2005 FX2 lower grille, Stealth style...(BIG PICS)
#21
It was just loosely in there the way I initially had it, so I re-did the mounting.
I took it off/apart and devised a way to make it more sturdy.
The fat tabs that the license plate screws go into held the grille up making it look bowed upwards slightly.
I took a sharpie to it and made some marks.
I cut away enough plastic with an X-acto knife to make a channel for the grille to nest into.
This took the pre-load out of the grille when the license plate bracket is mounted to the truck.
I then marked and drilled some holes in the license plate bracket and zip-tied the grille to the bracket to hold the grille more steady.
I then put the license plate bracket bracket with the grille attached into the bumper opening. It didn't look right. The grille was leaning back in the opening. I took it out and looked the assembly over. Decided to shim the bottom clocking the grille a bit. I cut the zip-ties and found some 1/4" airbag tubing from a previous project and cut a couple of 2" or so long pieces to wedge under the grille and bracket with zip-ties again.
Then I put it all back together and mounted it to the bumper. Now it looks right, and I'm satisfied with the final result. I just need to touch up the edges with some Krylon fusion and it's all good.
I took it off/apart and devised a way to make it more sturdy.
The fat tabs that the license plate screws go into held the grille up making it look bowed upwards slightly.
I took a sharpie to it and made some marks.
I cut away enough plastic with an X-acto knife to make a channel for the grille to nest into.
This took the pre-load out of the grille when the license plate bracket is mounted to the truck.
I then marked and drilled some holes in the license plate bracket and zip-tied the grille to the bracket to hold the grille more steady.
I then put the license plate bracket bracket with the grille attached into the bumper opening. It didn't look right. The grille was leaning back in the opening. I took it out and looked the assembly over. Decided to shim the bottom clocking the grille a bit. I cut the zip-ties and found some 1/4" airbag tubing from a previous project and cut a couple of 2" or so long pieces to wedge under the grille and bracket with zip-ties again.
Then I put it all back together and mounted it to the bumper. Now it looks right, and I'm satisfied with the final result. I just need to touch up the edges with some Krylon fusion and it's all good.
#25
#28