Aug 05, 2022
What a pain! Just so others know, if you are buying a separate grill, and I don't mean a take off, pop and go, from another Bronco-Nationer, I mean the factory/dealer, you are going to need a variety of hardware and brackets if you don't want to strip the original grill (which I had to, because I am just knee deep in all of this regarding coin).
There is a top plastic bar/bracket about two feet long attached with four star lug bolts, ten or 12 sliding locking clips that are a true pita to get off, and 4 corner plastic brackets that screw to each edge of the grill.
Anyway: prep, prep, prep, prime, then three coats of rattle base metallic silver and two of clear.
Didn't buy the back lit lights because it would have taken another week or two to get them and I just wanted it all done (I want them so maybe later). I saved 100 and bought the factory white letter ($125 all in).
IMPORTANT! Please read and consider!
Everyone is burning and gluing these letters in. I just couldn’t do that at 25 bucks a letter! Phew! I went to Lowes and bought 12 flat sheet metal plate locks (1/4 by 20). They were 8 dollars for all (two in each plastic bag). I used a socket of the proper size to slide them down the shafts with each letter well supported behind and it worked like a charm. I thought about how the older Chevy bowtie fender engine badges were attached and just copied their idea. Now I can remove the letters whenever I want.
You can also tap the plastic shafts with a die set and use standard nuts or thin hollow fender nuts (also available in the speciality drawer in Lowes), but the flat spring clips seemed cheaper, less time, and more a “factory” finish/feel (just saying).
Now finished, I really love it. I can't believe how much it changes the look of the entire truck. I fell in love with that grill and color from day one of seeing the sales video at 7pm at night when we all were waiting to see this thing for the first time! Remember! I know many of you do!
Granted they showed it on a four-door with no doors, but that grill just sold me, man!
I already ordered the cap letters (had stickers on the first grill).
You will note I need to order one more set of the Hella 6 inch covers down below; my nine-year-old flicked the lights on and the Hella covers actually melted away while driving! Crazy-ass heat (19 dollars a cover! Does it end?)!
Ohh, have to share. To add injury to insult, when I was pulling one of the top 4 inch Hella covers off to wire the top light bar, the case flew out of my hands and the glass shattered!
$38 dollars delivered ! ARHGGGGGGG! I just got the replacement, so gotta finish that all up as well. I haven't even wired the top bar yet; I just tucked the wires into the windshield sleave up top. So I gotta run that wire over to the switch wires (maybe today?).
There is a top plastic bar/bracket about two feet long attached with four star lug bolts, ten or 12 sliding locking clips that are a true pita to get off, and 4 corner plastic brackets that screw to each edge of the grill.
Anyway: prep, prep, prep, prime, then three coats of rattle base metallic silver and two of clear.
Didn't buy the back lit lights because it would have taken another week or two to get them and I just wanted it all done (I want them so maybe later). I saved 100 and bought the factory white letter ($125 all in).
IMPORTANT! Please read and consider!
Everyone is burning and gluing these letters in. I just couldn’t do that at 25 bucks a letter! Phew! I went to Lowes and bought 12 flat sheet metal plate locks (1/4 by 20). They were 8 dollars for all (two in each plastic bag). I used a socket of the proper size to slide them down the shafts with each letter well supported behind and it worked like a charm. I thought about how the older Chevy bowtie fender engine badges were attached and just copied their idea. Now I can remove the letters whenever I want.
You can also tap the plastic shafts with a die set and use standard nuts or thin hollow fender nuts (also available in the speciality drawer in Lowes), but the flat spring clips seemed cheaper, less time, and more a “factory” finish/feel (just saying).
Now finished, I really love it. I can't believe how much it changes the look of the entire truck. I fell in love with that grill and color from day one of seeing the sales video at 7pm at night when we all were waiting to see this thing for the first time! Remember! I know many of you do!
Granted they showed it on a four-door with no doors, but that grill just sold me, man!
I already ordered the cap letters (had stickers on the first grill).
You will note I need to order one more set of the Hella 6 inch covers down below; my nine-year-old flicked the lights on and the Hella covers actually melted away while driving! Crazy-ass heat (19 dollars a cover! Does it end?)!
Ohh, have to share. To add injury to insult, when I was pulling one of the top 4 inch Hella covers off to wire the top light bar, the case flew out of my hands and the glass shattered!
$38 dollars delivered ! ARHGGGGGGG! I just got the replacement, so gotta finish that all up as well. I haven't even wired the top bar yet; I just tucked the wires into the windshield sleave up top. So I gotta run that wire over to the switch wires (maybe today?).
Attachments
Stone, Bronco Hueso