - 2021s are the same as the older setup. 13 clips and the 4 screws.

A picture is worth a thousand words as they say so if you can take a picture of the back/clips that would really help out.

Thanks again to everyone’s comments. And that video was a huge help. Really answered most of my questions!

 

I don't remember the side screws but they are probably there, the tabs were basically the same. On my chrome insert the tabs were deformed by heat when the parts were pressed together, it made it impossible to back them out even with a heat gun. I wasn't reusing the grille insert so it wasn't as critical in my case. Make sure you have patience packed in your tool kit.

Edit: So the newer models have 2 screws on each side and 13 tabs, referencing the instructions for my grille (only two pictures relevant to your task, Fig 5 and 6):
https://trexbillet.com/pdf/343513

 

Appreciate you looking it up. Still like to see an OE say 2019 - 2021 pic of the clips although I’m pretty sure they are the same as in the video you posted which was great because he was doing sorta exactly what I plan on doing. I’m Swapping the surround ONLY and keeping the OE Limited grille.

So anyone whom recently swapped out your grille 19-21 and still have it on hand and don’t mind taking a look at the screws/clips I’d like to know if it’s the same as the older one in the video.

Again thanks

 

Here’s another question for the minds…has anyone color matched/painted there pro grills?

 

I've not seen one here but I'm sure someone has done it, mostly see people painting the chrome grilles.

 

I'm in the same boat (want just the pro grille). I've seen videos of people removing the oem grille and inserting the pro grill (either because its cheaper, or the surround isn't available in the body color... MY problem). there are places that sell just the grill, no surround. but its not as common.

I just haven't pulled the trigger yet. maybe Christmas

 

Those won't be OEM grilles. Not sure how much that matters, but to some it might. @Roman recommended buying the black one and having a local body shop paint match it.

 

I think @AzureNightmare brings up a good point. If I had the option for my grille I would have preferred to replace the grille+surround in one piece. For whatever reason the chrome plastic tabs were a pain to unfasten where I ended up breaking several tabs. This may not be an issue for the color matched surround.

 

Plenty of folks doing the Chrome Delete and replacing theirs with the Pro so if you’ve done that and still have the OE grille, we’ll I’d sure like a picture of the back to if it has the 13 Clips and 4 Screws!

I’m sure someone will eventually post a picture

 

Yep. I was responding to @Ragnarkov post.

 

I found on FB Marketplace someone selling just the pro grill insert for a 3rd generation. He purchased it from Sparks with the color match surround for his Limited, but wanted to keep the limited insert and use it with the color match surround.

I was able to install the TRD pro insert into the chrome surround on my SR5. Remove grill assembly from truck (4 screws near hood latch and pull). To remove the insert from the surround there are (2) screws 1 in each top corner of the surround, then all the plastic tabs that everyone has mentioned. I took a small flat head screwdriver (computer screw size) and wedged it between the clip and gave it a quick light tap with my palm. Got all the clips undone without breaking one, but it was very time consuming as they sometimes would clip back in as you are working around the grill.

Was able to snap in the TRD Pro grill insert and put the assembly back on the truck. Profile pic has what it looks like. Just couldn't afford to spend all that money on color match (2015 Blue Ribbon Metallic paint), so just kept watching around and someone was selling just the insert and I got lucky!

 

Excellent. I’m looking to do exactly what the person on FB did…Keep my Limited Insert and mount it to a Cement Surround. So I’m thinking I’d be doing the same as them, selling the pro insert with a chrome surround. Doubt that anyone is looking for a chrome surround so who knows I might just keep it and only have the pro insert for sale.

I’ll experiment first with the chrome grille since I have some other ideas to try out before I make the cement surround purchase.

 

Okay, I've been reading up on this and watched the video (excellent video, and thanks for that link!) and now I have a question. It's probably a dumb one, so go easy on me... :-D

My grille insert is pictured here. It has some tabs sticking down that look like paddles, or circles on sticks, etc. What do those fit into, or do they come off, or...? I get the tabs and I have a heat gun, which is an ingenious idea, by the way, but I don't see those little paddles on the video maker's insert. Am I missing something?

 

when i changed mine out it never included those little base tabs but it would only makes sense to check the surround if there is slotting they're supposed to fit into. I concur with the rest of the folks that mention it being a bit of a pain and you will almost certainly will end up snapping one at least.

 

Been thinking about changing mine as well, kinda torn between going with the PRO grille or an aftermarket. I saw this one online and was wondering if anyone here has it?

 

https://www.truck-accessories-guy.com/

I got my PRO grille from here! It came with the bottom surround in black but it wasn't too hard to remove it - just a looooot of patience. I will say it was a little harder to remove the OEM grille than the newer one from truck accessories guy.

 

Separated the old pro grille and now have a brand new Cement Surround

Last evening I removed the stock limited grille/surround from the truck. This morning I removed the 4 screws (2 on each end) and then using just my hands I gently pressed on the tab and pulled on the edge of the grille and sure enough the tab slid out with ease.

So I figured if one came out that easy I’ll just start working my way down and tab after tab by just gently pulling on the frame/body of the grille and only pushing downwards on the tab with my thumb. Had all kinds of tools on the ready but didn’t use/need any of them.

Now I have to see if the 3 bars going across the face of the grille can be removed. If I can get those off it will make dipping them a breeze/No taping required which it seems like that half the time is spend just on the prep work get’n ready for the paint.

I’ll post a few pics later.

 

Dipping underway!

 

Texas Edition

Got the color matched surround and stock grille reinstalled!


What a Beautiful day! Sunshine and above average temps. So I was able to get this project underway and all wrapped in about an hour and a half. Really really took my time and it all went smoothly.

Very happy with the outcome! A couple pictures of the “job complete”.

Oh and the most important part of the job…..labeling and bagging

A Before & After picture

 

really love the outcome of your grille. I like the 1794 grille like yours and actually wanna keep it but get rid of the chrome.
bagging and tagging? this brings me back to my army days lol

 

Mine is a Limited Edition. Total cost was right around $450 and maybe I’ll recoup a little cash if I can sell the stock stuff plus the old style pro grille

 

So by 'dipping' it, did you just mean Plastidip rattle canning it? Or did you somehow manage to hydrodip the entire grill?

 

Regular Plasti-Dip then I sprayed several coats of Rust-Oleum Matte Clear Enamel to toughen up the dip.

The only Dark Gray dip I could find is called “Anthracite Gray” that I had to order from Dip Your Car website. Wasn’t happy to pay premium (2 cans around $30 w/shipping) but locally (Lowe’s/Walmart/Home Depot) only carry the Gunmetal Gray. If it was on the shelf locally it woulda cost half the price.

Anyway, I did my brushed stainless steel steps with the gunmetal gray and it’s much lighter in color plus to me it seems to have a bluish tint. I might redo the steps with the dark gray. I only used one can on the grille and fascia/valance.