Installing Trenz Grill

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whatsupadrian

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My trenz grill arrived today and i attempted to install it but things just don't seem to fit right...

First of all there are 4 tabs that are welded on the grill that stick out. They stick out so far that its impossible to sfasten the grill on at the stock "T" bar that the emblem connects to. As I trying to screw them on one of the tabs broke off and the others were bent. I got some pliers and tried to bend them back in place but two more of them broke off. But after that it seemed that it would mount more flushly so i decided to try and fasten the grill on with those tabs broken off so i purposly broke the last one off. Things seemed to fit much better at this time except the Bottom hole where the emblem should be wouldn't snap in, and i didn't want to force it in because the stock "T" bar is plastic and i didn't want to snap it off the clip trying to force it in. Ok i had it in best i could i filed a little bit of the plastic on the sides of the clip down and tried to push it in and it sat in it but didn't recess enough to clip onto the grill. Next problem was the two bracing screws that needed to secure the grill to the car. First of all the screws that came with the grill didn't fit in the holes the grill provided. So i needed to make the holes bigger with my drill. I did that then noticed that the holes provided weren't even centered between the billet bars so when i put the screws in it the screws head was touching the top bar on one side. I didn't drill much off the screw holes. just enough to get the screws remotely close to the size of the hole. So the screws didn't slide in they has be turned in. So in that process it did a nice job scratching the top bar of the grill as it went in, and because of it not being centered the screw has a beautifull angle that it was pointing. Before i drilled the holes in my hood I put the grill in without the screws and took a pencil and marked where the holes should be, But because of the angle of the screw i has some nice holes that didn't exactly line so the grill didn't fit well and so i decided take it all off and put my stock grill back on. Why should i have to jerry rig a grill meant to fit my car??? That or I am doing something really wrong. I want to know if there were any other problems before i go after the distributor.
 
Here are some pics i took of the grill after i put my stock one back on so i couldn't show you how it was fitting.

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Image006.jpg
 
I had problems with my vertical grill from Trenz. They sent me a replacement amd it was fine. I would call and simply state the holes do not match up and nothing else.

I didn't try to beat mine to fit. I just threw a fit on them. They may give you some bs on how these are cut on a water jet controlled by a computer and they are but they arent fool prrof.

I worked with water jet cutters and they do screw up. Plus the tabs are welded and they werent trying to acknowledge that. The holes were too small as well. But they made it right.
 
Same problem here

I ended up filing the tabs off some (all 4) and also using an 8/32 nut and bolt instead of the 10/32 they sent with my grill. But the look and fit is great took me about an extra half hour. So I don't know if the grill fits other lincoln vehicles or not. I put mine an 01 ls.
 
gijoe said:
I ended up filing the tabs off some (all 4) and also using an 8/32 nut and bolt instead of the 10/32 they sent with my grill. But the look and fit is great took me about an extra half hour. So I don't know if the grill fits other lincoln vehicles or not. I put mine an 01 ls.
Click to expand...
ya i drive an 01 also
 
i went ahead and installed the grill anyways and i got it to fit decently, It looks great frmo the front and i think i am going to have to paint behind the grill black there is one thing that is bothering me thoug, i can't seem to get the top part of the grill flush with the hood. Look at the pic.

grill1.JPG


grill2.JPG
 
whatsupadrian said:
i went ahead and installed the grill anyways and i got it to fit decently, It looks great frmo the front and i think i am going to have to paint behind the grill black there is one thing that is bothering me thoug, i can't seem to get the top part of the grill flush with the hood. Look at the pic.
Click to expand...

That's pretty common for the Trenz grilles. I had one on my LS a long time ago and I could never get it to mount flush.
 
Is the grill metal or plastic? I would wonder if it could be bent a little with some care, to put a smooth radius on it. That would make it seat better...
 
kleetus said:
Is the grill metal or plastic? I would wonder if it could be bent a little with some care, to put a smooth radius on it. That would make it seat better...
Click to expand...
Its two pieces. The upper "T" bar with the emblem. The actuall grill part. The upper part is stock, and the bottom horzontal grill part is metal. The metal somehow prevents the T bar from seating completely.
 
the reason you can't get it to mount flush is because of the ridge in the center of the hood assembly that you are mounting the grill to. I took my dremil and cut out the top layer of the center ridge. there are two layers and it is hollow in the center so you can still mount the center bolt to the back layer. and yu can't see it....so noone will know unless you tell them you can't even tell with the hood up.
 
00ls5spd said:
the reason you can't get it to mount flush is because of the ridge in the center of the hood assembly that you are mounting the grill to. I took my dremil and cut out the top layer of the center ridge. there are two layers and it is hollow in the center so you can still mount the center bolt to the back layer. and yu can't see it....so noone will know unless you tell them you can't even tell with the hood up.
Click to expand...

can you show me with some pics?
 
I had the grill on a few days now and am actually happy with it, this weekend i will paint the exposed hood behind the grill black aswell as point my calipers. Here is the same pic with another pic that i took when i first got the car, kinda a before and after pic. I will take a better one when it stops raining.
beforegrill.jpg

aftergrill.jpg
 
looks great.... Are you going to clear the corners of you headlights? The side marker lights in clear would really set an nICY tone.
 
If I decide to replace my grill should I stay way from Trenz and look at a different company? If so what other manufactures are good?
 
Gray Ghost you got a pic with Lincoln LS McLaren Grilles preferably on 03? lower and upper?
 
eL eS said:
looks great.... Are you going to clear the corners of you headlights? The side marker lights in clear would really set an nICY tone.
Click to expand...

Yes and get the silverstar turn lights too, Going to install blue angel eyes, and painting my calipers blue, and get blue emblems soon.

Hey Ken, do B-Pillars come in chrome, actually that may look a bit too much. How does carbon fiber look on silver cars with black tint?


bad reproduction of a chrome effect but whatever i think it would look to classy looking.

chrome.jpg
 
I've only seen stainless B-Pillar inserts not chrome. However, it would look about the same. The carbon fiber looks good on any color IMHO.

BTW, the LS is looking good!
 
SurfjaxLS said:
Can you chrome the McLaren grills?
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I went to a custom rim shop and asked them if they could dip my stock grill and they said yes. So i am sure they could do the LcLaren grilles too. Also they have that chrome spray paint, makes plastic look silver over white primer but its not glossey or anything, maybe i used the wrong kind but i used it on the grill of my cutlass last year.
 
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