i just got a new billet grille from carriage works for my 2001 f150. It says to install it by removing the grille shell and removing the old one. then mark and drill holes for the new one. then install it by using the pop rivets provided. i have never used any kind of rivets before and was wondering how do you install the rivets and is there a tool i can buy/rent to make it an easier install? thanks

 

Maybe I have no idea, I bought a grill off of ebay and I really got screwed, it came with instructions ( like 16 steps ) and had 4 bolts and 6 tinnerman clips. It confused the hell out of me so i'm just waiting for summer when I can have my truck torn down for a few days to mess with it.

 

I have the same grill. It is not as bad as it seems. The hardest part is getting the whole front plastic piece off and on. It should only take about 1 hour.

About the rivets, I have no idea.

 

Go to a hardware store, tell them what you are doing & have them show you the rivit gun selection. Very simple & easy tool to use w/ lots of different ways to use it. Do not buy the cheapest basic tool if you like doing other projects on vehicles or around the house. I think mine was about $20. name brand, and had 3 or 4 different size "head" selections that stored in the handle including a little wrench to change them out. That allows you to use diff size rivits for the job at hand. Steel, alum, short, long, diff size washers allow you fasten most anything together.
You will notice rivits used in everything around you & really appreciate the work that went into riviting most of the airplanes together that you see.

Damn, this got too long! I hope this helps.
Later

 

My problem was how do I mount the grill ontop the grill shell? Like this



If you could give me the steps on how you install it i'd be glad and give it another try. I know how to tear it down and all but how and where do I mount the grill?

 

You don't see the little brackets that stick out the back, over the plastic surround?

There should be 3 or 4 along the bottom, and some more on the top.

Line up the grill with the surround exactly where you want it, mark through those brackets onto the plastic, and drill out some holes.

Put the insert back in place. push the rivets through the brackets, through the holes you just drilled, and use the rivet gun to tighten it down.

That's it.

Simple.

 

I was going to do something like that but the next morning I had work so I didn't wanna f around with it but thanks for the heads up. I'll definatly get to working on it before summer though.

 

I just installed my Carriage works upper and lower. The kit should have come complete. All the tools I needed were an allen wrench, drill, and socket set/wrench.

 

If your talking about pop rivets, it basically just pushes through a drilled hole, then you squeze the gun, and it spreads the head out so it cant back out, and then breaks the holder off of it.

REALLY REALLY easy to do it.
-Patrick

 

The grills install a little differently on the newer models.

I had a '98 that used rivets, and a grille for my '05 used bolts and nuts.

 

I bought my grill online from stull industries. I had to take the front shell off and unclip th efactory grill, which took 4 seconds.. just clips. Then had to cut off the mounts where the clips were. The stull grill came with 4 clips and screws. Easy and looks good.

 

Well that sounds like what I have, could you post step by step on what exactly you did? I dont want to pay $80 to have it installed.

 

I got a grille from eBay that requires removal of the ugly beige grille from the chrome surround of my Lariat. That sucker is in there and it appears I'd need to cut or break off the tabs to get it free.

Can anyone post, email or PM me to let me know the best way to get the inner section of OE grille out of there??

 

Don't have to cut anything.

Just bend the tabs up, and push on the clips to release.

Takes about 10 or 15 minutes....tops.

You might break a few tabs, but it will hold fine without a few of them.

 

Thanks! I'm going to try as soon as I have some free time.

Right after I made that post I did a quick search and had my answer almost immediately.

Gotta love the forum.