Question about Hella Grille
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From: Spring, TX
Question about Hella Grille
I know there are a few of you that have either seen the grille in person, or have already upgraded. I am looking for a lighting solution, and had a few questions that hopefully y'all can help answer.
1. Is it (easily) possible to use my existing grille surround instead of the black one that comes with the Hella Grille?
2. Looking at the instructions, it seems the trigger for the lights is the highbeam. Any thoughts on using the regular beam as the trigger instead?
1. Is it (easily) possible to use my existing grille surround instead of the black one that comes with the Hella Grille?
2. Looking at the instructions, it seems the trigger for the lights is the highbeam. Any thoughts on using the regular beam as the trigger instead?
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From: SC
SG, I have the same question about the Hella grille. I want to use my chrome outer ring instead of the black one that comes with the kit. I have seen pics from one member who has it installed, however he had the whole grille assembly painted to match his truck.
I want to switch mine using a standard rocker switch inside the cab instead of using the high or low beams. But you might want to check the laws in your state concerning driving lights. Some states will not let you use aftermarket "driving lights" - not fog lights - with the low beams. They are fine to use with the high beams, but when used with the lows you are simply blinding oncoming traffic.
I want to switch mine using a standard rocker switch inside the cab instead of using the high or low beams. But you might want to check the laws in your state concerning driving lights. Some states will not let you use aftermarket "driving lights" - not fog lights - with the low beams. They are fine to use with the high beams, but when used with the lows you are simply blinding oncoming traffic.
Originally Posted by CH2500
But you might want to check the laws in your state concerning driving lights. Some states will not let you use aftermarket "driving lights" - not fog lights - with the low beams. They are fine to use with the high beams, but when used with the lows you are simply blinding oncoming traffic.
They really powerful and I usually turn them off when traffic comes, but I have yet to get pulled over for them. 
Here is what they look light w/ my factory low beams:
Last edited by Raptor05121; Nov 28, 2007 at 10:56 AM.
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From: Spring, TX
My Hella grille was delivered yesterday. Taking a quick look at it, I am hopeful I can use my existing chrome surround. Will let y'all know when I am able to spend more time with it this weekend.
As for the wiring, I am partial to the rocker switch myself. I do want to add OE fogs, but will need to swap out the bumper, and add the fogs, brackets, harness etc. Looking at the costs, it will take me awhile to accumulate the parts without the "boss" catching on, especially after dropping $385 on the Hella Grille.
As for the wiring, I am partial to the rocker switch myself. I do want to add OE fogs, but will need to swap out the bumper, and add the fogs, brackets, harness etc. Looking at the costs, it will take me awhile to accumulate the parts without the "boss" catching on, especially after dropping $385 on the Hella Grille.
Originally Posted by Raptor05121
Hehe,....if you guys want some light, get some Hella 2020's. I've been flashed more times than a rich guy at Mardis Gras! They really powerful and I usually turn them off when traffic comes, but I have yet to get pulled over for them.
They really powerful and I usually turn them off when traffic comes, but I have yet to get pulled over for them. Did you at least aim them so they aren't shining directly in the eyes of on-coming traffic?
_SG: Does the Hella grille not come with it's own switch for the lights? That's how I'd want it rigged up, so you can operate them independently of your stock headlights.
- NCSU
Last edited by NCSU_05_FX4; Nov 30, 2007 at 12:14 PM.
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From: Spring, TX
Well got the grille installed yesterday. It looks awesome, and as expected, performs awesome as well. Came in handy last night.
As for the surround, I am confident that you could remove the one that is shipped, and replaces with existing, however it would require some additional modification/patchwork that I wasn't motivated to do. The OE grill surround is held in place by tabs, and the grille shell has plastic posts keeping pressure on the tabs. You can bend the posts to release the tabs, so getting the original off isn't too much work. However on the Hella, those plastic posts are pretty tight, and some looks to be molded to the surround. Since I just dropped some coin on getting the grille, I wasn't about to hack it up. I think the color looks good on my truck anyways.
To answer wiring questions, no there is no rocker switch shipped with the lights. There is a wiring harness that has two relays, the positive and ground wires to the lights, positive wire for the battery, negative wire for the battery, and grey trigger wire which is spliced into the headlight wiring harness (high beam wire light green/black).
I was thinking about adding a rocker, but once I actually used these baby's at night, they need to be on a trigger like the high beams.
