I'm off tomorrow to see about picking up some of these supplies - thanks all for the multiple suggestions. Seems now like all the 'bugs' have been worked out of the mod.

For a few $$$ it really does make a huge diff. I'm going to try to match body colors. I'll post some shots when done...

 

Wow. Nice that you can get the grill off on this model...I did this back in 98 to my TJ and it was a serious pain in the ass getting anything mounted between the grill and the rad....thanks for the post.

 

Quadratec is selling this for $ 289.99 plus shipping!!! My gutter guard version only cost about $10, thanks to this forum!

 

I bet it's held on by tywraps and sticky bases

 

that appears to mold out into the slots....looks fine as hell.... I would buy it for $189...

 

OK, now that I've done a total of six of the mesh grill installs, I've learned the best method for ensuring the tie down squares don't come unstuck:

1. First and foremost, use an alcohol pad and scrub the area you're going to put them on very well. (Didn't do that on my first, and paid the price when they started jumping off within days)
2. Ensure the squares are cut SMALLER than the width between the openings. A pair of good scissors aid immensely, like electrical shears.
3. Use the squares that have the anchor as close as possible centered in the middle. The squares at Lowe's have the ties go in one side near the edge and come out the other near the edge. The ones at Home Depot have it more centered in the middle. I've found that the Lowe's ones seem to put a more pressure square on the edges of the adhesive, making it come up easier I think. By focusing the tension on the middle, the Home Depot squares use the entire sticky area. (Just my thoughts, I could be completely whacko on this, but it seems to work better...plus, the Home Depot ones are much easier to thread the zip tie in than the Lowe's ones...cuts down on the time/frustration factor immensely.)
4. After cleaning the area with alcohol and securing the squares down, I hijack my wife's craft glue gun and run a bit of hot glue around the edges of the square. Not much, but enough to give it an extra anchor. Nice thing is, it's cheap, and easy to remove should you want to remove the grill mesh.
5. Be consistent. Try to use the same places on each of the panels to thread the zip ties, and don't rush things. It's much easier to re-thread before you cinch it down that to cut the old zip out and rethread, especially if you've already done the entire panel.
6. I found that if you are wanting black, the mesh is rather finicky about paint sticking really well. If you add a coat of primer first, then a couple coats of Krylon High Heat or PlastiDip (I've used both interchangebly, no really difference in the final product in my opinion) the paint will be a bit hardier...no matter what, it will come off if you scratch at it with gusto, but that's what a black marker/flat black model paint will take care of.


I finished the three at the Dealer today (1 Rubi, 1 Sahara and 1 X), and the dealer is now offering it to customers as an accessory. I did the three in just about 2.5 hours, having gotten a good routine down. I had the entire service department wondering what the hell I was doing in the service bay with the grills off of three new jeeps, kinda humorous.

I know it's not a "professional" made-to-order mod, but for me, it's kinda cool to be able to hand-fashion something out of inexpensive materials and have it make a difference to the look of the vehicle. Plus, I get to hang out with new jeeps and keep in good with the dealership, never a bad thing...

 

I did mine today. It was pretty easy...just takes some time cutting the gutter guard down to size.

One other tip...I used aluminum gutter guard--make sure the pieces you install are all oriented the same way. If not, the light won't reflect off all the pieces the same. I didn't with one...I'll have to pull the grill and turn the one piece 180 degrees so they all look the same in the light.



Notice the second slot from the left? ...it looks darker.

 

OK, I can get the mesh and UV resistant cable ties but those sticky things to hold the cable ties on with are just not locatable here in Australia (well, damned if I could find them at the harware store). Any suggestiones for alternatives?

Also, if anyone has the original grilles, how are they held on? Importing one of these buggers is not an option (flipping $$$$ after shipping) and I would prefer to have something to protect my radiator. Have to protect my expensive toy somehow!

Violet Rose

 

You might be just as well off getting window screen and mounting it above and below with some type of strip. That would keep bugs and rocks out of your radiator.
You can buy the zip tie blocks online as well. Google "cable tie mounts" and you'll find a lot.

On an aside, I went and bought some more to reattach mine after the first started failing. When I took my grille off, I noticed that quite a few of them (maybe half) were stuck very well, so well that I just left them there instead of removing them in fact. But then I got out my cutters to make my mounts fit between the slats, and noticed that somewhere in the last 2 months the value of 1" has changed. Now they fit without cutting. I lined them up next to each other, and there is probably a 1/4" difference between them. Don't understand it at all.

 

I can almost guarantee you will be able to find them. They are primarily used for electrical and cable installs. I would go to an electrical supply store or maybe a high end stereo install store and they should at least know where to get them if they don't themselves.

Also here is a supplier in Australia you can order online,

http://www.rs-components.com.au/elec...-tie-base.html

Good luck.