Heritage Grill Paint Match Results

[DarthLincoln]

Thank you for the reply! I do like the texture with the truck bed paint. I think I'll paint the red letters silver and see how they look (shape-wise, they seem a little off to me) and pull the oem letters if necessary. Maybe pull the oem letters anyway and paint them too? Looking forward to this winter project.

yeah I also didn’t like the shape of the letters included with the grille. Otherwise it would have been simpler to just paint them white.

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[jayMD]

Thanks! Yes, I transferred the OEM letters from my Badlands grille.

Did you have to get creative, or did the oem letters fit in the holes on the new grille?

 

[DarthLincoln]

Did you have to get creative, or did the oem letters fit in the holes on the new grille?

The letters have mounting posts and alignment pins, and these are the same for the OEM and the aftermarket parts. You just have to be careful in how you remove the letters from the OEM grille since the ends of the posts are melted to hold them in place instead of being mounted with screws. So you have to remove the melted head on the OEM letters posts to remove them, but leave enough of the post so you can drive a screw into them when attaching to the aftermarket grille.

Watching some videos I found really helped me. Below are my notes and links to the videos I had watched:

1. I drilled the melted head off the letter posts with 3/8" drill bit
   1. The Cornering Store video, used a 3/8" drill bit, then use hole center punch to punch out.
   2. Budget Bronco video used a 1/4" drill bit until the letters fell out.
2. Used 7/64" drill bit to drill into letter posts about 1/4". Use tape on the drill bit (like in the Cornering Store video) to be sure don't go too deep!
   1. The OEM letter posts apparently were hollow because drill suddenly goes deeper after drilling thru the melted part.
3. Used the tiny screws that IAG provided to attach OEM letters to IAG grille.

 

[jayMD]

The letters have mounting posts and alignment pins, and these are the same for the OEM and the aftermarket parts. You just have to be careful in how you remove the letters from the OEM grille since the ends of the posts are melted to hold them in place instead of being mounted with screws. So you have to remove the melted head on the OEM letters posts to remove them, but leave enough of the post so you can drive a screw into them when attaching to the aftermarket grille.

Watching some videos I found really helped me. Below are my notes and links to the videos I had watched:

1. I drilled the melted head off the letter posts with 3/8" drill bit
   1. The Cornering Store video, used a 3/8" drill bit, then use hole center punch to punch out.
   2. Budget Bronco video used a 1/4" drill bit until the letters fell out.
2. Used 7/64" drill bit to drill into letter posts about 1/4". Use tape on the drill bit (like in the Cornering Store video) to be sure don't go too deep!
   1. The OEM letter posts apparently were hollow because drill suddenly goes deeper after drilling thru the melted part.
3. Used the tiny screws that IAG provided to attach OEM letters to IAG grille.

Thank you very much for the notes. I really appreciate the insight!

 

[jayMD]

@The Compensator @The Green Flash @DarthLincoln @Buck N Bronc

I have the same grille, finally ready to install...none of the tabs will click in!! I can't find anything in the way that would be preventing engagement. Anyone have a similar issue?

 

[DarthLincoln]

@The Compensator @The Green Flash @DarthLincoln @Buck N Bronc

I have the same grille, finally ready to install...none of the tabs will click in!! I can't find anything in the way that would be preventing engagement. Anyone have a similar issue?

I didn't have an issue like that. Are the metal clips just not latching in the holes, or do the tabs not even alight with the holes?

The only thing I found is the grille might lose a bit of its curvature if it lies flat on a table for a long period, like when doing all the painting. For installing, I suggest try pushing the ends in first to help it bow then work towards the center?

 

[jayMD]

I didn't have an issue like that. Are the metal clips just not latching in the holes, or do the tabs not even alight with the holes?

The only thing I found is the grille might lose a bit of its curvature if it lies flat on a table for a long period, like when doing all the painting. For installing, I suggest try pushing the ends in first to help it bow then work towards the center?

The metal clips!!!

The instructions in the box are along the lines of, "1. remove old grill, 2. install new grill." There were metal clips in the same bag as the screws for attaching the letters, so I assumed they were related to the letters, not being able to figure out what else they'd be for. Based on you asking if the metal clips aren't latching, I'm guessing you place them on the tabs?

Everything lines up great, so if I'm just missing the clips, should be bingobango! Thank you, sir!

 

[Fordsoldier]

Looks perfect just the way it is.

 

[DarthLincoln]

The metal clips!!!

The instructions in the box are along the lines of, "1. remove old grill, 2. install new grill." There were metal clips in the same bag as the screws for attaching the letters, so I assumed they were related to the letters, not being able to figure out what else they'd be for. Based on you asking if the metal clips aren't latching, I'm guessing you place them on the tabs?

Everything lines up great, so if I'm just missing the clips, should be bingobango! Thank you, sir!

yup, must have the clips! Just like your OEM grille had clips, tho those clips are black so maybe you didn’t notice them.

 

[jayMD]

You're absolutely right, I didn't notice them at all on the OEM grille! Very easy installation with the clips, go figure. Thanks again for the reply, it was a big help and much appreciated

 

[The Green Flash]

Question answered before I could say the same thing.

DarthLincoln for the win!!!

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