grille installation nightmare

[Corsagirl]

Okay, I have been trying to get in touch with my manly side and decided to try and do some stuff myself. Got my bug guard on with no problems. Got my in-channel vent visors on without even breaking a sweat. I was so proud I did it myself. Got my cool Putco spiderweb grille in the mail last week and with my boosted confidence I decide after reading the instructions that this should be easy, why pay some guy to put it on.......famous last words. I did reference this site on how to get the plastic plug thingys off the radiator cover in order to get to the grille. Finally got them off with much cussing. That is when things got bad. The plastic cover I am trying to remove is totally connected to everything on the front of this truck, including the grille. It looks like all of the lights need to come off, the chrome cross bar needs to come off, and all of the colored outer plastic needs to come off - it's all one piece!!!! This is a 2004 2500 with the cladding. Am I missing something or is it really this hard to get access to the back of the grille My spiderweb grille insert doesn't look so damn cool laying on my dining room table...

 

[FLINTaVa]

Did anyone help you in a PM, this is not that hard to do. It has clips on the power bar and a few places and some may break off when removing it. I'm not familiar with how the insert installs but I can remove the grille.

 

[I CHNGE]

I don't have this grille either but A member of NORCAL CHAPTER...wildfire does and he did NOT remove anything to install it...just curious what indication you have that anything has to be removed to do the install?
Isn't this the same grille you bought?

 

[irontrain]

Here is a picture of the front assembly removed.

The lights dont have to come off but a few posters have noted that it saved breaking a clip or 2. Other than the radiator cowl everything else is just push in clips. As you tilt it forward you'll pull the clips out next I pulled starting on one side of the power bar as I leaned the grill assembly forward.

 

[irontrain]

I don't have this grille either but A member of NORCAL CHAPTER...wildfire does and he did NOT remove anything to install it...just curious what indication you have that anything has to be removed to do the install?
Isn't this the same grille you bought?

If you dont have to remove for installation by all means dont. Not hard but the clips can break.
How does this grill mount I Change?

 

[I CHNGE]

Again...I don't own this grill...but wildfire does and he did not remove anything...to the best of my knowledge they (aftermarlet grill inserts) just lay across the face of the factory grill and either "zip tie" or fasten
(with a type of molly) that is all done from the front...
I wish she was still online to tell us what in the instructions leads her to beleave the factory facia/grill has to be removed...while doing so is not a tough job, it can be very intimidating the first time...

 

[irontrain]

Agreed. I have a polished billet that installed with black toggle bolts over the original grill.

 

[I CHNGE]

This is from a site that sells PUTCO grills...
note the installation reference of NO GRILL REMOVAL
on their stainless water jet cut grills (the spider web grill insert IS SUCH A GRILL)

>> Putco's PREMIER aluminum billet style grille!.
>> Mirror finish Solid Aluminum.
>> Hydro - Jet for exact tolerances.
>> Heavy gauge design - 1/4" Thick.
>> Installs over existing truck manufacturers grille with NO DRILLING. NO CUTTING or removal of any grille component needed.
>> Simple to install. >> Putco's lifetime warranty.
>> Application available for most full sized trucks and SUVs.
>> Priced Right!!!

 

[FLINTaVa]

She was online when I offered help, I had to take mine off to do the waag. They gave me some clips which I did use when I took it off the '02 the second time. I was real careful the first time and then again the third time which was putting it on my '04

I did ask about grille install, I was going to try and make sure it didn't need to come off.

 

[I CHNGE]

Agreed. I have a polished billet that installed with black toggle bolts over the original grill.

exactly...

 

[I CHNGE]

another indication that factory grill removal is NOT required for this particular grill...



SPIDER WEB GRILLE ON CHEVY
SPIDER WEB GRILLE ON GMC
WITH LOGO CUTOUT


Thick 3-D Mirror Finish Solid Aluminum
Heavy gauge design - 1/4" thick
Installs over existing truck manufacturer's grille
NO DRILLING, NO CUTTING or removal of any grill component required
Easy to install
Putco's lifetime warranty
Available with and without logo cutouts
Hydro-Jet cut for exact tolerances

Putco's New Spider Web Design Liquid Billet Grille Inserts are the newest addition to our Designer Grille Insert Collection. Unlike most other billet grilles, our Liquid Grilles are manufactured from a solid 1/4" thick sheet of Highly Polished Aluminum using Hydro-Jet manufacturing technology. Hydro-Jet is a precision cutting process using a high pressure water stream of up to 50,000 psi which eliminates thermal distortion and provides exact dimensional tolerances. Due to this manufacturing process, the name "Liquid" was established as the name of these Inserts. The results are a quality finished product you will be proud to have on your expensive Truck or SUV. No Drilling, Cutting or Removal of your factory grille is required. Some models are available without Logo Cutouts.

 

[redaval]

where did you get the bug shield iron................awesome..........

