Tundra Carriage Works Billet Grille Review
Jason Lancaster | May 23, 2008 | Comments 13
As part of our “Tundra USA” project Tundra build, we contacted Carriage Works about reviewing a set of their billet grilles. Quick to respond, Carriage Works sent us a complete set of grilles (top, main, and bumper) for the 2007-and-up Tundra. After we installed them, in a word, “suhweet.”
The installed product looks awesome – very sharp.
The grilles come carefully shrink-wrapped and protected – in fact, the longest part of the installation is unwrapping the parts! We chose the bolt-over option for the main grille, so install was a snap. The hardest part is getting the threads started on the nuts. Once you get them going, you simply fold and feed them through the factory grille, then tighten. The same is pretty much true of installing the three grilles in the lower valance. The directions (2.4mb, pdf) suggest you unplug and temporarily remove the factory horn so you have better access. We skipped this step and it worked out just fine.
The carefully packaged main grille bolted over the factory grille in just a few minutes.
Installing the top grille is a little more complicated – you’re going to need to drill some holes in the hood. Don’t worry – that’s not as bad as it sounds. After you remove the factory plastic “grille” (it’s more of a plastic insert), you’ll want to tape the new billet grille into place. Make sure to line it up right, because you only get to drill once. Next, mark each mounting hole and drill a small pilot hole in each location. You’re going to actually be drilling into some hard plastic, so make sure to take it slow at first. You don’t want the drill jumping out of your hand and tearing up the paint. Once the pilot holes are drilled, come back with a 3/8 bit and finish each hole. Install the rubber seating grommets and then you’re ready to screw down the new grille. This was the most complicated part of the entire install, and it only took a few minutes.
Check out these before and after photos:
A couple of photos of the grilles before we installed the new Carriage Works grilles.
Here’s a nice view of the main grille and lower valance grilles installed.
As far as cost is concerned, the entire set of billet grilles will run you about $300. Carriage Works makes all of their grilles from 6061-T6 aluminum (aircraft grade) right here in the USA (Grandview, MO to be exact). Considering the quality of the parts and the ease of install, it seems like a good deal. It won’t make your truck go faster, but it’s hard to make a statement with your vehicle unless you do something to make it look different.
If you’re interested in adding some flash without spending a lot of money, you can purchase the main grille only – it still looks pretty sharp, and the cost is less than $150. Either way, adding a set of Carriage Works grilles to your truck is a nice way to dress up your ride without spending a lot of time or money.
Filed Under: Toyota Tundra Accessories
On autoanything it says that there is cutting involved in the installation of the replacement grill (removes toyota logo)…is this true and what would be cut?
Also did you notice any rattleing after install…sorry if I am bombarding you. thanks.
Patrick – No problem! Glad to help. First, you have the option to install either a billet grille that goes over the factory grille, or one that replaces it. If you choose the billet grille that replaces the factory grille, it’s quite a bit more work (and does require cutting). If you choose the billet grille that mounts on top of the grille, you’ll also need to choose if you want the Toyota emblem to show. If you want the emblem to show, you’ll get a billet grille with a hole in the middle. Otherwise, you’ll need to remove the factory emblem before you can install the “non-showing” billet grille. I just re-read that and I think it makes sense, but if not feel free to follow up.
Hey where can I find the Upper hood billet grill like you have in the pic above. I have looked online everywhere?
Bcarter – Use the following link. Enter your truck info, then look for the “Top Shell Opening Insert”. It’s currently priced at about $100. http://www.tundraheadquarters......-grill.php
You said that the top grille insert requires drilling into the hood. Are you drilling a 3/8″ hole into your hood for the well nuts to fit into? That’s a huge hole if so in your hood isnt it?
Nate – I can’t remember the size, but it seemed reasonable. Granted, drilling holes in an otherwise perfectly good body panel is never at the top of my list, but these holes are going to be behind the top shell insert, so no one will see them. I think the hood is aluminum (or an alloy), so rust isn’t an issue.
I just purchased the main overlay grill with emblem showing, and the upper insert. You do have to drill a 3/8″ hole in the PLASTIC section underneath the black plastic insert that you are replacing with the billet insert. They supply 4 rubber stoppers with threads in them that your screws will thread into. They don’t go in very easily, and you may need to use a little spit (literally) to grease ’em in there. Once the plugs are in, just plop the screws in (works best from the ends first, then the middle…don’t fully tighten until they are all in), tighten em down a little, and you’re done! Hope that helps.
Seth – What model year? I remember pretty clearly drilling into metal, so I’m thinking something has changed between 07′ and your truck.
Mine’s an ’07 Crewmax Limited. The only thing I drilled into was the chrome plastic under the snap in black hood piece.
how do you order it in white?
Mike,
Give them a call, or paint it yourself are probably the best answers to that question.
-Tim
Thanks for the advice!
I gave them a call, (friendly people), they said that this grille comes in either black or polished so these guys must have painted it themselves before they did this review.
Guess i’ll just paint the grille & bottom fender at the same time.