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Nomar116
Dodge Dakota
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4/05/2002
22:27:48
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 Subject: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Message:
Well I tried to do the custom grill install today. It went well, looks great with a few exceptions. I read that someone tried NOT relocating the hood latch and gave that a go, just left a section with no grill. It doesnt look good at all...Are there any other alternatives to the relocation...I know you just need to drill a hole in the latch, but where?? It seems like pulling down wouldnt cause the latch to move to the RIGHT....
The other problem I was having was with the lower bumper. I wasnt really able to attach it very well without removing it. I dont want to remove it, so could someone give me some tips on a good install for the bottom WITHOUT removing the bumper? I was thinking of using some sort of adhesive? Let me know on any ideas.
Paul
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pyrodak
GenIII
4/05/2002
22:46:37
|  RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Hey Nomar,
Check out this website. Darkfury has step-by-step instructions on how to install a custom grill...including how to do the hood latch. I already had a billet grill, but I did use a piece of bike brake cable for the latch release and it works awesome.
http://www.chimptopia.com/pimptopia/grille.html
Good Luck,
Mark S.
98 Club Cab 4X2 SLT 3.9
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Mike
Dodge Dakota
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4/05/2002
22:54:31
|  RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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im trying the cusotm grill thing as well, but i can't figure out how to do the lower insert? i would rather not drill into the bumper...how do u get those metal brackets to attach to the bumper????
izey@rogers.com
Mike
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pyrodak
GenIII
4/05/2002
22:57:33
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Message:
Hey Mike,
You should check out that website too. I think Darkfury did the lower as well.
Later,
Mark S.
98 Club Cab 4X2 SLT 3.9
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SpeedTuba
GenIII
4/05/2002
23:47:19
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Nomar - Don't feel bad. I'm in the middle of doing mine as well and having the same latch problem.
For all - here is the catch. On the earlier Gen III's the secondary hood latch pulls more to the drivers side than the others do. I think the 2000's on pull down. 97-99, the secondary goes more toward the driver.
I am thinking about getting a longer cable and running it by the steel bars to the drivers side and have it drop b/w the grill and the headlight.
If I can't make a go of that, I'm going to see if I can mount a small pulley at the top center of the grille just to redirect the motion of the cable.
Either way, as soon as I finish it up tomorrow, I will post pictures at www.geocities.com/wpmjones/.
Check back here tomorrow and I'll let you know what the verdict was.
W. Patrick Jones
98 Dakota Sport 3.9L
Emerald Pearl Coat
http://www.geocities.com/wpmjones/
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nuttydriver
Dodge Dakota
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4/06/2002
04:12:45
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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I put my insirts in last weekend. Instead of relocating the hood release I simply used a small grinder and grinded out 2 of the small supports that were right in front of the original release and keep a pocket knife in my glove box to slid the release over. It worked out great. I didn't have a problem putting in my bottom insirt but i had someone hold it for me till i got it tightened. Good Luck!!
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Nomar116
Dodge Dakota
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4/06/2002
11:25:10
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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All you guys not having problems with the bottom insert, is this with the bumper ON or OFF the car? I dont want to remove the bumper and so Im having troubles. Ive gone to that web site, and thats how I got started, but his ideas havnt worked perfectly. Im really curious about how to do this darn latch. I thought you still could pull down and it would release. My trucks a 99 incase I havnt already mentioned that...
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SpeedTuba
GenIII
4/06/2002
16:38:23
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Alright guys. For the hood release on a 97-99, I put up pictures on my website. Here is a pic of the final product. Basically, I removed the black part of the latch, but kept the bolt, spacer and spring.
OK, guess I'm stupid. I can't get the picture to show. Right click on the red X and you can paste the address in your browser to go directly to the pic of the final latch.
W. Patrick Jones
98 Dakota Sport 3.9L
Emerald Pearl Coat
http://www.geocities.com/wpmjones/
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DakSport
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2002
00:15:23
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Message:
Ok guys i did darkfury's grille insert. i did the hood relocator similar to his except instead of drilling the latch i looped the wire around the top of the latch (works perfectly), as for the bottom grille insert i debated on many different ways and decided on this way. i zip tied it in place around the 3 bars. then i used glue sticks and heated them up with a blow torch. then while the glue is still hot rub it on. i am surprised at how well its holding considering i just did the top and center bar. still holding up great after a months worth of driving.
good luck everyone.
2000 Sport 3.9 CC Auto Grille Insert
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DarkFury
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2002
22:53:14
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Look at the angle of the cable... As you can see, it pulls the latch downward and to the left, thus releasing the hood.
Honestly, this is too simple to break down any further. My Dakota is a '99 Sport Club Cab 4x4 and there weren't any problems in installing this latch.
I just don't know what to tell you if you are still having problems.
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SpeedTuba
GenIII
4/08/2002
07:15:48
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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For a 98 (and I'm guessing 97), here is what I did for the secondary release.
