Chromeless Badgeless DIY Upper Grill

WeaponX6X · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 860 Location: Austin, TX

So I have a oem lower grill at my disposal and I wanted to mod it into an upper grill. Has anyone done this yet? I don't imagine it's too difficult.

I do not care for the chrome trim, I personally find it to out of place and it does not belong on the tC.

Dakine · Posted: 9/2/08 1:59PM Post subject:

You mean the famous Dakine badgeless grills?

dont ask me to make em for you... currently on military duties. :lalala:

yellowxhoodie · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 4705 Location: G.E, IL

yea ive done it, and ive got another one laying around.
ive been meaning to make a DIY because alot of ppl asked me to but ive been real sidetracked by a couple other projects.

If you PM me on Fri or Sat and remind me then i swear ill get it done this weekend.

tc913 · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 531 Location: Walnut,CA

Sigh, I've always wanted to do this but just don't have the tools.

a_german_named_hans · Posted: 9/2/08 2:59PM Post subject:

Get a drill, a dremel, some zip ties, and some time. That's what i did.

Kev_the_rev · Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 386 Location: Seattle / UW

paypal ready for someone who has one that looks as solid as Dakine's =)

of if you need me to buy parts and and have ya custom it. lemmie know

i wish i had the time or a garage to do this.. but i don't =(

O5_TRD_tC · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 4036 Location: Bay Area!

Dakine's grill is sexy as hell!

a_german_named_hans · Posted: 9/2/08 3:47PM Post subject:

I'd do it if i had my dremel and u were closer. Mine's not as clean as Dakines tho.

yellowxhoodie · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 4705 Location: G.E, IL

i will be making a DIY this weekend.
i trimmed the first one to small.
if im happy with my own quality of work then ill consider offering it to others.
well see how it goes...

Irish_tc_518 · Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 32 Location: Albany, NY

Dakine how exactly did you do that?

I get the whole cutting it out with a dremel... but how did you get the fit in piece? Did you just cut a piece out of another oem grill?

BTW props for the Navy. Im a Midshipman down in Norfolk.

yellowxhoodie · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 4705 Location: G.E, IL

cut the upper out so the logos gone.
cut a lower OEM grill in the shape of an upper.
zip tie in.
its pretty easy.

im gonna attemp to make the DIY tomm.
ive been meaning to do it anyways but got sidetracked.
now this thread makes me want to fix mine again.

Dakine · Posted: 9/2/08 7:14PM Post subject:

LOOK WHAT I FOUND

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=235698

yellowxhoodie · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 4705 Location: G.E, IL

haha. or look what you just made..hmmm...

Irish_tc_518 · Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 32 Location: Albany, NY

ooohhh I see what you did... but then its actually behind the oem location. Not that you can really tell the difference...

I can think of another way to do it

Cut out the original scion badge
Cut out a piece from an extra grill (bottom or top, you should have enough for 4 attempts)
Lightly super glue all the points that it touches.

I know it would have to fit like perfectly but the dremels come with a sanding tool so you could make the piece perfect.

Im gunna run to a scion dealer and see if I can get one from a wreck. If not ill order one on ebay. Ill post pics hopefully this weekend when i do it.
Even if I totally F it up, its only like $30, plus knowing I tried...

yellowxhoodie · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 4705 Location: G.E, IL

Irish_tc_518 wrote: ooohhh I see what you did... but then its actually behind the oem location. Not that you can really tell the difference...

I can think of another way to do it

Cut out the original scion badge
Cut out a piece from an extra grill (bottom or top, you should have enough for 4 attempts)
Lightly super glue all the points that it touches.

I know it would have to fit like perfectly but the dremels come with a sanding tool so you could make the piece perfect.

Im gunna run to a scion dealer and see if I can get one from a wreck. If not ill order one on ebay. Ill post pics hopefully this weekend when i do it.
Even if I totally F it up, its only like $30, plus knowing I tried...

you can do it that way but it will NEVER look good.
i guarentee it.

Irish_tc_518 · Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 32 Location: Albany, NY

yellowxhoodie wrote: Irish_tc_518 wrote: ooohhh I see what you did... but then its actually behind the oem location. Not that you can really tell the difference...

I can think of another way to do it

Cut out the original scion badge
Cut out a piece from an extra grill (bottom or top, you should have enough for 4 attempts)
Lightly super glue all the points that it touches.

I know it would have to fit like perfectly but the dremels come with a sanding tool so you could make the piece perfect.

Im gunna run to a scion dealer and see if I can get one from a wreck. If not ill order one on ebay. Ill post pics hopefully this weekend when i do it.
Even if I totally F it up, its only like $30, plus knowing I tried...

you can do it that way but it will NEVER look good.
i guarentee it.

If you look at dakine's pics really closely... Im almost 100% sure his original attempt went something like that. You can see the points where he cut the piece and fit it in. And it looks great... Im guessing his write up was an after thought of an easier way to do it.

yellowxhoodie · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 4705 Location: G.E, IL

hmmm. i see what you mean if your talking about that one pic in the other thread.
personally, that little line of blemishes down the middle would annoy the hell out of me...but thats just me.
and i also think its easier to just cut it and zip tie it.

Irish_tc_518 · Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 32 Location: Albany, NY

yea thats what i mean... there's little joint marks.
But your definetely right about the other way being easier...
I just dont like the whole zip tie thing... it just gives me an unproffesional feeling.
Like I said Ill post pics... even if I totally embarrass myself :P

yellowxhoodie · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 4705 Location: G.E, IL

trust me, i thought the same things, there was no way in hell i was going to let zip ties be sticking out of my grill.

after i was done...you couldnt even see them at all, AND i didnt even use black ones...i used white.

if you do it properly and neatly the zip ties wont be visible at all.

iKONA · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 2876 Location: South Chicago

Zip tie ti to how you want it to sit together, then epoxy glue i between the zip ties. Once its dry remove the zip ties. It works on putting torn bumpers back together it can work fro a little grill. 8)