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LEWNDI
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2002
09:56:05
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 Subject: custom grill
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Just dropped my truck off at the dealer to get some warranty work done and they couldn't get over how sharp the custom grill looked. Just thought I'd pass that on if anyones thinking of installing one.
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jason
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2002
12:24:02
| RE: custom grill
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Did you make it yourself or did you buy it?
I want to make my own, but I want to find out how to do the bottom possibly without taking the bumper off.
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Topless 68
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2002
13:16:21
| RE: custom grill
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For the bumper grill, I actually used Velcro. I bent the top and the bottom of the gutter guard to fit around the openings in the bumper. It is holding pretty good right now, but I think I might strengthen it a bit, maybe with some hot glue or something.
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jason
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2002
14:26:23
| RE: custom grill
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hmm, I didn't think of that.
I was thinking of putting some sort of spacers in those gaps, and then using a ziptie around it.
I think I know how I will do the top too. I'm going to cut the original grill out, but not from busting those melted plastic tabs. Just around the inside openings, then I will zip tie the new grill to the existing grill peice thats left, along the middle horizontal bar. There is like, a few vertical bars that run over the gap. If that makes any sence. I think it should only take 20 minutes to do, if even that long.
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LEWNDI
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2002
14:38:46
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
Jason
I made mine with gutter guard for $20.00 The bumper is a snap without taking it off. Face your truck and look inside the openings of the bumper at the top and you'll see 4 black plastic fittings that hold the cover in place. Cut your gutter guard to fit inside the bumper and wrap a piece of wire around each plastic cap and feed it thru the mesh of the guard and twist it snug from inside. Keep it tight to the top and you'll never see it. I removed my license plate and drilled two small holes and fed some wire thru to snug the bottom in. It took about 20 minutes and looks great. E-mail me if you need more info.
Lew
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jason
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2002
15:15:33
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
Ok, thanks guys. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
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Nitro Junkie
R/T
5/08/2002
16:41:55
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
what did you do about the hood latch ???
2000 R/T
Belltech 2"-3" Drop w/ Nitro Drop Shocks
40 Series Flowmaster Dumped Exhaust
8mm Taylor Spiro Pro wires w/ Autolite 3923's
Mopar Performance Distributor
180 T-Stat
Turn on I see red
Adrenaline crash and crack my head
Nitro Junkie paint me dead .....
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LEWNDI
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2002
16:59:06
| RE: custom grill
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Nitro Junkie
Use the search and type in custom grill. Dark Fury has the info on the hood release. It's real simple.
Lew
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Jason
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2002
09:21:57
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
I went to home depot yesterday, got everything I needed, at about 20 bucks. It turned out nice. And it only took like 2 1/2 hours to do. Instead of using rivets are bolts I just used zip ties. It was a lot less evasive and really easy to do. I'll have to post some pictures when I get a good camera. Thanks for all the advise!
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MightyDakSXT
GenIII
5/09/2002
10:26:46
| RE: custom grill
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Same setup as DarkFury's.
2002 SXT, 3.9 Liter V6, RC, 5-speed, 3.55 rear
-={ Second place is the first loser.} =-
Extang Tonneau, Autolite 3923 Plugs, Borg Warner Cap & Rotor, K&N Filter, Gibson Catback Exhaust, Robert Shaw 180 Degree T-stat, Custom Grille, Modified V8 TB. Coming soon: Quick D Air Intake
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LEWNDI
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2002
12:44:04
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
Jason
How did you make out with the bumper grill?
Lew
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Jason
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2002
14:16:30
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
Heh, thats kinda funny. I took a 2 rubber bushings from an old skate board. They are about 9/16" wide with a small hole in the middle. The gaps in the bumper are just under a half inch, so I put a zip tie thru the hole in the bushing and secured it to the mesh at the right spacing. Then I just pushed them into the gaps. The bushings are rubber so it helps keep it in place.The only thing is that it isn't exactly flush yet. I just molded the wire into the gaps as well to make it tighter. Today I think I'm goin to get these ziptie plates, that are about 1" square with adhesive on the backs of them,and a small loop on top to put the tie thru. Im going to stick them on the inside of the plastic molding of the bumper and then tie the mesh up to it so it is completly flush. I used black zip ties since my truck is black. You can't even tell how it is hooked up until you look inside it. It turned out real good.
So I don;t know if that made any sence, but I'll put up pictures soon.
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LEWNDI
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2002
14:31:19
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
Jason, Actually it does make sence,glad everything turned out ok. A lot better than spending a couple hundred bucks.
Lew
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Jason
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2002
14:34:15
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
Yeah, no doubt.
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Jeff W
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2002
22:08:26
| RE: custom grill
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One thing about the gutter covers, they'll dull after a few weeks. I did mine about a month ago & I'm thinking of re-doing them, this time hitting them with a few coats of clear spray paint first so they'll stay shiny.
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DakSport
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
16:41:55
| RE: custom grill
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OK, heres how i did my custom grille lower valance:
1. i cut the mesh (GG) to fit.
2. i measured where the 3 poles lined up and marked it.
3. i cut 3 pieces of hose (almost like fuel line).
4. i cable tied those 3 pieces to where i marked the mesh.
5. push the 3 pieces of hose into the 3 poles. if it fits really tight it should hold. if not; fill in the poles with GOOP then push the pieces of hose in and it will stay tight.
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UnkeysMunkle
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
15:14:40
|  RE: custom grill
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Message:
Ok, suppose i wanted to spend money on a custom grille, would anyone know the best kind to get? i have a 4x4 5.9L Dakota, 3" lift with 32's, and now i want to make it look good.
Thanks,
Unkey
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CANTONDAK
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
15:56:16
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
I bought the polished street scence speed grills (upper and lower pcs). I took them to work and had them powder coated black. Installation was easy and they look great. They have them in polished and chrome. Best price i found was at Summit Racing.
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PopGenie
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
21:52:54
| RE: custom grill
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Message:
Another source for grille inserts that don't look like all the others:
http://www.drunkenbear.biz
The cost is minimal, paint and clearcoat available, honeycomb pattern aluminum. Installation was a snap, but to do the lower bumper does require removal of the cover, which only takes about 15-20 mins in itself the first time. Check them out... I love my grille insert and I have yet to see another Dak with a similar one (so points for originality!)
Mike T.
01 CC Sport 6A 2WD
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brandon
Dodge Dakota
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7/11/2002
02:08:29
| RE: custom grill
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i have the street scene polished upper and lower speed grille. some ass at my school ripped out one of my fog lights so i decided to do something i had thought about earlier. instead of paying 60 bucks for new foglights, i used the gutter guard idea i heard about a while ago to create very custom inserts for the fog light openings. cost me about $2 and it looks awesome, especially w/ the speed grille. ive had many comments from dak owners and others. a couple of people even asked if it was a functional intake, which one of my friends suggested i could do
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