Remove the secondary release (black) that pushes to the drivers side. Loop the cable around the secondary latch. Then you can pull straight down and be OK.
W. Patrick Jones
98 Dakota Sport 3.9L
Emerald Pearl Coat
http://www.geocities.com/wpmjones/
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LiveDakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2002
04:23:58
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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For those of you with the 00 and newer how long did it take to do both the upper and lower grill? Were there any problems that u ran into that DakFury didn't describe in his method?
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wcomea
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2002
12:19:30
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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It took me just as long a darkfury about 4 to 5 hours. I used pop rivets and I didn't remove the entire original grille I only took out the louvers and pop riveted the mesh to the factory mount next to the factory plastice melted rivets. And I didn't have to remove my bumper to get the mesh in.
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Topless 68
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2002
12:31:24
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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wcomea, your way sound a little bit nicer. I'm kind of leery about cutting out the original grill slats. Would it be possible to simple reheat the plastic tabs or to cut them off from behind the factory grill. I was looking at mine last night and it seems as though you could just kind of sheer them off and not ruin the factory grill.
How did you get the lower grill without removing the bumper?...Can you elaborate a little bit.
(i have a 00 sport BTW)
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Nomar116
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2002
14:13:05
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Message:
I would say that picture pretty much says it all for installing the latch. I was assuming it wouldnt work because the angle just isnt right but Ill definately go that route. My last question is simply how you people are installing these lower grills WITHOUT removing the rear bumper.... My grill is held in place in the center with one screw (which actually isnt even holding it, its holding a smaller strip of the grill material thats then attached to the main piece) I bent it around so it doesnt look half bad but its definately temporary....So is there a good way without removing the bumper.
Paul
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TEAMFAST
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2002
21:38:13
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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speedtuba> why did you use a higher guage
wire? you never know when you might need a
tow rope?
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SpeedTuba
GenIII
4/11/2002
07:46:50
|  RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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LOL TeamFast -
Naw, that's all Lowe's had and I didn't want to drive the extra two miles to get to Home Depot. I was too excited about getting hte grill on. It works pretty well, but it doesn't always spring back after I release the latch.
I may switch to a lower gauge later, but for now it's working.
W. Patrick Jones
98 Dakota Sport 3.9L
Emerald Pearl Coat
http://www.geocities.com/wpmjones/
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wcomea
Dodge Dakota
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4/11/2002
12:45:09
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Topless 68 you could try to re-melt those tabs but I don't think it will hold as well as rivets or the factory bolts. The riviting is real easy and you only need a good box cutter to cut out the louvers. They are real softand easy to cut. just make sure your finger are out of the way. Pop rivets do not work well on flesh or bone.
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phat4x4
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2002
19:22:10
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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How exactly did ya'll cut out the stock grill? I have a gen 2 and am wanting to try this, but I'm really not to crazy about going at my truck with a die grinder.
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LEWNDI
Dodge Dakota
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4/14/2002
12:22:01
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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For any Canadian's trying the custom install, the wire mesh comes 5 pieces per pack for $15.00 at Crappy Tire. It comes in stainless or black.
LEW
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wcomea
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2002
09:41:36
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Phat I cut out the grille with a heavy duty box cutter. And I did it very carefully. If you not careful it will look funny shooting the bird without a thumb.
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Topless 68
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2002
09:57:53
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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I just did the custom grille this weekend. The new hood latch release was extremely easy. I picked up a bike derailler cable (steel wire and vinyl sheath already together and the end have builtin tabs). I went at the grille on Sunday and it took us a while to do it because we were being very careful and wanted it to be nice and clean. We used some utility knives to make it nice and smooth and invisible from the outside. I couldn't find that mesh at 'Crappy Tire' so I got it at Home Depot...it was $4.47 CDN a sheet...so I bought 6...just in case I screwed up some place :0) I was putting washers behind the rivets so it would hold better....looks sweet!! and it was a lot cheaper then buying a kit and having to install it yourself anyway.
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wcomea
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2002
10:29:59
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Hey topless glad to hear it turned out well. Did you get any pics? How did you end up mounting it to the bumper?
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Topless 68
Dodge Dakota
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4/16/2002
12:04:05
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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I didn't get any pics...have to get some film...or a digital camera first... :0)
I'm still undecided about the lower bumper grille. I haven't done anything with it yet, but I might leave it open for the time being.
I went out for a cruise last night and I had all kinds of 'truck guys' asking where I got it and how much...I was like..."I got it in my garage for about $30"...ahhaha.....
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wcomea
Dodge Dakota
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4/16/2002
12:20:42
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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The main reason I put it in the bunper was because I have all the extra coolers and they all hang out in the opening. So I put it there mainly to protect them from rocks and road trash. And it looks good.
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surfer_obx1
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2002
13:01:51
| RE: Tried the Custom Grill Install....
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Message:
that realy helps me to but i need to see how it was mounted to the bumper.Any have a pic? Thanks
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