I just got a replacement billet grille for my 04 STX. The instructions that came with it are not very clear and the pictures are off a black copy machine so I can't see them. Can anyone who installed the REPLACEMENT grille on an STX give me some good instructions or point me to a link that has this information? I searched on here but couldn't find anything good. Thanks

Shane

 

try doing a search for hd grille theres a ton on that and it may be close to what you need for yours. I know some were very detailed.

 

What grill did you get? Who makes it?

 

I really don't know who makes it. It was one I purchased off ebay. It came in their own packaging so i don't know who made it. All i know is it is the replacement grille. the one that fits all factory grille styles.

 

I think I got the same one with the same problem. Instructions are kind of vague and the pics are black and white and very blurry. Beautiful grille though. I just can't figure out how to put it on. If anyone has done this and can post pics or better instructions, it would be most helpful.

 

There are many different styles of grills, and the directions to install them may be totally different.

Is it a full replacement grill?

If so, you will probably have to cut the center out of your existing grill.

If it's an overlay grill, that should be pretty obvious.

Got any pics?

 

It is a replacement grille. The instructions say to cut the center out, but how much of the center. From the way the instructions read, I will still have the grey plastic border around the grille. I have looked at other trucks and saw no border. Just the chrome trim. The pics that went along with the grille are too hard to see. Pics are coming...

 

Stock:
What part of this do I cut out??


Replacement:

 

I would first seperate the black honeycomb from the outer chrome surround. You have to bend the tabs which holds them together in order to seperate them. Then try to see if that billet grille fits in there. That's how most replacement grilles are, no cutting, just remove the factory center grille (honeycomb, FX4 bar grille, etc.).

 

No cutting?? How is the billet going to fit? The chrome piece is just an overlay. I would think the honeycomb has to come out.

 

Do you own, or can you borrow a tape measure?

I think if you separate the honeycomb from the chrome surround, the new grill may fit in that opening, and you probably have to drill some holes for the mounting screws.

I've also seen where you leave the surround attached, and cut the plastic honeycomb right at the inside edge, as the new grill uses this left over plastic area as the mounting surface.

Measure the width of the new grill, and see if it's wider than the plastic that would remain if you cut the center out.

 

I bought mine off of ebay and they show an example of it with the grey plastic border. I would rather do it without the border but I don't know where I would drill the mounting holes.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWN%3AIT

 

The surround has some plastic mounting tabs that might work for the screws, if they line up with the new grill tabs.

However, you don't want the ends of the grill to be short of the surround, do you?

That would look terrible with a gap all the way around the grill.

 

Agreed. I'm thinking of taking to one of the install shops around here. Let the pros handle it as long as it doesn't come with the "pro" price.

 

It has nothing to do with a pro doing it.

If the grill was designed so the plastic ring stays in the surround, and you cut the center out......that's the way it has to be done, whether you do it or a pro does it.

If you take that whole insert out (because you don't like the plastic edge) and that grill is not wide enough to fill that gap.......it's going to be there whether you do it, or a pro does it.

It's a matter if inches.....not pro or DIY.

Measure it, for cripe's sake.