I just bought one of these and it is a true bolt on replacement. There is no cutting and the piece is color keyed to match your paint perfectly. The grille is a quality aftermarket part which is made from thick solid materials. I highly recommend this is your don't want to cut and/or screw up your current factory grille.
Yup... that's mine too.
In one aspect, BETTER than stock, as the hood release retaining screws are machine screws and actually thread into threaded inserts. Stock are wood screws run into the glass.
__________________ 2003 SR5 TRD V8
Better Built toolbox / Limited leather / Power outlet mod / Maplight mod / Horn mod / Wheelskins leather wheel wrap / RS3200 Plus / Rebadged w/TRD / Bully Nerf bars / '05 OEM Taillights / Clear corners / Tint / Factory Woodgrain kit / Gentex EC Mirror / Gaylord's Toolbox-Lid / MB Overdrives with Revos / Muthco Signal Mirrors / Sport Grille / TRD Dual Exhaust / Camry Nav System
I think I would like the 'full coverage' look of the T-Rex better than the other. But I have to admit a bolt-in replacement would be a little less unnerving. What do you guys think?
the one i am looking for is the grille that is on the green truck...anybody know where to get this one? i did a quick search through t-rex and found nothing. thanks for all your help guys.
Yup... that's mine too.
In one aspect, BETTER than stock, as the hood release retaining screws are machine screws and actually thread into threaded inserts. Stock are wood screws run into the glass.
I just installed this grill on a white '03. The installation was cake, but............... The color doesn't match!
The shell looks a shade darker than the hood... is that it? Otherwise, that's a damn fine looking grille. I wonder how close they would be with my Salsa Red?
I have this one on my 2003 tundra. IMO it looks great - just like the company's photo and exactly like the T-rex except fewer vertical stabilizing bars (which is a good thing). When I was researching before I bought, I considered both the T-rex and the Stull. You can find the T-rex at www.sporttrucking.com (see their add in Truckin' - it's there every month) but I recommend the Stull based on my own experience. My Stull grill is very heavy duty and of high quality IMO.
To install it requires that you remove the stock grill shell, then cut out the cross bars, leaving just the rim -- this is tricky. The billet grill then screws (or rivets) in place. The downsides are 1) you have to remove the hood release latch (b/c it mounts to the back of one of the cross bars) and 2) the grill makes a slight whistle right at 50 MPH (not above or below).
I purchased the Stull grill from AV Sport Truck in CA - I called Stull and asked for dealers, and this was one of the first names they gave me. It sounds like a small operation, but they took good care of me.
The lower grill is a seperate piece and part #. I ordered both. The lower grill takes about 2 min. intstall - it just sits right on top of the factory mesh and is held on with 2 bolts.
I had to remove the part of the latch that you grab with your fingers to release the hood (after being released from inside and popping up a little). The part that you grab is connected to the actual latch mechanism by a rod about 5" long. The latch and the rod stay -- the lever that you grab to open the hood has to go (it mounts to the back of the cross bar). Now, when I "pop" the hood, I have to reach under the grill and find the rod (which sort of just hangs there pretty much out of the way) then pull it to realease the hood.
This is hard to explain - when you see the parts it should make sense.
This is hard to explain - when you see the parts it should make sense.
Okay... makes perfect sense, but I'm still not crazy about the design. You'd think that they would engineer some kind of mount for it.
It IS a sharp looking grille though... I'm just not crazy about the above, and about having to actually cut the stock grille. I'm glad I went with the FMS grille for mine.
__________________ 2003 SR5 TRD V8
Better Built toolbox / Limited leather / Power outlet mod / Maplight mod / Horn mod / Wheelskins leather wheel wrap / RS3200 Plus / Rebadged w/TRD / Bully Nerf bars / '05 OEM Taillights / Clear corners / Tint / Factory Woodgrain kit / Gentex EC Mirror / Gaylord's Toolbox-Lid / MB Overdrives with Revos / Muthco Signal Mirrors / Sport Grille / TRD Dual Exhaust / Camry Nav System
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