Hilux 4x4 Forum

The 2003 Hilux 4x4 is (in my opinion) one of the best looking trucks that Toyota ever produced. The trouble is ... there are a lot of white 2003 Hi Riders just like mine driving around here, and I always want whatever I’m driving to stand out from the crowd. So I decided to fab a custom grille.

Aluminum billet grilles were hot 10 years ago, and I still like that look a lot. No one makes an aftermarket billet grille for a Hilux. I found a 2003 Tacoma billet insert that I thought I could modify on Ebay for $37 USD, so I ordered one. When it arrived, I pulled the grille from my truck and set out to make the mod.

First I made certain that the Tacoma insert could be modified to fit. Then removed the stock center section using a hand hacksaw and a tool for cutting sheet plastic.
After cleaning up the rough edges, fitted the aftermarket Tacoma insert to the Hilux shell. Had to remove two bars from the top of the insert, and shorten the other bars by 1” on each side.
Fabricated two retainers from 1” aluminum angle stock, and fitted the insert to the grille shell.

I repainted the black portion of the shell , and installed the insert.
Reinstalled the modified grille on the truck. I put the Toyota emblem from the stock grille on the billet to give the finished product a “factory” look. The chrome billet insert definitely gives the truck a custom look, and is exactly what I wanted.

STOCK GRILLE BILLET GRILLE
This was a fun project that only took a few hours, and the end result really exceeded my expectations.

- JAMES

Nice personalisation of your vehicle.

I agree, it looks much better with the new grill. The old look had a bit of a toothless-grin appearance.


-F_D