i have a 98 lariat and looking for a grille. every website has a grill for a 98 f150 but it says "not for lariat". why is this? whats the difference between a regular f150 grille and a lariat? i was looking at a stainless steel one on grille4you.com. i wish i could post the instructions to show you guys but i dont know how.

 

well '97 & '98 both had a smaller grill than the '99 - '03s thats what they could be mistaken for, or, its the bar style grill, i'm not sure if thats removable from the front grill frame or not, either one of those.

 

I don't know for sure how much aftermarket grille you are getting or how much OEM grille you are yanking out.

One difference between the lariat frontend and others was the 'color keyed' aspect. i.e. less chrome/more paint.

 

you have to cut the grill out and that says it on the instructions, and it also talks about coor keyed grills. the one i want is on the website: http://www.grille4you.com/itemdetail.asp?ItemID=7323 ill put the instructions below.

 

97-98 FORD F-150 PICK UP / LIGHT F-250 (EXCEPT LARIAT) / EXPEDITION
(1) Remove the black plastic filler from the top of the grille shell.
(2) Remove the headlight assemblies from the truck by pulling upon the retaining clips on the top of the headlights and unplugging them.
* Note: On Expeditions and some of the pick ups, remove the top screw retaining the side marker lights and pull them out directly forward to gain access to the grille shell screws behind them.
(3) Remove all the fasteners holding the grille shell to the truck including the clips holding the filler panels to the bottom of the shell.
(4) If you have the color keyed grille shell, the grille insert is removed by chiseling off the heat sealed tabs on the backside of the shell. For the chrome or the argent silver shell the air intake section must be cut out. This is best done by sawing with a hacksaw blade or using a die grinder and cut off wheel. Cut approximately 1/4” to the inside of the recessed line and sand the rest of the way until smooth.
(5) Secure the four 2-hole tabs to the welded tabs of the grille using the U-clip nuts and the flat-head head screws provided so that the end of the attachment tab with the hole has the U-clip nut on it. Put the flat-head screw through the hole in the welded tab (screw facing down on the top two tabs, and screw facing up on the bottom two tabs.)
(6) Take the grille and place on the fiberglass reinforcement so the tabs go inside the reinforcement.
(7) With the grille in place, reinstall the grille shell. Bring the grille up flush with the back of the grille shell. With the grille centered top and bottom, mark and drill the holes and attach with the screws provided.
(8) Reinstall the headlights and grille shell filler panel.
(9) Clean with soap and water. Never use abrasives or acids.

 

does anybody out there have a 98 lariat with bar style grillle? if you do what did you do with it?

 

i finally found a place that has a grille that will fit my truck and they will install. its a percision grille costs 150 and another 150 for installation because you have to cut everything and stuff. ill try and put a before and after pic.

 

My father had his installed for only $50 at our local shop. It only took the installer 1hr to cut & install grille lower & upper.

 

what kind of shop was it, like a body shop? i thought 150 was way too expensive to install it. i was considering doing it myself but the cutting part kinda scared me off. i guess i just drive around to differnt places to see if they will do it. the place i went to was 4 wheel parts performance center. i think they are screwing me over so im going to send my dad down there.

 

It was a auto body & customizing shop. They usually charge $45-50 per hour for installs. Dude told me it took 10mins to remove old grill & careful cut out old grill to insure tight fit. My father was very pleased with results. They did mine for the same amount. I had the H-bar style on an 05 F150.

 

Damn good price, mine was $100 at a customs shop, I took my front end apart 4 freaking times to try to install it and was missing stuff so they said theyt would get it mounted onto the grill into the shell and its rock solid but I couldn't be any happier with the install!

 

so do you think $150 is resonable? and how did you post pics in the forum part?