 

[whitethunder]

Okay, I have been trying to get in touch with my manly side and decided to try and do some stuff myself. Got my bug guard on with no problems. Got my in-channel vent visors on without even breaking a sweat. I was so proud I did it myself. Got my cool Putco spiderweb grille in the mail last week and with my boosted confidence I decide after reading the instructions that this should be easy, why pay some guy to put it on.......famous last words. I did reference this site on how to get the plastic plug thingys off the radiator cover in order to get to the grille. Finally got them off with much cussing. That is when things got bad. The plastic cover I am trying to remove is totally connected to everything on the front of this truck, including the grille. It looks like all of the lights need to come off, the chrome cross bar needs to come off, and all of the colored outer plastic needs to come off - it's all one piece!!!! This is a 2004 2500 with the cladding. Am I missing something or is it really this hard to get access to the back of the grille My spiderweb grille insert doesn't look so damn cool laying on my dining room table...

All i can say is

ha ha ha ha ha ha
LMFAO ROTFLOL

I had some issues installing mine too.

The way I did it was without removing the front grill I put the grills in place botttom first then reached under the rad cover.

It was not easy but it worked!

 

[irontrain]

where did you get the bug shield iron................awesome..........

I think your talking about the SS one in the pic from Lund. It's not mine, just a pic I borrowed from I Change.

 

[Corsagirl]

Hi guys, I wish I would have been online to reply to all of this. Yes, the above grille insert is exactly what I have. It is very clear in the instructions that the grille does not need to be removed and there is no cutting or drilling needed. It is actually pretty easy to put this thing on. It has two long screws on each side that are a part of each peice (top and bottom) that you put thru the original grille then there are long brackets (plates) that go on each screw and then bolts that go on to tighten everything up. The only part that I am having trouble with is getting access to the back of the original grille to be able to put the brackets and bolts on. The instructions say: "remove the factory plastic hood that covers the area between the grille and radiator by removing the plastic plugs or screws that fasten it in place." After removing the plastic plugs that is when I figured out that the 'factory plastic hood' is all one peice with the rest of the plastic down the front of the truck. I tried just pulling up on it and getting my arm down behind it but I am afraid I am going to break something. I don't think it would work anyway because it would be too long of a reach. Is there any other way to get to the back of the grille so I can attach the brackets and bolts?

 

[pktwatch]

If you need to take the grille out, there are TWO rows of those push in clips along the top edge of that black plastic near the top of your raditor. Make sure you are removing the right ones! After you remove them you just start pulling out and down on the grille. It does feel tight and will make some popping noises but you should get it off ok. I needed to use a flat screwdriver at the very bottom under the headlights to help pry it off. Tape up the screwdriver so you do not mess up the paint! You may need to buy new clips for the place where you use the screwdriver, I did.

Butch

 

[I CHNGE]

Is this what your bracket looks like?

 

[Corsagirl]

yes, it is very similar. the only difference is they are shorter and they do not extend from screw to screw. There are four of these that attach to each screw.

 

[I CHNGE]

I have PM'd wildfire for you...
Sorry I don't have more of an answer...I looked at my Av and agree access is tight...
I would wait for wildfire to post up or another member that has a similar Putco grill...
Sorry I don't have more of an answer for you...

 

[WCFields]

Interesting thread Cosagirl.

Obviously patience is the key here. I agree it'll look better on the truck than on the table.

My response is to your first post and manly approaches to occasional tasks.

I learned a long time ago, there are times when It's Tough To Be A Man, even when you are.

Don't give up and wait for WildFire to chime in.

 

[Corsagirl]

Hey, thanks for responding, I will wait and see if there is anymore feedback on this. I am going to go out in a few minutes and take a fresh look at this and see if there is anywhere I might get my arm thru enough to put this thing on. I will be very interested to see how he got his on without removing the cover.

 

[irontrain]

yes, it is very similar. the only difference is they are shorter and they do not extend from screw to screw. There are four of these that attach to each screw.

I would make a trip to local hardware store and replace short brackets with toggles. These would slide through stock grill openings then expand and tighten all from front of Av. Take the supplied Putco screws with you and just get the toggle nuts if the screws are long enough, they're actually spring loaded wings. They fold to enter the hole then expand.

 

[02-Z66]

here are the points where the clips on the grille attach. this will help you determine where to pull on the grille. sorry it is not the best quality. maybe someone can make it a little better to look at.

 

[FLINTaVa]

I just yanked on the grill carefully and you can feel where the clips are if you do have to remove it like I did for the waag front bar install. First remove the top 3 clips then do the 4 ends. After that just pull on it everywhere it is hanging up. The ends of the chrome power bar and the painted smaller lower part you take a large standard/flat head screwdriver and wrap it in a piece of cloth and carefuly pry in between the fender. These end clips are the one's most likely to break but mine only broke the second time I took the grill off the '02. If you do remove the grille assembly be real careful lining it up when you put it back on or you can scratch the lights. Once lined up you just have to smack it back on but make sure each clip is going into it's hole.

 

[Jim D]

This part of the instructions refer to the WBH model

"remove the factory plastic hood that covers the area between the grille and radiator by removing the plastic plugs or screws that fasten it in place."

As with the WBH model you can take off just the radiator cover and get full access to behind the grille,
Are you sure that you have the right grille for the cladded truck. Jim