I was reading some previous threads regarding this topic and some of you have mentioned "cutting the existing grille" is required to install their grille. Do the Trenz or Stull grilles require this method? There were some step by step photos for an unknown (to me) grille brand that did not appear to use this method. I would prefer to leave my stock grille in tact, in a box, to collect dust until I throw it away some day because I'm tired of tripping over it while trying to access more useless junk in my garage!

Thanks in advance for any of your input.
P.S. I have the color keyed grille. Not that that makes any difference?


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2001 Supercrew 4x4 XLT Harvest Gold, 5.4L, Bed Extender, 6 disc CD changer, Limited Slip, Keyless Entry

 

I'm wondering the same thing. I want a Billet grille so bad that I visit the On-Line store everyday just to see it. If I don't find a solution soon I'll probably just buy the new grille intact.

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1999 4.6L Oxford White Clearcoat
Bedrug bedliner
Clearcorners
Eclipse head unit
Ventshades, bugshield
Westin chrome nerf bars
Tinted windows
White face guages(NR)

 

I installed a Stull Billet grill last Sunday in my '97. Yes you do have to do some cutting on the '97. The center grill is held in with plastic tabs that are melted down to hold the grill. I used a dremel tool to cut these then popped the center piece out. Then trimmed down the plastic tabs flat. Not a bad job just takes time. I think the hardest part was removing the entire grill shell. I'll post a pic soon.

Ron

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'97 Ford F-150 XLT SC, 4x4, Auto, 5.4, 3.55LS, 265/75/16 BFG AT, K&N Filter,
TekStyle Tonneau, Westin Chrome Nerfs, Stull Billet Grill, Kenwood X-711 and Kicker Sub
rmagers@cet.edu
http://www.cet.edu/staff/rmagers/personal.html

 

rmagers said it perfectly, take your time! I have the Stull in my '99 and it took some time, but well worth the work! Good Luck.

CASUPERCREW, where are you located? I might be able to give you a hand.

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1999 4.6 Extra Cab-Short Bed
Silver Clear Coat Metalic
K&N Airfilter
17 Inch 2000 Chrome 4X4 Wheels Wrapped in 275/60/17 ZR Yokahama AVS
White-Faced Luminescent Gauges
Flowmaster 3 inch Cat Back 40 Series Exhaust
3.5 Inch Polished Thermal Research Exhaust Tip
Clear Corner Lenses
Super White Headlight and Turn Signals
Trends Billet Antenna
Stull Billet Grill
e-mail SILVERFORDF150@AOL.COM






[This message has been edited by FORDTRK (edited 05-24-2000).]

 

What about the Ford emblem on the billet grille? I love the billet with the Ford oval in the middle. How does that work? New oval?

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1999 2WD XLT 4.2L Auto
http://www.geocities.com/cr1f150/
3 inch bullseye spindle lift
Borla catback
Airaid intake
Clear corners

 

Again I have no knowledge of the "billet", but the stock ford emblem is held to the 99 honeycomb grill with 2 self threading metal
nuts. Easy off/on; it can be removed and replaced more than once. Been there-done that!!

 

If you don't cut the tabs from the inside of the OE grill then the "billet" grill will not fit flush against the "grill frame". I know, I tried it w/o cutting the tabs.

As for the BLUE OVAL, double sided 3M taped worked well for me.

Above all, take your time during installation. The written instructions SUCK!

L8R

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99 4x4 XLT supercab 5.4L Flareside, Deep Wedgewood Blue/Med. Graphite w/Captain Chairs, Pioneer DEP-4000, Tint, K&N, Bedliner, 3" Catback w/3 Chamber Flowmaster, Superchip, 285/75/16 BFG A/T on American Racing Python wheels, Stull Billet Grill, Clear Corner Lenses.

'00 Expedition XLT, Silver w/Dark graphite interior, 5.4L, Stull Billet Grill and some other stuff. All in all she'll stay stock. Ok, maybe a Flowmaster 50 series soon.




[This message has been edited by Loser1 (edited 05-24-2000).]

 

FORDTRK,
Thank you for the offer, I appreciate. I'm about 8 hours north of you though. It would probably take longer to get together than installing the grille. Thanks again though. I'm sure I won't have any problems. I just wasn't clear about what was required to be cut.

I have a much clearer understanding now. Thank you everyone. I'm not even going to get into what I was thinking needed to be cut. Let's just say I feel kind of STUPID now! It's much more simple then what I was thinking.

Does anyone know what grille brand is pictured on the F150 in the F150online shopping area? Is it the Stull or the Trenz?


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2001 Supercrew 4x4 XLT Harvest Gold, 5.4L, Bed Extender, 6 disc CD changer, Limited Slip, Keyless Entry

 

I don't propose to know anything about the "billet" grill install. I do know that you can take out/reinstall the 99 f-150 honeycomb style grill
insert without cutting or breaking anything except the 4 little black "push-in plug/holders" that secure the small water/air
baffle between the grill surround and the metal fender (in the front area of the wheel well)!

 

Fordman
You might be able to get away with just taking off the top radiator cover. I think there are 8 or 10 plastic srews holding it on, just remove them and see if there is enough room. If not you'll need to remove the grill. To make it as easy as possible you'll want to take off the bumper so you don't have to mess with any of the plastic rivets. Once you have the bumper and the top cover off, there are 2 screws holding the corner lights on, they are located on top behind the grill, pull them out and you'll see 2 screws in each pocket. Remove all the screws (across the top and in corner light pockets). Now in the center bottom of the grill there are 2 spring clips, you can see 2 tabs connecting the grill to them. Grab at the tabs and pull strait out, they are strong so keep steady pressure on them and you should be fine. To reinstall be sure to remove the spring clips from the truck and place them on the tabs. The rest goes back in reverse.

Hope this helps, I didn't take the bumper off and it was a bear to get the grill off.

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GOLD RUSH

'99 F150 XLT SC SB 5.4x2 Harvest Gold
3.55 limited slip
Trailer towing package
In-dash CD player

Slip on extender mirrors
Powerstop brake controller
Covermaster 1000 topper with wing
BugflectorII/Ventvisors (front&rear)
3 www.f150online.com decals
Ford Lumi Logo
Steelhorse Billet grill

http://www.firezap.url4life.com
firezap@f150fanatic.com
firezapper@home.com

[This message has been edited by Firezap (edited 05-25-2000).]

 

Kind of on this subject, I need to remove my grill to put in a speaker for an electronic air horn. I looked at it last night but couldn't figure out if you can do it. Can anybody provide me with some help to remove the grill, and I'll need to put it back on of course. This is on a '98 with the 4x4 grill.

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hytek1dr@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Freeway/7515/

 

Well my Trenz Grille arrived yesterday. They really don't put any effort into pre-drilling mounting holes or anything. It will be interesting to see how it goes in. My friend christened my front bumper on Memorial Day weekend (ran into it with his Jeep). Luckily he owns a body shop and is bringing the new bumper and that plastic color matched piece over next week. He's going to help me install the grille too. That's the least he could do since I've been embarrassed to drive my 1-month-old truck for the past two weeks!

Someone had mentioned that a good way to eliminate vibration from the billet grilles is to mount it so it doesn't rest against the grille frame. Has anyone had any experience with this. I was thinking about drilling slots in the mounting brackets of the grille to allow for easier adjustments later. I sure don't want to end up with an annoying rattle after all that work.



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2001 Supercrew 4x4 XLT Harvest Gold, 5.4L, Bed Extender, 6 disc CD changer, Limited Slip, Keyless Entry...