So as stated in a previous thread I had a ice chest lid go thru my grille while driving on the freeway. So my search for a new grille began. After searching a few sites I found a carriage works grille part #42102 and #42712 for a full replacement grille and bumper grille. However I still wanted to keep the ford emblem on the grille of the truck so after finding an old hitch cover and a little tomfoolery here is how it all came out and I like the new look a lot. I'll post pics with and without the emblem for those also interested in buying this grille. Total cost me $180 thanks to the July 4th sales.

After the ice chest and my grille had a confrontation.


Grille installed without emblem


All finished with aluminum hitch cover emblem which is actually way better constructed then stock plastic one.

 

Looks good man. I like it alot. Good thinking with the hitch cover!!

 

I like the 1st picture the best.

 

Looks great! Give us a quick how-to on the hitch cover mod. I'm gettting the same grill in black soon and was interested in keeping the oval on there as well.

 

Looks good man, how much for just the top section. Thinking about buying one for myself

 

I dig the one without the logo (2nd), looks cleaner.

 

I was just playin. 2nd looks best.

 

Hahaha yeah I think the first one made the truck go faster
Here's a link to where I got the main grille and I don't know if they still have the deal running but they were giving like $20 off over the 4th.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sk...ts+%26+Mirrors

For the hitch cover mod all I did was take a hitch cover similar to this one.
http://www.amazon.com/Bully-CR-211-F.../dp/B0000AXY5A
On the back of the hitch cover there are four posts that the plastic hitch sleeve is supposed to screw into. Unfortunately the spacing in the grille is a little to narrow to perfectly offset the posts.
So here's all you do

Step 1) File down the lower two posts (pretty easy took me maybe 5 min)
Step 2) Get some new screws (mine were 10-32 x 1") to fit through the grille
Step 3) Find a small metal plate to use on backside of grille to secure emblem (I didn't have much to use so I used the plate for a door jam and drilled 2 new holes)
Step 4) Cut screws to length. This depends on the grille and plate used
Step 5) Position emblem
Step 6) Put a little Loctite on screws and secure emblem with metal plate on inside of grille. Final position and tighten screws.


There ya go. I'll try and get some pics up today to show what it looks like on the backside

 

Alright here's some pics of the front, Back and side. Hope this helps you out and if you have any more questions let me know.

Front (nice and shiny)



Flush mount on the side



Inside of the grill (if you look you can see the lower two posts where I filed them down)

 

That looks so much better than stock anyway

 

yeah i'm loving the new look

 

looks sexy!

 

I had an 87 Bronco for my first truck. And I tied a Ford hitch cover to it with mechanics wire lol. Did the trick and looked pretty good

 

Looks good! #42712 is that the bumper grill part number? where did you order them from?

 

im really liking that grill. thinking of ordering onefor my self.