BEFORE
AFTER
If there ever was a truck that needed some help in the mouth, it's the new Tacoma. We'll give Toyota credit for trying something different, but man, what an improvement was made by adding the new B-Cool billet grille. B-Cool's grilles are quality-made in the USA, using custom extruded aluminum bars that have to be the thickest in the market and are fully welded together for one strong unit. The grilles are available for just about all new trucks, with more applications being added daily. They come in either an all-black, brushed, or polished finish, with all the necessary hardware for a flawless installation.
1. The grille comes as one...
1. The grille comes as one piece and is constructed of extruded aluminum. It's nice and thick, too.
2. To start the installation,...
2. To start the installation, the grille shell had to be removed from the truck. Unscrewing the corner lights and popping the retaining clips out allowed the shell to come off easily.
3. & 4. After masking off...
3. & 4. After masking off the face of the shell to prevent scratches, we cut out the teeth using a hacksaw. Leave enough material for a later final trim.
4.
5. Measure 5/8 inch back along...
5. Measure 5/8 inch back along the bottom and edges and up to the corner. Then cut along the line. Make sure not to cut off the center grille mount. Trim up to each side, then shave it down. This will keep the shell from sagging once it's reinstalled.
6. For the upper area, the...
6. For the upper area, the leftover teeth were shaved down to 1/4 inch. For the teeth that had a mount attached, we tapered them just enough so the grille could slide in. The arrow shows where to stop cutting the 5/8-inch measurement. (Joel, look on the contact sheet for arrow placement)
7. This is how the mounts...
7. This is how the mounts should look after being cut (chalked in yellow).
8. Tacos have an extra hole...
8. Tacos have an extra hole on each side, which these grilles run into. All the fake mesh that the factory molds in must also be cut out.
9. Once everything has been...
9. Once everything has been trimmed, the grille should sit flat against all surfaces. If it doesn't, go back in and sand the high areas.
10. The two pieces were then...
10. The two pieces were then assembled by first drilling four holes, then installing the quarter-twenty hardware provided by B-Cool.
11. After reinstalling the...
11. After reinstalling the grille shell on the truck, we bent the hood latch up so that we could reach it from the top instead of through the grille.
12. Bolting up the lower piece...
12. Bolting up the lower piece was a snap after drilling two holes in the front frame horn.
13. The truck now takes on...
13. The truck now takes on an aggressive look that you can be proud of.