Okay, so I just recieved my upper and lower black billet grilles from Carriageworks.

Here's what they look like.... except these are chrome so you can see them better; http://www.autoanything.com/billet-g...0A2669236.aspx

So now, I have about a hundred thoughts going through my head about grilles;

1) Whether I keep these grilles or not, they have to be black, to go with my blackout theme, anyway..... and I can't help but think "any" black grille is going to let you see through to the radiator just as easy. Heck, tonight when I came home from work, I was walking past my truck with the stock, black honeycomb grille, and I swear I could see the radiator darn near better than the grille ! So I guess a black "aftermarket" is not going to be any worse.

2) It seems like every time I see a thin, flat, billet barred grille, they are always wavy, and crooked ? What, will the smallest piece of road gravel bend them ?

3) If I did get another grille, I don't want anything I have to paint, "and" it has to have a matching lower bumper grille too.... So although I like the Roushes, their out on both counts, here.

4) So, if not my Carriageworks grilles, what else ? Again, must be black, and must be available with matching upper and lower. I'm thinking something with fatter bars.... Plastic might be okay, but I'd prefer aluminum....

Any suggestions ?

Thank you,
Fish

 

i had the same thought process. i'm finally over the lower bumper grille. on my truck the hole is too small to make a big difference. most of the lower bumper grilles ive seen look out of place, even though they are part of a matching set. If the bottom had a surround, like the top piece does, im sure if would look a lot better.
If you can get over the bottom bumper, a lot of nice grilles are waiting for you to buy them. I agree with you on staying away from the thin billet grilles. Aside from some of them not being built to last, everyone has them now. They make them for the most random cars now. Even my 89 Jeep Cherokee has one. haha.
I like the FX2 grille, roush, or similar grilles, but you have to PTM, and it doesn't have a matching bumper grille.
Just voicing my opinion. Do what you want with it.

 

I looked, and liked this one...



Something different, and they showed it on a KR...Which makes choosing easier.

Chris, put it on if you get several guys replying that the grill is not a POS.

 

look close in the picture. the bumper piece doesnt match very well. I just saw one that looked nice. it was the standard horizontal, but the bumper piece was a perfect match, and it looked like it was supposed to be there. only problem was that it wasnt black.

I haven't replaced my grille yet because I think i'm too picky about it. haha.

 

Hope this helps. I have the same grille, but wanted to see what it would look like black. All I did was take some thin tape and go over the bars. I never really noticed anything behind it either.

 

i have a black billet grille from carriage works on my truck. My truck is black so it really shows through... I ended up buying 2 6" fogs to go behind the grille to take up that void space. It looks good but i'm wanting something different now

Here is a pic
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...242_6_full.jpg

 

All the bumper grilles are mounted behind the bumper, not flush, like how the grilles mount in the surround. The bumper grilles will always look goofy unless they're fabbed to mount flush with the bumper. JMHO.

 

thanks guys. I appreciate all the input, but at the same time, it doesn't seem like their are any real good options out there :-(

Stealth, you say that "all" the bumper grilles are mounted "behind" the bumper.... Well that's pretty crappy. I guess Carriageworks gets no advantage point here either, then.

So, all of this makes me want to return my Carriageworks grilles..... but then I wouldn't know what to get in its place.

Because again (strictly IMPO) nothing looks worse, than the honeycomb crap Ford uses....

Hmmmm.....
Fish

 

The bars on that grill are going the wrong way.

 

The verticle grilles remind me too much of the Lincoln trucks, which I totally don't care for.

I think I've just about decided to return my Carriageworks........ Still just don't know what to replace it with ???

Hmmm...

Fish

 

hey man didnt you already have a grille thread?you had some good responses in that one.its looks like you are getting the same answers.get rid of the carraige works grille it is puny and you will see through it.

 

Might want to look into the harley grille. I just got it on my truck and love it! Im blacking out my truck as well. The grille does have some chrome but its not overdone. I love it! Only thing now is I wish I had a taller looking hood. At some point I want to get the hood that is put on the FTX edition f150s, I think it makes the truck look alot more beefier

 

have you seen the hood on lazurus truck?it looks really good im think about that one down the road.

 

Yea I love that hood, thats the one I really want. I just couldnt remember who had it or what it was called so I just said FTX cuz it is similar.

 

have you seen the black Saleen grille? that thing looks awesome. just something else to consider