Retro vertical grille for 3rd gen?

Still a little new here, I'm trying to put together a retro looking 3rd gen, but I'm hung up on something important, the grille. I'm hoping someone has seen a vertical style grille like the first gens had that'll fit the third gen so I don't need to take up custom fab or upgrade my 3d printer..

 

Welcome to TW! Interested to see what folks suggest

 

Hey, I'm open to all ideas. I can be creative if I have to, as long as I don't have to wreck my stock grille.
Thanks for the warm welcome! I look forward to all the bad influences and temptations to mod and ruin my truck, haha.

 

Welcome to the rabbit hole. I suggest seeing if you can find a SR or Limited grille insert take-off. Likely can find one cheap, I tossed mine in the recycling bin after changing mine and trying to sell or give it away.

You may also be able to find a 1st gen grille aftermarket for $100ish or in salvage cheaper.

Once you have that in hand to can explore the possibility of modifying/combining them or fabricating a new one in the manner you want.

Best of luck, and welcome to the madness.

 

IMHO the 3g grill is so large that it may look awkward with the vertical look.

If you have the resources to make a proper scale rendering, with a truck in the same angle of view as your 1g sample, it should give an idea of if you want to proceed.

 

Welcome to TW! Get ready to open your wallet, the more you're on here the more you spend!

 

This might take some effort to find something that will work and making it look good. But it sounds like a fun project. Good luck and welcome.

 

LC Prado has the vertical slat grill…. gives one an idea of how it will look. Use it for parts to build one.

 

This one is the only retro-ish grille I've seen, but it harkens back to a generation prior to the 1st Tacoma. The problem of course is that even though it pulls all of the elements of a 4 headlight LC80 and it does it better than the actual Pro heritage grille, it's hardly recognizable as being "retro." There's no disguising the big manta ray maw on the 3rd gen.



I've not seen anyone do a vertical slat grille. That might be interesting.

 

There's an idea.
I see they have some interesting aftermarket grilles for those that are in line with what I was picturing. Maybe I'll get some measurements and see if I can get freaky with the Dremel and some JB weld and throw something together.
I guess the next big question is black or chrome?

 

Chrome for oldies like me hahaha

 

Welcome to TW.
Let's approach this idea from another direction maybe.
A Tacoma is one of the most modded vehicles out there, and there are literally thousands of vendors making all manner of mods.
After eight years that the 3rd Gen has been around, and a mod is not offered, it's because nobody wants it.
I would think that, if a vertical slot grille could be made attractive, there would be hundreds of people making them.
You do you, but they were not very handsome even on the 1st gen.

 

Make your own. I’ve never cared much for the plastic grill look. When the time is right I’ll completely change up the front grill area.

 

The taco grill is ABS plastic, so you can use a regular glue. Also, hot air plastic welders are relatively cheap and fun to play with.

 

Black.

 

I have a 18 Sport, and the 01-04 Tacoma is my favorite front end. I picked up an extra 3rd Gen grill from a member here that changed to the Pro grill. Then purchased a new 01-04 grill from Rock Auto. The idea was to use the 3rd Gen grill for the mounting points & placement of the radar stuff in the front center. But most of it would be the 1st gen style.

I got as far as combining the two grills & mocked up on the truck, but never finished it out. Got side tracked on the project & haven't gotten back to it.

Can't find any of the pics on my phone, but I believe I do have some with it on the truck. I'll post em when I find them.

 

what grill is that? dont think ive seen before

 

Hey, if you do and it looks good, I'd love to see for inspiration.

I was mulling over the idea of finding an old International truck or something and tearing up the grill on that to shove into a 3rd gen grill frame.

Considering what Jowett said though, might be my excuse to buy a plastic welder and get a new toy.

 

I don't disagree, but that sounds like sound advice if I'm trying to turn a profit. I'm just having fun tooling around with things, and if it's too expensive or ugly, maybe I'll shelf it and find something else to mess with!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/x-trek-grille-insert-option.521061/