DIY: 3rd Gen Mesh Grill

If your like me, not ready to spend $200+ on a mesh grill and watch craigslist day in and day out
"Just in case".
I came across a 2014 Grille Insert for $15.
and spent less than $35.00 on parts at Home Depot. so for a total of $50. Had a bad ass grill.



Parts List
-3RD gen Grill
-bag of small zip ties
-mesh
-primer
-Paint in the color of your choice. I used Gloss Black

Step 1:

Find a grill to work on. (Craigslist, Forums, OfferUp, ect...) Or if you're brave you can work on the one already on your truck. I found a 2014 grill from a TRD OR tundra. is slightly different from a TRD Pro grill on the top side. so be sure you to account for that when measuring out your Mesh.

Step 2:

Once you have you grill you need to separate it from the surround. there are 4 screws and some retention tabs(super easy)then remove the center and shave down all the excess plastic. then your going to need to drill small holes throughout the rim go the grill so that you can feed the zip ties through.

Step 3:

measure and cut out your mesh. for the grill i used wire mesh i found at Home Depot. in came in a 6x3 ft sheet.

Step 4:

once the mesh is cut, bend the top side in about 2.5/3 inches. then measure down from the top bend 11 3/4 inches and bend it inwards. then using tin snips, your gonna trim the lower bend to about 1 inch. once that is done, zip tie the mesh to the frame on the lower end and the upper corners.


Step 5:

This is the difficult part. your going to need to cut relief cuts and carefully bend the left and right sides to match the contours of the frame.and zip tie them. using a small light hammer, contour your mesh to your liking. then shape the upper left and right corners to match the grill surround thats on the hood. for this you need to test fit the grill and close the hood until its where you want it.

Step 6:

Prime and Paint. i used Rustolium Self Etching Primer, and Gloss Black paint. after the paint is dry you can place the badges/trim you would like on the grill. i used 80lb double sided tape.


Step 7:

Reinstall the shroud, and then install on your tuck. your done!
I also installed some Window screen to help blacken behind the grill


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Best looking grill I've seen yet for a 3rd gen. Works beautifully with your white truck.

 

Nice DIY, thanks for taking the time to write it!

 

This is an absolutely amazing post for a great DIY project. I will post mine shortly - very similar in the way we approached the project. The main difference with my grille is probably the opening size of the wire mesh - I went all the way through to the end with mine and ended up realizing that the weave on the mesh I used was probably too tight. I ended up hating the way it looked because I could barely see any openings in the mesh. I just got a bunch of samples of wire mesh - www.bwire.com had sent to me, and I am in the process of deciding which sized opening and wire diameter I am going to use to replace my original wire mesh.

Do you have any idea on the specs of the mesh you used? Yours cam out really great, and I want to try to match it as closely as possible. Any idea on the opening size? Wire diameter?

Thanks - and again - excellent stuff here, thanks for posting. Mine should be up soon....

 

Honestly I just used some mesh wire I found at Home Depot

 

Nice work there,SmSmitty

 

this is way to badass!!!! great write up and great look!

 

Found my first DIY project for my truck. Great job, your truck looks awesome.