As a side not, even though I caught some grief on buying the Hella Grille so close to xmas from my wife, she really likes it. She also was impressed with light they put out, but kept reminding me to turn off the highs when oncoming traffic was approaching. My purposeful forgetfulness has opened the door to allowing me to replace my chrome bumper with an OE bumper w/ fog lights, and even opened to the door to getting a lift, to make the truck look a little "meaner". LOL.
As for the surround, I am confident that you could remove the one that is shipped, and replaces with existing, however it would require some additional modification/patchwork that I wasn't motivated to do. The OE grill surround is held in place by tabs, and the grille shell has plastic posts keeping pressure on the tabs. You can bend the posts to release the tabs, so getting the original off isn't too much work. However on the Hella, those plastic posts are pretty tight, and some looks to be molded to the surround. Since I just dropped some coin on getting the grille, I wasn't about to hack it up. I think the color looks good on my truck anyways.
To answer wiring questions, no there is no rocker switch shipped with the lights. There is a wiring harness that has two relays, the positive and ground wires to the lights, positive wire for the battery, negative wire for the battery, and grey trigger wire which is spliced into the headlight wiring harness (high beam wire light green/black).
I was thinking about adding a rocker, but once I actually used these baby's at night, they need to be on a trigger like the high beams.
As a side not, even though I caught some grief on buying the Hella Grille so close to xmas from my wife, she really likes it. She also was impressed with light they put out, but kept reminding me to turn off the highs when oncoming traffic was approaching. My purposeful forgetfulness has opened the door to allowing me to replace my chrome bumper with an OE bumper w/ fog lights, and even opened to the door to getting a lift, to make the truck look a little "meaner". LOL.
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Originally Posted by _SG
Well got the grille installed yesterday. It looks awesome, and as expected, performs awesome as well. Came in handy last night.
As for the surround, I am confident that you could remove the one that is shipped, and replaces with existing, however it would require some additional modification/patchwork that I wasn't motivated to do. The OE grill surround is held in place by tabs, and the grille shell has plastic posts keeping pressure on the tabs. You can bend the posts to release the tabs, so getting the original off isn't too much work. However on the Hella, those plastic posts are pretty tight, and some looks to be molded to the surround. Since I just dropped some coin on getting the grille, I wasn't about to hack it up. I think the color looks good on my truck anyways.
To answer wiring questions, no there is no rocker switch shipped with the lights. There is a wiring harness that has two relays, the positive and ground wires to the lights, positive wire for the battery, negative wire for the battery, and grey trigger wire which is spliced into the headlight wiring harness (high beam wire light green/black).
I was thinking about adding a rocker, but once I actually used these baby's at night, they need to be on a trigger like the high beams.
As a side not, even though I caught some grief on buying the Hella Grille so close to xmas from my wife, she really likes it. She also was impressed with light they put out, but kept reminding me to turn off the highs when oncoming traffic was approaching. My purposeful forgetfulness has opened the door to allowing me to replace my chrome bumper with an OE bumper w/ fog lights, and even opened to the door to getting a lift, to make the truck look a little "meaner". LOL.
As for the surround, I am confident that you could remove the one that is shipped, and replaces with existing, however it would require some additional modification/patchwork that I wasn't motivated to do. The OE grill surround is held in place by tabs, and the grille shell has plastic posts keeping pressure on the tabs. You can bend the posts to release the tabs, so getting the original off isn't too much work. However on the Hella, those plastic posts are pretty tight, and some looks to be molded to the surround. Since I just dropped some coin on getting the grille, I wasn't about to hack it up. I think the color looks good on my truck anyways.
To answer wiring questions, no there is no rocker switch shipped with the lights. There is a wiring harness that has two relays, the positive and ground wires to the lights, positive wire for the battery, negative wire for the battery, and grey trigger wire which is spliced into the headlight wiring harness (high beam wire light green/black).
I was thinking about adding a rocker, but once I actually used these baby's at night, they need to be on a trigger like the high beams.
As a side not, even though I caught some grief on buying the Hella Grille so close to xmas from my wife, she really likes it. She also was impressed with light they put out, but kept reminding me to turn off the highs when oncoming traffic was approaching. My purposeful forgetfulness has opened the door to allowing me to replace my chrome bumper with an OE bumper w/ fog lights, and even opened to the door to getting a lift, to make the truck look a little "meaner". LOL.
Great looking truck.!