T-Rex grill installation help

Have any of you installed a T-Rex on an 18 and up? The instructions leave quite a bit to be desired. To start with, during the removal of the stock grill, after you remove the 4 bolts up top in step 4, it tells you that you will reuse the top radiator cover. I don't see how it separates from the insert, and it doesn't show how to reinstall it either. A driver and passenger side overlay bracket are installed...it doesn't show what they mount to on the truck side. It also says install 6 screws in Fig 25, but doesn't show them. Aggravating to say the least.

https://trexbillet.com/i-23909823-2...-not-fit-vehicles-with-camera-pn-6719661.html

 

I have the billet grille installed but only remember using the bolts/screws from the top. No grille separation was necessary.

 

The top plate is nowhere close to the mounting location. It's like an inch higher if not more. I'll post pics when the sun comes up.

 

I had to temporarily use the mounting tabs from the stock insert to have something for it to attach to. The top plate has tabs on it that hang over the lip but there is a gap between the tab and the mounting tabs that I installed so the grill slides back and fourth. I will have to call them to figure out whatbis wrong.

 

Yeah not sure but I would call them. That doesn't look right. Agree the instructions could have been written up better. I found the process frustrating when installing mine.

The replacement bolted/screwed in to the same location as the OEM. Also the top edge of the grille looks like it should be lined up with the edge of the top plate. You are installing a different grille however but the instructions are fairly close to what I used for the installation.

 

I will ask them but the grill to top plate mount has to be correct. There are 3 studs on the grill that the top plate bolts to. The concern is how it attaches to the truck where the 4 original bolts were removed. As you can tell, the gap is at least an inch and a half. Either something is missing, or the wrong parts were sent. I called them and they has me send a description and pictures. Aggravating as hell.

 

Hard to tell from the pics but does yours line up with the top edge like in figure 24?

Also any way for the red tabs to slide into the top plate instead of resting beneath it?


That would explain why the top plate alignment looks off. It looks like the tabs are causing it to tilt up and forward. I looks like the tabs should fit inside the channels.

 

The top plate will not be flush with the top of the grill. The bottom of the top plate is flat so nothing for the red tabs to slide in to.

 

What are these? Are they part of the grille or the truck? Where was your original grille mounted to the truck?

 

The old grill you removed...was it OEM?

 

Colormatched but yes.

 

Those came from here....

 

Those tabs weren't supposed to come off of the oem grill.

 

I didn't remember having those on mine....just checked and I don't have those.

Based on the alignment the top grille looks like it is being pushed up and forward by those. Also at the bottom of the pic my top grille was aligned to the surface of the lower tab not above it.
Pics to show you the alignment:

 

So your top plate sits right on top of where my red tabs would be and then the screws go in the original holes? I was planning on removing those tabs that came from my stock grill and see if the plate will go down without stressing it. I'm wondering if the studs where the plate mounts to the grill are angled wrong.

 

Yes the top plate sits on top of those tabs. Also notice the alignment with the black brace by the headlight. It sits flush with the lower part of the brace but lower than the top edge of the headlights.

 

Gotcha. Poor quality control possibly.....I should not have to bend those studs down if that is what's causing it. Nothing else is there to make the top plate angle like that.

 

I dont think you have to bend anything. The items I pointed out before with white arrows probably need to be removed. Edit: or those tabs slide into the channels.


Compared to my install:

 

Yes I'm going to remove them. The plate was angled by itself which is why I temporarily put them in. It could be the mounting tabs on the grill angled wrong....not necessarily the studs.

 

Gotchya, tracking. Good luck!

 

Thanks.....I'll let you know what happens.

 

I removed the pieces and was able to install the top plate. I did have to push it down about 3/4 inch to get the screws started. Now I have to play with it to get some adjustment. The body lines on the passenger side of the surround don't line up with the body lines of the bulge. I also have an uneven gap under the bulge now....more gap on drivers side. Hopefully some loosening and tightening here and there will line it up better. Does yours have a "overhang" where it's recessed under the bulge?

 

My grille isn't recessed relative to the bulge. I did snap the side support attachments on my grille surround so mine is only held by the top screws and two lower attachments that connect to the frame. Your model doesn't appear to have those anchor points but I could be mistaken.
Edit: My surround also still has the tabs that go under or near the lights.

 

Thinking about it, mine would be recessed just by looking at how the grill attaches to the top plate and also how the plate mounts to the truck.

 

Probably so. That last pic you posted shows the plate and grille having good fitment and alignment.

 

Tomorrow I will loosen it and see if I can even the gap and line up the body lines with the bulge on both sides since one side is off.

 

Sweet! You got it done! You still mounting the lights behind the grille?

 

About as close as I can get it. I lined the driver's side up with the bulge by pulling if forward slightly and drilled a new hole in the top plate where it attached to the overlay bracket. I'm not too fond of the gap between the grill surround and the headlight panels. I don't know if there is any way around it with an aftermarket insert.

 

Came out good! Body lines look good to me.
Edit: and that grille looks better than I thought

 

I definitely see what you're talking about....