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Grillcraft installation - protection from stones

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by phoenixgreg, Dec 30, 2013.

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  1. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    I got the Grillcraft front grill set as a gift last week and decided to install it yesterday. The set comes with a couple of pages of instructions which clearly show how to remove the front bumper to do this. There is one harness for the turn signals on the driver’s side which was tricky to unclip. I suggest if anyone tries this to have plenty of old soft large soft towels to lie down on the pavement so when the bumper comes off, the front is laying on them so it doesn't get scratched.

    I would say this is a tricky installation and over-simplified in the instructions. For the lower grill, I had to eventually unclip the OEM black plastic one before I could get the holes right to hold the new one in place. Spacing and centering is not easy for the lower grill. The upper grills were difficult too in that the top mounting holes were nearly impossible to access without first removing some of the plastic inner structure above them with a grinding tool. But I finally got a good fit and think these grills will protect the condenser coil from bugs and stones.

    If you are good with tools and feel comfortable removing the front of the car, I’d rate this on a scale of 1 to 10, an 8 just because of the difficulties in working from the backside of the bumper skin and getting the proper spacing and centering of the pieces. I have some pictures here to show the process:
    Prius front grill 002.JPG Prius front grill 016.JPG Prius front grill 003.JPG Prius front grill 004.JPG Prius front grill 005.JPG Prius front grill 006.JPG Prius front grill 007.JPG Prius front grill 008.JPG Prius front grill 009.JPG Prius front grill 010.JPG Prius front grill 011.JPG Prius front grill 012.JPG Prius front grill 013.JPG Prius front grill 014.JPG Prius front grill 015.JPG
     
    #1 phoenixgreg, Dec 30, 2013
    Derek_M, jgilliam1955 and frodoz737 like this.
  2. Fore

    Fore Don't look back!

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    That's cool! I wonder how a black grill would look?
     
    #2 Fore, Dec 30, 2013
  3. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    nice where did you get these
    its a perfect fit.
    can you get it for the prius c and yaris?
     
    #3 Flying White Dutchman, Dec 30, 2013
  4. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    Yes, it comes in black, but in my opinion, black grills would look best if your car had white or silver paint. Otherwise with darker car colors, the Grillcraft in black would tend to disappear (unless that's what you are going for).
     
    #4 phoenixgreg, Dec 30, 2013
  5. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    Flying White Dutchman...Here's the website: Grillcraft® - Genuine Sport Grilles - Welcome
    Unfortunately, I checked and at this time, they do not offer it for the C or the V.
    To your point though...recently at my dealership I got a good look at a C. Wow, the condenser coil is really exposed on that model.
     
    #5 phoenixgreg, Dec 30, 2013
  6. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    no yaris HSD on there to ;-(
     
    #6 Flying White Dutchman, Dec 30, 2013
  7. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    When do the braces come off?

    Just kidding.

    I would think that would protect against rocks or stones. Good job.
     
    #7 The Electric Me, Dec 30, 2013
    phoenixgreg likes this.
  8. AllanM

    AllanM New Member

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    I like the look. I may have to pick up a black set for my BP.
     
    #8 AllanM, Dec 30, 2013
  9. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    I'd remove the emblem because the emblem design makes it look like a craftsman bbq grill. IMO, there's no reason to draw attention to the grill so I'd go for a more discrete color combo like black on black, silver on silver (shown below), etc.

    [​IMG]
     
    #9 32kcolors, Dec 31, 2013
  10. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

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    I seriously thought of this good-looking GrillCraft item last year. What held me off is the inability to easily grill-block in cold weather once this is installed. Of course, it all depends on the climate the car lives in.
     
    #10 DadofHedgehog, Dec 31, 2013
  11. milkman44

    milkman44 Active Member

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    phoenixgreg, thanks for the pictures, I have considered doing the same, I like the look. I have my lower grille to replace and the heads up on the wire connection is appreciated. I'll wait for warmer weather to take the front end apart, have my grille block on now.
     
    #11 milkman44, Dec 31, 2013
  12. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    You're welcome and to 32kcolors point, the small moniker on the lower grill that says "GrillCraft" is behind an attractive thick polymer and is not too noticeable. If you want a plain look without it, there are two screws behind it so it can be easily removed, if that's you preference. Good luck when you install yours - you will need some kind of small grinding tool (use carefully) to make access for the upper screws on the upper grills.
     
    #12 phoenixgreg, Jan 1, 2014
  13. elementnomore

    elementnomore Member

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    #13 elementnomore, Jan 13, 2014
  14. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

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    Regrettably, the PIP Advanced model has fog lights inside the lower grille area - its daytime running lights and front turn signals live in the corner divots where the base Prius model has [space for] foglights. If that wasn't the case I'd spring for the silver GC grille, because the PiP-A has these nice silver accents that would match it well.

    I've also been thinking that a solid-span grille like the GrillCraft one can provide an alternate solution for Winter grille blocking, by providing a nice solid framework to pin a solid (clear?) sheet of something - maybe Plexiglas? with strategic holes for small Zip-Ties in the corners. Too bad about those in-the-grille foglights on my model.
     
    #14 DadofHedgehog, Jan 13, 2014
  15. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    Gaffer Tape.
     
    #15 Feri, Jan 14, 2014
  16. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

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    Hah! Had to look that one up. Certainly would work.
     
    #16 DadofHedgehog, Jan 14, 2014
  17. MarcSmith

    MarcSmith Active Member

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    greg,

    do you think it is possible to remove the lower grille without removing the bumper?

    I was studing your pics, and it looks like its a basic clip I was thinking something like a putty knife or regular screwdriver between the grille and bumper to release it from the front...

    yes no?
     
    #17 MarcSmith, Jan 28, 2014
  18. MarcSmith

    MarcSmith Active Member

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    ok, I got the upper clips undone, but the bottom ones are proving to be stubborn...
     
    #18 MarcSmith, Jan 28, 2014
  19. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    When you say clips, are you referring to the OEM clips in the lower black plastic grill? They will eventually work free, just pry on them in sequence until they release one by one. Replacing it is a snap, literally :) I assume you removed the bumper skin first. This mod has to be done (if you have Grillcraft) with the bumper skin off.
     
    #19 phoenixgreg, Jan 28, 2014
  20. MarcSmith

    MarcSmith Active Member

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    clips/ tabs, yeah... but no I have not removed the bumper skin. i was hoping to remove the grille without pulling the bumper skin... the top tabs were easy. I was looking at your pics and it looks like the lower tabs are slightly different.

    I want the grill out so I can use it to make a pattern for a carbon fiber one peice grill blocker
     
    #20 MarcSmith, Jan 28, 2014
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